A funny thing about writing my fiction is that sometimes I forget what happened. Since I write intermittently, I sometimes add stuff which doesn't really register in my head. Weird.
Danger
Unit 2488 had a spotless track record. They have succeeded in every mission ever authorized. Part of their success is the secrecy and the quality of personnel which the team employs. However, a dark cloud hovers over the legality of their operations, which also contributes to their success. The unit has had very few, if at all, casualties due to the leadership and the amount of planning which goes into each mission.
However, there's always a first time for everything. The Unit, as of December tonight, had their first member captured or killed by an unknown enemy. The whole team stayed silent as Chief Chang debriefed the team, as they each thought about the implications of the latest developments.
"Sakura has not reported back; contact through radio has yielded no response. We can only presume that she is either killed, or worse, captured by the enemy."
"We are now trying to make contact with the suspects, but so far, there is no response. We hope that our mission has helped the situation by putting lowering enemy morale and collapsing their command structure."
"Sir, let's launch a rescue mission to save Sakura"
"Kenchi, we don't even know if Sakura is alive or not."
"What! So you are willing to bet on Sakura's life that she's dead?" Kenchi was getting aggravated.
"This isn't a movie Kenchi! This isn't "Saving Private Ryan". This is real life. In real life we follow procedures. We will not risk the safety of the team to just to get... a rookie" as much as the chief hated to say it, it was the truth. Forceful as they were, they cannot mount a daring rescue operation.
"Sir! I'm sure everyone here is willing to risk their lives to save Sakura, because Sakura would do the same for us!" Kenchi liked to play hero, but this time, it was more than that. He can't
"Kenchi, you are relieved from duty as of now - go home"
"Fuck you too" Kenji said bitterly and quietly walked away sulking.
Chief Chang now had to contemplate the next course of action. Nothing can be done until contact is re-established with the enemy.
vvvv vvvv vvvv
Sakura opened her eyes, her memory as hazy as the lighting in the room. A figure was studying her.
"Tomoyo-chan..?"
"It's not Tomoyo, sweetheart, it's your worst nightmare!" the words were followed laughter in the background.
Her senses were immediately fired up, This doesn't smell like her room - in fact she wasn't even sleeping on her bed. Memories of her previous moments re-entered into her. She was hit by a grenade, her thigh was hit by the shrapnel and it hurt like hell - then she was captured and she passed out.
Now, she found herself tied up to a pillar, she couldn't move her arms or legs. She scanned the room and saw around five dark figures. Looks like she was still in the office where they came in. He saw a figure lying in a pool of blood. Was it one of us? No, it was the leader she took out. She was glad that everyone seems to have escaped safely.
On any other day, she would enjoy the great advantage she had now. She could observe the criminals and report back to the HQ on their every move. Only a slight problem there - she was tied up and injured. Sakura sighed.
One of the figures walked towards her and ripped off her head gear. She didn't realise she still had it on her.
"Now let's see what your face looks like."
"Oooohhh" Her small audience leered.
"What's a pretty face doing dressed in a rag."
"Tomoyo-chan.." Another one mocked in a fake girly voice.
Sakura's face turned beet red in mixture of embarrassment and anger. How dare they mock her!
Sakura looked away. Fear instilling in her. Countless questions ran through her mind - What are they going to do with her? Is help on the way? Are they going to beat her up? Worse, rape her? Suddenly she didn't feel so invincible anymore. She wanted to cry, but knew she had to keep a strong face. Crying will suggest weakness and then the aggressor would've won.
Sakura cringed as she noticed that the one of the men were showing too much interest at her breasts.
"I wonder if they feel as good as they look?" He reached for a grab. Sakura struggled against the rope tying her down, but it didn't bulge.
"Don't fight it sweetheart..."
Sakura thought this was it. She was going to be defiled by these filthy bastards. Her first time...
"Enough!" the loud commanding words echoed through out the room.
Sakura noticed that the source of the voice had just entered the room. He seemed to have authority over the others. Yes! She rejoiced. She was saved, for now.
"Get your hands off her. We can't be wasting time frolicking around." She now recognised that voice - He was the one who caught her.
"All she's good for is information. If you want a fuck, go to a brothel."
Sakura couldn't help but feel somewhat insulted - Is he saying that she's ugly and even lower than a whore? However, she was grateful that that the sex-starved crowd now has a leash put on them.
