Dangerous Mind (2 PM, DBSK, SHINee fanfic) Chapter 3
Jaebeom stood at the entrance to the living room, his hands in his pockets, bags under his eyes and a hat over his hair. He looked a little more worn than before-probably due to jet lag-but otherwise it was the Park Jaebeom who had been the leader of 2 PM not longer than a month ago. He had come back, and the rest of 2 PM were shocked and thrilled at the same time. They crowded around him, hugging and crying all at the same time. They had really wanted him to come back, and for him to return at a time like that was something they found they really needed. Jae, however, looked serious and tired.
“I was actually on my way back here after JYP left. I guess maybe I shouldn’t have just left like that so I wanted to apologize and make it up to you guys.” He shrugged casually, looking uncertain. “When I was getting ready to leave the airport I got a call from JYP, he told me what happened.” He swallowed and looked so unlike his usual self that everyone else in the room felt that if Jae was worried, then they all should be REALLY worried. “Is Chansung…are they all alright?”
After shooting a look at one another, each group muttered something incoherent and Jae’s shoulders sagged slightly. “It’s really that bad?”
“Yeah looks like it,” Taecyeon replied, his arm around Jae’s shoulder. He glanced at Jaejoong, who shook his head slightly. “We know they’re alive, and Chansung’s putting up on hell of a fight, but…” He inhaled deeply. “This killer, she’s nasty Jae hyung, like really cruel.”
“We’re planning to go find them,” Onew said abruptly, getting sharp glances as a result. Jae looked shocked for a second, and was about to say something when he nodded. His back straightened and he looked more like himself as he stared at his own group.
“I think we should go after them,” he said, “do some searching of our own.”
Taec nodded as well of some others who all felt the same. Even though Jaejoong felt a little uncertain about it the thought of his precious maknae being killed overrode any of those thoughts in an instant. Slowly he slid his hand into Yunho’s, squeezed it tightly and was glad when he got a squeeze back.
“But we all can’t go,” Minho said suddenly, “if we all go then the police are going to know something’s up and they’ll definitely be all over us in an instant.”
“He’s right,” Wooyoung agreed, “but who should go?”
“The leader’s,” Yunho said, “we’re responsible for all of you, if anything were to happen to you then it would on our shoulders.” Onew and Jae nodded together, both had a look of determination on their faces. Yunho turned to Onew and shook his head slowly. “I don’t know if you should go Onew…it’s too dangerous for you and if something were to happen-”
Onew looked stunned momentarily but then collected himself quickly. “What do you mean? I’m SHINee’s leader, what did you just say about the leaders protecting their group?” His hands clenched into fists and he stared intently at Yunho. “I may not be the best leader, nor the strongest but I want…no I need to find Taemin and get him away from that woman before she can do any more harm to him. I want to prove that I can be a good leader.” The other three members of SHINee stared at him with looks that said that he was a good leader, no matter what he said about himself.
Yunho looked at him worriedly but considered his words and then nodded slightly. “I know how you feel Onew…and I guess if you’re that determined than I can’t stop you.” Onew’s face almost beamed if he even knew how to smile at a time like that.
“You can’t go alone!” Key blurted, standing, “there’s only three of you, and if you do manage to get them how can you all protect yourselves when they won’t be able to?”
“Exactly,” Jaejoong nodded, siding with the younger boy, “I’m going with you.”
“And me,” Key added.
“And me,” Taec nodded.
The three leaders exchanged looks and then slowly agreed to let them come. They didn’t really want to admit it, but the extra hands would really help in the end.
“Alright so that means everyone else had to stay here and make sure those detectives stay unaware,” Yunho said, once again taking matters into his own hands. “We’ll start searching here on the internet so for now it shouldn’t be too bad, but when we leave you’re all going to have to think of something to come up with.” He turned to Junho. “Now what does this woman look like?”
“She’s got black hair, a little wild and out of control I guess….” Junho bit his lip. “She was about the same size as Jonghyun, maybe a little taller.” (Jonghyun stuck out his tongue and crossed his arms-he wasn’t very fond of being short). “She looked kind of crazy, like you could tell from the way she stared at us, it was like she was mentally unstable. Also her skin was dark, but that’s about as much as I can give you.”
