Soul's Requiem (Chapter 14)
"What did you say?” Changmin choked slightly, eyes large as he tried to comprehend what he’d just been told.
“Why are we moving to the America base?” He breathed, turning dark, quizzical eyes on Sungmin’s sitting for. He wasn’t sure if he was really able to comprehend this change. Why would they be moving? Hadn’t the Jungs just gotten to their South Korean headquarters?
“Things have changed a bit and we need to get back to America.” Sungmin hedged as he splayed his fingers over the circler surface of the oak table that was set in the meeting room.
“But we won’t be leaving for another week or so, it’s Yunho and Jaejoong that will be leaving in about three hours.” He finished, head tilting to the left slightly to give Changmin a long stare.
Was that supposed to make him feel better? Hell, his whole reason for joining the Jung Organization was going to be flying away to America in three hours.
“Why in the world would Yunho need to take Jaejoong?” He questioned, raising quizzical eyebrows. He could see no logical reason for Yunho to take Jaejoong with him to America.
“I guess you could say Jaejoong is the there to assure that Yunho doesn’t get hurt.” Sungmin stated slowly, nodding his head slightly as if agreeing with his own words. “After all, the Kims have always been a rather unstable organization.”
That dark, unreadable look in Sungmin’s eyes caused Changmin to knit his brow and draw back slightly. What was it that he was seeing in that gaze that bordered on insanity? Did the other boy know his true identity? Changmin felt his breath hitch slightly as he continued to look at Sungmin, held prisoner by that relentless gaze.
“They’re using Jaejoong as a type of human shield then?” He managed to breath, breaking their linked gaze by dropping his eyes down to stare at black leather of the chair he was resting his hands against. It made him angry…the thought of Jaejoong being used as some type of shield. They didn’t care whether he lived or died, so long as their greedy agendas were fulfilled.
“Yep.” Sungmin responded easily, arms crossing over his chest as he watched Changmin.
“Oh.” Changmin breathed, words edged in a sigh. What else could he say? He couldn’t show any concern for Jaejoong; couldn’t voice his desire to simple set Jaejoong free while the rest of the gang moved on to America.
“What about Junsu?” He asked after a small moment, deciding that lingering on Jaejoong was a bad idea. If Sungmin had any idea of who Changmin really was, then his preoccupation with Jaejoong would be a dead giveaway of his true identity.
“We usually leave him here with an attendant. Unfortunately, we’re all moving so he’ll have to be disposed of before we leave.” Sungmin shrugged his shoulders, the usually happy light gone from his eyes as he stood from his chair and regarded Changmin for a moment. “Who knows, if you’re lucky enough, killing Junsu might just end up to be your job. After all, it is your job to take care of the prisoners.” Sungmin sneered softly before he turned and made his way through the white door, never glancing back at Changmin’s pale face.
What to do, what to do? He stood frozen for a moment, worried eyes pinned on the grey wall in front of him. He couldn’t panic, not when Jaejoong’s safety relied upon Changmin keeping his cool and going through with the plan. But where the hell was his sign to get moving? Wasn’t Donghae supposed to send him the signal that would alert him of the appropriate time to take action?
Changmin pulled in a long breath through his nose, letting his eyes flutter shut for a moment as he tried to regain his composure. He could handle this…or so he wanted to believe.
What danger was he to the Jung Organization? It was like a single ant trying to take down an elephant! It was absolutely ludicrous!
He jumped slightly when the alarm on his phone chirped, informing him that it was time for Jaejoong and Junsu’s lunch.
Changmin hastily pulled his phone from his pocket and silenced the alarm, brow furrowed as he looked at the black background of his phone. It matched the way he felt in a small way. Black, dark and lost. He had no idea what he was supposed to do now. Why hadn’t they covered something like this before sending him in?
Changmin let out a sigh and shook his head slightly as he stashed his phone in his right pocket and made his way out of the meeting hall.
As he made his way down the hall, he found himself wonderingly absently if Boa was going to be waiting for him at the cell again. They had hardly spoken as they tended to Jaejoong together, though she was polite and offered him slight smiles as she worked. He wasn’t sure what to make of her, in all truthfulness. She was, he had learned, the fiancée of Jung Yunho, which put her in control of a substantial amount of power. She was someone that Changmin could see as an important connection.
Making his way around the corner, a smile pulled at his lips as he saw the very person he’d been contemplating. She was wandering down the hall absently, eyes pinned to the book that was held lightly within her slender hands. From the way her steps faltered slightly, it was obvious that she was hardly paying attention to where she was walking.
“Do you even know where you are right now?” Changmin voiced his question as he stood and watched her lift dazed eyes away from the pages of her book. A bright smile lit up her face as she saw Changmin standing there, her book closing with a soft snap.
“Not really.” She shrugged and glanced around, brow furrowed as she took in her surroundings with a slightly bemused expression. “I like to walk and read, feels like I’m getting more done.” She explained with a soft laugh as she brushed a stray lock of hair behind her right ear.
“You’re near the kitchen.” Changmin supplied simply as he took a slight step forward to give indication that he wanted to keep walking. She seemed to understand because she stepped aside to allow him room to pass and then fell into step next to him.
“So what book is it that you’re reading?” He questioned politely, letting his gaze flicker towards the emerald-green cover of the book cradled in the crook of her left arm.
“Oh,” Boa blushed slightly and gripped the book closer to her petite form, “it’s my mother’s diary from when she was younger.” She turned a fond sort of smile down on the tattered edges of the book, the yellow-ish paper crinkled from age and obvious wear from the fingers of the current and former owner.
“When she died a few years ago, my father gave it to me and told me to take it with me when I went to marry Yunho…” She trailed off, biting her bottom lip slightly as she glanced at Changmin from the corner of her left eye. “My mother married my father because of an arranged marriage, and my father figured that this might help me adapt.” She finished with a slight nod of her head, turning a slightly uncertain smile towards Changmin.
“Well, that was thoughtful of him.” Changmin had to work to keep a sneer from edging his voice. What kind of father would force his daughter to marry the cold and heartless bastard that was Jung Yunho?
“Have you ever thought of trying to get out of the marriage?” He asked on a whim deciding to voice his curiosity.
Boa furrowed her brow slightly as Changmin spoke, eyes slightly narrowed as she looked up at him. “I want to marry Yunho.” She stated with a slight nod of her head. “He gave me the option to leave, but I wanted to stay.” She shifted the book to her other arm and sighed softly, her eyes far off as if she were reliving some moment of her past. “The gang life is the only one I know. I’m not sure I’m ready to leave it.”
Changmin bit his lower lip slightly, unsure of how he was supposed to respond to Boa’s words. He had never been able to understand why people confided in him when he had no idea how to console another person. Jaejoong was the only person that Changmin felt he could really comfort and give advice to.
“I see.” He bobbed his head slightly, eyeing the kitchen door with a look that bordered on too interested. Was he making it too obvious that he didn’t want to be having this conversation anymore?
“Are you going to see Jaejoong and Junsu?” She asked in a slightly hopeful voice, her glimmering eyes lifting to catch Changmin’s gaze. Did you need any help with cooking or getting the stuff down there? ’Cause I’m free for the rest of the day.”
