Ciphertext – Chapter 27: Saviour 707
"Saeyoung …"
"Yes, Eun-ji … It's me. I've come for you."
Luciel's words echoed around in Eun-ji's mind, trying desperately to find a place to rest. He looked like a saint standing there before her, his cracked glasses glinting under the beaming light that outlined his figure.
Eun-ji felt her eyes well up with tears. "S-Saeyoung …"
Standing with his back to the posse of Jumin's bodyguards, Tom flippantly gestured to them to stay in the other room. "Now, now boys. Don't worry, I won't lay a finger on him. I promise." He turned his head slightly to reveal his side profile.
The men shuffled towards him, guns at the ready, sensing that he was scheming something. On this occasion, it was their national duty to protect Luciel Choi. "Get back …" Tom warned, his tone a little more spirited than before. "I'll make you regret pointing those puny weapons at me."
The bodyguards ignored his words and tried to get closer, but as soon as they moved, they were greeted by three gigantic western men who had materialised from the back of the room, dressed in camouflage and wielding Uzis. It looked like overkill, but they were still terrifying to behold. Their expressions told the bodyguards that they weren't messing around. One of Jumin's men dropped his gun on the floor and put his hands up in surrender. The others looked around at one another, and realising that it would be pointless trying to fire at the muscular army reps, the rest followed suit.
"So, just put your handguns away and let my men take you through to the other room. Have a cup of coffee, and I'll let you know when we're done." Tom confirmed, putting on the best poker face he could muster.
Though Luciel was aware of what was happening, he was too caught up thinking about Eun-ji to care. Putting a hand to his chest, the way he always did when something had managed to claw its way into his emotional sphere, Luciel took a deep breath before slowly exhaling and walking a few more paces towards the cage.
"Eun-ji, are you alright?" he said, concerned about how defenceless she looked. "I won't lie Eun-ji. I'm pissed off about what you did with Zen …" he began, his gaze trailing off slightly to one side. "But please just … just tell me you weren't seriously going to go through with it. I know he's an attractive guy but still-"
Eun-ji felt sick to her stomach thinking that she'd worried Luciel so much. All the resentment she had been harbouring about how he had practically written her off bubbled ferociously up to the surface, filling her insides with dread.
She shook her head in fervent denial and her tears moistened her cheeks as they fell down, unashamedly, uncontrollably. She knew there was only the deepest truth lurking behind them, but she couldn't show it just yet, not while Tom was there.
I want to tell you everything soon, Saeyoung.
Once we get out of here, I'll try to explain.
Though he couldn't hear her thoughts, Luciel swore he could feel her heart starting to burst as she cried. "Hey … don't worry … sweetie." He blushed at his sudden use of that word. It wasn't like him to use it. "I-I know things have happened kind of fast between us and I mean … I never thought I'd have the chance to even talk with you so …" he took a moment to find the right phrasing and coughed to clear his throat. "… I'm really grateful that we finally met."
"No!" Eun-ji finally managed to say. "Please don't tell me what you're really thinking right now. I can't take your honesty today. Just know that I love you too far too much to let you go." She sobbed even harder now, the skin on her hands burning beneath the ropes that tied them together as she rocked backwards and forwards in agony. "I'm so sorry for what I did."
Watching her, Luciel couldn't help but feel guilty too. He'd been hurt by her actions, but she wasn't the only one at fault after all. "That's not …. I'm not-," he began, but was interrupted by that all-too-familiar voice.
"Alright, alright! Jeez …" Tom let out a pre-determined yawn as he started clapping his hands in a sarcastic display of enthusiasm. "That's enough already! It's making me wretch just watching you two get all emo over each other." He walked over to the wall that had opened when they entered the room and tapped the right-hand side a couple of times with his fingers. It started to automatically slide back across the room and after a short time, it had already closed right up again with no sign of a break anywhere.
Tom crept up behind Luciel and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Come on, children, let's stop all this playing around and get down to business. Saeyoung …" he said, squeezing the hacker's upper arms and giving him a gentle push towards the punitive, endearing cage. Running a hand slowly along Luciel's left arm he forced him to stretch it outwards before guiding him closer to where Eun-ji was sat there, waiting for him.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Whispering into his ear, Tom crooned his simple instructions. "Hold onto those bars and you'll be one step closer to setting her free. That's all it takes."
Luciel felt a wave of panic wash over him. "Why are you trying to help me Tom? What's in it for you?" This was altogether too fishy and it reeked of trouble.
"Nothing much," said Tom, smirking from ear-to-ear. "I just like to have fun, that's all. If you've got a problem with my recreational habits, I'd appreciate you keeping quiet anyway."
Eun-ji raised her head to see the red-haired hacker being forced forwards by the taller man, inching him nearer and nearer. She felt a lump forming in her throat as she tried to warn her lover about the danger.
"No, Saeyoung. Don't come any closer! The cage, it's-!"
Tom suddenly rammed Luciel hard against the cold metal bars and expertly strapped his hands to them using the pair of handcuffs from his jacket pocket he'd prepared in advance. Then, he made sure he was a good distance away from the contraption and smiled perversely at his fresh captive. Finding yet another switch on the wall, he pushed a button and without any warning, a sharp surge of electricity bolted through Luciel's body. It was like a high-precision thunderbolt striking at his very core.
"Fuckkkk~!"
As Luciel screamed out in pain, his voice echoed as it bounced off the walls. He tried desperately to keep his balance by gripping onto the bars, but it was no good. The electric shock just hit him again, much harder this time.
Shaky and confused, Luciel dropped to his knees, the handcuffs keeping his arms at an awkward angle behind his back, scraping against the bars as he descended. This situation felt similar to when he had experienced that hallucination near the reception. Those angels still seemed to be cowering over him and taunting him; even though they were no longer there, the image came back into his mind. He buried his face in his hands and shoved his glasses off his face in frustration, letting them fall to the floor. This time, they shattered completely and the shards of fragile glass created a strangely beautiful mosaic pattern that refracted the light above.
Tom crouched down by Luciel and grabbed a fistful of his hair, pulling his head backwards and staring into his eyes. "Isn't this so perfect? You get to be near Miss Moon, but this time I don't have to watch you screwing her over CCTV. Nothing could make me sicker than that."
"It's not like you had to watch that footage, you know," mused Luciel. "You could have just chosen to skip that part."
He keeps talking about me and her, like it's something to be ashamed of, but could he just be …
… jealous?
Tom pushed the hacker's head forward again, not enjoying the light back-talk he was getting. "Tch! Whatever. I'll just make sure you understand what I've been going through all these years, my friend."
Luciel felt so useless at that moment, like his whole life had just been one stupid joke. After all, what was the point in living if he couldn't be helpful?
"Saeyoung …" came that truly angelic voice from behind. "I know you have a plan." She hesitated for a moment. "I mean … please say you have one."
Although he had been silently doubting himself, but hearing her encouragement made Luciel feel at least somewhat more capable of getting them both out alive. He turned to face Eun-ji as best he could, managing to strike up a softly reassuring smile.