The Hostages

The door clanged loudly and D.O jolted awake instantly. Several guards came into the cell and he got to his feet. “What do you want?” he rasped, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. The guards ignored him and started rousing the others. “Leave them alone!” D.O demanded. “They're sick!”

“You're not,” the lead guard said, sizing him up. “You can walk.”

“Walk where? Where are you taking us?”

Taeyeon got up and joined D.O by the wall. “I don't like this,” she whispered. D.O took her hand. “It's gonna be okay,” he lied.

Everyone except Taemin and Wendy was able to stand, all of them pale and shaking. One guard threw Taemin over his shoulder while another scooped Wendy up like a rag doll, then all of them were shepherded out into the dark passageway.

“What's going on?” Chanyeol mumbled.

“Shut up!” one of the guards barked. “No talking!”

They brought them to the black and white room and made them file in together. They dumped Taemin and Wendy on the floor and left, the lock clicking behind them.

“What happened last night?” Amber asked groggily.

“Nothing worth repeating,” Taeyeon said, giving D.O a significant look. D.O nodded and looked around the room. “The table's gone. Guess that means no chess today.”

“Very good,” a voice crackled, making all of them jump. “I'd wager you're the intelligent one, aren't you, D.O?”

“You poisoned our friends!” Taeyeon shouted. “They could've died!”

“Now, now, Taeyeon, must you be so melodramatic? The substance your friends ingested is by no means lethal. They were never in any danger.”

“But they were in pain!” Taeyeon shot back. “You wanted them to suffer!”

“I want many things, darling, but I don't do things without cause. It's one of my more decent qualities.”

“Don't call her that!” Taemin growled, sitting up stiffly. “Why don't you show yourself? Are you afraid of us?”

“Taemin, haven't you realized yet? I'm the one to fear.” The speakers crackled, then went dead. Taemin closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. “I'm not scared,” he murmured.

“Don’t,” D.O cautioned.

“Why doesn't he just tell us what he wants?” Mark wondered aloud. “Why all the mystery?”

“It's a power trip,” Amber replied. “The less we know, the more control he has over us.”

Jeno shivered. “I don't like the sound of that.”

The minutes ticked by and still no one came to the little room. They had no way of knowing how long they had been there, and that was the most unnerving thing of all. Wendy remained unconscious in the corner and D.O was beginning to fear the worst. She could be dying and all we can do is watch, he thought, watching Taeyeon dab her forehead with her skirt hem.

The door opened and the guards came in. “Up,” the lead one barked. They all obeyed, Chanyeol managing to cradle Wendy in his arms. The guards took them back through to tunnels to their cell, shoving them in before locking the door behind them. “Okay, I'm confused,” Jeno admitted. “Why are we back here?”

Amber sniffed the air and wrinkled her nose. “Bleach. My guess is they wanted to clean the cell.”

“So they put us through all that just to clean?!” Mark sputtered.

“We're dealing with a psycho, remember?” Chanyeol grunted, laying Wendy on the floor. “I hope she's okay,” he murmured, worrying his lip. Taeyeon put a reassuring hand on his back. “She will be,” she promised, giving D.O a sidelong look.


******


Suho sat up slightly, peering around the darkened room. Everyone else seemed to be good and asleep, Baekhyun already snoring prodigiously. Suho slid out of his sleeping bag and tiptoed to the door, careful not to let in too much light as he opened it. He slipped into the hallway and closed the door gently behind him. Onew, Irene and Victoria were waiting for him, whispering quietly. “Where's Taeyong?” Suho asked, checking his watch. “It's nearly two a.m.”

Down the hallway another door opened and Taeyong stepped out. “Sorry, Winwin was restless,” he whispered, joining them. “I had to make sure he was asleep.”

“Okay, come on,” Suho directed, motioning for the others to follow. He led them to an empty office at the end of the hall and gestured for them to enter. “Won't we get in trouble?” Victoria asked.

“We won't be here long,” Suho assured her, following her in. He groped around the darkened room until he found the desk lamp and he switched it on, the dim light casting stark shadows on the walls. “No one will know we've been here.”

“Why are we here, Suho?” Taeyong demanded. “You're being mysterious again.”

“We need to talk,” Onew answered, glancing at Suho. “The CEO isn't being honest with us.”

“What do you mean?” Irene asked.

“I don't think he's trying to rescue the others,” Suho said.

“What?!” Taeyong exclaimed. “What are you-”

“Shhh!” Onew breathed, holding a finger to his lips and pointing at the door. Taeyong took a breath. “What are you talking about?” he hissed. “Why wouldn't he be trying to save them?”

“I don't know exactly,” Suho confessed, “I just have this feeling.”

