You Call Me Monster

D.O climbed out of the van awkwardly, his handcuffs hindering him. “How… I mean… “ he trailed off, shaking his head. Baekhyun hugged him and D.O, unable to reciprocate, simply laid his head on Baekhyun’s shoulder.

“We were afraid you had been shot,” Chanyeol said, hugging both of them. “Well done!” Suho exclaimed, joining the hug.

“Okay, okay!” D.O exclaimed, wiggling out of the hug. He tugged his shirt down, pretending to be disgruntled. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he said, smiling slightly. Baekhyun grinned at him between Chanyeol and Suho’s shoulders.

Kai stumbled out of the van, shaking his head slowly. “Where are we?” he asked, looking around and squinting.

“In an old plastics factory,” Baekhyun replied, pulling away from the hug. “I remembered hiding here with Luhan once. Luckily they haven’t demolished it yet.”

Sehun helped Nari get Lay out of the van. He was unconscious, his leg still bleeding. “I thought he was going to stay in the car!” Baekhyun exclaimed, alarmed.

“When I realized we’d walked into a trap, I called him to get everyone out of the station,” Sehun said, helping Nari lay him on the floor. “He must have gone inside.”

Baekhyun knelt on one side while Nari ripped a hole in Lay’s pant leg. “He’s torn the wound open,” she gasped. “It’s at least twice the size it was. He’s lost so much blood, I don’t know…” she stopped, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “I can’t help him with these on,” she said, holding up her cuffed wrists.

“Maybe there’s some bolt cutters or something laying around,” Chanyeol said, looking around.

“Everyone look for something we can use to get these off,” Sehun commanded. “Nari, stay with Lay.”

Everyone else spread out, looking around carefully. Suddenly there was a shout from across the loading bay. “Over here!” Suho shouted, summoning the others. He pointed at an old electric saw half-buried under a tarp. “It looks ancient, but it might work,” Chen said, pulling back the tarp and examining it. He held up the power cord. “Maybe all we need is an outlet.”

“Here,” Xiumin grunted, pulling away old lumber to reveal a battered outlet in the wall. Chen and D.O dragged the heavy saw over and Xiumin plugged it in. Chanyeol flicked on the power switch and the saw groaned loudly before beginning to spin. “All right,” Baekhyun said. “Who’s first?”

Sehun knelt down by the saw while Baekhyun held it steady. He carefully lowered the chain onto the spinning blade, sending showers of sparks in all directions. The screeching of metal on metal was nearly deafening, all of them cringing as they waited. Suddenly the chain broke and Sehun immediately pulled his hands back. He breathed a sigh of relief as he stood up, gesturing for the next person. He went over to where Nari waited with Lay, stretching broadly.

“Go, I’ll stay here,” he said. Nari got up and Sehun knelt down beside Lay. He was white, and his breathing was shallow. Hold on, Sehun thought, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Soon everyone had freed themselves and the discordant saw was turned off, leaving a heavy silence. “What about them?” Chanyeol asked, nodding at Kai and Lay.

“They’ll have to wait until we get back to the hideout,” Nari said, kneeling back down by Lay. “Sehun, I need your belt and your shirt.”

“What are you going to do?” Sehun asked, unbuttoning his shirt.

“Buy us some time,” she said quietly. He handed her the shirt and belt, shivering as he slid his jacket back on. She tied the belt around Lay’s leg just above the knee, pulling it tight before buckling it. She folded the shirt and wrapped it around the gaping hole in his leg, tying it tightly. “We’ve got to get him to the hideout soon,” Nari said, wiping her hands on her thighs. “This will only slow things down. He’ll die if I don’t get the wound clean and closed soon.”

“What about the police?” Chen asked. “Soon they’ll know that we didn’t arrive at the detention center. They’ll block off every road in the city, assuming Chul doesn’t already know where we are.”

“We don’t have any choice,” Sehun replied. “All we can hope is that we’re able to slip back into the city before the police can block us. I need options,” he commanded, standing up.