How could he turn away that look of unbridled happiness and that voice so full of hope? He never understood her attachment to Junsu and Jaejoong. It seemed so out of place that the future wife of a gang leader would even care about prisoners. Or maybe it was that she was just a normal, caring human in a hell full of sadistic devils.
“I could use some help.” Changmin bobbed his head as he took a step forward and pushed the kitchen door open. “Thanks for offering.”
“Oh it’s my pleasure.” Her smile, if possible, seemed to grow brighter as she traipsed after Changmin. “I’ve wanted to check on Jaejoong to see how he’s doing.” Boa added in a slightly more serious voice as she made her way through the dining room and into the small kitchen.
“Last I saw, he was doing much better.” Changmin responded, casting her a quick glance over his shoulder before he opened the refrigerator door and pulled out two, premade sandwiches. “He’s able to sit up now and his fever is totally gone.” He added as he pulled out two bottles of water and set them on the island. “Could you get a bag for this stuff?” Changmin quirked a brow and gestured to the food and drink. “I’m gonna get Jaejoong’s medicine.”
Boa bobbed her head slightly as she moved to get a bag from a cabinet underneath the island. “How is Junsu doing?” She asked after a short pause as she stood from a crouched position. Her fingers plucked at her green shirt, pulling it further over the edge of her jeans.
“He asks for you a lot.” Changmin knew that his words pleased her by the happy smile that lifted the corners of her mouth upward. Once again, he was baffled at her attitude. Who could show such love for someone that was so obviously crazy? The boy hardly seemed to know where or who he was half of the time. Yet, he always knew Boa and he was beginning to recognize Changmin as well. At the thought of Junsu, his stomach dropped as Sungmin’s words came rushing back to him. What if he had to kill Junsu? He felt his muscles tense as he cast a discreet glance back at Boa. What would she think if her beloved Junsu ended up dead?
“Poor Junsu. I really think that with some proper human contact and maybe some therapy and medication, he could function like a normal person.” Her voice was tense with emotions, her eyes clouded with misty tears as she packed the sandwiches into the bag. “No one seems to care about him. They just threw him down there and left him to rot.” She sniffed lightly, finding some excuse to turn her back on Changmin in an attempt to regain her composure.
“Have you tried suggesting that to Yunho?” He ventured carefully as he shook two of the antibiotic pills into his left palm. He was just asking to provide conversation. Changmin knew full well that Yunho would never be so kind to Junsu.
“I’ve mentioned it once or twice to him, but the subject of Junsu is a bit taboo for him.” She seemed hesitant about telling him this for some reason. As if she didn’t fully trust him.
“Ah, I see.” Changmin responded as he checked to make sure the cell key was still in his left pocket.
He found himself sneering at the thought of Yunho even caring about Junsu. The subject was taboo? Did that just mean that Yunho couldn’t be bothered with the fact that his own brother was rotting in some dank cell?
Changmin sighed to clear the thoughts from his head as he pocketed the key to Jaejoong’s cell.
“Let’s get going.” He stated easily as he made his way to the door, Boa following closely behind.
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Jaejoong lay on his stomach, contemplating the dull coloring of the stone on the wall opposite him. He was bored out of his mind and his arms and legs were beginning to grow stiff from hardly being used in two days. He was tired, yet he couldn’t seem to get to sleep because there was always some small sound that would jerk him back to the waking world. He spent the nights fully awake, listening for the sounds of the door opening, or for Henney’s voice to float through the cell. But worse than all of that, was the nightmares he would have if he managed to get to sleep. They were terrible visions full of monsters and Henney’s sick face full of hungry lust. Jaejoong was always bound in his dreams, held prisoner by ropes and chains while Henney stabbed him and gouged his flesh with sharp tools.
He always woke up screaming hoarsely after those dreams.
But even with the new insomnia, Jaejoong could feel his spirits lifting as his hope for getting out of this situation grew. He’d been shocked when he’d seen Changmin in his cell, sure that he was just hallucinating. After all, it would be normal for his mind to show him images of the one person he wanted to see most.
The arrival of Changmin had come just in time to keep him from falling off the edge of sanity. He’d been so close to simply losing his mind just like Junsu had. He could still feel those tendrils of stressful emotion eating at the edges of his mind, reminding him of all the dirty things that had happened to him since he’d been kidnapped. He would never be the same, but at least he would be alive.
Junsu’s behavior had grown increasingly better as well. Boa had been to the cell with Changmin a few times now and Changmin was also friendly with the insane boy. Junsu seemed to have a growing affection for Changmin, considering how his eyes lit up and he began to pace in front of the door every time he heard the lock turn. He no longer muttered Boa’s name back to his friends, but Changmin’s.
Jaejoong wasn’t sure what to make of the other boy anymore. There were times when he seemed to be on the edge of sanity, as if he were simply a normal person that could have used a shower and a shave. But then there were times when he looked so far gone, as if his mind had simply left his body and was off in some other world. Jaejoong wondered what life was like for Junsu, with his rat friends and long imprisonment in this dank cell. It was no wonder that the boy had lost his mind.
The door clicked and Jaejoong flinched out of habit, his heart doubling the speed of its dance within his chest as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. Some part of his mind knew that it was only Changmin that was fiddling to get the lock undone. Yet, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from picturing Henney strolling through that door, a long whip held in his hands.
Jaejoong shivered.
The door creaked open and Junsu jumped from his spot on the floor, his eyes bright as he took in his two most favorite people on earth. Changmin and Boa.
“Hey you two.” Changmin greeted as he strolled into the cell and made a B-line for Jaejoong.
“I got you the antibiotics and some lunch.” He stated as he handed Jaejoong two of the white pills and a bottle of water.
Jaejoong smiled at Changmin, reaching his hand out to gently caress Changmin’s smooth cheek. “Changmin, when are we going to leave?” He breathed, a tight feeling of hope constricting his chest as he waiting for Changmin’s answer. Truthfully, he already knew what the answer was going to be, but he couldn’t seem to keep the words for spilling from his mouth.
Changmin’s eye dimmed slightly and he pulled back from Jaejoong’s touch, head shifting slightly to cast Boa and Junsu a quick glance.
“I’m still waiting for the signal, Jaejoong.” He seemed preoccupied, as if there was something he was trying to hide from Jaejoong. He pressed the pills into Jaejoong’s right hand and uncapped the water for him. “Take these.” He commanded softly, motioning for Jaejoong to follow his orders.
Jaejoong did as he was told, tossing back the two pills and washing them down with a long gulp of refreshingly cool water.
“Changmin, is there something wrong?” He questioned in a whisper, leaning in slightly to try and catch Changmin’s wandering gaze. Changmin always looked Jaejoong in the eye unless he was trying to avoid a topic or was lying. He had a feeling that the younger male was doing both at the moment.
Changmin sighed and sank fully to the floor, his legs folding neatly as he sat. “Jaejoong, I’m going to tell you something, but you have to promise me that you won’t get freaked out.” He began slowly, now holding Jaejoong’s gaze fully.
Despite his best efforts, Jaejoong already felt the panic creeping up his throat, constricting his breathing. Surely Changmin wasn’t going to leave him. Feelings of sudden betrayal crashed against his heart, leaving his eyes misting and mind whirling.
“I promise.” He managed to choke out, even though he was already near having another mental breakdown.
“Jaejoong, they’re taking you to America in a few hours.” Changmin whispered, his left hand coming out and gently stroking the back of Jaejoong’s right hand. “You’ll be getting on an airplane with Jung Yunho and both of you will be flying to America.”
