39. Behind A Good Facade

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TW: Insults and swearing, graphic violence, slight implication of suicide.

***

A loud crackle makes Jisung sit up abruptly. Beside him, a radio started speaking, the only sound other than his ragged breathing. Eun had returned two more times with food since his initial visit and must've come back again secretly.

He curled up to the wall like he usually did, hugging his legs to his small frame. He had been rapidly losing weight with the amount of food and water he was being given, making his bones stick out.

'So, I heard your boyfriend recently went missing?' A reporter's voice gets his attention.

'Yes. Unfortunately, he was influenced and lured by the criminal I've been chasing for a while.' Eun's voice came through next.

'And how do you feel? What are you going to do next?'

'I was truly heartbroken when he disappeared, and it was very hard for me.' Jisung clenched his jaws as he heard the lies. 'I've been searching for him day and night, but I haven't found him or any clues to his whereabouts. If I'm honest, I'm really worried about what could be happening to him."

The boy's hands balled, squeezing in on themselves in an attempt to let out some of his anger. Eun wasn't sad when he disappeared, he wasn't searching for him day and nights, and he had found him, kidnapped him and now holds him on what feels like the brink of death.

'The entire city wishes you good luck-' Her words were cut off as Jisung jumped up, grabbed the radio and threw it as hard as he could into the wall. It shattered all over the floor, pieces flying everywhere as the voices and crackles disappeared.

He collapsed back onto the floor, exhausted from such as small action. He curled up, head buried in his arms as tears escaped his eyes. They wet his clothes, the same ones he'd been wearing for nearly a week now.

Jisung poked his head up for a second. His eyes caught something gleaming on the floor. He crawled over, picking up a large, sharp piece of plastic from the broken radio before returning to his spot, a little closer to where the chain attached to the wall.

He thought over the few options he had with this new weapon.

1. Attempt to cut off the chains

2. Attack Eun when he came back to deliver food and water

3. Or take the easy way out.

Jisung decided to leave the last option for if he failed the others and have a go at the first two first. He grabbed the chain a little from the wall, pulling it tight and placing the plastic to it. He started to try and saw through the metal, using the little strength he has to break it.

After a couple minutes of sawing without stopping he cried out and dropped the chain and plastic shard. The boy cradled his hand to his chest. The movements had caused the weapon to cut his hand, leaving blood drops to slide to the floor.

Option one failed, which meant he only had two ideas left. 

No matter how hungry, tired or sleep deprived he was, Jisung only thought of one thing. The one person he was trying to leave this place for. The one reason to keep going for however long he would be down here.

Minho.

But just the thought of him brought many questions.

Did he remember? Did he care? Was he trying to get Jisung back?

The boy knew what he wanted the answers to be, but all he could do was hope. There was no real way to know. But he let his mind wander outside the confines of the room he'd been trapped in.

The noise of a key jangling and lock being unlocked pulled him back to the harsh reality he hated facing.

"Good news! I brought a special treat for today!" Eun yelled as he descended the stairs. Jisung stashed the weapon between his chest and thighs in his usual crouched position. The elder approached, glancing at the destroyed radio.

"What happened here?" He asked with a smile as he sat down, placing the water bottle, bowl of rice and a piece of bread in front of him. The boy did his usual, scoffing the food to slightly fill the bottomless pit that was his stomach. Eun watched as he always did, enjoying having this much power and control over him.

When Jisung had finished, he started to stand.

Now or never.

As he turned to walk away, the younger jumped up, lunging at him with the piece of plastic above him, ready to drive it into his back. As he brings it down, the noise of the chain catches the elder's attention and he spins around, blocking the attack by grabbing his wrists.

He smirks at the frail boy, eyes travelling down his small frame. He used his other hand to pull at the boy's shirt, revealing his collarbone that now stuck out. His skin was littered with small bruises, bigger ones bound to cover other parts of his body from the frequent beatings.

"How long will it take for you to learn your lesson?" His free hand moved to cup the boy's cheek as he tried to get away from him. A loud slap echoed through the darkness and Jisung's cheek started to burn. Eun lifted his leg and kicked him in the stomach, sending him slamming into the wall as tears came to his eyes.

The younger bent over, trying to catch his breath but was interrupted by his hair being pulled back roughly. A punch was sent to his stomach next, followed by many more until Eun dropped him, letting the boy fall to his knees.

"You look so pretty on your knees for me." The elder sneered before grabbing his head and slamming it down to meet his knee. Jisung fell to the side, exhaustion and pain clogging his senses.

He peeked through heavily closing eyes at Eun picking up the many pieces of radio and putting them in his pockets. The other gripped the piece he still had tighter in his hand, not caring about the few drops of blood trickling down his arm.

"Because of the little act you just committed, I'm taking away your food for a couple weeks." Eun said as he walked up the stairs. "Have fun." He left, slamming the door as Jisung sat up.

Option one and two didn't work.

One option left.

He brought the pointy bit of the plastic up to his chest, holding it with shaky hands. The boy took a few deep breaths and braced himself, ready to push the weapon threw his heart. His heart rate fastened as he started to press harder, letting it pierce his skin slightly.

A face that flashed through his mind made him cry out and drop his hands. Made him throw the plastic across the room. Made him let out an agonizing scream. Made him sob until he fell into a restless sleep on the cold floor.

He couldn't do it. 

Not when there was even the smallest chance he could see Minho again.

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