Deadlock || ᴠᴍɪɴ

Chapter 15

"Jimin, wake up."

Jimin's eyes snapped open as he felt someone shaking his shoulder, and balked when he saw the man peering into his face. For a moment, in his shock, he wondered if he was somehow back in his regular cell.

"It's me. V," said the man, taking off his dark sunglasses and laughing at Jimin, who was still half asleep.

"Don't scare me like that."

It was only natural for Jimin to be surprised; V was dressed from head to toe in a black guard's uniform that he had managed to get somewhere. He even had the shoes and hat.

"Where did you get that?"

"It was in my backpack. I got Gasly to prepare it in advance for my escape. The National Guard are moving in soon."

Jimin bolted to his feet.

"Already? What time is it right now?"

"Seven in the morning. There's a lot of guards that got left behind, and the rioting isn't dying down. That's probably why they pushed the schedule forward. The radio's started a live broadcast already."

True to V's words, the radio was in the midst of reporting news of the Schelger Prison riot.

"Schelger Prison is now surrounded by over a thousand troops of the National Guard, and tensions are continuing to run high. The inmates are refusing to comply with the police's demands to surrender, and they show no signs of releasing the five guards they are holding hostage. Smoke is rising from various parts of the holding cells. We can only imagine what is going on inside―oh, the stationed troops are moving! They're heading for the building entrances. It looks like the raid has started. I repeat, the National Guard is using military force to suppress―"

V switched the radio off. He slung the backpack containing his prison uniform over his shoulder and turned back to Jimin.

"Jimin, I'll be going now."

"V..." He wanted to say something, but he was too choked up.

"I'm glad I met you. I'll be praying for your happiness no matter where I go."

V embraced him so tightly he could feel his back creak with the pressure. Jimin let out a shaky breath.

"Me too."

V let go of him and pressed his lips to Jimin's. The passionate kiss was so painful, Jimin felt like his heart was being torn apart.

"I wish I could take you with me. I don't want to let you go," V murmured in a pained voice between kisses. Jimin felt tears well up in his eyes. It was just as painful for V to say goodbye as it was for him. The agony in his heart was not his alone to bear.

"I wish I could go with you, too. But I can't."

"I know. I'm just being selfish."

Jimin knew that even if he were to escape from here with V, they would soon have to say goodbye anyway. After helping Jimin get out, V would disappear to go after Corvus.

Their desperate kiss threatened to stretch on forever, but V forced himself to break off and put his sunglasses back on as if to cut himself off from his emotions.

"You stay here for a while. Don't go outside until the racket dies down. And one last thing: be assertive when you negotiate with the FBI. You have more information on Corvus than you think you do. He got so wrapped up with becoming Nathan that he let a few things slip in front of you."

"What do you mean?"

"The state of the prison that he so passionately told you about. If you look beyond the dark underbelly of the prison industry, you'll find Corvus there."