Broken Connection

12

I refused to get out of the car.

I'm sure Doyoung and Lucas thought I was just being petulant, but the reality was that my legs were shaking too bad for me to be able to stand. I didn't like it here. I was terrified to be back in this place.

We had pulled into the underground parking lot of the old building, and the smell was the same. It was dirt and mildew and that odd smell that only cold concrete had. I remembered this place from my earliest memories, which happened to be the last time that I was here.

This was the building that used to house my dad's firm when I was younger.

Shortly after the break in my father bought a much larger and more secure office space on the other side of the city, and I never came back to this place. The last memory I made here was sitting on the floor with a strange boy crying my heart out.

Lucas let out a loud sigh.

"Are you coming or do I have to carry you?" He asked.

Doyoung was twirling the keys around in his hands as if he was bored. He probably was.

My mind was going ninety to nothing, but I couldn't figure out how to respond to Lucas. Embarrassingly enough, I didn't have to. He opened my door from the outside and picked me up easily, tossing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

I immediately started to protest, but he pretended not to hear me as his long strides took us closer and closer to the elevator that would bring us into the main building.

There was not security guards here, but when we got to the doors of the metal box Doyoung had to press his thumb to a scanner before the doors would open. I guess technology had made it a lot easier to keep yourself safe.

Once the doors were closed Lucas sat me back on my feet. I guess he knew I couldn't run away now that we were basically inside. Doyoung hit the button for the top floor, and my panic started rising again.

The CEO's office was on the top floor, at least it used to be. I hoped they had changed the layout at least. Maybe I would get to sit in a waiting area far away from that room. Maybe that room didn't even exist anymore.

I was so into my own thoughts that I didn't notice the elevator stopping and the doors sliding open until I felt a bit of pressure on my back from Lucas' hand pushing me out onto the floor.

I could feel my own pulse fluttering in my throat. As we took steps closer to the door at the end of the hall it became harder for me to breathe. I don't think either of the men noticed. Doyoung stride ahead and rapped lightly on the door of the office.

There was no answer, but I felt the tears falling down my face already. I could still see the officers walking down the hall leading the man in handcuffs. I could still hear the little boy screaming for his dad to come back.

The edges of my vision were going fuzzy.

Just as the door of the office began to slowly open there was a loud bang, and I abandoned all rational thought and began desperately running back towards the elevator. It was probably nothing more than a door slamming down a different hallway, but my brain heard a gunshot.

I had to get out. They had to let me out. I wasn't going in there. They couldn't make me.

Lucas tried to catch me as I turned and ran, but my adrenaline made me faster than even his long legs.

I was at the elevator, prying at the doors with my fingers trying to make them open. I could hear myself screaming, but I don't know what I was saying.

They were coming. They were going to drag me back, make me go into that room. I couldn't go in that room. I wouldn't.

The doors of the elevator slid open, and I was greeted by the soft fabric of someone's t-shirt. I had been pushing against the doors, so when they opened I fell forward and onto the chest of whoever it was inside.

I latched on. This person was my only hope to avoid the office, whoever they were.

"I'm not going! I'm not going, don't make me go. Please I'll do anything don't make me go in there," I sobbed and pleaded with the person I was clutched to.

There were ugly tears smearing my makeup, and I'm sure my nose was probably snotty. My nails were broken from trying to pry open the doors, and I think one of my fingers had to have been bleeding. That, coupled with the bruises I already had, made me look like a wild animal.

The man, I assumed it was a man because of his build, wrapped his arms carefully around me. I was still sobbing, still begging to not have to go into that room. He gently laid his chin on the top of my head and began to stroke my hair. I was shaking, but I began to relax into him. We oddly fit together, but I wasn't worried about that right now. I was worried about that office and not getting another step closer.

"What the fuck did you do, Lucas?" The man holding me rumbled, and my heart stopped.

I knew that voice, that tone.

Oh god.

Johnny.