You Call Me Monster

D.O entered the shop, nervously twirling the flower between his fingers. There weren't any customers, but he could see a girl moving around in the back. “Hello?” he called, approaching the counter. The girl came out and smiled at him. “Good morning, sir. Dropping off or picking up?”

“Actually I'm here to see Ming,” D.O replied, leaning on the counter. “I have something to tell her.”

The girl glanced at the flower and nodded. “One moment, please.” She disappeared again and D.O waited, trying not to stare at the security camera above him.

Another woman came out, this one a little older than the girl. She gave D.O a once over before coming up to the counter. “A flower for me? How wonderful!” She took the flower from him and put it to her nose. “This flower has no scent,” she said, looking at him through her lashes.

D.O remembered himself. “It came from the river,” he replied. Ming nodded and pulled a set of keys out of her pocket. “This way, sir,” she said, gesturing for him to follow her. D.O walked around the counter and followed her to the back. The back of the store was full of equipment and clothes being dry cleaned, but Ming weaved around it all effortlessly, as if she had done it a million times. There was a small spiral staircase near the back door and Ming led D.O up to the second floor.

The second floor was more of an attic turned loft, fully furnished and painted a cheery yellow. Ming closed the door behind them and sighed. “I haven't seen you before. Is Gyeong recruiting?”

“I don't work for Gyeong,” D.O replied. “He said you could help me.”

Ming opened a drawer in a nearby desk and tucked the flower inside. “Maybe. What is it you want?”

“Information.”

“About?”

“Mayor Park Dongsun.”

Ming turned around and narrowed her eyes. “Why?” she asked suspiciously.

D.O hesitated, not wanting to say too much. “I have reason to believe his life is in danger. Can you tell me where he is? I can't afford to waste any time.”

Ming sighed. “I suppose if Gyeong trusts you, I can,” she murmured. “I happen to know that the mayor is giving a speech at a prestigious award ceremony tonight. One of his aides picked up his suit this morning.” She opened the desk again and pulled out a note card. “Here's the address,” she said, handing it to him.

D.O scanned the card. “The Rose Leaf hotel?” he read, looking up at her. “I know it.”

“Good. The ceremony starts around eight, I think. But,” she said, raising a finger, “you won't get in. With all of the officials in attendance the hotel security will be doubled, and that's not accounting for private bodyguards.”

D.O slipped the card into his pocket. “I have what I need. Thank you,” he said, bowing slightly. Ming bowed in return and led him down the stairs and back through the shop.


******


The Rose Leaf hotel towered above the street, every window lit like candles in a Christmas tree. A sedate line of limousines crawled past, pausing at the main entrance to unload its passengers.

“I still think this is a stupid idea,” D.O mumbled, watching the procession through a pair of binoculars.

“What else could we do, just let Chul kill the mayor?” Xiumin asked, blowing on his hands. They crouched on the roof of a noodle restaurant across from the hotel, the wind rushing around them.

“We're not even going in!” D.O complained, looking at Xiumin. “How are we supposed to save the mayor if we're all the way up here?”

“How are we supposed to save the mayor if we get arrested?” Xiumin countered, taking the binoculars from him. “You heard Sehun. Chul won't move with this many eyes on him. We wait and observe until it's time.” He put the binoculars to his eyes. “Hold on,” he said, leaning forward slightly.

“What? What is it?” D.O asked, straining to see.

“The mayor just arrived,” Xiumin murmured. “There's his wife, his aides…” he drew his breath in sharply and D.O’s heart jumped. “What is it, Xiu?” he asked, tugging the binoculars out of his hand. He focused on the mayor's limousine and gasped. “Chul came with the mayor?!”

“Things might be moving faster than we thought,” Xiumin said grimly, reaching for his phone.


******


Chanyeol hung up the phone, sliding it back into his jacket. “Xiumin and D.O just saw Chul arrive with the mayor,” he said quietly.

“Can you confirm that, Baekhyun?” Sehun asked, walking over to him. Baekhyun scanned his computer monitors. “Here they are, coming up the main staircase,” he said, pointing at the screen. Breaking into the hotel's security feed had been easy compared to the rest of their plan.

“The wolf actually accompanied his prey,” Suho snorted. “Incredible.”

“Chul has to give the appearance of cordiality, even friendship with the mayor if he doesn't want people suspecting him,” Sehun mused. “He's likely been circling for a while now.”

He stared out the window at the hotel, thinking. The boarded-up bakery down the street from the Rose Leaf made an ideal stakeout location, even if it still smelled of flour and yeast. “I don't want to give Chul even a hint of our presence here,” he said, turning back to his men. “We make no moves until after the ceremony.”

