A Consuming Shadow: Chapter 13 - Part 1
Sitting in his car the man drummed his fingers on his steering wheel, eyes scanning the fortress before him thoughtfully. Carefully his coal eyes roved the stone buildings, searching for a weakness. Slowly his car pulled around, eyes casually scanning the front gates that were patrolled by security. Gritting his teeth irritable he continued to drive, searching for a door. Looking at a sign he drew nearer, curious as he read it. Slowly a cold smile graced his features.
“Perfect.” He purred confidentially. Driving he rounded a corner when he saw an old wooden gate that stood unguarded. Smirking he felt a contemptuous laugh escape his lips. This was going to be too easy. Settling back into his seat his hooded eyes regarded the gate, formulating a plan. Reaching into the cup holder he downed the now cold coffee, slightly grimacing at the taste. Leaning back his coal eyes memorized the entrance and it’s surroundings. Clenching his hand tighter the leather of the gloves ground over the wheel, his chin coming to rest on the material thoughtfully. Expertly his eyes roved the streets, calculating, thinking and planning. Rolling his shoulders he attempted to ease the soreness that lay there. Maybe that side job last night had been a bad idea. That bastard had put up a god fight. Grinning whickedly he licked is lips. Unfortunately it hadn’t been good enough.
Shifting his eyes to the side he looked at the file before him, smirking at the smiling face before him. Chucking darkly he slowly leaned back in his chair, dark laughter rolling when he thought of the mistakes he had made. He had underestimated the boy, and whoever was hiding them. They were clever, perhaps to clever. Clever would provide confidence, confidence would provide a false sense of security, and the sense of security would be their down fall. Growling irritable he felt his phone vibrate. Ignoring it he quickly cut his smirk of contempt when it went off again. Fighting his anger he picked up on the fifth time.
“What do you want?” he growled.
“You forget to whom you are speaking.” A voice replied coldly.
“No.” the man ground, “I just don’t care. You’re getting on my nerves.”
“And you mine.” The cold voice replied. “We expected results weeks ago.”
“And I expected you to let me do my job.”
“Well, if you would do your job I wouldn’t have to call now would I?”
“Do you expect results within a day?” The man scoffed angrily.
“Why yes, we do.” Came the cold reply.
“Are you crazy?” the man demanded. “This job is ve-”
“Why yes I am.” The voice replied simply. “I’m so glad you noticed.”
“Listen here.” The man ground losing his patience. “And understand. Th-”
“No.” the voice replied, deathly chilly. “You listen here.”
Freezing the man felt a chill run over his spine.
“I found you when nobody else could. I employed you for a job in which I could hire a number of people for. But here is what you understand. Where there is one of me there is ten of you. Your skills are good, but not that good. There will always be one person more skilled than you that I can hire.”
“Then why hire me?” the man growled softly.
Chuckling the voice held no mirth. “ I couldn’t have the best fuck up and not be able to dispose of him now could I?” came the smug reply. “The moment I see you as a liability I will kill you. No questions asked, no excuses given. Do you understand?”
Silently the man nodded, fear slowly seeping into his pores.
“I can’t her you.”
“Yes.” He croaked softly.
“Excellent. Now, we want the boy. And we want him now. The deadline of your contract has been moved up. We want the boy before Christmas. Do you understand?”
Glaring the man felt his hand grip tighter at the ear piece, anger at his own helplessness consuming him.
“Oh, and one more thing you should know. We know everything about you. From your first love to that grandma of yours that you stashed away so carefully. You know that Choi Siwon is not a man to be crossed. We will destroy everything that you have come into contact with, whether or not it holds value to your blackened soul. Oh,” he added in an almost friendly manner. “And, as you know, death by our hands is a living hell. But I am sure that you know this. Don’t fail us Mr. Kim, I’d hate to get rid of such a valuable asset/”
“You need me.” He bluffed.
“No.” the voice stated calmly, “There are plenty of you out in the world. Even more skilled, I might add. Your value is next to none. The moment you signed that contract you became my property.”
