Work Text:
Seokjin was still considered relatively new at his job, having only been in the position of emergency services operator for a few months. It was a job he had never considered working before, especially not as something to support himself as he studied at college. It wasn’t a job that had ever crossed his mind, and the emergency services operator had always just been a vague idea to him. Before, it had been on the same pedestal as the secret service. He knew they were there, he knew there were people working there, but how they got the job and what it entailed was a mystery to him.
In reality, finding the job had been simple, a few searches on the internet and one application filled, three rounds of interviews and three months of training found him working the console with an almost strange detachment. The tables had turned now, and Seokjin viewed the people on the other end of the line, the people calling, with an almost mysterious air. He didn’t know them, and if it weren’t for the fact he dispatched the police to them, he would consider them a figment of his imagination.
In the time he had had been working there, he had learnt to disassociate, learnt to never let the call get under his skin. It wasn’t exactly the career he had planned out for himself, but he was good with people, and his manager said his voice was soothing. Which worked in his favour when he was dealing with panic and distress on an almost daily basis. It wasn’t the easiest job, and dissociating was the easiest way of dealing. His first few calls still haunted him to this day, and he never wanted to take a call the same way again.
All in all, he was glad to be in a job, and in some ways, he was glad to be of service to his country. The only thing he wished he could change was how he never got to know how it all ended. He would speak to the person, get to know the person in some ways, but then never know what had happened to them, if they were safe and unharmed.
Thoughts like this plagued him for some time, but eventually, he learnt to picture happy endings for them. He could imagine the men, women and children all leading on to happy lives because of the things he had done for them, for his help in dispatching the police to them.
Seokjin liked to believe he had done everything he could, which is why, at the age of twenty one he found every moment he wasn’t at college, he was sitting at his desk taking calls to help them.
The pressure sometimes got to him. Sometimes the looming threat of what could happen if he messed up could get to him, but he always worked hard to do his best, and he was sure that he wasn’t going to mess up if he always concentrated, and always worked hard. He’d been here six months, and was going strong. The pay was okay, and the hours he worked were okay. He was getting by, and he enjoyed it. He never knew how the day was going to end
His best friend, Namjoon who had enrolled into the police force the moment he had graduated high school, always told him how reassuring it was to hear his voice over the radio, and Seokjin liked being able to tell Namjoon what to do, so it worked out for both of them.
Today was a Saturday afternoon, and unlike most of his friends who were either sleeping or out shopping, he was sat at his desk, his Mario figurines smiling playfully from the left corner of the desk, and his notepad and manual sitting in organised chaos to his right. There was never a quiet moment here, and he never saw the point in bringing in too many personal items.
He suddenly thought of his friend Yoongi who he knew was burying himself in his music, trying to catch up on his composition pieces for the end of the year, and he didn’t blame him. He knew he had a slew of assignments waiting for him to finish when he got back to his home later. He usually called Namjoon and whined about it, but he knew Namjoon was pulling a double shift today, and wouldn’t be home when he wanted to whine. It comforted him in some way knowing some of his friends were still working away their weekends, and not just him.
Sighing, Seokjin looked back to the screen, saw his call option light up.
“112, what’s your emergency?”
A woman screaming.
Despite the initial panic, Seokjin forced his heart to stop hammering, and proceeded to help her in a way he was trained to do so. He slowy managed to calm her enough to give her name and address, and quickly dispatched the police to her area.
The call hung up, that was it for him. This was his daily routine.
Taehyung was laughing at Jimin as he pulled stupid faces and looked at shirts in the store. They’d been at the shopping mall for the last couple of hours, and Jimin had gotten bored looking at shirts with him.
“Stop, I need to find a shirt.” Taehyung whined when Jimin seemed to stop pulling a face.
“Not my fault you have to go to some fancy dinner with your parents.” Jimin replied.
“It’s literally tonight, and if my mother had her way I’d be wearing the same shirt from middle school graduation. It doesn’t even fit anymore.” Taehyung said, picking up another shirt and holding it against his body in the mirror. It was a pale blue with white cuffs, it was plain enough for his mother, and was different enough for him.
“That one looks good.” Jimin told him, eyeing the shirt.
“Yeah, think we have a winner.” Taehyung agreed, checking the price tag and wincing slightly, his savings would be depleted, but he had a shirt. He had something to wear.
“Great. Go pay so we can eat,” Jimin ordered, pushing Taehyung towards the till, “I’m starving.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Taehyung sighed and paid for the clothes.
