Chapter 12- The Fundraiser (Part 1)
Me: "And so begins the main climax of the story!"
Kao: "Oohhh! Exciting! What did you have in mind?"
Me: "You'll just have to wait and see. Grab your popcorn and get ready for the two parter everyone!"
Yoosung: "Yum! Popcorn!"
Seven: "Hey, can I have a break please? I've been through so much in the last few days. I can't deal with a climax."
Zen: "Sorry Seven, I don't think it's going to get any better."
Seven: *Sigh*
Me: "Enjoy!"
Seven's POV
Current time: 8:00 a.m
Time until the Fundraiser: Eleven hours
Vanderwood and I had driven through most of the night. I had been hoping we could escape the traffic in the morning but it was unavoidable. The way to Seoul was packed at eight in the morning. Rush hour was at its peak. The roads were slow moving colors, as the cars on them would move merely a few inches per second. Korea was known for its infamous traffic, after all. I bit my lip as I checked the time, my fingers tapping against the wheel impatiently.
"We'll make it in time. Don't worry." Vanderwood muttered.
"The fundraiser starts at seven p.m." I replied quickly. "We're seven hours away from Seoul. With the gas stops and heavy traffic that'll occur, that'll make the travel time about eleven hours." At this, Vanderwood groaned.
"Why'd you have to drive so far away, eh?"
"Which means," I ignored him. "If all goes well, I'll drop you at the nearest hospital
coming up and get to Seoul approximately at 7 p.m, if not a little after."
"Just ignore me." Vanderwood said with a grunt. "Don't waste the time to get me to a hospital."
"If we don't drop you off at one you'll die for sure." I snapped. "That miracle of yours isn't going to last forever."
"Aren't you going to call Jumin?"
"To warn him?"
"Yeah. When we get to the nearest hospital I will. We don't have our phones right now. I'm just afraid that warning him won't be enough." I muttered.
"So what's your plan?" Vanderwood asked as traffic moved forward a little.
"Plan?" I asked with a scoff. "I don't have one."
"You're joking."
"Nope." I replied nonchalantly, as my fingers gripped the wheel tightly.
"You better hope there's a guardian angel looking out for you." Vanderwood grunted. Despite myself, I grinned.
"I am."
We pulled over at the closest hospital, about an hour later. Vanderwood was barely awake now, his eyelids closed as we stopped at the emergency entrance. After parking the car I walked over to the door on his side and opened it.
"Are we there?" Vanderwood muttered.
"Yeah. You're going to be okay." I muttered, glancing at his wound. He was in bad shape. His shirt was plastered to his chest from blood, water, and sweat. I continued. "After this is all over, I'll come back here to pick you up."
"If you don't die."
"Yeah, well don't count on it." I said as paramedics eased him up on a stretcher.
"You can do this Luciel." He muttered, eyeing me. "Don't let my training go to waste." I nodded, watching as they wheeled him away.
"Vanderwood!" I called out finally. His head tilted slightly in my direction.
"Thanks for everything. I mean it." I added. He smiled.
"Go get em kid."
Nurses and doctors scurried across the hospital floor. The building reeked of antibiotics, a smell that always made me rather uncomfortable. I arrived at the front desk. A young woman glanced at my dirty clothes and then at me.
"Hello, do you need something?"
"Can I use the phone?" I asked. She nodded and gestured to the phone on the counter, turning away. After picking it up, I dialed Jumin's number and waited, tapping my foot. No one picked up of course. I muttered impatiently under my breath and then called up Jaehee, who also was not picking up. Grimacing, I dialed Kao's number and waited silently. Nothing. Zen and Yoosung weren't picking up either. Why? There was no reason they would all be busy right now. Had Mint Eye cut their lines off? I swallowed nervously and left a message for Jumin, just in case. He would know what to do.
"Sir, are you sure you don't need anything?" The woman asked cautiously.
"Yes, I'm fine." I said quickly, turning around so my back faced her. I dialed the police-my final effort.
"Hello?"
"Hi." I replied, tense.
"Do you have an emergency?"
