After writing this chapter, I realised that it was super short and wasn't happy with the length at all. I couldn't really add to it because the bigger drama was going to be in the next chapter. I took some time to think it over and decided that I would run the next chapter into this one. So if you're wondering why this chapter is called 'Eight Days. Two Weeks.' it's because the next chapter was going to be called 'two weeks'. And if you're thinking that I'm rushing with the storyline after reading this, it isn't actually the biggest part of the story, yes it is important but there is a lot more to come as well, so if you feel it's going to fast, keep in mind that the story is far from over.
Disclaimer- I own nothing except the storyline and any OCs that occur.
"So there are no leads at all?"
The officer shook his head at the broken family before him. Yumi's mother had just arrived after hearing the terrible news and desperately wanted to know every piece of information that they had found. Unfortunately, there was nothing.
"But he took her!" she shouted at the officer, "He was the one who did this! Why aren't you looking for him!"
The officer glanced sideways at Ulrich, who was stood leaning against the door frame, afraid that he was intruding, "As I said before, we have to look at all of the options. Yes we are looking for John Wilson but we're also looking for any other leads." he explained, hoping they would understand.
"And we all know how well that's turning out," Yumi's mother snapped sarcastically, "She's been missing for over a week now and you still have no information! I had to catch the first plane back from my business trip in America which was two days after I was told about what happened to her, and you still have nothing!" She took a deep breath, "sometimes I think I would be more successful looking for her myself." she added quietly.
Ulrich looked at her in shock but understanding. It had been eight days and there was still no information about Yumi's whereabouts, he was starting to think the same thing as Yumi's mother- it would be better if he was out there looking for her. He knew that she must be scared, alone and probably wondering why he hadn't found her yet. The feeling of letting her down washed over his body. He was meant to protect her, save her from all of her fears, but now she was caught up in a even bigger nightmare.
Her whole body ached. Her naked skin was bruised and cut, dry streams of tears lay on her cheeks. Gripping the dirty sheets below her, she tried to push her tired body up, groaning and falling straight back down as the pain shot up and down her. Laying defeated on the bed, she began to cry again. She didn't want this, any of this. She never asked for it, didn't do anything to deserve it. So why was she here? Why her?
She just wanted to feel safe again, back home with her family, friends and Ulrich. She missed them so much and just wanted to see them again, just one more time. She had no idea how long she had been here but guessed it was over a week. In that week a lot had happened. John had got more and more 'customers' and Yumi had overheard him say that there was more business to be done yet, that it had only started. Just the thought of more men made her sick. She couldn't take it anymore. More than once the thought of just ending it all had crossed her mind, the only reason stopping her was the hope that she would be rescued, that someone would save her. But as each day passed, that hope was getting smaller and smaller.
As she felt sleep starting to overcome her, the sound of familiar footsteps came from outside the door. John entered the dark room and smirked at her. Walking forward, Yumi felt her heartbeat starting to race. She felt the bed dip down as he sat by her feet.
He reached his hand out and started to run his fingers up and down her bare legs, causing her whole body to shiver in disgust. She flinched away from him and rolled over.
She heard him give a soft chuckle, "Don't be like that, Yumi, you know I won't hurt you."
Lies! She thought as she felt his fingers running back up and down her leg, getting higher and higher.
"You've brought me a lot of money," he leaned down and placed his lips close to her ears, "I think it's time to thank you." He placed a kiss on her exposed neck before roughly grabbing her arms and rolling her onto her back, pining her arms over her head and holding them in place using one hand.
Yumi turned her head away from him and allowed him to take over her, knowing she had no strength to fight or even struggle against him. Silent tears began to fall and her thoughts turned to Ulrich. She didn't want rough kisses, she wanted his soft, caring ones. She wanted the feeling of safety when he wrapped his arms around her. She wanted to feel the butterflies on her stomach when he took her hand. She just wanted him.
As John carried on, Yumi tried to shut down her body, her thoughts and mind. She tried to find a way to close off her feelings and just become numb. After a few moments of trying, she finally felt unconsciousness beginning to take over. A faint smile came on her lips as she felt her body sinking into the numbness. And as a final image of Ulrich played in her mind, she feel into the darkness.
Hope was all she had to stop herself from ending her life, now her hope was gone. Every so often she would look at the pieces of sharp glass that were from the broken glass, when one of the 'customers' got a bit violent smashed it. She would think of how easy it would be to just pick a large piece up and run it across her skin, escaping from it all. Maybe if she had any strength left in her thin body, she might have done it already.