Forcefully he controlled his breathing, forcing his mind to concentrate and realizing his own peril.
“Are you listening?” the voice mocked coldly.
“Yes.” The man replied hallowly, his voice ringing eerily in his hears.
“Excellent. Well since we understand each other, I will be calling you hortly for a report.” The cheerful voice ended.
Inhaling the man felt his body shake and anger cloud his eyes, throwing the phone in the seat beside him.
“Fucking bastard!” he glowered angrily. Cursing loudly his gloved hands ran through his hair. What the hell had he gotten himself into?
Eyes flitting up, movement from the corner of his eyes caught his attention. Slowly his calm returned and a slight smirk spread across his face.
“Why hello Mr. Cho.” He purred coldly. Subtly his eyes watched the group file out into the streets, their laughter and mirth deaf on his ears. Grabbing his hat he slowly slid from the car, placing it on his head he adjusted his jacket casually, never losing sight of the group as they slowly made their way around the corner. Locking the car he leered where they had disappeared, his feet swiftly carrying him across the street to follow.
Ω
Sungmin appeared to be leaning casually against the counter, his legs crossed at his ankles. Chuckling on cue he watched his friends destroy the clothes department whilst each tried their own ideas out on the blushing boy. Subtly his hands marked each customer that walked by, a finger subtly tapping on each count as if keeping rhythm to the headphones in his ears. His head appeared to be tilted lazily, sharp eyes scanning the surroundings carefully from under styled bangs. Chewing his gum his jaw slowly worked, his mind a frenzy of activity carefully storing each face, memorizing those that appeared more than once. Carefully he lolled his head back as if t stetch, climpsing the crowd behind him. Inhaling slightly he watched bobbed head disappear into the crowd.
“What are you doing?” a snide voice demanded.
Rolling his eyes a slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth when he looked at the approaching male.
“Relaxing.” Came his nonchalant reply.
“You aren’t going to help?” Kyuhyun demanded, lounging against the checkout counter with him.
“Please.” He responded, rolling his eyes. “I’m a walking fashion disaster. And these prices make me stomch hurl.”
“What wrong with the prices?” Kyuhyun demanded, arching a brow slightly.
“Aside from the fact I could eat for a month on the price of one shirt?” Sungmin demanded, brow raised demandingly.
“It’s not that bad.” Kyuhyun shrugged indifferently. “There are a lot pricier.”
“Why am I not surprised.” Sungmin drawled. “So why are you here?”
“Um, I’m the one paying?” Kyuhyun replied sarcastically.
“No, I mean over here with me.” Sungmin scoffed. “Generally you give me a ten foot radius.”
“I do try.” Kyuhyun sighed dramatically. “Actually I just can’t stand those girls.” He replied, face scrunching in disgust.
“What’s wrong with them?” Sungmin asked. Brow raising skeptically.
“They won’t stop touching me.” He replied in disgust, body shuddering slightly.
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“For me.” Kyuhyun replied, “Anyway where’d the Vamp kid go?” he asked sarcastically.
“Ryeowook?”
“Who else?”
“He had stuff to do.” Sungmin shrugged. “Where is Changmin going?” he asked, smirking at the boy when he left, fingers waving in a fake gesture of friendliness. Smirking when the other saw them lounging together.
“Band practice.” Kyuhyun replied casually. “Yesung has to leave soon as well.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I don’t know why though.” Kyuhyun shrugged. “Didn’t want to say, so I didn’t press.”
“Probably got tired of being a doll.” Sungmin chuckled softly. Watching the boy stutter under his new found affection.
“Whatever.” Kyuhyun scoffed.
“Either way we did pretty dam good.” Sungmin smirked in approval.
“We?” Kyuhyun demanded, brow arched.
“Fine.” Sungmin chuckled. “You.”
“Why thank you.” He replied smugly.
“No seriously.” Sungmin smirked, “He is freaking sexy.” He purred in approval.
“I-I wouldn’t say sexy … necessarily.” Kyuhyun objected sullenly.