"Yes."
"Please wait, I'll patch you through." I continued to wait until I heard another voice.
"Yes?"
"At seven in the evening tonight, there will be an attack on the Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul during a fundraiser. I need you to be ready to apprehend the offenders and protect those inside." I said under my breath.
"Excuse me, who are you?"
"Please be there." I said shortly. "This is no joke."
"Sir, please state your name and-" I put the phone down abruptly and gave a quick nod to the woman before hurrying down the hallway.
Kao's POV-
6:00 p.m
One hour before the Fundraiser.
I stared at myself in the mirror. The midnight blue halter dress curved around me nicely. The lower folds of the dress faded into a lighter blue, creating a beautiful gradient across the fabric. It looked very similar to the one I had worn for the dinner party, when Seven had been with us. I took out my braid, letting my hair fall on my back. I didn't even know what I was dressing up for at this point. Fundraiser aside, now that Seven was gone, it felt like there was no point. I swallowed and then turned away from my reflection.
After Jaehee had told me about my supposed "parents," I had politely told everyone that I needed some time to myself, and locked myself in my room. Even now, I didn't know whether to believe it or not. It added up of course, all of it. But there was a part of me that wanted to forget about all of this, to crawl under my bed and hide from the world. I bit my lip as I checked my phone. Jaehee had sent me ten missed messages. I would have to confront her eventually, I would be seeing her soon. I sighed, preparing myself before I exited my room.
Yoosung, Zen, and Jaehee were chatting in the living room. As soon as I entered, they turned to stare at me. Yoosung was wearing a black suit and bowtie, his typically messy blonde hair was smoothed down and the hairpins he usually wore were gone. He waved at me cheerfully. Next to him, Zen stood, leaning against the wall and nodded at me. He wore a white suit with a tie that hung loosely from his neck. His sleeves were casually rolled up and his hair was as stylish as it usually was. Jaehee was wearing a slick black evening gown with a black purse in hand. Above the hemline of her dress, was a gorgeous crystal necklace. I noticed, with a start, that her glasses were gone. I could tell they were all glad to see me.
"You ready for the party?!" Yoosung asked, excited.
"As ready as I'll ever be." I said with a forced laugh. "You all look amazing."
"As do you, my lady." Zen said with a bow. I jokingly bowed back.
"Onwards!" Yoosung called out excitedly. "To the fundraiser!" Zen and Yoosung hurried out of the apartment. Jaehee and I trailed behind them as we made our way to the limo.
"Kao, about your parents-"
"It's fine." I said quickly. "I don't really want to talk about it right now. Maybe when all of this is over."
"I meant," Jaehee said slowly. "Sorry for springing all of that up on you. I know that dealing with Mint Eye was stressful."
"Oh." I replied. "Yeah. But thanks for helping me with everything."
"I was glad to help. I made a compiled list of all of our research about Mint Eye. I hope by the end of this, we'll have enough to convict them, or at least make them more suspicious."
"You think we'll be able to?" I asked.
"They're a high class organization, they'd be furious if they knew this even existed, but it's worth the risk. They can't continue hurting people." I nodded.
"Did you put it in a safe place?"
"I did." She responded with a swift nod of her head. "No one but me will be able to find it."
"Good." Jaehee and I got into the limo and shut the door. I released a long sigh.
"Let's just try to enjoy the fundraiser. We've been working on it for a while, and I really want to see it go well." I said finally.
"I believe it will." Jaehee added. "What could possibly go wrong?" We exchanged smiles before Zen turned around in his seat.
"What are you ladies whispering about?"
"Nothing that you need to worry about." Jaehee said reassuringly before her attention moved to the driver. "Take us to the Grand Hilton Hotel." The man nodded and the limo began to move forward.
Nearly fifteen minutes had passed before Yoosung rolled down his window and stuck his head outside.
