Beneath the Surface // Moonsun

Chapter 14

Byulyi POV

"To start, I can not feasibly teach you how to withstand torture."

Yongsin sits particularly stiff in a metal chair in front of me in the uncomfortably small closet of a room I picked out for our discussion. My chair is on the other side of the wall but I still have to sit with my legs open to make room for hers to be crossed between them. Completely unintentional. Not entirely unwelcome.

"Does the room really have to be this small?" I swear I can see a bead of sweat trickle down her temple. "I can't focus."

"Yeah, I don't think your issue is due to the room sweetheart."

She pokes out her lips in one of those little annoyed pouts she does when I'm right about something and we both know it. I don't think she even realizes she does it but it's one hell of a tell. I might have to inform her of that.

"Anyway," I continue, "can you tell me a method for torturing?"

"Being in this room with you."

"Okay Yongsun." I say quietly. "Bullshit me if you will, but this 'torture' will last until you cooperate."

She groans. "Waterboarding."

"Good job Yongsun!" I exclaim, making sure to channel all of my inner Kindergarten teacher into that compliment. She frowns. "But be warned. Typically, it's the mental torture not the physical torture that gets you." I tick them off on my fingers. "Isolation. Starvation. Sexual humiliation."

She whistles softly. "That's a list."

"Even if you get out alive, you will never be the same."

"Is that what happened to Krystal?"

There's a twinge of humor in her tone that I don't appreciate. "Is this a game?"

"No."

"Because five minutes ago you sure as hell weren't acting like this is a game."

Her jaw clenches. "I said no."

"Then act like it." I fold my arms. "Some people are just born fucked."

There's not much I actually know about Krystal's past. She was in the Crescent Clan before me and she's been the same psychotic version of herself since I met her ten years ago. Same beady eyes, same brutal personality. Most likely attracted to power since she didn't pay much attention to me until I began to planned to overthrow the old clan leader Hann.

She and Wheein had my back then and I rewarded them for it. Despite her impulsive and often cruel behavior she's at least loyal.

"There isn't much you can do against torture and we aren't the type of gang that expects you to commit suicide for our cause. We deal drugs, it's not that deep." Yongsun seems to relax a little. "Because of this we give members information about their current job and that's it. Inner Circle members are a little different.

"I require a lot of trust from you." She makes eye contact with me. "If one of you is abducted, you have to hold out until we get you back. And I promise we will get you back."

"And what happens if you can't?"

"That shouldn't even be a thought in your mind." I remind her. "But the sad truth is: if you do betray our secrets and somehow get out alive, I will have you killed. Same goes for any other Inner Circle member."

Yongsun shuffles in her metal chair, knocking her knee against mine and just as quickly flinches away. "And what happens if you get taken?"

"You've skipped ahead to The Backup Plan." I cross my arms. "If I am taken and there's no possible way I can reasonably escape, I will find a way to kill myself and Wheein will become your boss."