“If we take the van it’s more likely to be spotted and cornered,” Xiumin said. “Especially on the bridge.”

“Then we’ll separate,” Sehun decided. “We passed a truck stop on the way here. I’ll take the van back into the city while the rest of you steal a truck and go to the hideout.”

“Are you trying to get caught?” Chanyeol demanded. Sehun gave a wry smile. “No, just maybe chased for a while. It’ll throw them off and give you time to get home.”

“What about you?” Suho asked.

“I’ll ditch the van somewhere and find my way back,” Sehun replied.

“This is insane! What about Chul?” D.O demanded. “Are we just-”

“I’ll deal with Chul later,” Sehun said shortly. “Right now we need to take care of our own. Everyone move out.”

They maneuvered Lay and Kai into the van, laying them side by side on the metal floor. They climbed in and shut the doors, Baekhyun lifting the loading bay door before joining Sehun in the front seat. They pulled out slowly, keeping the headlights off. “The truck stop is less than a mile back that way,” Baekhyun said, pointing down the road. “I’ll hide the van on the side of the road. Someone will have to go on foot and steal the truck.”

They pulled over not far from the truck stop, the bright lights clearly visible from their hiding place. Sehun got out and walked around the van, opening the back door. “Chanyeol,” he said, beckoning him out. Chanyeol climbed out, carefully stepping over Kai and Lay. “Go down and steal a truck big enough for all of you to ride in. Don’t draw any attention to yourself.”

Chanyeol nodded and took off down the road. Sehun looked back at the others. “How’s Kai?” he asked.

“I think he passed out once we moved him in here,” Nari said, bending down and putting a hand on his face. “He might have a concussion, but I can’t tell if anything’s broken yet.”

“And Lay?”

Nari looked up, her face creased with worry. “We need to hurry.”


******


Chanyeol crouched behind a bush and scanned the truck stop. There were several trucks scattered around the parking lot, but none of them were right. He spotted what looked to be a farmer's truck, the back end covered with a blue tarp. It looks big enough, Chanyeol thought. He made sure the lot was clear before coming out, casually walking over to the truck. It was empty, save for a few crates of vegetables, so Chanyeol opened the driver's door and climbed in.

He began pulling at the wires under the steering wheel when he heard a metallic clank under his foot. He lifted the mat and found a set of keys underneath. He grabbed them, shaking his head, and started the truck. It sputtered to life and Chanyeol smoothly pulled out of the lot and turned onto the road, trying not to attract attention from the truckers. He made it back to the van and Sehun got out to greet him. “Well done,” Sehun said approvingly as the truck rumbled to a stop. The others quickly transferred to the truck, clearing space on the floor for Kai and Lay.

“Get everyone back to the hideout as fast as you can,” Sehun instructed. “Kai and Lay are our biggest priority right now. I'll meet up with you in several hours. If I don't show up by morning, assume I'm in jail. And don't,” he said emphatically, “come back for me. That's an order.”

“Sir, let me go with you,” Chen said, jumping out of the truck. “It's my responsibility to keep you safe, and I can't do that here.”

Sehun started to wave him away, but he saw the resolve in Chen's eyes. “Fine,” he agreed. “Nari, keep your focus on Kai and Lay. Chanyeol, you're in command until we return. I'm counting on you,” he said, putting a hand on Chanyeol's shoulder. Chanyeol nodded and got into the driver's seat.


******


Sehun pulled the tarp down, tying it tightly. He and Chen watched the truck drive away until it disappeared around a bend.

“The traffic cameras on the bridge may have caught the van crossing the river,” Sehun said, turning back to the van. “We should cross back over at a different point.”

“The Memorial Bridge is only a few miles from here,” Chen replied, closing the back doors. “If we take that into the shopping district the police will instantly know where we are. We can abandon it somewhere once they're in pursuit.”