Jaejoong could tell from the look in Changmin’s eyes, that his own face was probably a picture of horror. He could already feel a tear trekking down his cheek as he sat in frozen shock, his mind racing as he tried to comprehend what it was that Changmin was telling him. He was being moved to America?
“W-Why?” He breathed, unable to force anything else out of his body.
“There’s been a death-threat against Yunho and everyone thinks it’s the Kims that left the message. There using you as a type of protection for Yunho.” Changmin explained in a soft voice, lifting his hand to gently wipe the tears off of Jaejoong’s face.
“Why can’t you get me out of here before that, Changmin?” Jaejoong nearly whimpered, gripping at the hand that was touching his pale cheek. “You can’t save me if I’m in America.” He reminded the younger male as he leaned forward slightly, finding himself with the urge to be close to Changmin while he could.
“Jaejoong, please believe that I would do anything I could to get you out. But it’s impossible for me to get you out of here on my own. They have guards everywhere and to get out of the grounds with a prisoner, I would have to have signed papers from one of the higher ranking members.” Changmin whispered into the dim cell, eyes pleading as he held Jaejoong’s gaze.
Jaejoong groaned softly as his felt the growing bubble of hope shatter within his chest. Why was this happening to him? What had he done to deserve fate’s cruelty?
“So are you saying that you can’t rescue me anymore?” He breathed the question that was tearing him apart. He couldn’t accept the reality that he was once again being torn from the grips of safety.
“I’ll be coming to America in about a week, Jaejoong. I promised that I would get you out, and I will.” Changmin vowed in a firm voice as he gripped Jaejoong’s shoulder.
Jaejoong felt like dying as he thought of another long week with the Jungs. What horrors could Daniel Henney inflict upon him in the long span of a week?
“Changmin, what if they kill me before you get there?” He breathed softly, biting his bottom lip in an attempt to keep himself from sobbing. It scared him slightly that dying sounded so pleasant. It sounded like a release, a way for him to get away from all of the bad things that were haunting him.
“They’re not going to kill you, Jaejoong.”
“How do you know that, Changmin!” Jaejoong burst, as he pulled himself out of Yunho’s grip.
“Is he alright?” Boa’s voice broke the stiff silence that had fallen between the two males.
“Everything’s fine.” Changmin assured as he stood and offered Boa a tense smile.
Jaejoong watched with a hollow expression on his face, tears now trailing down his face freely. A whole week until he finally got out of his personal hell.
He listened vaguely as Changmin told Boa that he was probably still hallucination, so that was why he’d called him Changmin. He noted Boa’s look of slight disbelief before her features crumpled into a look of pure sympathy.
“Poor Jaejoong.” She breathed as she made her way to his side, her cool hands brushing at his face. “I thought the antibiotics were supposed to help.” Boa turned dark eyes back on Changmin, waiting for his explanation.
Jaejoong lifted his eyes to meet Changmin’s gaze, eyes dull and empty. Why had he even hoped that this time he was really going to get out? One would imagine that after so many instances where his hope was shattered, he would have learned to simply keep an emotional distance from every situation.
“I’m not really sure what’s going on…” Changmin trailed off as the cell door was pushed open and an imposing figure walked into the room. He was clad in suit that looked to be Armani, his lean body fitting perfectly within the confines of the luxurious fabric. He was tall, confidant and deadly. He was Jung Yunho.
At the sight of her fiancé, Boa jumped from her squatting position, a dark blush settling over her cheeks as she met his gaze of disbelief and anger. Her hands fidgeted absently with the hem of her shirt, plucking at it softly as she averted her gaze.
“What exactly are you doing here, Boa?” He spoke into the darkness, his body stiff and his eyes never straying to the corner where Junsu sat huddled in a quivering ball.
His eyes did flicker towards Changmin for a brief moment , a flash of anger glowing there before he returned his gaze to Boa.
“I was just helping Changmin bring the food down.” She breathed softly, voice slightly placating as she explained herself.
Jaejoong sat watching the scene, eyes swiveling between Yunho, Changmin and Boa. Yunho brought feelings of fear to the forefront of his mind, his body aching at the thought of those strong limbs crashing into him again and again. Yunho was deadly. Jaejoong still bore the scars to prove it.
Changmin had always been the person who Jaejoong looked to as an element of support. But all he saw now was the reflection of his shattered hopes in Changmin’s eyes.
In the end, Boa was the only one that Jaejoong still found himself clinging strongly to. She had not betrayed him, had not shattered his hopes or given him false hope.
Jaejoong tuned back into the scene as he saw Yunho take a step closer to Changmin, his demeanor tense and agitated. “I don’t care if you accidently met her in the hallway, you don’t go traipsing about with my fiancé.” He growled, steadily holding Changmin’s gaze.
“Of all the things I had thought of you, I never pinned you as a possessive and jealous moron.” Changmin shot back without hesitation, not seeming to care that he was insulting a man who was, for all intensive purposes, his boss.
Jaejoong watched, as if the world had slowed, as Yunho pulled his fist back and sent it flying into Changmin’s stomach, knocking the younger male back a few steps as he hunched over and fought for air.
Jaejoong almost didn’t catch the metallic glint of the gun until it was pointed at Changmin’s head. He gasped loudly and shifted slightly in an attempt to stand; however, before he had even gotten to his knees, a blur of brown, tattered hair barreled into Changmin and knocked him to the ground.
Junsu and Changmin fell with a loud thud. The smaller male’s arms were wrapped secularly around Changmin’s neck as he covered the younger male with his own body. Putting himself in danger to save Changmin.
Jaejoong locked gazes with Junsu at that moment, and saw sanity in those eyes. Junsu was there, in that cell, placing himself in danger to save Changmin. In those glassy eyes, Jaejoong saw the tendrils of who the boy probably was before he was imprisoned. It gave him an odd sense of hope.
Yunho wavered slightly at the sight of Junsu, his face paling slightly as he stared down at the prone figure of his younger brother. The conflict in his eyes was clear, his indecision obvious in the way he lowered the gun slightly, as if he was unsure of what to do.
“Yunho…” Boa breathed, taking a few steps to place herself in between Yunho and Changmin, “there’s no need for things to happen like this.” Her words were placating and tender, eyes pleading with her fiancé to make the right decision.
Yunho’s brow twitched slightly as he took in Boa’s words. He held her gaze for a long moment, his eyes full of a dark fire, before he lowered the gun and let out a small breath.
“Jaejoong.” He snapped, turning dark eyes on Jaejoong’s trembling form, “We will be leaving in twenty minutes for the airport.” He stated darkly as he walked past Junsu and Changmin, who were getting up off the floor. “Don’t doubt that I’ll beat you if you show any of this wishy-washy bullshit while you’re with me.” He snarled as he roughly wiped the tears off of Jaejoong’s face. “While you’re with me, you will act like my cousin. You will not cause a scene and you will act as if you enjoy being with me. Do you understand?” Yunho wiped his damp fingers along the sleeve of Jaejoong’s grey shirt, disgust in his eyes as he laid-out his commands.
In a fit of panic, Jaejoong glanced at Changmin, who was currently keeping his eyes away from Jaejoong and balling his hands into fists at his side.