"Guys, look!" The hotel rose up before us. It consisted of multiple different buildings, all with unique structures of their own. As we drove up the main road, we caught eye of a curved building to the left of us that sat on a hill. Specks of gold lit up the grass it sat on like fireflies. As I peered closer I could see that they were little garden lights. The building itself consisted of glass walls that were illuminated against the darkening, apricot sky. The glass curved to create a dome-like shape. It glistened beautifully. As we passed it, the main building loomed up before us. It was gigantic. I could spot every tiny, individual window. Large yellow spotlights were frozen in place over its walls.
"Wow…" I said finally. "I've always caught glimpse of it from far away, but I've never been here up close."
"We've always had the fundraiser here!" Yoosung chirped excitedly. "Rika was friends with one of the managers, so we could always book it whenever we had an event."
"It's a very luxurious hotel." Jaehee added. I nodded slowly as we pulled up beneath it and got out.
Women in sparkling dresses and satin gowns walked inside the doors, accompanied by men in sharp suits and tuxedos. I timidly fingered the folds of my own dress, feeling out of place in this pristine, perfect environment. But my friends strolled forward like they belonged, and without thinking, I followed them inside.
The inside of the hotel was just as luxurious, if not more. The tiles were ivory marble, and they reflected the tiny yellow lights that were sprinkled on the ceiling. In the middle of the large room was a marble fountain with translucent water trickling down it's sides. Jaehee led us past the front desk and into an elevator at the back of the lobby.
"It's so pretty." I said finally, not knowing what else to say. Yoosung nodded passionately.
"Mr. Han and V will meet us upstairs." Jaehee added as she pressed a button. I shivered at the sound of V's name, but clasped my hands tightly together and stayed silent. It would all be fine. I thought. Just act like you're fine. The elevator rose up, and within a few minutes we arrived at another floor and the doors opened.
From what I could tell, we had arrived at the main dining lounge. My mouth fell open. It was absolutely dazzling. On the far side of the room, were gigantic windows that spanned across the wall. They were tinted a deep cerulean blue, and in them, I could see the magnificent skyline. The golden lights that were embedded in the walls and floors, cast a breathtaking glow on the chocolate colored wood. On the ceiling, hung large sapphire tinted lights that were shaped like large ice cubes and hung from one another. The tables and chairs were caramel colored, and on each of them was a small flickering candle. In the front of the room was a small stage with a microphone on it.
"You guys set this up?" Yoosung asked, astonished.
"I didn't think it would look this good." I admitted as I observed the decorations.
"Late as per usual I see." Jumin strolled up beside us and nodded.
"My apologies Mr. Han. They took longer than expected to get ready." Jaehee replied with an apologetic bow.
"There are so many guests here." Zen observed, surprised. "Wasn't the plan for this to be a small fundraiser because it was Kao's first one?"
"I didn't think so many people would show up." Jumin added, pleased. He directed his gaze to me. "This is doable correct? I apologize for not informing you of the sheer number early on." I nodded numbly.
"I'll manage."
"This is SO EXCITING!" Yoosung squealed as he jumped up and down. "Our first fundraiser in two years!"
"Did he drink already?" Jumin inquired calmly. Despite myself, I stifled a laugh. Yoosung pouted.
"I don't think so." Jaehee glanced at the blonde. "Yoosung, did you drink any alcohol in the limo?"
"Shut up!" Yoosung snapped before he gaped at the buffet at the end of the room. Lobster, marinara, vegetable stir fry, caviar, and several other dishes of steaming food sat behind a large pane of glass. Yoosung made a strange sound and hurried over to it. He put his hands on the glass and stared at the food inside.
"He definitely drank something." Zen and I said simultaneously. We exchanged a grin.
"Where is V anyways?" I asked quickly.
"I'm not sure. He was supposed to be here several minutes ago but I haven't seen him. He hasn't been answering any of my messages either." Replied Jumin.
"Strange." Jaehee added.
"Anyways, he'll probably show up soon." Jumin glanced at his watch, "The speech is going to begin in fifteen minutes or so. Guests are still coming in, so if you would like to welcome them that would be appreciated."
"Of course." Jaehee said.
"But I wanna eat." I whispered, half to myself.
Zen smirked at me. "Guests come first. You should know this." I was about to reply before his stomach growled loudly and he looked down and then away.
