The Hostages

"Okay, tell me again,” D.O said, gingerly propping himself against the chair. “Who's idea was it?”

“Suho's,” Sehun pronounced. “He and the other leaders made a plan to break into the CEO's office.”

“But none of them could sneak out during the conference without being noticed,” Chen cut in.

“So I did it,” Xiumin said proudly. “I sneaked in and found Shin Jongduk's file under his computer pad.”

“But how did you know it was him?” Chanyeol asked. “We never had any idea.”

“Well we had his picture-”

“And there was the rhyme clue-”

“Which Jonghyun figured out-”

“So then Suho and Minho-”

“Police station-”

“Nearly died-”

“Interrogated-”

“Okay!” Suho called, waving his hands for quiet. “We can finish that story later. Right now we have to talk about what's next.”

“Did the managers say anything to you about the next few months?” Baekhyun asked, looking at D.O and Chanyeol.

“Everything's being pushed back until our recovery is complete,” D.O said, “at which time all eight of us will be given a chance to review or possibly even end our contracts.”

The room fell silent and everyone's smiles melted away. “Would… would you do that?” Lay asked.

D.O and Chanyeol looked at each other. “I don't know,” Chanyeol confessed. “Each of us need a lot of time to think about everything that's happened. Personally, I'm interested to see what changes SM is willing to make, especially since their CEO was involved with covering this up.”

“Our main concern is the safety of the artists,” D.O added. “I'm not sure I could work for a company that can't ensure our security.”

Everyone looked dismayed, but Suho was quick to speak. “We'll support whatever decision you decide to make,” he said. “All we want is for you to be safe and happy. Right now, we're just incredibly thankful to have you both back with us.” He hugged both of them, being careful not to touch D.O’s back, then straightened up again. “We'll let you talk,” he said, gesturing for the others to follow him.

After they had left the room Chanyeol looked back at D.O. “Are you really considering leaving?” he asked.

“I think I have to consider it,” he said quietly. “We almost died out there, and the only reason was because we're with SM. Maybe we should take the way out and pursue music somewhere else.”

“I hear you,” Chanyeol said, “and I understand where you're coming from, but EXO is our group, D.O. We've been through some rough stuff together and made it out okay. I don't know if I can leave now.”

D.O nodded. “I understand,” he said. “Let's make a deal: each of us will come to a decision separately, to avoid being influenced or pressured by the others. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” Chanyeol said, shaking his hand.


******


The door opened and Kai looked up as Taemin came out into the hallway. “What are you doing here?” he murmured, pulling the door closed behind him.

“I asked Onew if I could pick you up today,” Kai said. “We haven't really talked since that first day.”

Taemin didn't reply. He stuck his hands in his hoodie pockets and began walking down the hallway, so Kai followed him. “Chanyeol said you're all seeing the same therapist,” he said, nodding at the door Taemin just came through. “He said she's really great.”

“Yeah,” he replied distantly.

Kai hesitated. “Is… is there anything I can do for you?” he asked. “I know you've been through a lot, but-”

“Actually, there is,” Taemin said abruptly. “I mean, you don't have to, it's not very-”

“I'll do it,” Kai said immediately. “What is it?”

Taemin sighed. “Mrs. Byun says I tend to bottle things up, so she wants me to talk more about what happened.”

Kai nodded. “Okay,” he agreed. They left the building and headed toward Kai's car, the icy wind tearing at them mercilessly. They got in and Kai quickly started the car. “Okay, I'm ready,” he said as hot air began blasting through the vents.

Taemin seemed at a loss for a while, then he took a deep breath and looked Kai in the eye for the first time. “You don't have to have any answers,” he said, “just listen, okay?”

Kai nodded again, feeling apprehensive as Taemin struggled to begin. “After the drugging,” he said, “they took me to the black and white room. I thought he was gonna make me play chess again, but he brought Taeyeon instead. He said he would kill her if… if I didn't beat her.”

Kai's stomach dropped. “Oh, Taemin,” he said thickly.

“I tried to refuse, but he pulled a gun out and said we would start over with someone else if I didn't, then Taeyeon stood up and told me it was okay. I still have nightmares about her saying that.”

Kai tried to take his hand, but Taemin pulled away automatically. “I'm not sure how many times I hit her,” he continued, “but by the time it was over I thought I'd killed her myself. There was so much blood…”

He started crying and covered his face with a trembling hand. Kai felt nauseous as his story took shape in his mind. “I'm so sorry,” he whispered. “I'm… I'm so sorry.”


******


Wendy pulled a soft beanie over her head and tried to hold back tears as the material grazed her bare head. Their stylist had removed what little hair remained and offered her a wig, but Wendy had refused. I'm not going to let SM forget what happened so easily, she thought, pulling the hat well over her ears.

“Wendy? Are you ready?” Krystal asked, knocking on the bathroom door.

“Coming,” Wendy called, then she leaned heavily on the bathroom counter. She really wasn't sure if she was ready for the ordeal before her, but Mrs. Byun had encouraged her to make an effort to stand with her friends. She saw the man in black fall dead to the floor and she closed her eyes tightly, but the image only grew more vivid in her mind.

“Wendy? Are you okay?” Luna asked.

Wendy retched into the sink, clutching the sides with whitened knuckles. The door opened and she felt a comforting hand on her back. “It's okay,” Luna murmured, rubbing gently.