Jaejoong pleaded silently for Changmin to look at him, to offer some kind of support to show that he could get through this. He got nothing from Changmin. He felt his heart break slightly as he shifted his gaze back to Yunho and nodded his head. Jaejoong wanted to beg, wanted to plead for Yunho to simply let him leave with Changmin, but he knew that would do nothing for him in the end. He would just end up with more bruises and shattered hopes.
Yunho stood from his squatting position, disgusted eyes pinned on Jaejoong for a moment longer before he turned and shifted his gaze towards Changmin. “I don’t take crap like that from my subordinates. I don’t care if you hate my guts, you never speak to me with a tone of disrespect.” He drew within three inches of Changmin, eyes blazing as he issued the command.
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Changmin lifted his jaw slightly, giving a more pronounced look at his taller height when compared to Yunho. The way he clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes was a clear sign that he was holding something back, keeping sharp, disrespectful words from spilling from his mouth. “Yes Sir.” He managed to breath, voice tense with the strain of holding back his anger.
There was a brief silence before Yunho turned and strode towards the door, body tensed as he called over his shoulder, “Boa, come with me.”
Boa blushed slightly and cast an apologetic look at Changmin before turning to make her way after an angry Yunho.
“Changmin.” Junsu whimpered as he closed the distance between himself and Changmin, his small arms wrapping around Changmin’s waist.
That single word showed forth his longing, his need to be loved and taken care of. It showed his need to be a normal person again.
“It’s okay, Junsu.” Changmin breathed, wrapping his arms around the shivering shoulders of the smaller male. “I’m here to take care of you.” Jaejoong flinched at the tenderness in those words, a feeling of jealousy creeping over him as he watched the way Junsu fisted Changmin’s shirt in his small hands, as if he wanted to make sure Changmin never left.
Jaejoong should have been the one clinging to Changmin; he should have been the one that Changmin uttered those words of comfort to. Not Junsu.
“What do I need to do to be ready to leave?” Jaejoong breathed into the dim cell, his voice constricted with emotions that he was trying to fight back. Where had his control gone? How was it that he couldn’t seem to stop himself from feeling every single emotion that crossed his mind?”
“You need to get a shower and I’ll get you a change of clothes.” Changmin turned his attention towards Jaejoong now, his eyes blank and distant looking. Where had the warmth gone?
Jaejoong felt tears quivering on the edge of his eyes, threatening to spill out and show his hurt and feelings of betrayal.
“Okay.” He breathed softly, swallowing back his emotions. He wanted to feel Changmin’s arms wrapped around him; wanted to know that the younger male still cared about him.
Changmin settled Junsu back onto the floor and patted his head gently before he turned and made his way back over to Jaejoong, his face tight with an unreadable look. “Come on, we’ve got to be quick if we want to get everything done.” He reached down and gently lifted Jaejoong off the floor, supporting most of the older male’s weight.
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The cacophony of noise in the airport gaze Jaejoong a headache. He could feel the pain creeping up the back of his skull as he was assaulted with children crying, people laughing, and hundreds of people shouting over the noise to be heard by their companions.
The bright white of the entire building didn’t do anything to help his headache either. It seemed that after spending two weeks locked within a dark cell, his eyes were having trouble adjusting to the extremely bright lighting of the sun.
One thing he couldn’t complain about was the warmth and freshness of the air. His skin prickled pleasantly as he pulled in a breath of fresh air, his lungs expanding gratefully as they observed their first waft of air untainted by decay.
He jumped slightly when he felt the wheelchair he was seated in begin to move, his head turning to glance up at the rather tight face of Jung Yunho.
He felt panic come crashing down on him as he remembered exactly why he was getting this taste of fresh air and natural light. He was being taken away. Far away to a place where Changmin would not be able to reach him.
“Don’t look so petrified, Jaejoong.” Yunho growled, gaze flickering to Jaejoong for a moment before he returned to weaving around people who were hurriedly making their way towards their terminals, tickets clutched in their hands.
“I can’t help it.” Jaejoong stated dryly as he turned his attention back to the front and clenched his fists lightly. He wanted to do something, anything to stop Yunho from getting him on that plane. But what could he do when he could hardly stand?
Yunho pulled to a stop when they reached their desired terminal, his body tensed as he scanned the crowd twice before taking a seat and turning to face Jaejoong. “Act like you’re talking to me.” He commanded easily, a soft smile lighting up his face.
Jaejoong’s brow twitched downwards as he gazed at Yunho, derailed by the other male’s sudden turn to pleasantness. “How is Boa?” Jaejoong asked softly, wanting to hit a nerve in the man that had hurt him so badly. He viewed Yunho as the one that was taken everything away from him. First Boa and then Changmin…who next?
Yunho tensed slightly, smile freezing in place as he turned fiery eyes on Jaejoong’s thin form. “She’s doing wonderful.” He breathed shortly as he sat back in his chair and regarded Jaejoong with a long look. He opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by a woman announcing that their flight was now boarding.
Yunho closed his mouth, furrowed his brow slightly and stood from his chair, pushing Jaejoong ahead of him.
Jaejoong shivered at the look he received from Yunho, feeling grateful that there would be plenty of other people on the plane.
He watched as he was rolled past a flight attendant, his plea for help pressing at his lips as he was pushed further down the boarding-ramp. He couldn’t say anything, not without forfeiting his life.’
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Everything in the flight was going smoothly. The take off had gone through without a problem and they were on their way to America. Nothing seemed to be amiss.
An hour passed calmly before a man exited from the cockpit and sauntered over to the microphone that allowed for the flight attendants to make announcements. He was average in height, with striking blonde hair and narrow features. He could have almost passed as Japanese.
But Yunho knew better. Yunho knew who this man was, and he knew that he was in more danger than he had ever been back at the Jung Headquarters.
Things quickly fell into place for him as he made the connections in his mind, playing out events and instances that he had assumed to be real. They had been nothing but a ploy to get him on this flight.
“Hello, my dear passengers.” The man greeted with a wicked smile across his face. He locked gazes with Yunho. “We will be making a slight detour from our original schedule. I do apologize.” With that, he turned and left, smirk still positioned on his face.
Yunho felt anger boiling in his stomach as he reached for his bag to get his cell phone. He was met with empty air. His bag was gone. He felt panic beginning to eat at him as he turned to the phone attached to the back of the seat in front of him. How could he use the phone if he had no credit card to pay for it with? He sat back stiffly in his chair as he began to realize the futility of trying to escape. He was trapped in the air with people who wanted him dead.
Yunho glanced over at Jaejoong’s sleeping form, suddenly overcome with a wave of guilt at what he had done to the smaller male. He’d been wrong. Wrong all along.
=------------------------------------=
Changmin sighed as he turned to make his way back inside. He’d seen Yunho and Jaejoong off not long ago, his eyes pinned to the black car as it pulled away. He hoped with all his might that Jaejoong was still alive when he got to America. It he wasn’t, the Changmin was going to make heads roll, and Jung Yunho’s would be first to go.
Just as he was reaching for the door, the sound of yelling broke out and then the sound of multiple gun shots.
Terror spiked through his body as he stood frozen, trying to comprehend what was happening. Surely that wasn’t the sign he’d been waiting for all week?
Changmin turned his head as he heard a yell and saw Hankyung come shooting around the corner, Eunhyuk following close behind, gun held aloft and firing back at their pursuers.