"Yeah? So should you Zen." I said sarcastically.
"That was Yoosung." Zen replied quickly.
"Yoosung is halfway across the room."
"Exactly."
"Let's. Greet. The guests." Jaehee said slowly as she gripped both of us by our shoulders and pushed us towards the door.
I stood awkwardly next to the entrance that lead into the dining room. Jaehee and Zen were a few steps next to me. They smiled and greeted the guests that calmly strolled into the room. I occasionally waved at a few of them but then jumped a little when they looked at me. Across from me, I could see Jaehee nod and respond to a guest before gesturing to Zen and smiling a little as the woman squealed. Zen flashed the guest a sly grin and kissed her hand. Zen and Jaehee were great with people, I noticed with a start. For obvious reasons of course, Zen being an actor and Jaehee having to constantly deal with Jumin and her coworkers. And if she could handle Jumin, she could handle anyone. I on the other hand wasn't best with people, especially strangers. But I was part of this organization now.
Involuntarily, I walked next to Zen and smiled at a guest who greeted me politely. We shook hands and he walked past me into the dining room. I released the breath I had been holding. Zen was staring at me out of the corner of his eye.
"Having difficulties?" Zen asked finally.
"A little." I admitted. "I'm still getting used to this people thing. But it's hard when there's so many."
"Soon you'll be a natural." He reassured me. I scoffed.
"That's easy for you to say." I said sheepishly. "You're brave. You can go up on a stage or on television and do what you do best without a care. I could never do that." Zen was silent as he shook hands with a guest. Finally, he replied.
"Actually, when I first started acting I was so worried of what people would think of me." He said. " I...I thought that the only reason I was popular was because of my looks. And that I wasn't good enough." He paused. "No, I still do think that sometimes. But Kao, when you get up on that stage, you make the choice to be there. And once you take that step, you can't go back. Once that spotlight is on you, you know that everything you say, that everything you do, will receive a reaction, whether you like it or not. And that's terrifying. But that's also exciting. Because you have that much power in your hands." He looked at me. "And no one can stop you." I was silent for a little.
"I...kinda get it? I guess." He laughed warmly.
"Yeah, well I'm sure you'll understand eventually."
"And Zen?"
"Hm?"
"I think you're an amazing actor and incredibly skilled." I added. "And not just because of your looks." He blinked and then grinned.
"Thanks Kao."
Jumin's POV
"Sir!" I turned around slowly, irritated that one of my men had interrupted me from my conversation. They typically knew better.
"Please excuse me." I said politely. The woman beside me nodded and turned away to another guest beside her. "What." I snapped.
"It's the police."
"Again?" I sighed and walked away, snapping the black gloves on my hand impatiently. "Same thing I assume."
"Correct sir. They said that they received yet another warning call and would like for you to take the proper precautions."
"I've been planning this for the past several months, making sure it was safe." I said coldly, glancing at him. My impatience was becoming a string that was about to snap. The man shriveled slightly under my gaze. "I have eyes everywhere in the city and dozens of trained professional men here. I don't think bringing a couple of police officers will do much good. Not to mention it would cause a disturbance and completely ruin the fundraiser, something that we've all been building to for the past two years."
"Y-Yes sir."
"If they call again don't bother to answer." I added calmly as I glanced at the man, I didn't recognize him. Strange. I walked away, making a personal note to fire him later on.
"Lee." I said quietly. A tall, bald man dressed in a black suit turned towards me.
"Yes Mr. Han?"
"I want you be on guard and tell me if anything looks suspicious. Anything at all."
"Another police call?" He inquired. I nodded. "Are you sure it's best to ignore them?" He questioned. "There are so many people here. If something were to go wrong-"
"We've had calls like these in the past." I added. "All pranks of course. And I doubt this is anything different."
"Then, pardon my rudeness sir, but why are you so pale?" He asked. I froze and then cleared my throat and stared at him.
"I am always quite pale, Lee." He nodded slowly, still unconvinced.
"Very well."