“Dude, he’s hot.” Sungmin snorted. “If he wasn’t into Ryeowook I would definitely be making a pass.”
“You wouldn’t.” Kyuhyun objected, heart racing.
“Oh, yes. Yes I would.” Sungmin smirked, licking his lips subtly.
“You-you can’t.” Kyuhyun exclaimed subtly.
“I didn’t say I was .” Sungmin chuckled, “I just said I would.”
“Whatever. So why are you here?” asked irritably.
“Um because you are?”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Just relaxing.” He lied.
“Uh-huh.” He drawled.
“You going to go help hottie over there?” Sungmin chuckled. “it looks like the girls are about to eat him up.” He gestured towards the girs that all but swallowed up the boy while Eunhyuk and Donghae stood bickering about a shirt.
“Yeah.” Kyuhyun replied coldly, “I should.” Pushing himself off the counter he sauntered to the group to rescue his friend. “Not that it wouldn’t serve the good looking bastard right.” He muttered darkly.
Chuckling Sungmin watched him go, still alert and watching the crowd. His just relaxing was a lie, and he knew it. Since they had left the school Sungmin wasn’t able to shake the presence that he felt. He had worked in the business too long not to trust his instincts and they had been on alert all day. Something, or someone had been tailing them all day. And this something made his hair prickle. Whatever it was, his body had been on alert, screaming danger. Keeping his distance he had managed to seem a part of the group but also remain aloof so that he could watch. Eye catching a familiar color his head snapped to the side, searching for the hat he had glimpsed. Grinding his jaw he shifted his foot, side going to his waist to feel the ever present knife and gun that he wore, concealed beneath his clothes. That hat had been around in more than one shop and he had begun to grow suspicious. Rolling his shoulders he lazily ushed himself off the counter, eyes subtly following the movement as he neared the group. Affecting an easy smile he forced himself from grabbing Kyuhyun.
“Hey guys.” He grin teasingly. “What do you say about taking this hottie out to a movie.” He winked at Yesung as th other blushed deeply.
“I don’t look that different.” He mumbled softly.
“You do look pretty hot.” Eunhyuk agreed, nodding appreciatively.
“He looks ok.” Donghae huffed, suddenly sullen. Subtly stepping between Eunhyuk and Yesung.
“He does look good.” Kyuhyun acknowledge grudgingly, glaring at the grinning boy.
“Oh!” One of the sales representative squealed. “A movie?”
“Can we join?” one of them chirped.
“We get off in a few moments!” another added.
Eyes widening in terror Yesung put his hands up while stuttering.
“S-sorry ladies.” He stumbled over his own words. “But-but uh well you see I have to go.” He exclaime.
“Ah,” on of them pouted.
“That’s too bad.” The other purred.
“But that does even up the numbers.” Another added, voice growing sultry. “What do you say boys?” she asked, fingers lightly gripping the side of Sungmin’s shirt. “Want to come play?”
“Well, you see about that,” Sungmin replied, smiling sweetly. “I can’t really.” Gently removing her hand.
“Oh?” another asked, reaching out to grab Eunhyuk’s shoulder.
“You aren’t really my type.” Sungmin breathed.
“Oh?” she purred softly. “And what type is that?” Eunhyuk’s girl asked.
“My type.” Kyuhyun growled, wrapping his arms about Sungmin’s waist, pulling him into his chest.
“And mine.” Donghae added, mimicking Kyuhyun’s action, drawing Eunhyuk to him.
“oh.” The woman hissed, instantly withdrawing her hand.
“You-your-” the other stuttered while her friends eyes grew wide.
“We’re lovers.” Kyuhyun purred, chin resting on Sungmin’s shoulder.
“Still want to play?” Sungmin teased, smiling easily in the other’s embrace.
“We do love company.” Donghae purred.
“Though I think the numbers are a little off now.” Eunhyuk smirked.
“Unless you’re-”
“I-I think the boss is calling us.” One of them stuttered, backing away.”
A/n: Soooo can you guys see it?? What do you think?