Oh shit.
“Why are we moving to the America base?” He breathed, turning dark, quizzical eyes on Sungmin’s sitting for. He wasn’t sure if he was really able to comprehend this change. Why would they be moving? Hadn’t the Jungs just gotten to their South Korean headquarters?
“Things have changed a bit and we need to get back to America.” Sungmin hedged as he splayed his fingers over the circler surface of the oak table that was set in the meeting room.
“But we won’t be leaving for another week or so, it’s Yunho and Jaejoong that will be leaving in about three hours.” He finished, head tilting to the left slightly to give Changmin a long stare.
Was that supposed to make him feel better? Hell, his whole reason for joining the Jung Organization was going to be flying away to America in three hours.
“Why in the world would Yunho need to take Jaejoong?” He questioned, raising quizzical eyebrows. He could see no logical reason for Yunho to take Jaejoong with him to America.
“I guess you could say Jaejoong is the there to assure that Yunho doesn’t get hurt.” Sungmin stated slowly, nodding his head slightly as if agreeing with his own words. “After all, the Kims have always been a rather unstable organization.”
That dark, unreadable look in Sungmin’s eyes caused Changmin to knit his brow and draw back slightly. What was it that he was seeing in that gaze that bordered on insanity? Did the other boy know his true identity? Changmin felt his breath hitch slightly as he continued to look at Sungmin, held prisoner by that relentless gaze.
“They’re using Jaejoong as a type of human shield then?” He managed to breath, breaking their linked gaze by dropping his eyes down to stare at black leather of the chair he was resting his hands against. It made him angry…the thought of Jaejoong being used as some type of shield. They didn’t care whether he lived or died, so long as their greedy agendas were fulfilled.
“Yep.” Sungmin responded easily, arms crossing over his chest as he watched Changmin.
“Oh.” Changmin breathed, words edged in a sigh. What else could he say? He couldn’t show any concern for Jaejoong; couldn’t voice his desire to simple set Jaejoong free while the rest of the gang moved on to America.
“What about Junsu?” He asked after a small moment, deciding that lingering on Jaejoong was a bad idea. If Sungmin had any idea of who Changmin really was, then his preoccupation with Jaejoong would be a dead giveaway of his true identity.
“We usually leave him here with an attendant. Unfortunately, we’re all moving so he’ll have to be disposed of before we leave.” Sungmin shrugged his shoulders, the usually happy light gone from his eyes as he stood from his chair and regarded Changmin for a moment. “Who knows, if you’re lucky enough, killing Junsu might just end up to be your job. After all, it is your job to take care of the prisoners.” Sungmin sneered softly before he turned and made his way through the white door, never glancing back at Changmin’s pale face.
What to do, what to do? He stood frozen for a moment, worried eyes pinned on the grey wall in front of him. He couldn’t panic, not when Jaejoong’s safety relied upon Changmin keeping his cool and going through with the plan. But where the hell was his sign to get moving? Wasn’t Donghae supposed to send him the signal that would alert him of the appropriate time to take action?
Changmin pulled in a long breath through his nose, letting his eyes flutter shut for a moment as he tried to regain his composure. He could handle this…or so he wanted to believe.
What danger was he to the Jung Organization? It was like a single ant trying to take down an elephant! It was absolutely ludicrous!
He jumped slightly when the alarm on his phone chirped, informing him that it was time for Jaejoong and Junsu’s lunch.
Changmin hastily pulled his phone from his pocket and silenced the alarm, brow furrowed as he looked at the black background of his phone. It matched the way he felt in a small way. Black, dark and lost. He had no idea what he was supposed to do now. Why hadn’t they covered something like this before sending him in?
Changmin let out a sigh and shook his head slightly as he stashed his phone in his right pocket and made his way out of the meeting hall.
As he made his way down the hall, he found himself wonderingly absently if Boa was going to be waiting for him at the cell again. They had hardly spoken as they tended to Jaejoong together, though she was polite and offered him slight smiles as she worked. He wasn’t sure what to make of her, in all truthfulness. She was, he had learned, the fiancée of Jung Yunho, which put her in control of a substantial amount of power. She was someone that Changmin could see as an important connection.
Making his way around the corner, a smile pulled at his lips as he saw the very person he’d been contemplating. She was wandering down the hall absently, eyes pinned to the book that was held lightly within her slender hands. From the way her steps faltered slightly, it was obvious that she was hardly paying attention to where she was walking.
“Do you even know where you are right now?” Changmin voiced his question as he stood and watched her lift dazed eyes away from the pages of her book. A bright smile lit up her face as she saw Changmin standing there, her book closing with a soft snap.
“Not really.” She shrugged and glanced around, brow furrowed as she took in her surroundings with a slightly bemused expression. “I like to walk and read, feels like I’m getting more done.” She explained with a soft laugh as she brushed a stray lock of hair behind her right ear.
“You’re near the kitchen.” Changmin supplied simply as he took a slight step forward to give indication that he wanted to keep walking. She seemed to understand because she stepped aside to allow him room to pass and then fell into step next to him.
“So what book is it that you’re reading?” He questioned politely, letting his gaze flicker towards the emerald-green cover of the book cradled in the crook of her left arm.
“Oh,” Boa blushed slightly and gripped the book closer to her petite form, “it’s my mother’s diary from when she was younger.” She turned a fond sort of smile down on the tattered edges of the book, the yellow-ish paper crinkled from age and obvious wear from the fingers of the current and former owner.
“When she died a few years ago, my father gave it to me and told me to take it with me when I went to marry Yunho…” She trailed off, biting her bottom lip slightly as she glanced at Changmin from the corner of her left eye. “My mother married my father because of an arranged marriage, and my father figured that this might help me adapt.” She finished with a slight nod of her head, turning a slightly uncertain smile towards Changmin.
“Well, that was thoughtful of him.” Changmin had to work to keep a sneer from edging his voice. What kind of father would force his daughter to marry the cold and heartless bastard that was Jung Yunho?
“Have you ever thought of trying to get out of the marriage?” He asked on a whim deciding to voice his curiosity.
Boa furrowed her brow slightly as Changmin spoke, eyes slightly narrowed as she looked up at him. “I want to marry Yunho.” She stated with a slight nod of her head. “He gave me the option to leave, but I wanted to stay.” She shifted the book to her other arm and sighed softly, her eyes far off as if she were reliving some moment of her past. “The gang life is the only one I know. I’m not sure I’m ready to leave it.”
Changmin bit his lower lip slightly, unsure of how he was supposed to respond to Boa’s words. He had never been able to understand why people confided in him when he had no idea how to console another person. Jaejoong was the only person that Changmin felt he could really comfort and give advice to.
“I see.” He bobbed his head slightly, eyeing the kitchen door with a look that bordered on too interested. Was he making it too obvious that he didn’t want to be having this conversation anymore?
“Are you going to see Jaejoong and Junsu?” She asked in a slightly hopeful voice, her glimmering eyes lifting to catch Changmin’s gaze. Did you need any help with cooking or getting the stuff down there? ’Cause I’m free for the rest of the day.”
How could he turn away that look of unbridled happiness and that voice so full of hope? He never understood her attachment to Junsu and Jaejoong. It seemed so out of place that the future wife of a gang leader would even care about prisoners. Or maybe it was that she was just a normal, caring human in a hell full of sadistic devils.