“I can't do this,” she groaned. “I can't-” she heaved again and her eyes grew wet with tears. “Tell them I can't,” she begged.

Luna filled a cup with water and handed it to her. “Swish,” she instructed. Wendy did and spat into the sink. Luna turned the faucet on and rinsed the sink thoroughly. “I know this is hard,” she whispered. “It's brutal and horrible and sickening, but you have to do it, Wendy. Not just for the others, but for you. Show them that you're stronger than this.”

Wendy's body shuddered violently, but she poured some mouthwash into her cup and swished again. After spitting and rinsing again, she wiped her mouth and looked into the mirror. “I'm stronger than this,” she whispered.


******

Mark couldn't sit still in his chair, his anxiety growing with each new face that entered the room. Most of them were friendly, or at least familiar, but there were so many of them it made him queasy. This press conference was a stupid idea, he thought savagely.

He had never been affected by crowds before, but Mrs. Byun said that his extended isolation with the others could have brought on some temporary fears. She assured him that it would eventually pass, but in that moment he was convinced he'd never be able to perform before an audience again.

“Are you okay?” Jeno asked, his mom helping him ease into a chair. Mark nodded. “I'm fine,” he rasped, his throat dry and scratchy. “Are you?”

“I still think you should be at home,” his mother said, adjusting his collar again. “Your arm-”

“Is healing, Mom,” Jeno said patiently. “I told you, I have to do this. We have to stand together.”

She seemed unconvinced, but Jeno's father took her hand and led her off the platform, talking in a low voice.

“She's right,” Mark managed. “You should be resting at home.”

“All of us agreed that we would be here and present a united front,” Jeno retorted. “You think that just because I'm the youngest, I'm gonna wimp out on everyone?”

Mark saw Taeyong watching them worriedly and tried to look pleasant. “Just don't overdo it,” he cautioned.

The girls came in together, Taeyeon subtly supported by Amber and Wendy. She was healing too, but many of her internal wounds had been close calls and she was still technically under medical observation. Amber and Wendy both looked pale and still bore cuts and bruises, but Amber managed a brave nod in the boys’ direction as they took their seats on the platform.

Taemin was next to arrive, also pale and bruised. He was still rather frail psychologically and Mark could see Onew biting his nails worriedly as he watched Taemin ascend the platform. Man, I hope he makes it through, Mark thought to himself.

Finally D.O and Chanyeol arrived, flanked by the rest of EXO. Suho was pushing D.O in a wheelchair, while Chanyeol was on crutches. The room quieted as they also took their places on the platform, completing the line behind the table. There were no managers, no PR reps to handle questions for them. That was part of the deal: no one was going to hide the truth anymore. They had selected D.O to be the main speaker, since he had led them through their ordeal, so he sat in the middle, gathering his thoughts as the lights came on and the conference began.

D.O cleared his throat. “Thank you for being here today,” he began, bowing in his chair. “My friends and I have called this conference to tell you and the rest of the world exactly what happened to us on December third.”

Mark listened as D.O related the abduction, waking up in the cell and a brief summary of the horrors that followed. He refused to look at his parents at any point, knowing their devastated faces would haunt him forever.

When D.O got to the part about Shin Jongduk being the man in black the room erupted with questions. He paused and waited for the noise to die down, then continued. “We weren't the ones to make this discovery,” he said. “It was our fellow members, who were being kept in protective custody, that solved the mystery and discovered the information that led to our rescue. We owe them our lives.”

D.O’s voice broke and Chanyeol put a hand on his shoulder. Most of the audience was crying too and waited breathlessly for D.O to speak again. “We will take a few questions now,” he muttered, wiping his eyes.

Every hand went up and D.O pointed at one randomly.

“What is the fate of SM ENTERTAINMENT's CEO?”

“We haven't been told anything,” D.O replied. “We just watch the news coverage, same as you.” He pointed at another hand.

“What does the future hold for the eight of you?” a woman asked. “Will you stay with SM ENTERTAINMENT?”

Mark shifted in his seat uncomfortably as D.O considered his answer. “We don't know,” he admitted. “In light of the circumstances, the company has agreed to release us from our contracts if we wish, but no final decisions have been made. Any relevant information will be made available at the proper time.”

He is really good at this, Mark thought wonderingly.

“Is it true all of you suffered extensive injuries?”

Mark stiffened and resisted the urge to throw his microphone at the reporter's head. Of all the dumb, idiotic, insensitive-

“My friends and I are in need of rest and peace after our ordeal,” D.O replied evenly. “We ask that everyone respect our privacy during this time. No more questions, please.”

The lights went off even though the reporters kept clamoring for more information. Mark couldn't get up fast enough and volunteered to wheel D.O down the ramp and out the door. “Nice save,” he muttered as they entered the hallway.

“Thanks,” he replied. “Good job on not attacking that reporter.”

“Was I that obvious?” Mark asked sarcastically.

“We all wanted to punch that guy,” Chanyeol said, coming up beside them. “What a dumb question to ask.”

They saw Taemin be escorted out by his group and D.O frowned. “I'm worried about him,” he muttered.

“Do you think he'll ever be himself again?” Chanyeol asked.

“None of us will,” Mark replied, watching him leave.

Notes