You Call Me Monster

Sehun sat at the long table, alone in the dark. A single, flickering light bulb hung over his chair, casting a pool of sickly yellow light. He ran tired fingers through his hair as he examined his options again. Spread out before him, in the cleared space among used dishes and decimated platters of food, was a wrinkled blueprint. Sehun leaned over it, tracing the lines with one finger as he made notes in a nearby notebook. There were so many moving parts, so many variables to consider.

He sighed and set down the pen, tapping his fingers on the table. He closed his eyes and replayed the conversation from only a few hours before…


“They took her last night. We’ve got an idea of where she is, but who knows how long they’ll wait to move her.”

Sehun set his glass down delicately. “Where?” he asked quietly.

“Chul.”

Sehun swore loudly. “You all know we don’t have the capability to invade Chul’s territory. I won’t risk everyone’s lives, even for Nari.”

Chanyeol stood up and leaned on the table. His brown hair cast long shadows on his face as he leaned toward Sehun. “We may not have the numbers to invade Chul, but with some planning and good timing we can infiltrate him and get out before they realize what we’ve done.”

Sehun shook his head. “It’s still too risky.”

Xiumin got up and started pacing the room. “So that’s it? We just leave her to whatever fate Chul’s got planned for her?”

Everyone shifted uncomfortably at this. Chul was cruel and inventive and none of them liked the idea of Nari being in his power.

“I understand how you feel, Xiumin, but would you rather we all die trying to save her? We should wait and gather a larger force before attempting a rescue.”

Kai slammed his hands on the table. “That will be too late!” he shouted. “Chul has a dozen hideouts in this city alone, and those are just the ones we know about. We have to act while we know where she is before Chul moves her!”

“And that’s assuming he hasn’t broken her yet,” Baekhyun interjected. “Once he does, what’s stopping him from killing her and dumping her body somewhere?”

Sehun bowed his head and rubbed the back of his neck. “We don’t have the means,” he repeated emphatically.

“We could do it, Sehun,” Suho said. “Chen slipped a guy inside. With what he’s told us, we could pull off this whole operation ourselves and get everyone out alive.”

Everyone looked at Chen in unison. He was standing behind Sehun, one hand resting on the back of his chair. Sehun turned his head slightly but didn’t look up. “Well?”

Chen cleared his throat. “A few of us could sneak in for one of Chul’s gambling parties. We mingle, show him that we’re still on good terms. Then the others can come in and between all of us we can break Nari out.”

Sehun laced his fingers together, thinking. “Do you trust this source, Chen?”

“Yes sir,” Chen replied automatically.

Sehun got up, causing Chen to take a step back. “Do you trust him with the lives of everyone in this room?”

The room fell silent as they awaited Chen’s answer. Finally he nodded. “Everyone,” he echoed.

Sehun sighed. “Leave me. I need to think.”

They obeyed, leaving Sehun alone in the dark.



He opened his eyes and sighed, checking his watch. The wee hours of the morning were nearly gone. If they were going to try and rescue Nari, it would have to be within the next twenty-four hours. He reread his careful notes again. It would be tight, with no room for error. If even one man fell behind it would throw the entire operation into jeopardy. Sehun took a steadying breath and pulled out his phone.

“Chen, gather the others. We go tonight.”





* * * * * *


Chen took a steadying breath as they approached the main door of Chul’s lair. His hip felt light, missing the familiar weight of the Glock it usually carried. But Chen had a part to play tonight, and it didn’t involve weapons. Kai and Xiumin flanked him on either side, all three of them dressed to the nines. They were going to a party, after all.

“Hold it!” the guard at the door called. He patted each of them down, first Chen, then Kai and Xiumin. Satisfied that they weren’t armed, he opened the door and allowed them inside.

The room was huge, with large chandeliers casting pools of light onto the revelry below. Several gambling tables were set up, presided over by dealers in striped vests and visors. Each table was packed with tipsy guests, all clamoring and clutching drinks as they watched dice tumble and cards fly.