"Whatever Little Wolf" The guys were obviously angry and disappointed for him ruining their fun. They exited the room.
She studied the guy who was staring directly at her. She felt he was different. She wanted him to be different. In a place where everyone is evil, she hoped for some lesser evil.
Syaoran studied the girl tied up to the partition wall. Now that her mask was off, he noticed that she was very young, especially to be in an elite squad in the police force. He really felt sorry for her, even more so because he knew her fate. She shouldn't fighting criminals and saving lives, she should be shopping around busy malls with her friends, or getting singing contracts from music producers, churning out stupid pop songs, just because she looks pretty.
He hated to admit it, but he found her mildly attractive. Though, he knew that after tonight, she will just be a fragment of memory, perhaps a light one amongst the dark memories. This was his job - To be cold and heartless.
After a few moments a silence, Sakura asked "What do you want with me?"
"I ask the questions here." Sakura stayed silent.
"What's your name" Syaoran began asking?
"I'm not telling" Syaoran was amazed that she defiantly brushed the question off - just like that.
"You're not in a position to do that." After a brief paused, he spoke again,
"I'll tell you what, if you be a good little girl, after you answer all my questions. I let you go off to mommy"
Sakura gritted her teeth "I'm NOT a little girl. And Har Har - As if you're going to let me walk that easily."
She wasn't born yesterday.
Syaoran found her quite cute when she's angry, which made him feel a little guilty for lying. But he needed to show her who's boss. Obviously she was getting too comfortable. Syaoran tried to become more intimidating. His face was now centimetres away from her, studying her every expression.
"It looks like you copped quite an injury there. You could die if it's not taken care of quickly." He stressed on the word die.
"It's nothing. Doesn't even hurt." Sakura feigned. The truth however was at the opposite of the spectrum. Her leg was hurting a lot. But she was gradually getting use to the pain in the last few minutes.
"Really." Syaoran was bemused.
Sakura flinched as she felt his hand grip on her thighs. So much for saving her from the dirty mob, she thought - he just wanted her for himself! His hands roamed to the spot of the injury and gradually applied more and more force.
Sakura felt the pain increase exponentially.
"Wh.. What are you doing?" Sakura managed to utter between sharp pains. Her brows etched to reflect it.
"So it's really just nothing?"
He was challenging her.
"Y.. Yes" Sakura managed a reply between the intense pain.
"How about now?" Syaoran was now squeezing hard on the cut, so hard that blood was oozing out. You could feel the pain just by looking at it.
"No.. Nothing" she squealed although her actions betrayed her as she squirmed against the intense burning sensation.
Syaoran had to give it to this girl. She was strong. It was no wonder they let her on this job.
Uncontrollable tears were building up in her eyes. Her breathing was now erratic. Unintelligible noises were coming from her as she tried suppressing her moans of pain.
"Maybe I should kick it then a few times. Just to make sure it doesn't?" he suggested, upping the tempo.
"No! No don't... It hurts!" Sakura immediate conceded. She could'net take anymore. Tears were now slowly streaming down her face.
Syaoran smiled. So there is a limit to her, he thought. He immediately restarted his interrogation.
"What's your name?"
"Sa... Sakura..." She said panting.
Satisfied, Syaoran released his grip on her thigh.
"What's your full name?"
"Sakura Kinomoto"
"What is the team you're part of?"
Sakura thought for a moment. The existence of their Unit is a closely guarded secret. She was told that under no circumstances, that is, including being tied up to a pole and interrogated by a egotistic outlawed maniac, should she reveal the team. So she lied.
"SWAT Gamma team" She lied. Seeing him digest the information Sakura thought to gather some information of her own.
"Are you going to kill me after you are finished with the questions?" Sakura asked with a melancholy expression on her face.
Syaoran ignored the question and pressed on with his questioning.
"What was your mission?"
How dare he ignore her! Sakura thought.
"I'm not going to answer until you answer mine." She replied.
Syaoran found this girl to be unbelievable. He thought he had already scared her into submission. Apparently not.
"You're not in a position to make demands."
"You're going to kill me anyway, so I'm not going to tell you anything." Her voice was rasp and strained, but it had determination. Syaoran had to give her that. Feeling she was on a row, Sakura continued
"Do you enjoy torturing innocent defenceless people, you sick bastard? Why don't you untie me and we'll see who is in position to make demands."