“Jin!” Namjoon called as he made his way into the centre a little later.
“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” Seokjin asked, turning his phone to unavailable, knowing Namjoon wasn’t here to to just call his name and walk away.
“Just came by to see how you were doing.” Namjoon commented, sitting on the corner of Seokjin’s desk, behind him, Namjoon’s partner Hoseok nervously followed.
“I’m doing great,” Seokjin replied, “but you should definitely be working.”
“I’m allowed a break, Seokjin.” Namjoon retorted.
“Sure you are,” Seokjin replied sarcastically, “and how are you, Hoseok?”
“Fine. Still getting used to everything, I guess.” Hoseok replied.
Similarly to Seokjin, Hoseok had only been in his position a few months. He remembered Namjoon bringing Hoseok in on his first day when Seokjin hadn’t too long started this job, and they’d all bonded really well. It was weird, since Hoseok was friends with Yoongi, and knew each other from when they were younger. Seoul was a big place, but they had somehow managed to find each other, all four of them.
“It is a lot,” Seokjin agreed, “so tell me really, what’re you disrupting my day for now, Namjoon?”
“Nothing much, did Yoongi ask you about the party yet?” Namjoon asked as Seokjin got up and walked them towards the break room.
“No.” Seokjin replied.
“Guessed so. Yoongi’s having a party next weekend, and surely you can come right?” Namjoon asked.
“I’ll think about it.” Seokjin replied cheekily, getting three coffees from the machine.
“Yoongi always throws a good party. He knows the best music.” Namjoon continued.
“I know he does. I’ve known him longer than you.” Seokjin said, he was just teasing, Yoongi had mentioned it to him earlier this morning before he’d left for work, and Seokjin had already agreed to go. He knew he had next weekend off as a rest weekend, so it was fine by him.
“Come on, Seokjin, please?” Namjoon begged.
Seokjin laughed.
“What’re you laughing about?” Namjoon asked.
“Yoongi asked me this morning, I’m messing with you.” Seokjin laughed, and turned to face Hoseok who was also laughing.
“You knew about this?” Namjoon asked, his voice coloured with mock offence.
“Kinda, yeah.” Hoseok answered, smiling.
Seokjin smiled as he let the other two ramble on about the day they’d had so far, it had seemed pretty quiet to them, and in some respects, Seokjin could agree. Nothing too big had happened yet, nothing to raise any major alarms over. Though, Seokjin had come to realise over his time here that not every day was action packed, and things became so normalised that even things that might seem major on the outside was not so major to him anymore. It was a strange feeling, and he was sure now wherever he ended up, he would never feel the same about some issues as he did before.
“I can’t believe your dad got you that crappy little phone.” Jimin snorted, looking at the phone Taehyung was currently using.
“Yes, well, after a certain someone thought it would be funny to break my phone, dad said he didn’t trust me with the one I had, so now I’m stuck till I can prove that I can look after a more expensive one,” Taehyung explained, looking pointedly at Jimin.
“Not my fault the phone was slippery.” Jimin defended weakly.
“Uh huh,” Taehyung mumbled and took a sip of his drink.
“So, anyway, do you remember Hoseok from dance?” Jimin asked, changing the subject.
“He graduated last year?” Taehyung asked, though he was sure he remembered Hoseok. They’d met a few times.
“Yeah, joined the police and everything.” Jimin replied.
“What about him?” Taehyung inquired.
“So, he’s friends with a guy in college, and Hoseok invited me to this friends college party, and I was wondering if you wanted to go, too.” Jimin asked, even though Taehyung knew it was more of a statement. He didn't mind though, he loved going to parties and meeting new people.
“Sure, can we bring Jungkook, too, though?” Taehyung asked.
“If you can convince him to come.” Jimin said as if it was a challenge.
“Leave it to me.” Taehyung smiled, he could always get Jungkook to do what he wanted. It would be easy.
“Oh, crap.” Jimin shouted, looking down at his phone, “I was supposed to be home by now. I'm going to have to shoot.”
“Jimin,” Taehyung whined as Jimin frantically stood up, “you were supposed to drive me home.”
“Sorry, Tae.” Jimin apologised, and Taehyung saw that he did look genuinely sorry, so he couldn't feel too bad.
“It’s alright. I'll get the bus, now get out of here.” Taehyung said, a smile pulling at his lips as he shooed Jimin away.
Taehyung continue to smile as he watched Jimin hurry away, tapping away on his phone. Sighing, Taehyung turned back to his empty tray of food, and stood up. He placed the food in the bin, and walked out the back of the mall towards the bus stop at the end of the street.