“Well, if it isn’t the famous Chen,” a voice called over the noise. Chen looked up and met Chul’s gaze. He was in the middle of the room, surrounded by beautiful girls in designer dresses. He had black hair and glittering blue eyes that seemed unnaturally bright in the dim room.

As Chul began making his way over, Chen glanced back at his men. “Remember, they don’t know she’s one of us,” he breathed softly, then turned to greet their host.

“It’s been some time since any of Sehun’s boys joined us for a little fun,” Chul said, peering at them over expensive sunglasses. “Please, enjoy yourselves. You’re welcome to participate in any of the games,” he said, brandishing a hand at the tables, “but I’m starting a game of craps at my personal table that you may join if you like.”

“Sounds like fun,” Chen replied, snatching a martini off of a passing waitress’ tray. They followed Chul to the table, wading through the roiling mass of people on the main floor. They passed a few open rooms containing other less savory events - prize fighting, dog fights and even cock fights. Chen glanced into the cock fight and made eye contact with D.O., already in position. He looked away after a moment and followed Chul into the back room.

Chul’s craps table was long and sleek, made of polished black wood that gleamed like leather. Several of the seats were taken, but the head of the table was obviously reserved for Chul. He sat down like a king on his throne, pulling a set of dice out of his jacket pocket.

Chen sat down in the middle, with Kai at the other end of the table and Xiumin almost directly across from him. Xiumin’s blond hair caught the light like a halo, a stark contrast to his tense expression. Chen smiled at him and downed his martini, setting the glass on the table. “What’s the bet?” he called, pulling a wad of cash out of his pocket.

Chul smiled. “Your bet,” he said benignly, tossing the dice down to him.

Chen popped the martini olive into his mouth and grinned. “Just how I like it,” he said, picking up the dice.



* * * * * *



D.O crouched by the cage, pretending to watch the cock fight. He glanced up at Baekhyun who was on the other side. He was leaning against the bars, holding a bottle of whiskey. He was known for his rakish ways, often starting fights after the alcohol got the better of him. D.O felt a pang of concern, but it didn’t matter. Baekhyun had done his part hours earlier. Now it was up to him to make sure it all came together.

The fight ended and D.O took his winnings from the supervising dealer. He bet again and accepted a drink from a waitress. He only had to play along for a little while longer…



* * * * * *



Chanyeol gripped the steering wheel tightly as he navigated the dark streets. Suho sat in the passenger seat, caressing his weapon gently. Instead of a gun, Suho favored a more hands-on approach - in this case, a long wooden bat with wicked-looking metal screws on the end. A few good hits with that and he could easily beat his opponent to death.

Lay sprawled in the backseat, more relaxed than his comrades in the front. He always seemed to have a ghost of a smile on his face, even when he was being serious. It had the effect of throwing off his enemies, something Lay regularly used to his advantage.

“We’re here,” Chanyeol hissed, pulling into a darkened alley. They were on the backside of Chul’s lair, next to a loading dock guarded by two men. They quietly got out of the car and sneaked around to a better vantage point, staying hidden behind the piles of scrap metal littering the lot.

“Two men, just like Chen’s guy said,” Chanyeol whispered. “Lay, can you get a clear shot?”

Lay tilted his head, gauging the distance, then nodded. He pulled out a gun and attached a silencer to the end. He took a deep breath, aimed, and fired twice. The guards collapsed to the ground, the only sound being their bodies hitting the concrete.

“Nice work,” Suho whispered, leading the way up the ramp to the dock. A quick tug on the giant door and it slid up smoothly, allowing them to slip inside.

“Did you kill those guys?” Chanyeol asked, pulling the door closed behind them.

Lay shook his head. “Nah,” he said, shoving his gun into his belt. “Tranq darts. Sehun didn’t want any unnecessary blood. He thought it would only upset Chul more if he thought we killed some of his men.”

Chanyeol nodded. “Sounds like something Sehun would say.” He turned on the overhead lights, a faint whir sounding as they warmed up. “Something tells me Chul’s going to be upset no matter what.”