Sehun climbed into the driver's seat, Chen sitting next to him. He went to start the van, then paused. “We may not get out of this,” he said, looking at Chen. Chen nodded. “I know.”

Sehun gave a faint smile and turned the key. The van rumbled to life and headed down the road, in the opposite direction from the others.

They drove in tense silence, waiting for any sign that they had been discovered. They approached the bridge and merged into traffic, the other cars giving them a wide berth.

A distant whine of sirens grew louder and Sehun smiled grimly. “Here we go,” he murmured. He turned the wheel, weaving around the cars in the other lanes. He glanced into the rearview mirror and saw the flashing lights of police cruisers. “Showtime,” he said, gunning the engine.

The van raced through traffic, sending other cars scrambling to get out of its way. They reached the end of the bridge and careened through a red light onto the highway. They turned abruptly into a city square, speeding through the traffic circle. Terrified pedestrians ran for their lives while drivers cowered in their cars.

“Someone's going to get killed!” Chen shouted over the noise. “We've got to get away from-”

The police cruisers screamed into view, swerving around the stopped cars in the circle.

“If we go too much further into the city we'll be trapped,” Sehun said. An idea struck him and he turned the wheel, screeching into a side street.

“You've got your 'crazy idea’ look,” Chen said, sounding alarmed.

“We’re going back to the river,” Sehun said, getting back onto the highway.

“But they’ll have the bridge blocked off by now,” Chen said. Sehun glanced at him. “I didn’t say anything about a bridge.”

Chen inhaled sharply. “I see.”

Sehun scanned the highway, still speeding around the other cars. “Perfect,” he said, taking an exit down to the docks. This road was clear, allowing them to pick up speed. “Hand me that,” he said, nodding at Baekhyun’s S.W.A.T. helmet.

“What’s your plan?” Chen asked, grabbing the helmet.

They heard sirens again and Sehun took the helmet. “There’s a small power plant on the edge of the river. Be ready to jump.” He floored the gas and the van flew down the road, the engine roaring loudly. They whizzed around a curve and the power plant came into view. Chen looked out his window. “Sehun, I can’t tell what’s on the other side of this guardrail. Are you sure about this?”

Sehun wedged the helmet between his feet. “I don’t see another option.” The lights appeared behind them and he gritted his teeth. “Jump!” he ordered. Chen opened his door and jumped, disappearing over the side. Sehun jammed the helmet against the gas pedal, crawled over to the passenger side and jumped.

He fell through the darkness, his limbs flailing madly, then there was a rush of cold water and he plunged into the river. He couldn’t see anything, save for the odd rock or piece of debris. He swam to the surface, gasping for air as soon as he was free.

The power plant was in flames, the back end of the van protruding out of a control station. The police officers were all pulling over, running toward the blaze. It worked, he thought triumphantly. He looked around suddenly. I’ve got to find Chen!

He swam to the riverbank and crawled onto dry land. He got up and started walking upstream, scanning the river for any sign of his lieutenant. He didn’t dare call his name, the police still too near. He pulled his sodden jacket close and walked in silence, his feet slipping on the loose stones.

He saw a prone figure on the bank ahead of him and his pace quickened. “Chen!” he hissed, glancing up at the road as he ran. The figure lifted his head, straining to see. “I’m here, Sehun,” he said quietly. Sehun knelt beside him and pulled him into a sitting position. “Are you hurt?”

Chen shook his head. “Just a few bumps and scrapes, but nothing Nari can’t fix.”

“We need to get out of here.” Sehun grunted, helping Chen to his feet. “The police should be distracted for several hours. It might be enough for us to get home.”

They walked along the water’s edge for a while, leaving the scene of the wreckage behind. They made it to the docks and climbed up onto one of the piers, looking around carefully.

“Looks like everything’s closed down for the night,” Chen whispered. “We should take a boat downstream, circumvent the roads.”