The street was quiet as he made his way down it, with not many cars passing. It was still light out, and Taehyung wasn't too worried about what time he got home, he still had a few hours before he was going out with his parents.
Lost in thought, Taehyung startled when a man stepped out in front of him.
“Sorry to bother you,” the man started, and Taehyung eyed him curiously, “I've dropped my hearing aid, and I was wondering if you could help me find it.”
“Uh, sure.” Taehyung answered hesitantly, “where do you think you lost it?”
“I think I dropped it around here.” The man replied, and Taehyung turned to the direction the man was pointing in.
Taehyung mumbled to himself, but bent down to looked around there. The man was odd, but Taehyung figured he might have been nervous, or unfamiliar with the area.
He couldn't see it. It was nowhere to be seen in the area, and Taehyung felt a bit helpless.
“It’s not here,” Taehyung eventually answered, “are you sure-”
The man grabbed Taehyung from behind, and placed a cloth over Taehyung’s face. Taehyung tried kicking his legs and screaming, but his body was getting heavier, the world going darker. He didn't understand what was happening, and before he knew it, he was unconscious.
Seokjin sighed as he hung up another call. He didn't want to think these calls were becoming monotonous, but today it had felt like the world was dragging. He’d dealt with a lot today, a mugging, a car accident, and a slew of other calls, he’d even had Namjoon harass him over the radio.
Looking up at the clock above, Seokjin noted he only had two hours left of his shift, then he could finally get home and start working on his college work. He was hungry and tired, but he needed to get his college work finished.
His computer screen lit up and displayed a new call. Sighing, he hit the answer key.
“112, what’s your emergency?”
Taehyung woke up slowly, his mind a haze of confusion. He couldn't remember what had happened.
With a pounding head, Taehyung slowly opened his eyes, but it was still dark. He was confused. He turned slowly, the ground felt strange, and he was sure he could hear the sounds of cars around him.
A niggling panic was beginning to spread, Taehyung looked around where he was, and with a sudden jolt he realised. He was in the trunk of a car. He was trapped.
Now in a blind panic, Taehyung began screaming and hitting the roof of the car, trying to get it to open. He felt tears swell at the corners of his eyes.
“Help!” He called, but nothing was budging. He looked wildly around the tight space and he couldn't see anything. He didn't know what to do.
As he was rolling around, he felt something press in his pocket.
“My phone,” he whispered, as semi relief ran through his body.
The screen lit up, and through his tears he dialled 112.
"112, what’s your emergency?” A male voice sounded over the phone.
“I need help.” Taehyung said, but before he could continue, a harsh sob escaped him. He couldn't believe this was happening to him.
“What kind of help do you need? ” The man asked.
“I'm stuck,” Taehyung cried, “can you please just send help? I'm stuck in the trunk of some man’s car, and I don't know what’s going on.”
"You’re stuck in the trunk of a car? ” The man asked.
“Yeah,” Taehyung sobbed and hit the roof of the trunk one more time, “I don't know what he’s going to do to me.”
“Yeah, I don't know what he's going to do to me.” Seokjin was panicking slightly, there was no call information on the his screen, they couldn't locate the call because the caller was using a prepaid phone, and the caller was sobbing so loud it made it hard to figure out what he was saying.
“Okay, do you know where you're heading?” Seokjin asked quickly, as he began typing information onto his computer.
"No, no. I was at the mall with my friend, and this man asked me for help.” The boy cried, "then he grabbed me, and I fell unconscious.”
“Okay, can you describe what he looked like?” Seokjin asked, and he could feel he was gaining attention from some of the operators around him.
"I don't know. He was a man, ” the boy described.
“Okay, what race was he? Asian? White?” Seokjin probed, he knew he needed to be cautious, the boy was panicking.
"Asian, ” the boy eventually answered.
“Okay, is he in his twenties? Thirties? Forties?” Seokjin asked.
"Thirties, I don't know, I didn't look at him hard enough.” The boy cried.
“That’s okay. You’re doing great, okay?” Seokjin reassured, “now, can you tell me, are you on the highway?”
"I don't know. I can't see anything, all I can hear is cars.” Seokjin could sense his frustration underlying his panic, but they couldn't trace his call, and they were stuck, “ when are you coming to get me?"
“We’ll be as fast as we can, okay? I just need to get some information out of you.” Seokjin reassured, but the boy just cried harder, “what’s your name?”