Suho chuckled and they took stock of the room. “Looks like Baekhyun was here,” he commented, pointing at the explosives rigged on the doors. For all of his faults, Baekhyun was the best powder monkey in the city.

“Opening the door will have started the timer,” Chanyeol said, checking his watch. “We should have thirty minutes before they explode.”

“Right,” Lay said, pulling two more guns out from his side holsters. “We’ll go get the party started while you look for Nari.”

Chanyeol nodded and took off toward the stairs. Suho and Lay ran for the corridor, following the noise from the party. Light spilled out into the hallway from the half-open doors of the side rooms.

“This is where D.O and Baekhyun are supposed to be,” Lay said, pointing at the nearest room.

Suho hefted his bat up onto his shoulder. “Let’s get started,” he said, smiling.



* * * * * *



Gunfire sounded and D.O sprang to his feet, throwing his drink to the floor. The party guests screamed and began to scatter, emptying the room. Lay tossed D.O a gun and they immediately closed the door, bracing it with a chair.

Baekhyun pulled a timer out of his pocket and watched it intently. “Six, five, four, three, two…” Suddenly the lights went out and Baekhyun laughed. “Beautiful.”

* * * * * *



The lights died and the entire floor went into chaos. Kai sprang up and ran down the stairs, feeling his way through the darkened room. He could hear Chul shouting for someone to turn the generator on and he knew he only had seconds to work. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out the smoke bombs he’d hidden there. Using a pack of matches swiped from the craps table, he quickly lit the bombs and threw them across the room. When the lights flickered back on, the entire room was filled with multicolored smoke.



* * * * * *



Chanyeol ran down the stairs three at a time, pausing at each door to listen. Each room was empty and dark, so he went further and further down before he finally reached the bottom. He pulled out a flashlight and began searching the basement. He came to a large room that held nothing but a few chairs. A person hung suspended from a steel crossbeam, their wrists tied above their head with a thick rope. Chanyeol’s stomach dropped and he shone the flashlight into the person’s face.

“Nari!” he exclaimed, relief coloring his voice. She seemed to be unconscious, but unhurt. Chanyeol grabbed a nearby ladder and climbed up, wrapping an arm around Nari’s waist while he cut the ropes. The ropes broke and Chanyeol caught Nari’s full weight, teetering slightly as he descended the ladder.

“Nari? It’s Chanyeol. Can you hear me?” he asked, shaking her gently.

After a few moments Nari’s eyelashes fluttered and she looked up at Chanyeol blearily.

“Chanyeol? Is that you?” she croaked.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Chanyeol said happily. “We came to bust you out of here. Can you walk?”

“I think so,” Nari murmured. She stood to her feet and, after a few shaky moments, seemed to steady herself.

“We don’t have much time,” Chanyeol whispered. “We’ve got a car, but we have to move quickly.”

Nari nodded and they hurried back toward the stairs, hands clasped tightly.
* * * * * *



“So what now?” Lay asked, putting his gun away for the moment.

“Now we get out of here,” D.O replied. Baekhyun clambered down off of the cage just as the door was kicked in and men began streaming into the room.

“Go!” Lay yelled, putting up his fists. D.O and Baekhyun ran for the back door, leaving Lay and Suho to fight them off.

“We can’t just leave them!” Baekhyun exclaimed.

“We have to stick to the plan,” D.O panted. They made it to the loading dock and out the door to the parking lot. They ran down the alley and to the two motor bikes waiting for them. They mounted quickly and sped off, weaving around traffic as they went.



* * * * * *



Chen watched the chaos with an enormous feeling of satisfaction. Chul had disappeared for the moment, undoubtedly trying to find the cause of the smoke. Kai and Xiumin had gone to help Suho and Lay, and Chanyeol should have Nari well away by now. He sipped his drink again as two guards came charging up the stairs at him.

“May as well have some fun,” he said to himself, getting up slowly.

Notes