Seven's POV
6:53 p.m
4 minutes until the start of the fundraiser.
I sped down the dark highway. I grit my teeth as I switched lanes, narrowly dodging a Prius that honked angrily. I was so close to the hotel. It was only a few minutes away. The highway made a sharp turn and turned into a slow loop downwards. I drove around the corner and then skidded to a stop, eyes wide. A large moving line of golden lights and cars were lined up in front of me. Traffic.
My hands gripped the wheel tightly.
Kao's POV
7:05 p.m
The fundraiser had officially started and the long stream of people began to lessen. Zen, Jaehee, and I shuffled through the main doors. We walked to the buffet and filled our plates with steaming food before joining Yoosung at a large reserved table at the front. A large stage was in situated in front us and blue velvet curtains were closed over the back of it. We eagerly whispered, rehearsing parts of our speech that we had prepared.
"I'm so excited!" I cooed. My nervousness had been replaced with a bubbling ball of energy and excitement. Yoosung on the other hand was sweating and shaking.
"I-I-I don't feel good." He clutched his stomach.
"Yeah, maybe because you ate three plates of lobster." Zen said with a shake of his head. "Idiot."
"A-And cheese curds!" Yoosung pointed out, belching loudly and attracting the gazes of a few guests around us.
"Pretend like you don't know him." Jaehee whispered.
"Hey!" Yoosung snapped. Before any of us could reply, the lights in the room dimmed slightly, as if we were in a theatre. The blue curtains opened and a light followed Jumin as he walked on stage. I stared at him in awe.
Jumin instilled a kind of presence in the room that was hard to describe. Chills swept down my back as I saw him, illuminated by the golden light that fell onto his jet black hair and eyes. He was proud and confident, and all the whispers in the room immediately ceased as he grabbed the microphone off of it's stand. Zen fidgeted beside me and I could sense his annoyance.
"Thank you everyone for coming. I admit that I'm both surprised and pleased by this turnout, and I would like to reassure you all that your evening will not be wasted." He paused. "As most of you know, in the past we have held fundraisers before. And most of them had been extremely successful. We have raised thousands of dollars for societies that needed those funds. But...two years ago our leader passed away and we were forced to stop holding them. Her name was Rika. And she was one of my closest friends." Yoosung, who was beside me, swallowed. Jumin continued.
"I won't go into much detail of her now, but I can say with confidence that she was one of the kindest, most talented people I had ever met. And I would not be the same man today without her. When she passed away, we were all miserable and lost. It was as if the sun in our lives had suddenly disappeared forever, and we thought that we would never hold a fundraiser again. However, we recently met someone to help fill that void and allow us to continue helping others." His obsidian eyes flicked to mine and I blinked.
"She is very different from Rika." He added. "And at first, I'll admit that I didn't like that difference. But I think that is what makes her special. I think that her uniqueness filled the gap from Rika's death and allowed us to continue." I swallowed, my chest tightening. "And I don't think I say it quite enough. But I want to thank her for that. For dealing with all of us. And all of our quirks." Jumin smiled warmly at me and I stared at him silently, surprised and also flattered. I had not heard his opening speech, and I did not think it would be so profound.
"It's like he won an Oscar or something." Zen muttered. "Always so fancy."
"I would like to welcome her onto the stage." He gestured towards me and the light moved onto myself, blinding my surroundings. I blinked rapidly. Jaehee, Yoosung, and Zen were all smiling at me ardently, waiting for me to go up. I shakily stood up and pushed in my chair before walking on stage. Jumin was waiting for me, he gently pressed the microphone into my hand and nodded before sitting with the others.
I observed the audience. There were so many…people. All glittering and sparkling in their fancy clothes. All staring at me expectantly. All waiting for me to make a perfect, profound speech like Jumin; to speak like I was a river and my words were water, smooth and eloquent. I was frozen to the stage. I wasn't like Jumin. I wasn't like a river. I was a tree, nailed to the ground, unable to move. And suddenly, Zen's words came flowing back to me. 'But when you get up on that stage, you make the choice to be there. And once you take that step, you can't go back. Once that spotlight is on you, you know that everything you say, that everything you do, will receive a reaction, whether you like it or not. And that's terrifying. But that's also exciting. Because you have that much power in your hands. And no one can stop you.' I truly understood what he meant now. Yoosung, Jaehee and Zen gave me the thumbs up. And Jumin was watching me, waiting expectantly. I took a deep breath.