This was a distraction technique, he needed the caller to be calm.
“Taehyung, Kim Taehyung .” The boy, Taehyung eventually answered, and Seokjin typed his name up on the computer and pulled his information. The picture downloaded, and Seokjin startled, he recognised this kid.
“Okay, Taehyung, is the car moving fast ? ” Seokjin asked.
"I don't know, I can't see anything.” Taehyung answered, and Seokjin could hear him moving about in the background, " we could be, a lot of cars are going fast around us.”
“That’s great, Taehyung, okay?” Seokjin reassured, “what was the name of the mall you were at?”
"Goto, ” Taehyung answered.
“Do you remember anything about the car?” Seokjin probed.
"Uh, I don't remember. I didn't look at it really well.” Taehyung replied, but Seokjin could hear he was beginning to hyperventilate.
“That’s okay, was it black, white, grey?” Seokjin asked.
"Black.” Taehyung answered.
“Okay, and was it old or new?” Seokjin continued.
"Old, I think. I don't know, I wasn't looking at it. Why are you asking me all this? Why aren't you coming?” Taehyung was full on crying again, and Seokjin felt his anxieties rise, he turned around in his chair as he finished typing and saw his manager listening in to the call. He gave Seokjin a thumbs up, and Seokjin inhaled and exhaled.
He must remain calm.
“We need to know this to help us find you, okay?” Seokjin explained. He didn't want to tell Taehyung they couldn't trace his call.
"Old. I think the car was old.” Taehyung eventually whispered out.
“Thank you, Taehyung.” Seokjin said as he paused his mic and turned to the police dispatcher, “I have a suspected kidnapping in progress, male aged 18 named Kim Taehyung on the phone. He’s stuck in the trunk of a car. Last place he was at was Goto mall, suspecting route is on highway. Caller is on a prepaid phone, so we can't get an exact location, so could be on any highway. Caller described the car as old and black, but doesn't remember specifics.”
"Received. We’ll be on the lookout.” It was Namjoon. Seokjin smiled knowing that Namjoon would do his best to track down Taehyung, but first he needed to get Taehyung to do a few things to help.
“Taehyung, can you do something for me?” Taehyung heard the operator ask. He was confused and scared and he didn't know what he could do.
“What?” He asked eventually.
"To help the police find you, we need to make you more visible. In the car, is there a lever you can pull to open the trunk?” He heard the operator ask.
Taehyung turned around slightly and looked at the ceiling of the trunk, he shone the light of the phone on the roof, but he couldn't see anything.
“There’s nothing.” Taehyung answered.
"Okay, that’s fine. Can you see the break lights from where you are?” The operator asked. Taehyung turned towards the back of the car, and saw the glow of the brake lights.
“I can.” Taehyung answered.
"Great, now, what we’re going to do is break them. Kick the break light out, and then you’ll be able to see outside.” The operator ordered.
Taehyung looked at the light, and heaved a breath. He was worried that the sound my alert the man who had taken him, but he could hear the pulsing base of the music playing, and that reassured him.
Moving slightly so that he could get to the brake light properly, he laid the phone down next to his head, and kicked the light harshly. The light budged, but didn’t fall out.
“Damn,” he whispered to himself, and kicked again.
It wasn’t moving.
“It’s not coming off.” Taehyung whined to the operator.
“That’s fine. Keep trying.” The operator reassured him. Taehyung moved his leg back once more and kicked it harshly, and in the background he could hear the sound of the light hitting the road.
“It came off.” Taehyung whispered, his whole body tense in case his kidnapper managed to see the light coming off.
"That’s great, Taehyung, now look outside the hole and lets see if we can see anything.” The operator advised.
Taehyung moved towards the opening and looked out of the hole, but it was all the same, there were cars behind them and buildings moving too fast to recognise.
“I can’t see anything. It’s just cars and stuff.” Taehyung answered.
“Okay, but you’re still definitely on the highway, right?” The operator asked.
“Yes, it looks like.” Taehyung agreed, “what’s he going to do to me? I just want to go home.”
"We’ll get you home, okay? Don’t you worry about that, we have loads of people out looking for you.” The operator reassured, but Taehyung didn’t feel any better. He was beginning to panic again, and he wasn’t sure what was going to happen to him. He didn’t know why the person chose him, or what he wanted to do with him, all he knew was that he didn’t want to be here, and he wanted to be home.