“Alright, well let’s go to the other victims’ houses and see what their families say,” Yunho said, pacing back and forth. “We’ll need to look up who they are and then get their addresses and maybe they know a little more information that can help us.” Nodding they all set to work, getting the laptop out and started doing some digging. All the while they didn’t notice just how close they were becoming under the pressure.
“Yun,” Jaejoong whispered, staying a little ways back from the computer, “what do you think is going to happen with the lawsuit?”
Yunho smiled and wrapped his arms around Jaejoong’s waist from the back. “I don’t think we need to worry about that right now. Let’s just concentrate on getting our precious maknae back, hm?” He kissed Jaejoong’s cheek and Jaejoong leaned his head against Yunho’s like they were parents observing their children with pride.
~*~*~*~
Detective Lee sat back in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He had just finished talking to the three managers and told them it was best to suspend all three groups’ activities just until they could figure something out. It was easier than he thought to get their approval-with the lawsuit between DBSK and SM Entertainment had set the groups performances somewhat on hold, so coming up with an excuse for them was easy. The detective had been told that SHINee was also on hold for promoting so that wouldn’t be a problem. The only thing he had to worry about now was 2 PM-he was informed that their leader who had left a few weeks ago was back. So far the media hasn’t picked up on the arrival, nor the fans, but he didn’t doubt that it Jae took one step outside questions will start flying and it will all wind up to this murder kidnapping being revealed. And at that moment, he didn’t want the media coverage, it was just too much pressure.
Detective Kwon sat at her desk, flipping through the other victims’ files, scanning for any clues that may help. Then she straightened and looked down at the page in front of her. “Sir…I found something. I can’t believe we didn’t see this before it’s so obvious.” Detective Lee leaned over and glanced at the three files with a curious expression.
“Well I’ll be damned,” he said, shaking his head, “it was staring at us right in the beginning, how the hell could we have missed it?”
“I don’t know,” she said, shrugging, “I guess we just got caught up in finding who the killer was, not the connection she had with these kids.”
“Right, well do some more research, call that place and find out exactly what’s going on with it.” He turned back to the files sitting on his desk, and skimmed through them as well. And it was just as he thought; the other three had the same connection. At least they were one step closer to finding out the real identity. Momentarily hope fluttered in his stomach and he looked down again at the picture sitting on his desk, the smiling boy forever staring up at him, his front teeth missing.
A flood of memories washed over him; his son being born to a mother who was told she could never have children; a son who grew up loving to play the piano and play soccer; a son who was the top of his class every year until grade six. His son’s body had been found lying under a bush, strangled to death. There were no finger prints, it was as if his killer was an invisible assailant. At the same time, a girl disappeared, one whom Detective Lee and his wife had adopted when she found out she wasn’t fertile. Detective Lee had always thought it was her that did it to their son, but the case went cold. It was during that time that he decided to join the police force and do his best to find every type of criminal there was-from petty crime to full-fledged murderer. And so far he lived up this word. Which meant he couldn’t let this one escape either.
~*~*~*~
Once they got the addresses, the group of six decided to break off into groups of two. Now the only problem was to get away from the fans, so they dressed in the most casual clothing, put hats on really low over their faces, and put hoodies on. If anything they looked more gangster. Jae was especially careful as to how he put himself together; no one knew of his return except for his manager, JYP and the thirteen boys he went to see. When he was done you could only have known it was him if you looked closely and picked apart his disguise.
When they left, the remaining eight sat together, doing more research and if they would find anything they would text it to their hyungs in an instant.
Once outside, the group split into twos: Yunho and Jaejoong, Jaebeom and Taecyeon, and Onew and Key. They all reviewed their plans and then hurried off to the addresses they had in hand. Onew glanced over it as he walked, reading the names under his breath.
“I wonder what kind of connection they have with our Taemin,” he muttered, shivering. Key shrugged and threw an arm over his shoulder. “Don’t worry Onew things will work out in the end for them I mean it. We’ll find them before it’s too late.”
“But what if we don’t?”
Key didn’t answer but Onew pulled him closer for comfort anyway, feeling safer in his arms. As they walked Onew felt that he knew this area, like he had been there many times before. When he looked around he noticed that he did, in fact, know the area and something stirred in his stomach. They soon came across the first address on their list and noticed that their hyungs, Jaejoong and Yunho were at a house a few blocks down. Instantly they thought it was strange but shrugged it off when the door was answered by a middle aged woman who looked like she was in the middle of cleaning or cooking. Quickly they bowed and apologized for the rude intrusion.
