Deadlock || ᴠᴍɪɴ

Chapter 13

He felt hazy and disoriented in the core of his head.

Although half-awake, Jimin knew that he was not in the best condition. He wondered absently if he had really drunk enough with Rob to get a hangover, but soon his mind wandered lazily here and there, and he found himself unable to focus. Jimin gave himself a shake and willed himself to concentrate, but it felt as futile as gathering a pile of coins that he had dropped and scattered all over the floor.

He finally remembered what had happened. Corvus had injected some kind of drug into him in the Huey. He had gone unconscious within minutes, and his memories after that were fuzzy. In a hazy state between dreams and reality, he had only been able to sense that he was being carried somewhere.

Jimin opened his eyes and first took in his surroundings. He was laid on a bed alone in a room with bright sunlight streaming through the window. His hands and feet were not bound. For a moment he thought he was in a hotel room, but something felt off.

It was only when he felt his whole body swaying that he realized the reason why it felt different. He was on a boat. He tried to bolt upright, but the drugs were evidently still in his system, for he was unable to move quickly. Once he managed to slowly get up and off the bed, the door opened to reveal Corvus.

“Hey, Jimin. Awake now?”

Corvus had changed from a tuxedo into a camouflage combat uniform. Behind him, two subordinates stood holding machine guns.

“Good timing. I want you to change. Just your top is fine. Your outfit draws too much attention,” Corvus said, throwing a black T-shirt at him. Jimin silently glared back.

“What’s wrong? Can’t even get changed without help?”

Jimin angrily took off his jacket and threw the cummerbund and suspenders onto the bed. He stripped off his shirt until he was naked on top, took the T-shirt that was handed to him, and pulled it over his head.

He made a mental note to give CJ an apology and to pay him back for the tuxedo he had borrowed. Of course, that was if he ever made it back.

“Change into these shoes. You’ll be walking on uneven ground. Those stylish pumps aren’t going to get you anywhere.”

Jimin was handed a pair of lace-up army boots. He felt uneasy as he wondered where he was being taken.

“Alright. Put on the shackles.”

On Corvus’ orders, one of his subordinates stepped up holding a sturdy-looking leather belt. Attached on either side were loops from the same material that resembled wristbands.

“It’ll be uncomfortable and restrictive, but you’ll have to bear with it. You tend to be pretty reckless, after all.”

Jimin knew that resisting would be futile. If he struggled and ended up hurting himself, he wouldn’t be able to escape when the time came. Although it angered him, he had no choice but to go along with Corvus’ orders and play it by ear.

Jimin lost the last of his freedom once the shackles on his wrists were locked. When he stepped out of the room, he was hit by a wave of heat that nearly made him choke. He had never encountered such sticky humidity that seemed to cling to his skin.

He figured they must have covered significant ground southward overnight. Jimin stood on the deck and raised his head, taking in his surroundings.

“This place…”

Jimin was speechless. A wall of green spread before his eyes which seemed to go on forever. A little ways ahead of the boat, he could even see a flock of pelicans resting as they bobbed in the waves.