“You called a two a.m. meeting because you have a feeling?” Victoria demanded. “If this is a prank, it's not funny.”

“It's not a prank,” Onew said placatingly. “I overheard one of the detectives this morning. He was saying that he couldn't understand why the CEO wouldn't meet with any hostage negotiators.”

“And I got a phone call from Chanyeol's mother,” Suho added. “She's hysterical because no one will tell her anything. I told her they're just busy, but I don't think they have anything to tell anyone.”

“But why wouldn't the CEO work with the police?” Irene asked. “That doesn't make sense.”

“I know, and I have a proposal,” Suho continued. “We should try to find out as much as we can. If we're wrong, then it'll be a relief, but if we're right, then we may be their best chance of rescue.”

“And it has to be us,” Onew added, “since we're the leaders. We're responsible for the others, and we should help them if we can.”

Irene nodded. “What should we look for?” she asked.

“Things that seem odd or out of place,” Suho replied. “Anything could be relevant, so stay sharp.”

“And the others?” Victoria pressed.

“We can't involve them,” Taeyong said decidedly. “If we get in trouble, they can deny all knowledge of it.”

“And we don't run the risk of someone accidentally blurting it out,” Suho finished.

“Are we agreed?” Onew asked. The others nodded. “Good. Let's meet here each night after everyone's asleep to share what we find. I just hope we're wrong.”


******


The guard threw Taemin into the black and white room and slammed the door behind him. Taemin turned and gave the door a dirty look before glancing around the room. It was empty, the pristine white tiles shining in the fluorescent light. His heart was pounding, but he told himself it was only adrenaline. I'm not afraid, he told himself.

Another door opened, this one so seamlessly integrated into the room it was practically invisible. The man in black emerged, his hood pushed back from his masked face. With one arm he dragged a white-faced Taeyeon behind him.

“What is this?” Taemin demanded as the man threw Taeyeon to the floor.

“My patience wanes,” the man barked, “so it's time to change the game.”

Taemin helped Taeyeon up and glared at the man. “You can't make a game out of people's lives!” he snarled. The man chuckled. “So much ferocity,” he sighed. “It seems I've chosen well.” He clasped his gloved hands behind his back. “It seems that your friends at SM are unwilling to meet my terms. You're going to help me convince them otherwise.”

“We won't help you do anything!” Taemin spat.

“Oh, but you will,” the man replied smoothly. “You and Miss Taeyeon here have been rather defiant since your arrival, and I'm afraid we can't have that. So now comes your punishment.”

Taemin refused to be cowed. “Come on then,” he challenged. “I'll fight you forever if I have to.”

“Me? Goodness no,” the man said. “You will discipline her for me.”

Taemin shook his head adamantly. “No! I won't lay a finger on her!”

“If you don't, I'll kill her right now and we'll start this all over again with another one of your friends,” the man said, pulling out a gun. Taemin’s blood ran cold. “I… I…”

“Taemin,” Taeyeon whispered. “We don't have a choice.”

“She's right, Taemin,” the man said, caressing his gun. “Have you made your decision?”

Taemin looked down at Taeyeon. “I can't,” he whispered shakily.

“You must,” she replied bravely. “I'll be okay.”

The man cocked his gun and Taemin shuddered. “Have it your way,” he said through gritted teeth. Taeyeon drew herself up regally, though he could see fear in her eyes. He raised a trembling hand and slapped her across the face. Taeyeon stumbled back, her lip bleeding.

“I think you can do better than that,” the man prompted. “You may stop only when I say so.”

Taemin hit her again, his vision blurry with tears as Taeyeon fell to the floor. She got up and he punched her in the stomach, making her gasp for air. Another blow and she fell to the floor.

“Kick her.”

Taemin obeyed and there was a distinct crack, making him shudder.

“Again.”

He kicked her again and she screamed, tears sliding down her face. Taemin looked up at the man. “I can't-”

“Again!”

Taemin kicked her again and let out a roar of frustration. “Please, let me-”

“Get up!” the man ordered, gesturing at Taeyeon. She slowly climbed to her feet, sobbing and cradling her abdomen. “Again.”

Taemin struck her again, knocking her against the wall. She spat out a mouthful of blood and Taemin felt a wave of desperation. “Surely that's-”

“Again,” the man growled. Taemin hit her over and over, hating himself more with each punch.

Finally the man raised his hand. “Enough,” he called as Taeyeon collapsed again. “I think that will suffice.”

Taemin was trembling all over, his knuckles bruised and coated with Taeyeon’s blood. The man knocked on the door and the guard came in, scooping her up silently. Another grabbed Taemin by his shirt collar, tugging him toward the door.

“Taemin,” the man called, stopping them. “Thank you for helping me.”

Notes