"Hi." I said lamely, waving at the audience. There were a few chuckles and waves back at me and I continued. "My name is Kao, the person Jumin introduced, obviously." I cleared my throat and continued. "I'm not going to give a huge, cheesy speech about how my entire life was changed by joining RFA."I added finally. "Because, even though it's true, I want to talk about the people in it more, and how amazing they are in their own individual way. I'm sure you all know Zen-" I was cut off by a huge cheer of fangirls in the back. Zen winked at me. I laughed a little before continuing.
"I'll be honest. I didn't really know how to talk to Zen at first. Exchanging a few words with someone famous? I could do that. But being friends with them was something I never imagined I could do. But Zen made it easy and he's a lot more than meets the eye. He's given me advice about so many things and he's great at reading into people and their emotions. Without him I don't think I could even be up here today. He's also extremely talented and I'm just really lucky to be friends with him. Thank you." We exchanged a grin.
"I realize now that this might actually be a huge cheesy speech of how my life was changed." I admitted. "Bear with me because there's still four more members to go." More laughter. My gaze shifted to the person next to Zen.
"And then there's Yoosung." He brightened instantly. "I've never had a little sibling
before." I began. "But Yoosung filled that void for me. Around him I can be as childish as I want to and not be judged for it, and he's fun to mess with too." Yoosung pouted and I grinned. "He's the light of the group and can instantly brighten up someone's day just by being there. It's really not the same when he's gone. But he's also very caring and he's reminded me what it means to be a friend. And...I know that he was also very heavily affected by Rika's death." I added solumely. "But I hope that I could help him with that, even if it was just a little." He nodded ecstatically and beamed.
"And of course I can't forget Jumin Han." I added, nodding at him. Jumin set down his glass of wine and waited for me to continue. "Jumin is a very...serious person." I said finally. "A little too serious sometimes if you ask me." There was laughter and he raised an eyebrow. "But he gets things done and has the ability to bring us all together to focus on our task no matter what it is. And the more I got to know Jumin, the more I realized that he wasn't just serious. He could get frustrated, or even playful at times, and content when he's with his cat." All hail Elizabeth the Third. I could hear Seven's voice from a distant memory. She's so cute meow! My throat tightened but I continued. "But finally, I would also like to thank him for giving me a chance, because I know I'm nothing like Rika. But he eventually accepted that and I...appreciate it." He raised his glass to me and I smiled before shifting my gaze to Jaehee.
"Of course, there's one of my closest friends, Jaehee Kang." Jaehee smiled a little. "For most of my life I've...always been kind of a loner." I admitted. "I never had close friends, just ones of convenience - people in my class that I would occasionally talk to. I was never brave enough to step out of my shell and talk and open up to others. At least not face to face. As sad as this might be for a twenty two year old, Jaehee Kang was my first close friend. Not because we had similar interests, or because we had matching personalities, but because she was the first person who would sit down with me and listen. I mean truly listen and care about what I had to say. And I don't think we realize how scarce that is. Sure, there will be a person who will nod to what you have to say, but will they really care about it? Will they take the time out of their day genuinely help you with your problem? With no care about their own? Jaehee did. And she still does. Not only is she incredibly mature and responsible, but she's helped me through so many things and she's been my hero." I smiled warmly. "Thank you for that." Jaehee was beaming at me as if I had said the nicest thing anyone had ever told her. And who knows, I might have. There was applause and a few cheers and I continued.
"And there's one more. He couldn't be here tonight but-" I broke off and then continued. "But like the others he's changed me." Jaehee and I locked eyes and she gave me a supportive nod. "Many know him by Seven, and he's one of the funniest people I have ever met. Not only is he hilarious, but he's also extremely talented at nearly everything he does. And he could instantly cheer me up, no matter what. Even if he was just there." I laughed lightly and clenched the microphone tighter so no one could see me tremble. I opened my mouth to continue but then closed it. But he wasn't here. He had left us all. Without even bothering to come back.