“Um…we’d like to ask you some questions if you don’t mind ma’am,” Onew said politely, looking nervous. “About…about your son.” The woman looked shocked and was going to apologize and shut the door but Key stopped her, desperation in his eyes.
“Please ma’am, our…brothers are in the same position as your son was. If there’s anything you can help us with please, we’d like to know.” And both of them removed their hats, and the woman looked confused momentarily before recognition struck and she ushered them in quickly, shutting the door behind her.
“Please, have a seat.” She gestured to the couch which they both sat on uncomfortably, and she hurried off to fetch some tea. After pouring it and setting it in front of the two boys she sat across from them and folded her hands in her lap. “What would you like to know?”
“I’m sorry it must be hard for you,” Onew mumbled. The woman cleared her throat and took a sip of tea to distract herself. “Do you mind just telling us everything you know?”
Nodding she set the cup down and dabbed her lips with a napkin. “My son went to the school right across the street. He was a smart boy, one who got really good grades and loved sports. He was liked by everyone…well almost everyone. Apparently he had this teacher who was a little off you could say. She was cruel to almost all of the students and even the teachers were questioning how she became a teacher. The thing is she was fired one day, and my son, who was already in the next grade, told me it was because she punished her students by hitting them. I don’t know much more than that but a few weeks later my son…my son goes missing and then the videos start coming.” Tears trickled down her cheek and hurriedly she brushed them away. “He knew who she was just by the look on his face. He had just had her for a teacher last year and the things she did to him! My baby boy never made it out alive…they found his body at the dump, the place she told them to find him.” She dabbed her eyes. “I…couldn’t bring myself to admitting that that monster was once a teacher at my son’s school, I just couldn’t. The police did their best, so they say, but they never did save him in time.”
She looked out the window and sighed. “Then I heard several other students from that school had been kidnapped and killed as well. By then I resented the police so much that I didn’t want to help them…it was selfish of me I know but I just couldn’t bring myself to doing it.” She sobbed a little and Onew and Key exchanged a glance worriedly.
“Do you know the name of the teacher?” Onew asked, but the woman shook her head.
“No, she never wanted to see the parents, never wanted to meet us and my son wouldn’t tell me her name. I imagine if you go to the school they’ll tell you.” She looked up suddenly and her look was distraught. “Could it be that your brother went to that same school?”
“Yeah…he did,” was all Onew said, eyes sad. “Thank-you very much, and sorry for your loss.”
“If you manage to find that woman and save your brother than I can rest easy knowing no more children will be harmed,” she said, patting them both on the shoulder. “Just don’t get yourselves killed okay? I’ve…seen what she can do…I couldn’t bear to think of anyone else going through the same thing my son did.”
Onew and Key left with mixed emotions. They felt a surge of sympathy for the woman and fear for Taemin, yet they were both excited for the new and vitally important information. As soon as they were outside and had their disguises put back on, Onew whipped out his phone and pressed it to his ear.
“We found something already.” He listened as they jogged across the street towards the school, the bitter cold air biting at them through their clothing. Key had his hands stuffed in his pockets and stuck close to Onew, as if afraid of losing him as well. As they walked they heard someone coming up from behind them and turned to see their hyungs. Hurriedly Onew hung up and smiled soberly. “So that woman was a teacher from Taemin’s school…apparently she got fired for using beatings to punish her students. Which would explain her connection with him-”
“And Changmin,” Jaejoong added, “that’s the same school he went to as well when he was younger. We heard from the parents next door. Let’s call Jaebeom and Taecyeon and tell them what we’ve found.”
As if on cue Yunho’s phone rang and he flipped it open. “Hello? Oh you did and…uh huh. Alright we’re at the school now so just wait for us outside and we should be out shortly. Talk to you in a bit.” He stuffed his phone back into his jean pocket and sighed. “It seems we found our connection. Chansung went to the same elementary school as the other two, which means-”
“That woman is targeting children from this school,” Key finished. “So let’s go find out this woman’s name already!”
~*~*~*~
Changmin had drifted off into an uncomfortable sleep. Between the numbing pain in his back and the blisters that had been reopened from the whip were enough to make him lose consciousness several times but not long enough to get any real rest. During those moments he could have sworn he heard some other people in the distance-almost like they too were suffering. When he would focus on it, however, there would be nothing. Just the silence. As he lay there, he also started to wonder why that woman sounded so familiar. Taemin had said the same thing and he had just brushed it off before, but now that he thought of it he really did recognize the way she moved and spoke. But from where?