“I could use some help.” Changmin bobbed his head as he took a step forward and pushed the kitchen door open. “Thanks for offering.”
“Oh it’s my pleasure.” Her smile, if possible, seemed to grow brighter as she traipsed after Changmin. “I’ve wanted to check on Jaejoong to see how he’s doing.” Boa added in a slightly more serious voice as she made her way through the dining room and into the small kitchen.
“Last I saw, he was doing much better.” Changmin responded, casting her a quick glance over his shoulder before he opened the refrigerator door and pulled out two, premade sandwiches. “He’s able to sit up now and his fever is totally gone.” He added as he pulled out two bottles of water and set them on the island. “Could you get a bag for this stuff?” Changmin quirked a brow and gestured to the food and drink. “I’m gonna get Jaejoong’s medicine.”
Boa bobbed her head slightly as she moved to get a bag from a cabinet underneath the island. “How is Junsu doing?” She asked after a short pause as she stood from a crouched position. Her fingers plucked at her green shirt, pulling it further over the edge of her jeans.
“He asks for you a lot.” Changmin knew that his words pleased her by the happy smile that lifted the corners of her mouth upward. Once again, he was baffled at her attitude. Who could show such love for someone that was so obviously crazy? The boy hardly seemed to know where or who he was half of the time. Yet, he always knew Boa and he was beginning to recognize Changmin as well. At the thought of Junsu, his stomach dropped as Sungmin’s words came rushing back to him. What if he had to kill Junsu? He felt his muscles tense as he cast a discreet glance back at Boa. What would she think if her beloved Junsu ended up dead?
“Poor Junsu. I really think that with some proper human contact and maybe some therapy and medication, he could function like a normal person.” Her voice was tense with emotions, her eyes clouded with misty tears as she packed the sandwiches into the bag. “No one seems to care about him. They just threw him down there and left him to rot.” She sniffed lightly, finding some excuse to turn her back on Changmin in an attempt to regain her composure.
“Have you tried suggesting that to Yunho?” He ventured carefully as he shook two of the antibiotic pills into his left palm. He was just asking to provide conversation. Changmin knew full well that Yunho would never be so kind to Junsu.
“I’ve mentioned it once or twice to him, but the subject of Junsu is a bit taboo for him.” She seemed hesitant about telling him this for some reason. As if she didn’t fully trust him.
“Ah, I see.” Changmin responded as he checked to make sure the cell key was still in his left pocket.
He found himself sneering at the thought of Yunho even caring about Junsu. The subject was taboo? Did that just mean that Yunho couldn’t be bothered with the fact that his own brother was rotting in some dank cell?
Changmin sighed to clear the thoughts from his head as he pocketed the key to Jaejoong’s cell.
“Let’s get going.” He stated easily as he made his way to the door, Boa following closely behind.
=--------------------------------------------=
Jaejoong lay on his stomach, contemplating the dull coloring of the stone on the wall opposite him. He was bored out of his mind and his arms and legs were beginning to grow stiff from hardly being used in two days. He was tired, yet he couldn’t seem to get to sleep because there was always some small sound that would jerk him back to the waking world. He spent the nights fully awake, listening for the sounds of the door opening, or for Henney’s voice to float through the cell. But worse than all of that, was the nightmares he would have if he managed to get to sleep. They were terrible visions full of monsters and Henney’s sick face full of hungry lust. Jaejoong was always bound in his dreams, held prisoner by ropes and chains while Henney stabbed him and gouged his flesh with sharp tools.
He always woke up screaming hoarsely after those dreams.
But even with the new insomnia, Jaejoong could feel his spirits lifting as his hope for getting out of this situation grew. He’d been shocked when he’d seen Changmin in his cell, sure that he was just hallucinating. After all, it would be normal for his mind to show him images of the one person he wanted to see most.
The arrival of Changmin had come just in time to keep him from falling off the edge of sanity. He’d been so close to simply losing his mind just like Junsu had. He could still feel those tendrils of stressful emotion eating at the edges of his mind, reminding him of all the dirty things that had happened to him since he’d been kidnapped. He would never be the same, but at least he would be alive.
Junsu’s behavior had grown increasingly better as well. Boa had been to the cell with Changmin a few times now and Changmin was also friendly with the insane boy. Junsu seemed to have a growing affection for Changmin, considering how his eyes lit up and he began to pace in front of the door every time he heard the lock turn. He no longer muttered Boa’s name back to his friends, but Changmin’s.
Jaejoong wasn’t sure what to make of the other boy anymore. There were times when he seemed to be on the edge of sanity, as if he were simply a normal person that could have used a shower and a shave. But then there were times when he looked so far gone, as if his mind had simply left his body and was off in some other world. Jaejoong wondered what life was like for Junsu, with his rat friends and long imprisonment in this dank cell. It was no wonder that the boy had lost his mind.
The door clicked and Jaejoong flinched out of habit, his heart doubling the speed of its dance within his chest as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. Some part of his mind knew that it was only Changmin that was fiddling to get the lock undone. Yet, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from picturing Henney strolling through that door, a long whip held in his hands.
Jaejoong shivered.
The door creaked open and Junsu jumped from his spot on the floor, his eyes bright as he took in his two most favorite people on earth. Changmin and Boa.
“Hey you two.” Changmin greeted as he strolled into the cell and made a B-line for Jaejoong.
“I got you the antibiotics and some lunch.” He stated as he handed Jaejoong two of the white pills and a bottle of water.
Jaejoong smiled at Changmin, reaching his hand out to gently caress Changmin’s smooth cheek. “Changmin, when are we going to leave?” He breathed, a tight feeling of hope constricting his chest as he waiting for Changmin’s answer. Truthfully, he already knew what the answer was going to be, but he couldn’t seem to keep the words for spilling from his mouth.
Changmin’s eye dimmed slightly and he pulled back from Jaejoong’s touch, head shifting slightly to cast Boa and Junsu a quick glance.
“I’m still waiting for the signal, Jaejoong.” He seemed preoccupied, as if there was something he was trying to hide from Jaejoong. He pressed the pills into Jaejoong’s right hand and uncapped the water for him. “Take these.” He commanded softly, motioning for Jaejoong to follow his orders.
Jaejoong did as he was told, tossing back the two pills and washing them down with a long gulp of refreshingly cool water.
“Changmin, is there something wrong?” He questioned in a whisper, leaning in slightly to try and catch Changmin’s wandering gaze. Changmin always looked Jaejoong in the eye unless he was trying to avoid a topic or was lying. He had a feeling that the younger male was doing both at the moment.
Changmin sighed and sank fully to the floor, his legs folding neatly as he sat. “Jaejoong, I’m going to tell you something, but you have to promise me that you won’t get freaked out.” He began slowly, now holding Jaejoong’s gaze fully.
Despite his best efforts, Jaejoong already felt the panic creeping up his throat, constricting his breathing. Surely Changmin wasn’t going to leave him. Feelings of sudden betrayal crashed against his heart, leaving his eyes misting and mind whirling.
“I promise.” He managed to choke out, even though he was already near having another mental breakdown.
“Jaejoong, they’re taking you to America in a few hours.” Changmin whispered, his left hand coming out and gently stroking the back of Jaejoong’s right hand. “You’ll be getting on an airplane with Jung Yunho and both of you will be flying to America.”