Her whole body was numb now, she couldn't feel anything, no pain, no emotion except the strong suicidal one. Everyday there would be a new man and he would be sent to this room where he could violate her body in any which way he wanted. She couldn't cry anymore, she had no need. It wouldn't stop them, nothing could.
She still thought about everyone she cared for but not in the hoping-they-will-save-save way, but just to make sure she still remembered them. She still wished that she would be rescued but it just felt like a childish dream, like wanting to become a princess, hoping Prince Charming will give her the happy ending she was desperate for.
Aelita ran straight into Ulrich's room, causing the brunette boy to jump almost fall off his bed. Heavily panting, she tried to tell him something.
Ulrich frowned at her, "What-? How-? Aelita, why are you here?" he asked confused.
Taking a few deep breaths, Aelita managed to string a sentence together, "Odd just got a call from that police officer you told us about and-"
"Wait," he interrupted, "why did he call Odd?"
"They tried calling you but they couldn't get through, do you have it turned off or something?" she gestured to the phone lay on his bed.
Ulrich shrugged, "I haven't charged it lately, thinking about to many things." he mumbled.
"Anyway, they must have found out that Odd was your best friend and that's why they called him. But here's the best part, they've finally got some information about Yumi!" she said with a smile.
Ulrich looked at her with shock, "What? Good news?"
"Odd said that the officer sounded happy, so..."
Before she could finish, Ulrich had grabbed his jacket and ran out of the room, Aelita slowly followed behind him, rolling her eyes.
"Do you even know where you're supposed to be going?" she shouted after him.
Ulrich froze and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
Placing her hand on his shoulder, Aelita told him that they wanted him to meet them at Yumi's house. As soon as she explained this, he started running again.
Clarita appeared in front of the pink haired girl and smiled softly, "can I get you anything?"
Aelita breathed heavily, "A drink would be lovely."
"So you know where she is?" Takeo asked frantically.
The officer smiled at him, "We have a pretty good idea, yes."
Ulrich looked at the older man, "What is the idea?"
"We managed to intercept a human trafficking ring from anther case and one of the men involved gave us some vital information about John Wilson. He said that John had supplied the ring with a girl," there was a sharp intake of breath from all the people in the room, "we thought they way you are thinking now but when we saw all of the girls, we noticed that none of them resembled Yumi," with that information, the room began to calm, "we asked him if he could give the whereabouts of John and he gave us an address. He did state that he wasn't one hundred per cent sure it was right but we're looking into it as we speak."
Yumi's mother began to stand up from the couch she was sat on, "Can we go with you then? I mean, you have to go to that address and if Yumi is there then..." she couldn't find the words to express to pure relief that would come from seeing her daughter, to know that she would be safe.
The officer gave a small smile, "when we run operations like this, family members are taken to a place near by and kept there whilst we go on with the operation. From there they will be updated with any findings and information. If she's there, then after us, you'll be the first ones to know."
Ulrich stared down at his scuffed, black and white converse. He said family members were taken, that would mean that he would have to wait at home just praying that they would contact him with good news. He knew he was being selfish but he wanted to be the one who saw her first, the first to take her into their arms and just hold her. He wanted to be the first to tell her that she was safe, that she was going to be alright, but he knew her family had that right, they deserved it more than he did.
Noticing Ulrich's posture, the officer took a few steps towards him and placed his hand on Ulrich's shoulder, "You can come as well you know. From what I've heard about you two, I think that's what she would want if we do find her."
If, Ulrich thought grimly, even he isn't sure she's there. Glancing up, Ulrich gave a small smile and a quiet thank you.
"When are you going?" Takeo asked, itching to go straight away.
"We still have a few things to sort out but we estimate we will travel to the address in a few hours. A car will come to take you to the secure location just after we set off," he looked around at the faces in the room, "But this lead isn't definite. Yes, it is quite strong but I don't want to say that we will find her, I don't want to give you that false hope."
They nodded in understanding. After they said their thank you and goodbyes, the officer left. Ulrich glanced around the room and noted the expressions; Takeo looked relieved that they finally had a chance to find her, Yumi's mother looked hopeful but Hiroki still looked the same way since they found out Yumi was missing. As her parents left the room, Ulrich presumed it was to talk to each other, he walked over to the boy and silently sat beside him.
"You okay?" he asked him.
Hiroki glanced at Ulrich before focusing his gaze on his hands placed in his lap, "What if they don't find her? What if we get our hopes up and she's not there?"
Ulrich couldn't answer him as they were the same questions running through his own head. All he could say was, "We'll just have to wait. That's all we can do now."