The camera had been turned off when the woman had left but it watched him closely and he turned away, refusing to acknowledge it. Then the door opened again and someone entered. Opening his eyes, Changmin saw it was one of the brutish men, dragging something along the floor. No, it was someone. Chansung, unconscious and pale was set in the chair he was in before. He had no shirt and all along both sides of his ribcage were black, scorch marks. Changmin winced and waited until the guy was gone before lifting his head and spoke.
“Chansung,” he hissed, his voice hoarse. It took a lot of energy to speak and move but he forced himself to do so anyway. “Chansung, wake up.”
It seemed like an eternity before Chansung’s eyes moved under the lids and he lifted them slowly to where Changmin lay. Then his eyes widened and he curled forward, gritting his teeth.
“Are you alright?” Changmin asked, and Chansung nodded slowly, collecting himself with great difficulty however. Once he was sitting up, Changmin noticed how slick with sweat Chansung was, shaking and breathing heavily. There was no point persuading the stubborn Chansung to confess anything, but he wasn’t sure how much longer they could last.
“Where’s Taemin?” he asked instead, and Chansung shrugged.
“Taemin and I were in the same room…that bitch she hurt him badly enough, I can handle it but he…and he was wet from the water too.” Chansung looked away closing his eyes and swallowed hard. “Are you alright? You’re covered in blood.”
“I’ll live….But Chansung we need to get out of here, and the only way out I think is up there.” Chansung followed his gaze and shook his head to protest but Changmin continued. “I know, we won’t be able to fit through it but Taemin can if we can get him out of here then at least we know there’s a possibility for survival.”
“You don’t understand…Taemin was in bad shape when I left, I doubt he could barely lift a finger by now.” Chansung closed his eyes again. “I should have stopped being so stubborn, the poor boy-”
“Chansung!” Changmin’s voice slashed through the guilt. “That doesn’t matter okay? What matters is getting out of here alive.”
“But we’re so tired and hungry…everything hurts and it’s only going to get worse,” Chansung whispered, as the door opened once again. The other man came in carrying a limp Taemin over his shoulder. Chansung glared at him but Changmin’s eyes were on Taemin. If he had thought Chansung was pale, Taemin was just as worse. His hair was wet as was his shoulders, and the same black scorch marks were on his arms and there were burn marks in his shirt. Chansung was right, Taemin did look pretty bad, but he was still breathing, that much Changmin could tell. Once the man was gone Changmin looked at Taemin, wondering what to do, but his energy was dropping quickly. Chansung sagged in his seat, and Taemin’s head rested against his chest, every limb limp.
“Taemin,” he whispered, hating the fact that he was now the only one not sitting. If he was closer to Taemin it would be easier to wake him up. “Taemin you have to wake up, you can’t sleep okay? Wake up.”
Chansung glanced over at Taemin with some hope in his eyes and out of the corner of his eye Changmin saw him wince and curl over again. But then Taemin stirred and lifted his head slowly, and then cried out, his hands curling into tight fists.
“It hurts everywhere.”
“I know, but be strong, okay Taemin? Look at Chansung, he’s holding on too no matter what and you have to too. I’m not going to carry you out of here dead you hear me?” Taemin nodded and Changmin smiled softly. “Now I want to ask you something Taemin, but it’s completely up to you, I won’t force you into anything. You know that vent above you? Right now that’s the only way we can escape, but Chansung and I can’t fit through it. But you can, it’s just about your size. And the way you’re tied, you can bite your way through those cords and climb out. Do you think you can do that?”
“I don’t know,” Taemin whispered, “I can barely move as it is, and it hurts everywhere…Changmin hyung I’m scared and I don’t want to die.” The look he gave Changmin at that moment was one of complete determination and bravery. “I’ll do it.” Chansung looked stunned and Changmin suddenly felt the doubt brewing in his stomach. He didn’t get a chance to say anything because the door reopened for a third time and this time the woman entered. She was getting more and more confident that they wouldn’t fight back, because she was alone. She took one glance at the two sitting in the chairs, and then at Changmin and smiled.