I was about to continue before there was a loud gunshot. There were shocked gasps as guests spun around in their seats, looking from the source of it. I blinked. Jumin abruptly stood up, his chair making a terrible screech on the wooden floor. There was silence. And then another gunshot. There were whimpers in the crowd. Jumin hurriedly grabbed the microphone from me.
"Please stay calm, I'm sure it's just-" And then there was a barrage of gunshots. It was a dreadful sound. I covered my ears and winced as it began to grow louder. There were panicked voices. Guests stood from their tables and tried the doors, shocked to find them locked. Jaehee, Zen, and Yoosung were looking around, terrified. I was able to briefly see Jumin's face. It was pale and afraid. My eyes widened before there was another gunshot and the large chandelure on the ceiling teetered dangerously. I looked up, lips parted. The chain holding it snapped. And then the screams began.
A large cascade of glass and metal shattered on the ground, throwing everyone back. I fell onto the floor, my arms covering my face. I could hear an appalling, high pitched ringing noise. I tried to stand up but then gasped as I saw the cuts on my arm, though I could feel no pain from them. Someone's hands closed around my arm and I struggled before I realized it was Jumin and allowed him to pull me up.
"Kao are you okay?" His voice was muffled, blurred. Hazed, I nodded slowly before coming to my senses. I scanned the room.
It was in chaos. The fallen chandelure had caused a blanket of glass to cover the room. There were guests piling up against the door, banging on it, begging for escape. I could see Jaehee lying on the ground and- Jaehee! My eyes widened as I saw her. She wasn't moving. Zen and Yoosung were shaking her.
"Jaehee!-" I croaked, barely able to get the words out. I began to move towards her but Jumin pulled me back.
"What are you-" I stopped as I looked at him. His eyes were locked in front of me, his lips parted. I looked forward and froze. Men in black swung into the room, shattering the large windows. Cords were connected to their belts. Their faces were masked. They were holding guns. My legs nearly gave out, but somehow I managed to keep standing.
"I don't believe it." He whispered. "Why now?"
"Jumin?" I asked weakly. "What's happening?"
"Kao." He looked at me, his black hair falling over his eyes. "Run."
Seven's POV
As soon as I reached the hotel I knew immediately that something was wrong. As I pulled to the side of the parking lot and got out I heard a collection of screaming and gunshots.
"Kao." I whispered. If Mint Eye was already here then they would block off the entrance in a matter of seconds. Think. What was the layout of the hotel? I had been here before several times before. I hurried to the back entrance, wincing as I stepped on my ankle. An ugly purple bruise had covered it last I checked, and I didn't even want to know what it looked like now. I just had to deal with it.
The back of the hotel smelled like rotten fish, the source of it obviously coming from the large dumpster next to the back exit. I couldn't have cared less about the alarm system and shattered the window on the door before unlocking it from the inside.
The darkness that greeted me inside was unsettling. The sounds of screaming and gunshots made their way through the hallways, echoing against the walls. I swallowed and then continued. .
After a few painful minutes I realized that I was completely lost. I had wandered into a large lit room with massive windows spanning across the walls. The gunshots hadn't ceased and my ankle had become so painful that I could barely move. What if she was already- No. I told myself. They wouldn't kill her, she was too important to them. But the others, they were in serious danger. I called their names desperately, not caring of the consequences.
"Jumin! Jaehee!" I yelled as loud as I could. The brief silence that fell upon the room was covered up by more gunshots. I doubted they could hear me.
"Zen! Yoosung!" I cried, leaning against the wall, breathing heavily. My vision hazed. "Kao…" I whispered. Exhaustion was getting to me. I hadn't slept in over twenty four hours. I hadn't properly eaten in over three days. And it felt like someone was smashing my ankle with a sledgehammer whenever I put pressure on it. I let out a pained sigh. And what the hell was I thinking? I couldn't be a knight in silver armor. I couldn't even properly save Vanderwood. I had left all of my friends only to come back just now. I grimaced and staggered a little. I could barely put up a fight as it was.
