MAVERICK: Back in the Game (TBZ)

Chapter Two

Haknyeon watches as Sangyeon takes a few steps toward the building, his mouth gaping open in shock and awe. He has his arms flung out on either side of him, warning the others to keep back and not make any moves.

"What does it mean, Sangyeon?" Younghoon whispers, his voice shaking with fear.

Sangyeon shakes his head. "We have no idea where we are, but someone inside this building might."

"What if it's a trap or something deadly?" Eric remarks.

Sangyeon looks over his shoulder at the group's maknae. "I'll go in and make sure everything's okay."

"No, Sangyeon, no," Sunwoo mutters, unlocking his hands from around his knees and clasping them together under his chin. He looks frightened, his eyes wide open and his mouth open in a formable 'o.'

"I'll be okay," Sangyeon chuckles and steps toward the building.

Haknyeon sees Sunwoo hide his head in his legs. Beyond Sunwoo, he glimpses Younghoon hug Juyeon and Hyunjae close to him. He sees Q grinning creepily and turns away with a toss of his eyes. Kevin and Jacob are sharing a look with one another. New has pulled out a mirror from his pocket and is looking at his reflection. His fingers are gently grazing the slap mark on his cheek.

Haknyeon looks away from him and stares, blinking, watching the leader walking boldly and bravely up to the front doors of this unknown building.

Sangyeon reaches his hand out and pushes one of the doors open. With a deep breath, he steps inside and vanishes, the door slowly swinging shut behind him.

Haknyeon instinctively steps forward, drawing in a breath to calm his racing heart. Is Sangyeon okay?

A few seconds later, the door swings back open, Sangyeon holding it with a hand. "You guys should come inside and see this."

Eric eagerly dashes across the grass and slips inside. The members of the Bermuda Line (Younghoon, Hyunjae and Juyeon) grip each other and gradually make their way to the building and enter next. They are then followed by the two gossiping Canadians, Kevin and Jacob.

"Oooh, spooky. It's cute." Q rubs his hands together and skips up next.

Haknyeon looks at the remaining members, Sunwoo and New. New glances up from his mirror at the building. He finally gets up to his feet and walks toward it, dipping his head to Sangyeon as he passes by him.

Sangyeon looks out at Haknyeon and Sunwoo.

Sunwoo keeps his head down and hidden.

Haknyeon squats down to him. "Hey, you okay?"

Sunwoo's head snaps up. Tears are glittering in his eyes. "I-I'm scared, Hak. I don't know where we are and my stomach is so twisted, I feel like I'm going to pass out right here. I don't want to die."

Haknyeon smiles sweetly at him. "No one's going to die, Sunwoo. I promise. I've got your back." He holds a hand out for Sunwoo to take.

Sunwoo looks at it. He draws in a deep, heavy breath that shakes from his nerves. But he puts one of his cold, clammy hands in Haknyeon's, and they stand up. They make their way up to the doors, where Sangyeon is still holding the door open.

"You'll be okay," Sangyeon says as they stop at the doorway. "I won't let anything happen to my brothers."

Sunwoo nods and bites his lip. His hand slides out of Haknyeon's hand and he slips inside.

Sangyeon and Haknyeon exchange a look with one another.

"If everything was going to be okay, we wouldn't have been knocked out, blindfolded, kidnapped and abused on our way here. Something's not right, Sangyeon," Haknyeon mutters, looking at his leader in his dark brown eyes.

Sangyeon nods.

Haknyeon steps into the building and Sangyeon lets the door close behind them.

Haknyeon takes inventory of the vast lobby, which reminds him of the main floor of a warehouse. There is a table to one side with a series of weapons laid out on it, which Q is checking out with a hungry desire.

The lights are dim and some are flickering slightly as they all look around and take in the setting.

As soon as the two are inside and the door closes, there is a clicking noise like a lock sliding into place. Haknyeon gasps, jumping in place at the notorious sound and he whirls around, pulling at the door.

It, of course, doesn't budge.

He tries the other door, but it too doesn't give way either.

He steps back, his heart rating accelerating and his stomach twisting into knots. He looks at Sangyeon, who is equally as startled.

This isn't good.

Suddenly the lights flash and plunge the lobby into darkness.

Q's dolphin scream shatters the silence, along with a multitude of gasps and screams from the others. There is also the sound of a gunblast in the chaos. Haknyeon throws himself in the direction of Sunwoo, acting on a protective promise.

He hits a body and they both crash to the floor.

As soon as they hit, the lights flicker back on.

Haknyeon finds himself on top of Juyeon, who is every bit panicking. He launches himself off of him, throwing himself to the side. He looks around for Sunwoo, who is clutching tightly to New.

"Get off of me!" New shrieks. "SANGYEON, GET HIM OFF!! I...CAN'T...BREATHE.."

Sunwoo has a death grip on New, squeezing him like he is trying to squeeze the last bit of toothpaste out.

Sangyeon rushes by Haknyeon and drops down to someone who is lying on the ground. Haknyeon can just glimpse light brown hair.

"There's more important things to worry about right now, New!" Eric scolds, his hands on his hips. He is standing beside the scene and just across from Sangyeon, standing with a knife is Q.

Q blinks, gripping it like he is going to stab the frick out of an intruder.

"Jacob!" Sangyeon screams out. "Jacob, oh God..."

Haknyeon feels his heart skip a beat. He scrambles to his feet and makes his way over. His hands fly to his mouth as his eyes rest on the unconscious body of Jacob Bae. He is bleeding from a single bullet wound in the center of his chest.

"Is...he...?" Kevin whispers, his face pale.

Sangyeon is shaking Jacob and then checking for a pulse. He finally decides to try mouth to mouth, which grosses the hell out of New and Sunwoo. "Breathe, dammit! You can't die here on me, Jacob Bae!"

But Jacob remains limp and lifeless.

In fact, his skin pales more and more.

Q whirls around and slashes at the air, propelled by adrenaline and fury.

Haknyeon glances at the table full of weapons. His eyes land on a smoking barrel of a sniper rifle. Is that what killed Jacob? His eyes flick to the person closest to the table and the weapon, which is Kevin Moon.

Q gives another battle cry and hacks at the air again.

Sangyeon suddenly roars and slams a fist angrily on the ground to the side, blood is all over his hands and arms.

Haknyeon, his eyes back on Sangyeon and Jacob's limp body, slowly steps back, shaking his head.

What is this?

Who killed Jacob and why?

Are we next? Am I next?