Deep End | Hyunlix

12

Felix shivered uncontrollably, his body trembling with cold, even as it felt like it was on fire. The sensation of fever coursed through him, but no matter how he curled into a fetal position, he couldn't stop the shivers. His teeth chattered, and he pulled the covers tighter around himself, trying to conserve any warmth he could. The sound of the door opening made him flinch, too weak to even lift his head to see who it was.

"Felix?" a voice called gently.

Felix felt a cold hand press against his forehead, and his body tensed, goosebumps rising at the chill of the touch.

"You're burning up," the person exclaimed.

Before Felix could protest, he felt himself being lifted effortlessly into the arms of the stranger. He wanted to groan or push away, but the fatigue weighed him down, and he barely had enough energy to open his eyes. When he did, he saw the tall man from before, his worried eyes gazing down at him. Felix's vision blurred, and before he could register much more, he passed out once again, feeling himself drift into unconsciousness in the man's arms.

Felix woke with the warmth of sunlight hitting his face. He squinted, confused by the sudden change in his surroundings. Slowly, he opened his eyes, but his body ached as though he had been lying still for far too long. He shifted, testing his body's ability to move, and winced. Where am I?

The room was different. It wasn't the cold, stark place he had been in before. The surroundings were more comfortable—almost like a hotel room, with a soft bed and subtle décor. As he looked around, the realization hit him: I'm not handcuffed anymore.

Felix glanced down at his body, realizing he was in a white t-shirt and boxers, the weight of the situation sinking in. His stomach churned slightly as he looked around, noting that no one else was in the room. He spotted the phone on the nightstand, his heart leaping in his chest. There's no way they would leave me in here with a working phone, right?

Felix pushed the covers off of him, his muscles feeling weak and uncooperative. He made his way to the phone, his hands shaking slightly as he picked it up. He could hear the dial tone, and a flicker of hope sparked in his chest. His heart raced as he quickly dialed Chan's number. He kept glancing at the door, praying no one would walk in before he could make the call.

The phone rang, each second feeling like an eternity. Felix's breath caught in his throat, and the ringing stopped just as he thought it might.

"Hello?"

Felix's throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. He choked on his words, struggling to control his emotions.

"F-Felix?"

"Chan." Felix managed to get out, his voice weak and shaky.

"Felix! Oh my god, where are you?" Chan's voice exploded with relief. Felix could almost hear him running, frantic. "I.N, it's Felix. Trace this call right now!" Chan called out, and Felix could hear the urgency in his voice. "Felix, how? We've been looking for you. Are you okay? Do you know where you are?"

"I don't know," Felix whispered, his heart pounding. "I just woke up, and I'm in this room. It looks like a hotel room."

"Is anyone else there?"

Felix quickly glanced around, his chest tightening with unease. "I'm alone in the room right now, but I haven't gone outside yet."

"Don't! Stay put, we are coming for you." Chan's voice was firm, filled with relief.

Felix felt a little surge of hope at those words. Could he really be going home? He didn't want to get his hopes up too much, but he had to believe in his team.

He moved to the window, pulling the curtains aside carefully to get a glimpse of the outside world. His heart leapt when he saw the iconic Banpo Bridge.

"I can see the Banpo Bridge from my window," Felix said, his voice a little steadier now.

"I.N, narrow your search to hotels near the Banpo Bridge," Chan ordered, his tone sharp as he worked quickly.

"I found it!" I.N's voice came through excitedly. "It's the JM Marriot Hotel in Seoul. We just need to figure out what room he's in."

"Felix, how high are you? Can you tell?" Chan asked, urgency lacing his voice.

"I'm not sure, but I'm pretty high up," Felix replied.

"Let me check the security cameras," I.N said, already working.

"Send me the location once you find it," Chan said as he rushed out of the room, Han and Seungmin close behind him.

Felix's pulse quickened as he listened to the sounds of Chan's team gearing up. It was happening, they were coming for him.

Downstairs, Chan, Han, and Seungmin made their way toward the hotel. They parked in the garage, keeping their movements quiet. Chan and Seungmin made their way to the service entrance, preparing for whatever might happen.

"Be prepared. We're going to be coming in hot," Chan whispered to Felix through the phone.

Felix nodded, though he knew Chan couldn't see it. His mind was racing with thoughts, trying to prepare for whatever came next. His eyes scanned the room for anything he could use, settling on a hoodie in the closet. He hesitated but pulled it on, the familiar smell catching him off guard. It was vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it. He pushed the thought aside.

"I'm ready," Felix told Chan, his voice quiet.

"Okay, we've made it to the elevators," Chan explained. "It's tense here, but we're on the way. I.N, what room are we looking for?"

"There's only one room on the top floor," I.N responded. "Once you reach the top floor, there's one door before reaching the room."

The elevator dinged, and Chan's voice came through the phone again, "Felix, we just reached your floor. Be ready."

Felix stood still, his back against the wall, his breath shallow. He could hear the elevator ding, and his heart started pounding in anticipation. He made his way to the door, looking around to see if there was anything he could use as a weapon just in case he needed to. He took a deep breath, waiting for his team to walk through the door.

———
1061 words