“And if Chul does attack during the ceremony?” Chanyeol asked.

“We'll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Sehun replied. As the minutes turned into hours the tension slowly grew, the silence broken only by Sehun's measured tread across the floor. Near eleven the guests began to leave, the limousines once again lining up outside the hotel. Sehun pulled out his phone.

“Be ready, Chen,” he said, watching the cars carefully. “We can't afford to lose him.”


******


Chen tapped his earpiece, ending the call, and pulled his helmet on. He mounted his bike and turned it on, letting it idle as he watched the hotel. The mayor and his wife finally emerged, laughing as they climbed into their car. “Gotcha,” Chen whispered, revving out of the alley as the limousine pulled away. He followed at a safe distance, careful not to draw attention to himself. They arrived at the mayor's mansion and Chen watched the limousine enter through the gate. He pulled out his phone.

“The mayor and his wife are home,” he said quietly. “I'm in position down the street.”

“Stay there for now,” Sehun replied. “We'll meet you there in thirty minutes.”

Chen hung up and dismounted, sitting on the ground beside his bike. He pulled his helmet off and waited, keeping one eye on the mansion. Maybe Chul isn't going after him tonight, he thought, pulling his knees into his chest. The lights in the mansion winked out one by one, the occupants heading to their beds. Chen felt himself get sleepy, but he shook himself, determined to stay awake.

A black car pulled up quietly, waiting beside the iron gate. A few minutes passed, then the gate opened and a solitary man came out, closing the gate carefully behind him. What's Mayor Park doing now? Chen wondered, getting up quickly. The mayor got into the car and it continued down the road.

Chen dialed his phone and got back onto his bike. “The mayor is on the move again. I'm in pursuit,” he said, pulling his helmet on.

“Stay on the line, we're on our way.”

Chen pulled out onto the road and followed the mysterious car, maintaining a good distance between it and him. “They’re heading inland toward the mountains,” he said. “I doubt this is an official outing.”

“Do whatever you have to, Chen. We'll be there soon.”

They left the suburbs behind and the roads slowly became more rural, growing narrower and darker. Chen gripped his handlebars tightly, creeping closer to the car.

Suddenly the car spun around, making Chen slam on his brakes. The car revved its engines menacingly and Chen knew he had been discovered. “Come on then,” he muttered, revving his engine in response. The car sped towards him and he swerved, narrowly avoiding a collision. The car screeched as it circled back around, lights flashing. Chen dismounted his bike and pulled out his gun, standing in the middle of the road as he took aim. The car charged at him and he fired, puncturing one of the front tires, then dove out of the car's path, rolling safely into the grass as the car spun off in the other direction.

Two men got out of the car, guns in hand and swearing angrily. Chen shot one of them and the man went down. He took advantage of the second man's distraction and ran at him. The man attempted to shoot him, but Chen dodged the bullet easily and knocked the gun out of his hand. The man promptly punched him in the jaw, making Chen see stars. Chen returned the blow and kicked him in the ribs for good measure. The man stumbled, then recovered himself and tackled Chen to the ground. Chen shoved him away and leapt to his feet, reaching for his gun. He only found empty air and he whirled around, searching for his weapon. He spotted it lying on the asphalt several feet away and went to grab it, but the other man was faster. He scooped up the gun and pointed it at Chen, smiling triumphantly. Chen straightened up slowly, frantically trying to come up with a plan. A shot rang out and Chen recoiled, his heart pounding. The man teetered, a dark stain growing on his shirt. He looked down at it, putting a hand to the wound, and collapsed.

Chen looked up for the source of the shot and saw the mayor standing beside the car, smoking gun still in his hand. Chen exhaled loudly and ran over to him, taking his gun from the man’s body as he went. “Mayor Park!” he panted, coming to a stop a respectful distance away. He bowed quickly, still breathing heavily. “Are you alright, sir?”

Mayor Park put the gun into his jacket. “They took my gun from me once I was in the car,” he said, “but weren’t very careful about hiding it.”

“You saved my life, sir. I’m in your debt.”

The mayor nodded. “Consider it an act by a fellow comrade in arms,” he said dismissively. “It may have been years, but I’m still a military man. Besides,” he said, folding his arms, “it seems you were saving me in the first place. Perhaps you’d care to explain what’s going on?”

Another car pulled up and the mayor tensed, putting his hand on his gun. “It’s alright, sir,” Chen said, holding up a hand. “These men aren’t here to hurt you.”

Sehun got out of the car, taking in the scene rapidly. “Are you hurt?” he asked, looking Chen over.

“We’re fine, sir,” Chen replied. “The mayor saved my life.”