Syaoran was angry now. He took out his handgun and pressed it against Sakura's wound.
"I dare you to say it again, bitch."
Nothing but quiet sobs came from Sakura.
Agitated, Syaoran took aim at a nearby wall and fired several rounds on it. Each shot made Sakura flinch as she squeezed her eyes shut. The without another word, Syaoran abruptly exited the room leaving behind a confused and mopping Sakura.
The guy obviously has issues, Sakura thought.
vvvv vvvv vvvv
Storming out the door, Syaoran motioned two subordinates to guard the door. He was frustrated. The moronic leader had just killed himself and now, being the next in line, he was left in charge. Their former glorious leader had dug the gang into a big hole and now Syaoran is left with this thankless task of fixing it.
Their primary goal had been achieved and Syaoran didn't want to cause anymore deaths than absolutely necessary. He needed a way to get out of this mess.
"Get me the Captain" Syaoran commanded.
"Yes sir" The masked man near the phone complied.
Moments later, Syaoran had a phone in his hand.
"Listen Captain Wong. You have killed our group leader, so I'm now in charge."
"Who are you?" Wong asked in an alarming voice.
"I'm Wolf."
"Well, Mr Wolf, you should know that it's time you surrendered."
Why do they even bother, Syaoran thought shaking his head?
"Captain Wong, you seem to be forgetting that I have hostages here. In fact, you have just delivered me a new one with your last raid. She's quite a catch I might add."
"What! Who are you talking about?"
"Her name is Sakura, I believe."
The line was quiet as Syaoran heard the Captain mutter to his team.
"How do we know you haven't killed her? Let me talk to her!"
"Here are our demands. I want a private jet, fully fuelled at the airport, a helicopter that will take us to said airport. I also want five million US dollars in unmarked bills. I will call again in 30 minutes and I expect a helicopter waiting on the roof."
"Thirty minutes is too little, we can't-"
"Every five minutes we don't see the chopper, we will kill one hostage starting from Sakura"
And the line went dead for Inspector Wong. He cringed at the way he called Sakura. He knew Sakura even before she had been promoted to the special unit. She was a good officer at his precinct, universally liked, not only by the men, but everyone. He would hate to see what the captors had done to Sakura, if she was still alive. His reputation will surely suffer among he colleagues if he allowed Sakura to die.
He notified Chief Chang of the news, to which other team members were cautiously delighted at the news of Sakura's survival. However, the Captain also took the opportunity to rant about the unit's misgivings.
"How can you let Sakura on a dangerous and reckless mission like that? Sure, you eliminated the leader, but only to be replaced by another psycho. I'm telling you, there's no short supply of psychos up there."
"Captain, you of all people should know that it was Sakura who signed up to this, and she knew of the consequences. I'm just as frustrated at this situation as you are but I don't let it affect my job."
"Don't tell me how to do my job!"
"Then don't tell me how to do mine."
Defeated in his war of words with the Chief, Captain Wong turned walked away. Deep down he knew Chief was right.
vvvv vvvv vvvv
Sakura studied her surroundings. She could briefly hear shouting outside the room. She pondered about what her next move should be. Her thigh was still bleeding. She didn't know long she could last before blacking out again. She needed to at least bandage the wound quick. Knowing her captors, she wouldn't bet that they'll help her do it.
Her hands were tied behind her back with duct tape. The captors did a decent job. She had a knife on her side pocket. If she could reach for it, she might have a chance to cut herself loose. She recalled a brief training session, when she was a cadet that involved freeing herself from being tied up. She failed. Now years later, she now had to do the exact same thing, except this time was much harder and for real.
She wriggled and wriggled, trying to get her position correct to reach her pocket. Her thigh was constantly reminding her that too much movement bad. A couple of occasions she managed to touch it. Now, only if she could get the knife...
"Want me to get that for you?"
Sakura nearly had a heart attack when his voice broke the calm silence in the room. How long has he been here?
Syaoran reached to grab the knife from her pocket.
"Looks like you got more weapons hidden around you. Maybe a strip search is in order?"
Sakura face was now bright red, although the limited lighting meant it went unnoticed. He was mocking her again. Despite the compromising position, she won't let him win this conversation.