Suddenly I heard something. Doors opening. I grit my teeth, I wasn't in the shape to defend myself. I made an attempt to hide before I heard footsteps on the tiles and looked up. My eyes widened.
Kao's POV
Earlier
Several things happened at once. The guests broke open the door and several ran through. More men swung through the window and began to shoot. The rest of the guests in the room shrieked and hid behind their tables. And then guards in black came in and tackled the offenders.
"Go go go!" Jumin yelled, pushing me towards the door. Zen and Yoosung were close behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and caught a glance of Jumin throwing Jaehee onto his back. Several guests pushed past me, screaming loudly. I was able to exit the room and get into the corridor before I was barraged with people. Zen took my hand and yanked me forward, pulling me through the crowd. Yoosung was holding his other one, a terrified look on his face. My heart beat was pounding in my ears. It felt like a drum pulsating through my head, a destructive melody to serenade with the gunshots and screaming. I grasped Zen's hand tighter. My vision became more and more blocked as guests rose up above me like a wall, covering everything else up. I couldn't see my friends. I could only feel Zen's hand, which was my only connection to him. I looked around for his white hair but it was gone. And then I felt his hand slip from mine. I spun around, completely submerged by the guests.
"Zen! Yoosung!" I yelled. My cries were instantly drowned by the chaos. Panic began to well up inside of me. "Where-" I was cut off as a large man shoved past me and I lost my balance, tumbling to the ground. A pair of heels stabbed my arm as a woman ran past me. Grimacing, I hurriedly stood up and stumbled forward.
The mass of panic began to unclog as we entered a large room. I let out a breath as the shoulders next to me began to move away and I could get a clear look at my surroundings. In front of us were large windows that spanned across the room. Unaware of the chaos, the rest of Seoul stood in the evening, glistening and breathtaking. A large staircase led down to a lower platform where people were swarming. I searched the crowd for my friends. Any of them. But to no avail. There were gunshots behind me, I froze and looked over my shoulder.
The door to the dining room had been barricaded once more. Guards had their backs up against it, preventing it from opening on the other side. But it was fruitless, after a few more seconds the door was kicked down. My eyes widened as men with guns stomped inside, shooting at the guards who attacked them. I began to shake uncontrollably. Was this a nightmare? Some kind of punishment? One of the men kicked away a guard and then turned to look at me. Their face was masked but I could see their eyes. Pitiless black pits. I froze, terrified. And then I turn and ran.
The chaos faded slightly as I sprinted down another corridor, but no matter how far I got it was still pounding in my ears. After a few seconds I rounded a corner and then gasped to catch my breath. And then I heard something. A voice. My head instinctively turned towards it, as if I was in a trance. At first I thought it was from a dream, or a memory because it was so familiar yet so distant. But when I really listened, I knew exactly who's voice it was. Seven's.
My mind was completely wiped blank. The chaos melted away and my worries faded. I could only hear his voice.
It was Seven.
I hurried through the corridor, trying to find the source of his voice. "Seven!" I screamed. I didn't care if it would draw attention to me. I didn't care if he heard it. "Seven! Where are you?!" But there was no answer. With grit teeth, I continued down the hallway.
Seven's POV
For a moment I thought I was in one of my dreams. The dreams where I would look at my past and the people I loved, so as not to forget them. He was standing right in front of me and his emerald, mint green eyes peered back in mild surprise. His face was so familiar and yet so different at the same time. The warmth in it was gone, but it was still him. He was here.
"Well this is a surprise." He said slowly.. I froze. His voice was...distant. It wasn't warm and endearing. It was cold and...cynical. "Hello brother." He said as he gave me a unfeeling smile. "I'll admit that I didn't expect to see you here."
I already have some of the next chapter written so it'll be posted fairly soon I hope. Thanks for reading! Please favorite, follow, or leave a review if you can!