“So how about we change it up a bit, hm? Personally I’m getting tired of being the one to have all the fun so why not let you guys have some fun too?” She turned to Chansung and held out the whip she had used on Changmin earlier. Changmin’s eyes widened, as did Chansung’s and he looked ready to protest when she spoke again. “Obviously you don’t know where I’m going with this so let’s make this easy enough for you to understand more clearly. If you don’t take this and use it on your friend here the other one is going to get the punishment for it. And you know how I will do that.”
She dropped the whip to the floor and snapped her fingers, and one of the men came in. The woman stepped behind Taemin and grabbed his hair in her hand and pulled his head back, revealing the stretch of his neck. Then she produced something silver and sharp and pressed it against his skin.
“I’m tired of keeping all of you alive, so if you fail to obey me I won’t have any remorse slitting his throat right here. And then all your precious band members can see what a cruel, heartless person you are.” The man cut Chansung’s bonds, and he glared at the woman while rubbing his wrists. Changmin stared at Taemin, telling him to remain calm and not to move. Taemin swallowed and closed his eyes as his Adam ’s apple dug into the knife. A thin red line formed. Chansung stooped down and picked up the whip and looked at a loss. There was a moment when he inhaled sharply and his knees buckled under him, his hand wrapping around his stomach. He paused before collecting himself and then stood slowly.
“Just do it,” Changmin said quietly, “I can handle it, I won’t blame you.”
“I…” Chansung glanced back at Taemin who sat completely still, his fingers wrapped around the end of the arm rests. The woman stared at him expectantly the knife pressing deeper into Taemin’s neck. Then shakily he raised the whip and closed his eyes as it came down, and heard the sickening snap of leather hit Changmin’s skin.
Changmin bit his lip and squeezed his eyes shut as another lash came down, hitting right across the brand. After he groaned and Chansung paused, opening his eyes.
“Keep going!” the woman snapped, and Chansung obeyed, refusing to look at his hyung.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered as tears broke free. Changmin’s composure broke and he gasped as another lash hit him, sending an array of sparks across his vision. Finally Chansung staggered backwards and collapsed to the floor, shaking so hard he was moving, and his body glistened with sweat. His eyes were wide and glued to Changmin, who had passed out. His hand hung limply off the table and Chansung grabbed it tightly. The whip clattered to the floor and the woman sighed, dropping her hand.
“I guess that’s all for now,” she said disappointedly, “but when I return it’ll be sweet little Taemin’s turn!” And she left as the man dragged Chansung back to his chair. As soon as he had gone Taemin choked out a sob and Chansung stared at Changmin with guilt and disgrace for himself. How could he have done that to his hyung? The one who wanted nothing more than to protect them? Taemin noticed Chansung’s shock and wiped his tears on his shoulder.
“I’ll get us out of here,” he whispered, and leaned down, ignoring the pain the ripped through his body. He only let a pained gasp escaped as his teeth managed to clench down on his bonds. His skin kept getting in the way but he kept gnawing, ignoring the blood that was filling his mouth. Chansung kept calling to Changmin, telling him to wake up. Taemin kept gnawing at the flex cuff, suddenly realizing just how thick the cuff really was. He probably could gnaw through it but it would take a long while and who knew how many times they were going to be replaced?
Finally after what seemed like hours Taemin sat back and shook his head, and stretched his jaw. “It’s so strong, almost impossible to break free from.”
Chansung glanced over and shrugged. “You’ve got a good start on it, just make sure to spin it around so she can’t see the marks. The last thing we need is her seeing that. Then it’s all over.” Taemin nodded slightly and got back to work, the pain making him nauseous but he kept going.
Suddenly Changmin’s eyes fluttered open and he groaned, swallowing back the vile that crept up. “What’s going on?”
“Changmin hyung!” Taemin and Chansung sighed in relief and Changmin nodded, shooting pains flying up and down his back.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting out of here,” Taemin said, and continued chewing on the flex cuffs. “I’m going to save you so I’ll get out of here I swear on it.” Changmin nodded distractedly and closed his eyes, dizziness taking over him.
“Hyung,” Chansung’s voice whispered, “hyung I’m sorry for that.”
Shaking his head was the only thing Changmin could do. “‘S okay…we should get some rest….”
“Changmin hyung?”
But Changmin had lost consciousness again, and that just Chansung and Taemin to take care of the situation. They’re hope was slowly dwindling away with each second that passed.
***
P.S.- I know Changmin and Chansung didn't go to the same school as Taemin I just added that to make it a little smoother of a story line :)