Sehun bowed toward the mayor. “I’m grateful to you for my lieutenant’s life, but we can’t linger here any longer.”

Park’s eyes narrowed. “Aren't you that gang leader who was killed in the power plant fire?” he asked.

“That's a story I'm willing to tell you, but only after we're safe,” Sehun replied. Sirens whined in the distance and Chen tensed, clutching his gun tightly.

“The police are already on their way,” the mayor said. “I'll wait for them.”

“Then you will die,” Sehun retorted. “I know this doesn't make much sense, sir, but you've got to trust us and leave now!”

Park looked at Chen, then back at Sehun. “Alright. But only because your lieutenant rescued me.”

He followed Sehun to the car and Chen retrieved his bike where it lay idling in the grass. He mounted it, wincing from the beating his would-be killer had given him. “I'm not dead yet,” he muttered, following the car up the road.


******


Kai sat up in bed, groaning loudly. His ribs felt like they were on fire, and his vision wobbled alarmingly.

“Try not to move so quickly,” a distant voice said. He pushed the covers off and swung his legs over, fighting a sudden wave of nausea. He felt a gentle hand on his back, steadying him. “You should try to rest more,” the voice said, gradually becoming more distinct. He squeezed his eyes shut and the dizziness slowly dissipated. “Where am I?” he rasped, opening his eyes slowly.

“At home. You were hurt during the fight, but we're making you better.”

Kai looked over at the speaker. “Nari. What about…” he paused, his ribs flaring again. “What about the others?” he gasped. “Lay?”

“Stable. He lost a lot of blood, but Baekhyun and I managed to get him under control.”

Kai got up suddenly. “I want to see him,” he said, swaying slightly.

“Later. You really shouldn't-”

“Now.” He put a hand to his side and turned back to Nari. “Please. I can't get there by myself.”

Nari sighed and nodded, coming over to him. She put her arm around his waist and together they walked down the hallway to Nari’s room, Kai leaning on Nari heavily.

Lay was sleeping when they entered, his leg still propped up on pillows. Nari helped Kai into the chair beside him and Lay stirred slightly, looking over at them. “Kai?” he whispered.

“Yeah, it's me,” Kai replied, smiling at him. “Enjoying your time off?”

Lay snorted softly. “Very funny.” He hissed as Nari undid his bandages, inspecting the wound. “Sorry,” she said apologetically, “I have to change them.”

Lay grunted in response and looked back at Kai. “I thought they were going to kill you,” he said quietly.

Kai shook his head. “You’ll never get rid of me that easily.”

The door banged in the distance and they all looked up, listening intently. They heard several voices murmuring and Nari straightened up. “All done,” she said, knotting the fresh bandage crisply. She gave them both a stern look. “Stay here,” she commanded, leaving the room. Kai raised an eyebrow. “I don’t remember her being so bossy.”

Lay chuckled. “She’s Sehun’s sister. What do you expect?”


******


Nari entered the living room, wiping her hands on her pants. A quick head count showed everyone had returned in one piece and she breathed a sigh of relief. There was another man with them, much older and wearing a designer suit.

“Mayor Park,” she said deferentially, bowing. The mayor raised his eyebrows in surprise. “A woman! Do all gangs now mingle their ranks?”

Nari’s cheeks reddened as Sehun came to stand beside her. “My sister, Nari. She’s my second lieutenant and an invaluable member of our group. And respectfully, sir, we aren’t a gang.”

Mayor Park nodded. “Of course. My apologies,” he said, bowing to Nari. “Your brother explained the situation to me on the way here,” he said, “though I must admit it sounds rather far-fetched. Chul is a respected businessman and public figure; I have a hard time believing he’s behind all of this.”

Nari stepped forward. “I have personally experienced Chul’s cruelty,” she replied. “Would you like to see?”

The mayor didn’t reply and Nari unzipped her jacket, tossing it to the floor and holding her arms out. “This is what he truly is,” she said, the burns and bruises stark against her pale skin. The others hissed angrily, murmuring to each other.

“Chul has one goal; control of the city. He will kill everyone in his way, including you, sir.”

Sehun took off his jacket and wrapped it around Nari’s shoulders. “He’s been controlling the police for months now,” he said, turning back to the mayor. “We think it’s likely he’s bought many of your staff and government officials as well. After my apparent death, his only remaining target is you.”

“And what do you propose to do about this?” the mayor demanded.

“We need your help to trap Chul,” Sehun replied. “His network is too vast for us to penetrate alone, but with your help, we might be able to catch him.”

The mayor weighed this for a while, then nodded. “I’m listening.”

Notes