"I know your kind of criminal" she said.
"Probably, neglected at birth, abused as a child. You were teased at school, probably because of your hideous face!"
Hearing no reply, Sakura rejoiced inside, her plan psyche him out was working!
"Chapter nineteen, Profiling suspects?" Syaoran asked chuckling. What an elementary tactic, he thought.
"Did you graduate from the Police Kindergarten?" he mocked.
Sakura was shocked, how could he have known? Who is he? Her plan was foiled and her face showed a mixture of embarrassment and anger. Obviously her prognosis was flawed. There's more to this guy than she first imagined.
"Who are you?" Sakura asked trying to stop him from mocking her any more.
"I ask the questions here."
"At least give me your name!" she uttered in frustrated,
"Wolf"
"Little Wolf - that's what they called you..." She recalled. Any other day, Sakura would've found this humorous. However in this case, she was too tired and in a lot of pain.
"I need to find a way out of this building" Syaoran said as-matter-of-fact-ly.
"Maybe you should ask the receptionist. I'm sure she would tell you. That is if you haven't killed her already." She rolled her eyes.
Syaoran was puzzled. What is it with this wench? She doesn't know when to shut up. Ignoring her last remark, he continued,
"I know you have seen the floor plans. You know the deployments of the police outside this building. I need to get out of here without getting caught."
"Oh, so you want my help now?"
"You're going to tell me"
"But you're going to kill me anyway."
"You don't know that"
"Oh gee really? Like how the manager didn't know that you'll brutally murder him and throw him off the building?"
"I didn't kill him. It was the others."
"Others?" Sakura spat "You're all the same. Why don't you kill me now?"
"Maybe I should"
"But hah! You can't until you get the information. Hmm" Sakura pretended to think "What a dilemma. Kill me and you'll get killed anyway. I think I'm the one who has all the cards here."
Sakura smiled to herself. She had outwitted him, at least for now. She had something he wanted and like hell she was going to give it to him. She now had bargaining power and she was eager to use it to her advantage.
"How about you promise to release all the women hostages and I'll tell you the way out"
"Oh you are such a good negotiator." Syaoran said sarcastically. "How about you tell me or I'll blow your head off"
"You wouldn't" Sakura said with as much confidence as she could garner in the situation. She originally didn't want to challenge him, but she was now full of adrenalin.
She had a feeling inside that told her that he wouldn't kill her. However, much to Sakura's disappointment, he took out his gun from his back pocket and pressed the muzzle against her temple.
"The police have all the exits covered, except for one. You'll never be able to find it without my help." Sakura said desperately
"Sir, it's time."
Syaoran glared daggers at the man who just enter the room. He hated to be interrupted during an interrogation. He was sure Sakura was just about to crack and tell him everything. It annoyed him to no end.
He roughly took the phone off the man and who hastily retreated.
"Captain Wong, have you got what I want?"
"Yes, but let me talk to Sakura first!"
Syaoran lifted the phone next to Sakura ear.
"Talk!" he commanded Sakura.
It was so sudden Sakura didn't know what to say.
"Uhh, captain? Don't worry about me. I'm fine."
"Sakura? Sakura! Is that really you? Are you hurt?"
Unfortunately, Sakura was no longer the listener.
"Captain Wong. Is the helicopter on the roof right this moment?"
"Not yet, uhh, Mr Wolf, you see, it is very hard, I mean we're getting-"
Syaoran knew this would happen.
"No need to explain, Captain. We had an agreement. You couldn't uphold your end of the bargain in time. I completely understand. And I'm sure Sakura will understand"
"Hey wait, what-"
Syaoran aim his gun at Sakura's forehead, made sure the phone was in hearing range and said to his victim,
"It was nice meeting you, Sakura" He said in a solemn tone. Sakura squinted her eyes shut and looked away, waiting for the inevitable. She really thought he was different from the others, but she now knew she was wrong. "Goodbye, beautiful world." She whispered as a tear dropped from her cheeks.
vvvv vvvv vvvv
Multiple gunshots were heard from the other end of the line. As Captain Wong dropped the phone, stunned in place, tears gathered in his eyes.
He had failed her.
eeee eeee eeee
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Please review!
20/06/2005
Updated 20/5/2006