Sehun nodded. “Good idea.” One of the fisherman supply houses had jackets and hats hanging on nails, waiting for their owners to return in the morning. Sehun and Chen took some and rearranged the rest to hide the gaps. “With any luck, people will assume we’re night fishing,” Sehun said, shedding his wet jacket and donning the dry one. They wrapped their wet things into a bundle and climbed into a small motorboat on the end of the pier. Chen started the engine and they glided away, the darkness shielding them.

The river was mostly clear of traffic, with the occasional leisurely vessel dawdling near the shoreline. They rode a few miles downstream, the current speeding them on their way.

“Stop here,” Sehun ordered. “This is as close as we’re going to get.”

Chen steered the boat to the riverbank and they climbed out, the water knee-deep around their legs. Chen released the brake and shoved the boat back out into the open, letting the river take it. “We should be less than two miles from the hideout,” he said, rubbing his hands together. He looked at the bluff stretching up before them. “This should be fun.”

He and Sehun began climbing, the crumbly earth mixed with hard ridges of rock. By the time they had made it to the top they were muddy and their hands were raw and bleeding. “Come on,” Sehun said, leading the way.

They walked along the edge of the bluff, keeping in the shadows as much as possible. They were in one of the poorer districts, made of ramshackle apartments and populated by those with nowhere else to go. There were several people about, but in their muddy fishing jackets Sehun and Chen blended right in, just two more downtrodden men coming home after a long day of bitter work.

“We’ll have to cut through to get to the hideout,” Chen whispered. “Hopefully no one will see us.”

“They will,” Sehun replied, “but they won’t care. Misery is too selfish to take notice of others.”

They crossed the street, avoiding the orange pools of light from the ancient street lamps. The alleys were populated by drunks and druggies, passed out in their own filth or staring into the darkness with unseeing eyes.

“This place used to be beautiful,” Chen muttered. “The people made the most of what they had and took pride in themselves. Now look at them, trying to escape a reality that will never change.”

“We will change it,” Sehun replied. “We fight because they rely on us, even if they don’t know it.” They cut through an alley, passing a young girl with a bottle in her hand. “We’ll make things better for everyone,” he whispered.

They left the apartments behind and approached the line of empty warehouses that sat between them and the highway. “I can see the hideout,” Chen whispered. “But no truck. Maybe it’s a trap.”

They crept up cautiously, staying close to the buildings. “Everything looks alright,” Sehun whispered. “If this was a trap, they would make sure the truck was in plain view, making it seem like the others were inside. No,” he said thoughtfully, “Chanyeol would’ve abandoned the truck somewhere else and-”

A figure approached from the opposite direction and Sehun and Chen paused, flattening themselves against the building. The figure stayed out of the moonlight, but as he approached Sehun could make out a lanky frame and bright red hair.

“Chanyeol!” he hissed, coming into the open. Chanyeol turned around, ready to attack, then he recognized Sehun. “Sehun! Chen!” he said, dropping his fists.

“Is everyone safe?” Sehun asked.

“They’re all inside. How did you get away?”

“I don’t think you’re ready for that story,” Chen said, giving Sehun a look. Sehun threw his arms around Chanyeol. “Well done,” he said softly, releasing him.

They entered the hideout and the others stood up, giving shouts of relief and happiness. All of them exchanged embraces and talked over each other, swapping stories excitedly.

“What’s all this?” Suho asked, gesturing to Sehun’s muddy fisherman’s jacket and wet clothes.

Sehun waved him away. “How are Kai and Lay?” he asked, pulling off the filthy jacket.

“Kai’s resting in his bed. Nari doesn’t think he has a concussion, but several of his ribs are cracked and he’s got a huge bump on his head. She and Baekhyun are still working on Lay in her room.”

A muffled scream from Nari’s room confirmed Suho’s words. Sehun winced. “I’ll check on him after she’s done. Everyone should get some rest; I need you in top shape for tomorrow.”

The room emptied, Chen clapping Sehun on the back before heading to the bathroom.

Sehun looked at the ceiling and sighed. We’re home.

Notes