Hostage {ℍ𝕐𝕌ℕ𝕊𝕌ℕ𝔾} -- DISCONTINUED

Chapter Twenty-One

"Most of these are women," he groaned as he scrolled through the endless pages that had been pulled up on his borrowed computer. Hyunjin nodded, eyes flitting over his own screen, lips still pulled in a tight frown.

They'd been here for hours – Jisung didn't even bother checking the clock to confirm – and they hadn't made any progress. So far they hadn't found any groups of missing persons that corresponded to who they were looking for, which meant they would have to look for individual reports.

There would be an infinite number of possibilities and combinations. He scowled at his laptop as he ran a hand through his hair; how in the hell were they supposed to find them? He leaned his head back, closing his burning eyes to give himself a break from staring at the bright screen for hours on end.

When he cracked his eyes open again his gaze fell on Hyunjin, back hunched, dark bags lining his eyes. "How are you going to catch the rat?" He paused, eyes falling for a moment before he sighed, leaning back in his chair.

"I have no idea," he breathed after a few moments of tense silence. Jisung continued to watch him as he bit his lip, eyes narrowing on the ceiling. "It's a touchy issue. It'll probably take some time."

With a sigh, Jisung massaged the bridge of his nose as he once again leaned back against the wall. This was turning into a real mess. At the rate they were going, it would take them years before they figured out the identities of those bodies.

What was so special about the corpses that they had to be withdrawn? His frustration levels were only mounting, each unanswered question birthing more of the same kind. Not knowing was slowly driving him insane.

"Do you have a burner phone?" he asked, Hyunjin's eyebrows shooting up at the sudden request. He waved his hand around, gesticulating impatiently. "Just trust me. I have an idea." With a sigh and a murmur under his breath, Hyunjin pulled open one of the many heavy drawers of his desk, fishing around and bringing out a small flip phone.

"It hasn't been used before, right?"

Hyunjin snorted, staring at him in a show of mock-bewilderment, shaking his head. "Obviously."

Raising his hands in surrender, Jisung snatched it away from him. "Just making sure." He jumped to his feet and stretched for a moment before he headed towards the door. "I'll be back."

Hyunjin simply waved him away, head already bent back over his computer. Jisung chuckled and closed the door behind him, shoving his hands in his pockets. As usual, he completely ignored the gang members that walked along the hallways, sending him one nasty glare after another, though none dared make a move against him.

That was something he'd quickly learnt during his time here; either they all knew of his... talents and didn't think they'd be able to win in a fight against him – which they wouldn't – or they'd been ordered not to engage him.

His bet was on it being a little of both, and, given Hyunjin's explanation of the loyalty of this gang, it made sense as to why they were able to push aside whatever grudges they bore for the Hans. Hell, he wouldn't have blamed them if they did try to attack him; his father had run his gang with an iron fist, dominating territory after territory until the only ones remaining in the city were the Hwangs and the Bangs.

He wouldn't doubt that they had killed some of the Hwang's men; he didn't doubt that he had at some point.

It could also be said that the Hwangs killed some of his men, too. Really, everyone was everyone else's enemy. Though, he supposed that wasn't currently the case. He had to say, this alliance was going much smoother than he'd anticipated.

It surprised him enough as it was that Hyunjin trusted him enough to make a call out of earshot. For all he knew, he was conspiring with his father to expose them. He chuckled under his breath and shook his head; luckily for him, that wasn't their plan regarding this alliance.

He stepped out onto one of the many balconies of the manor, pulling the phone out of his pocket. He flipped it open, leaning against the cold marble railing as he punched in a number he'd memorised a long time ago.

It rang, one, twice, thrice, the irritating ringtone perforating the stillness around him. He tucked his arms closer to his chest, the cold seeping into his clothing, covering his skin in a layer of goosebumps.

"Hello?" A smirk played at his lips at the familiar groggy voice that echoed from the phone.

"Minho babe, it's me again."

Silence. "What the hell do you want?" He was on guard, his voice edging towards hostility; Jisung couldn't blame him, really.

"I just had a question for you. When you were testing the bodies, was there anything... unusual about them?"

He waited for several moments for Minho to answer, the silence stretching out in the quiet night. He tapped his fingers against the railing, if anything to dispel some of the nervous energy that had been plaguing his veins.

"No, I didn't. There wasn't anything that would be able to lead back to anyone. Why? Did something happen?"

Jisung sighed, closing his eyes as he stood up straighter, squaring his shoulders. So much for that idea. "No, don't worry about it." He chewed on his bottom lip, about to hang up the phone when Minho's voice broke through the speaker once again.

"Wait... did you check the jewelry?" Jisung's attention was immediately caught again, scanning his mind through the pictures on Hyunjin's desk. None of them had had jewelry, had they? If they did... it was possible it was out of sight. Dammit. Minho took his silence for an answer and continued. "One of them had a chain, it was tucked inside his shirt. It was... a cross, I believe, but it was intricate, unique, a bit bulkier than the usual. You'll know it when you see it, I'm sure."

He pinched the bridge of his nose; it hadn't been what he was looking for – what he was hoping for – but at least it was something. He'd have to go over the pictures again to see if any of them were wearing crosses.

"It was the tallest man," Minho said, as if sensing his turmoil; he'd always been good like that. "His clothing was all black."

Jisung sighed soundlessly, nodding to himself as he turned his gaze towards the dark night sky. "Got it. Thanks." He hung up without another word, staying there for a little while longer than was actually necessary.

Anything was better than nothing, he told himself; at least this might be able to help them even in the slightest little bit.

His eyes narrowed as he whirled around, the hair on the back of his neck standing up, the intense gut feeling that someone was watching him making itself known in the pit of his stomach. His eyes scanned the hallway behind him through the balcony doors he'd closed before starting his conversation with Minho.

There was nothing.

Easing the tension in his shoulders, he stepped back into the manor, making his way towards Hyunjin's office. Despite the fact that he had shoved his hands into his pant pockets, shielding the burned phone from view, he still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

He supposed he'd find out what that was soon enough.

A/N:  Ngl I wrote this chapter a day or two ago buuuuuut I kept forgetting to edit it BAHAHHAAHAHA

Lots of love,

~Emilie