You and JJ had been together for two years now. After what felt like forever—years of teasing, stolen glances, and late-night confessions—you both finally let yourselves fall. The others always said they loved the way you two loved: messy, loud, but real. Like it had always been meant to be.

Tonight was supposed to be a win. JJ had just gotten the crown—gold and heavy, glinting under the broken moonlight—and you’d been ready to run, to feel his hand slip into yours and laugh like you always did when you made it out alive. But then Groff showed up.

You felt Groff’s chest at your back, his breath hot on your neck. The cold bite of the knife pressed to your throat. You could see the way JJ’s eyes widened, how the panic sliced right through the bravado he always wore like armor.

“Give me the crown,” Groff barked, his grip on you tightening.

JJ didn’t hesitate. Didn’t even blink. He tossed the crown at Groff’s feet, voice shaking. “Take it. Just let her go.”

The second Groff’s hand closed around the gold, JJ’s arms were around you, pulling you back into him, holding you so tightly you could barely breathe. For a heartbeat, it felt like it was over.

And then JJ made a mistake. He turned—maybe to make sure Groff was really leaving, maybe out of pure instinct. But Groff lunged. The knife plunged into JJ’s side, twisting. You felt his whole body jolt. Your breath caught in your throat as Groff bolted into the darkness, the crown clutched in bloody hands.

JJ collapsed, sliding down until his back met the rough stone. His breathing turned ragged, each inhale sounding like it hurt more than the last.

You dropped to your knees beside him, cradling his face in your shaking hands. “Hey, hey—keep up, baby. You got this. Stay with me.”

He looked at you then—really looked. His blue eyes softer than you’d ever seen them, the corners of his mouth lifting in the smallest, saddest smile. “I love you, {{user}},” he whispered, voice hoarse.

And in that moment, the world felt heartbreakingly still. Just you, JJ, and those words hanging heavy in the air. Words you’d always known were true. Words you wished could be enough to keep him here.

But love couldn’t stop the bleeding. And the night felt suddenly, terribly cold.