Jaejoong could tell from the look in Changmin’s eyes, that his own face was probably a picture of horror. He could already feel a tear trekking down his cheek as he sat in frozen shock, his mind racing as he tried to comprehend what it was that Changmin was telling him. He was being moved to America?
“W-Why?” He breathed, unable to force anything else out of his body.
“There’s been a death-threat against Yunho and everyone thinks it’s the Kims that left the message. There using you as a type of protection for Yunho.” Changmin explained in a soft voice, lifting his hand to gently wipe the tears off of Jaejoong’s face.
“Why can’t you get me out of here before that, Changmin?” Jaejoong nearly whimpered, gripping at the hand that was touching his pale cheek. “You can’t save me if I’m in America.” He reminded the younger male as he leaned forward slightly, finding himself with the urge to be close to Changmin while he could.
“Jaejoong, please believe that I would do anything I could to get you out. But it’s impossible for me to get you out of here on my own. They have guards everywhere and to get out of the grounds with a prisoner, I would have to have signed papers from one of the higher ranking members.” Changmin whispered into the dim cell, eyes pleading as he held Jaejoong’s gaze.
Jaejoong groaned softly as his felt the growing bubble of hope shatter within his chest. Why was this happening to him? What had he done to deserve fate’s cruelty?
“So are you saying that you can’t rescue me anymore?” He breathed the question that was tearing him apart. He couldn’t accept the reality that he was once again being torn from the grips of safety.
“I’ll be coming to America in about a week, Jaejoong. I promised that I would get you out, and I will.” Changmin vowed in a firm voice as he gripped Jaejoong’s shoulder.
Jaejoong felt like dying as he thought of another long week with the Jungs. What horrors could Daniel Henney inflict upon him in the long span of a week?
“Changmin, what if they kill me before you get there?” He breathed softly, biting his bottom lip in an attempt to keep himself from sobbing. It scared him slightly that dying sounded so pleasant. It sounded like a release, a way for him to get away from all of the bad things that were haunting him.
“They’re not going to kill you, Jaejoong.”
“How do you know that, Changmin!” Jaejoong burst, as he pulled himself out of Yunho’s grip.
“Is he alright?” Boa’s voice broke the stiff silence that had fallen between the two males.
“Everything’s fine.” Changmin assured as he stood and offered Boa a tense smile.
Jaejoong watched with a hollow expression on his face, tears now trailing down his face freely. A whole week until he finally got out of his personal hell.
He listened vaguely as Changmin told Boa that he was probably still hallucination, so that was why he’d called him Changmin. He noted Boa’s look of slight disbelief before her features crumpled into a look of pure sympathy.
“Poor Jaejoong.” She breathed as she made her way to his side, her cool hands brushing at his face. “I thought the antibiotics were supposed to help.” Boa turned dark eyes back on Changmin, waiting for his explanation.
Jaejoong lifted his eyes to meet Changmin’s gaze, eyes dull and empty. Why had he even hoped that this time he was really going to get out? One would imagine that after so many instances where his hope was shattered, he would have learned to simply keep an emotional distance from every situation.
“I’m not really sure what’s going on…” Changmin trailed off as the cell door was pushed open and an imposing figure walked into the room. He was clad in suit that looked to be Armani, his lean body fitting perfectly within the confines of the luxurious fabric. He was tall, confidant and deadly. He was Jung Yunho.
At the sight of her fiancé, Boa jumped from her squatting position, a dark blush settling over her cheeks as she met his gaze of disbelief and anger. Her hands fidgeted absently with the hem of her shirt, plucking at it softly as she averted her gaze.
“What exactly are you doing here, Boa?” He spoke into the darkness, his body stiff and his eyes never straying to the corner where Junsu sat huddled in a quivering ball.
His eyes did flicker towards Changmin for a brief moment , a flash of anger glowing there before he returned his gaze to Boa.
“I was just helping Changmin bring the food down.” She breathed softly, voice slightly placating as she explained herself.
Jaejoong sat watching the scene, eyes swiveling between Yunho, Changmin and Boa. Yunho brought feelings of fear to the forefront of his mind, his body aching at the thought of those strong limbs crashing into him again and again. Yunho was deadly. Jaejoong still bore the scars to prove it.
Changmin had always been the person who Jaejoong looked to as an element of support. But all he saw now was the reflection of his shattered hopes in Changmin’s eyes.
In the end, Boa was the only one that Jaejoong still found himself clinging strongly to. She had not betrayed him, had not shattered his hopes or given him false hope.
Jaejoong tuned back into the scene as he saw Yunho take a step closer to Changmin, his demeanor tense and agitated. “I don’t care if you accidently met her in the hallway, you don’t go traipsing about with my fiancé.” He growled, steadily holding Changmin’s gaze.
“Of all the things I had thought of you, I never pinned you as a possessive and jealous moron.” Changmin shot back without hesitation, not seeming to care that he was insulting a man who was, for all intensive purposes, his boss.
Jaejoong watched, as if the world had slowed, as Yunho pulled his fist back and sent it flying into Changmin’s stomach, knocking the younger male back a few steps as he hunched over and fought for air.
Jaejoong almost didn’t catch the metallic glint of the gun until it was pointed at Changmin’s head. He gasped loudly and shifted slightly in an attempt to stand; however, before he had even gotten to his knees, a blur of brown, tattered hair barreled into Changmin and knocked him to the ground.
Junsu and Changmin fell with a loud thud. The smaller male’s arms were wrapped secularly around Changmin’s neck as he covered the younger male with his own body. Putting himself in danger to save Changmin.
Jaejoong locked gazes with Junsu at that moment, and saw sanity in those eyes. Junsu was there, in that cell, placing himself in danger to save Changmin. In those glassy eyes, Jaejoong saw the tendrils of who the boy probably was before he was imprisoned. It gave him an odd sense of hope.
Yunho wavered slightly at the sight of Junsu, his face paling slightly as he stared down at the prone figure of his younger brother. The conflict in his eyes was clear, his indecision obvious in the way he lowered the gun slightly, as if he was unsure of what to do.
“Yunho…” Boa breathed, taking a few steps to place herself in between Yunho and Changmin, “there’s no need for things to happen like this.” Her words were placating and tender, eyes pleading with her fiancé to make the right decision.
Yunho’s brow twitched slightly as he took in Boa’s words. He held her gaze for a long moment, his eyes full of a dark fire, before he lowered the gun and let out a small breath.
“Jaejoong.” He snapped, turning dark eyes on Jaejoong’s trembling form, “We will be leaving in twenty minutes for the airport.” He stated darkly as he walked past Junsu and Changmin, who were getting up off the floor. “Don’t doubt that I’ll beat you if you show any of this wishy-washy bullshit while you’re with me.” He snarled as he roughly wiped the tears off of Jaejoong’s face. “While you’re with me, you will act like my cousin. You will not cause a scene and you will act as if you enjoy being with me. Do you understand?” Yunho wiped his damp fingers along the sleeve of Jaejoong’s grey shirt, disgust in his eyes as he laid-out his commands.
In a fit of panic, Jaejoong glanced at Changmin, who was currently keeping his eyes away from Jaejoong and balling his hands into fists at his side.
Jaejoong pleaded silently for Changmin to look at him, to offer some kind of support to show that he could get through this. He got nothing from Changmin. He felt his heart break slightly as he shifted his gaze back to Yunho and nodded his head. Jaejoong wanted to beg, wanted to plead for Yunho to simply let him leave with Changmin, but he knew that would do nothing for him in the end. He would just end up with more bruises and shattered hopes.
Yunho stood from his squatting position, disgusted eyes pinned on Jaejoong for a moment longer before he turned and shifted his gaze towards Changmin. “I don’t take crap like that from my subordinates. I don’t care if you hate my guts, you never speak to me with a tone of disrespect.” He drew within three inches of Changmin, eyes blazing as he issued the command.
\
Changmin lifted his jaw slightly, giving a more pronounced look at his taller height when compared to Yunho. The way he clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes was a clear sign that he was holding something back, keeping sharp, disrespectful words from spilling from his mouth. “Yes Sir.” He managed to breath, voice tense with the strain of holding back his anger.
There was a brief silence before Yunho turned and strode towards the door, body tensed as he called over his shoulder, “Boa, come with me.”
Boa blushed slightly and cast an apologetic look at Changmin before turning to make her way after an angry Yunho.
“Changmin.” Junsu whimpered as he closed the distance between himself and Changmin, his small arms wrapping around Changmin’s waist.
That single word showed forth his longing, his need to be loved and taken care of. It showed his need to be a normal person again.
“It’s okay, Junsu.” Changmin breathed, wrapping his arms around the shivering shoulders of the smaller male. “I’m here to take care of you.” Jaejoong flinched at the tenderness in those words, a feeling of jealousy creeping over him as he watched the way Junsu fisted Changmin’s shirt in his small hands, as if he wanted to make sure Changmin never left.
Jaejoong should have been the one clinging to Changmin; he should have been the one that Changmin uttered those words of comfort to. Not Junsu.
“What do I need to do to be ready to leave?” Jaejoong breathed into the dim cell, his voice constricted with emotions that he was trying to fight back. Where had his control gone? How was it that he couldn’t seem to stop himself from feeling every single emotion that crossed his mind?”
“You need to get a shower and I’ll get you a change of clothes.” Changmin turned his attention towards Jaejoong now, his eyes blank and distant looking. Where had the warmth gone?
Jaejoong felt tears quivering on the edge of his eyes, threatening to spill out and show his hurt and feelings of betrayal.
“Okay.” He breathed softly, swallowing back his emotions. He wanted to feel Changmin’s arms wrapped around him; wanted to know that the younger male still cared about him.
Changmin settled Junsu back onto the floor and patted his head gently before he turned and made his way back over to Jaejoong, his face tight with an unreadable look. “Come on, we’ve got to be quick if we want to get everything done.” He reached down and gently lifted Jaejoong off the floor, supporting most of the older male’s weight.
=----------------------------------=
The cacophony of noise in the airport gaze Jaejoong a headache. He could feel the pain creeping up the back of his skull as he was assaulted with children crying, people laughing, and hundreds of people shouting over the noise to be heard by their companions.
The bright white of the entire building didn’t do anything to help his headache either. It seemed that after spending two weeks locked within a dark cell, his eyes were having trouble adjusting to the extremely bright lighting of the sun.
One thing he couldn’t complain about was the warmth and freshness of the air. His skin prickled pleasantly as he pulled in a breath of fresh air, his lungs expanding gratefully as they observed their first waft of air untainted by decay.
He jumped slightly when he felt the wheelchair he was seated in begin to move, his head turning to glance up at the rather tight face of Jung Yunho.
He felt panic come crashing down on him as he remembered exactly why he was getting this taste of fresh air and natural light. He was being taken away. Far away to a place where Changmin would not be able to reach him.
“Don’t look so petrified, Jaejoong.” Yunho growled, gaze flickering to Jaejoong for a moment before he returned to weaving around people who were hurriedly making their way towards their terminals, tickets clutched in their hands.
“I can’t help it.” Jaejoong stated dryly as he turned his attention back to the front and clenched his fists lightly. He wanted to do something, anything to stop Yunho from getting him on that plane. But what could he do when he could hardly stand?
Yunho pulled to a stop when they reached their desired terminal, his body tensed as he scanned the crowd twice before taking a seat and turning to face Jaejoong. “Act like you’re talking to me.” He commanded easily, a soft smile lighting up his face.
Jaejoong’s brow twitched downwards as he gazed at Yunho, derailed by the other male’s sudden turn to pleasantness. “How is Boa?” Jaejoong asked softly, wanting to hit a nerve in the man that had hurt him so badly. He viewed Yunho as the one that was taken everything away from him. First Boa and then Changmin…who next?
Yunho tensed slightly, smile freezing in place as he turned fiery eyes on Jaejoong’s thin form. “She’s doing wonderful.” He breathed shortly as he sat back in his chair and regarded Jaejoong with a long look. He opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by a woman announcing that their flight was now boarding.
Yunho closed his mouth, furrowed his brow slightly and stood from his chair, pushing Jaejoong ahead of him.
Jaejoong shivered at the look he received from Yunho, feeling grateful that there would be plenty of other people on the plane.
He watched as he was rolled past a flight attendant, his plea for help pressing at his lips as he was pushed further down the boarding-ramp. He couldn’t say anything, not without forfeiting his life.’
=-----------------------------------=
Everything in the flight was going smoothly. The take off had gone through without a problem and they were on their way to America. Nothing seemed to be amiss.
An hour passed calmly before a man exited from the cockpit and sauntered over to the microphone that allowed for the flight attendants to make announcements. He was average in height, with striking blonde hair and narrow features. He could have almost passed as Japanese.
But Yunho knew better. Yunho knew who this man was, and he knew that he was in more danger than he had ever been back at the Jung Headquarters.
Things quickly fell into place for him as he made the connections in his mind, playing out events and instances that he had assumed to be real. They had been nothing but a ploy to get him on this flight.
“Hello, my dear passengers.” The man greeted with a wicked smile across his face. He locked gazes with Yunho. “We will be making a slight detour from our original schedule. I do apologize.” With that, he turned and left, smirk still positioned on his face.
Yunho felt anger boiling in his stomach as he reached for his bag to get his cell phone. He was met with empty air. His bag was gone. He felt panic beginning to eat at him as he turned to the phone attached to the back of the seat in front of him. How could he use the phone if he had no credit card to pay for it with? He sat back stiffly in his chair as he began to realize the futility of trying to escape. He was trapped in the air with people who wanted him dead.
Yunho glanced over at Jaejoong’s sleeping form, suddenly overcome with a wave of guilt at what he had done to the smaller male. He’d been wrong. Wrong all along.
=------------------------------------=
Changmin sighed as he turned to make his way back inside. He’d seen Yunho and Jaejoong off not long ago, his eyes pinned to the black car as it pulled away. He hoped with all his might that Jaejoong was still alive when he got to America. It he wasn’t, the Changmin was going to make heads roll, and Jung Yunho’s would be first to go.
Just as he was reaching for the door, the sound of yelling broke out and then the sound of multiple gun shots.
Terror spiked through his body as he stood frozen, trying to comprehend what was happening. Surely that wasn’t the sign he’d been waiting for all week?
Changmin turned his head as he heard a yell and saw Hankyung come shooting around the corner, Eunhyuk following close behind, gun held aloft and firing back at their pursuers.
Oh shit.