“Okay,” Taehyung whimpered. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Seokjin, it’s nice to meet you, Taehyung.” Seokjin, the operator answered,"now, here’s what we’re going to do, alright, Taehyung? I’m going to need you to stick your arm out the hole and wave, and we’re going to see if anyone notices you.”
“What if he sees?” Taehyung asked.
"You’ll be okay,” Seokjin told him, and Taehyung wanted to believe him so badly.
“I’m scared.”
"It’s okay to be scared, but now I need you to be brave, alright?”
"Okay,” Seokjin heard Taehyung whisper, "I’m doing it.”
“Great.” Seokjin encouraged him and turned his mic off and turned to the rest of the caller’s who had all began to watch him, “My caller is sticking his arm out of the trunk of a vehicle, if you get any calls about that, please tell me where they are so we can forward it onto the police.”
He received affirmative nods from his coworkers, and he knew they wouldn’t let him down. He knew it was now a waiting game.
“Seokjin?” He heard Taehyung ask, “are you still there?”
“I’m right here, Taehyung.” Seokjin answered him, “we’re just waiting for someone to call in and let us know where you are. Are you still waving that arm?”
"Yeah,” Taehyung answered.
“I got someone!” His co worker, Gohyun shouted, “A woman on the phone on the Gyeongbu expressway heading south. Black, Ford Mustang, registration plate 12 4576,”
“Great, thank you.” Seokjin called and turned to his dispatcher, “update on in progress kidnapping, vehicle is a black Ford Mustang, registration plate 12 4576. Car is heading south of the Gyeongbu expressway.”
“Got it.” Namjoon’s voice sounded, and Seokjin turned off the dispatcher and back to Taehyung.
“We’ve got you, alright, Taehyung? Someone is on their way for you.” Seokjin reassured him.
“Don’t approach the vehicle,” Seokjin heard Gohyun advise, and Seokjin felt his heart sinking.
"Seokjin, he’s turned the car, he almost crashed.” He heard Taehyung shouting down the phone. "He found us out. I’m going to die, I’m going to die, I’m going to die.”
“You are not going to die, Taehyung, trust me.” Seokjin told him, his voice leaving no room for argument, he turned back to his dispatcher, “car has taken off the highway, and is now heading in an unknown location.”
“We’re almost there, Seokjin.” He heard Namjoon reply back.
“Okay, Taehyung, we’re going to need to help the police out a bit here, is there anything else in the trunk with you?” Seokjin asked, he needed to think on his feet, they had nothing to go on now besides the plates of the car.
"I don’t know, I can’t see anything,” Taehyung whimpered. Seokjin could tell he was scared, but he needed Taehyung to focus.
"Shine the light of the phone around the trunk with you, Taehyung. See if there’s anything there.” Seokjin told him, and Taehyung wanted to be calm, but this was never a situation he saw himself in. He didn’t want to be like this. He didn’t want to be in this situation. He wanted to be at home with his parents.
“Okay.” Taehyung whispered, taking the phone from his ear and shining the screen light behind him, he noted there were paint tins, and a sack on the floor of the trunk.
Moving the sack, Taehyung shouted.
"What’s going on, Taehyung?” He heard Seokjin demand.
“I’m going to die. He’s going to kill me,” Taehyung answered, feeling the tears well up in his eyes. “He’s got a shovel, he’s going to bury me. I’m going to die.”
"You’re not going to die, Taehyung. The police will find you first .” Seokjin reassured him.
“I’m going to die, I’m going to die.” Taehyung chanted, he couldn’t believe this was happening to him, why was this happening to him?
"Hey, Taehyung, what school do you go to?” Seokjin asked, and Taehyung startled at the change of subject.
“Why do you want to know?” Taehyung whimpered, the tears still falling down his face.
"Just tell me, I’m curious. You still go to school, right?” Seokjin asked.
“Only for a couple of weeks, then I graduate.” Taehyung answered, “I go to Seoul Arts High School.”
“Oh, wow,” he heard Seokjin reply, “ I went there, too. I graduated three years ago. Do you know what that means?”
“What?” Taehyung asked nervously.
"It means we’re brave people, okay? Only the smartest get into Seoul Arts, so we can figure this out, okay ?” Seokjin told him.
Taehyung laughed in response, but he felt slightly better. If he wanted to get out of there, he was going to need to be brave and get himself out of here.
“Okay,” Taehyung eventually answered.
"What else is inside the trunk with you?”
“Some paint tins and a screwdriver.” Taehyung answered hesitantly, hiding the shovel again. He didn’t want to be able to see that.
"Great, you see those paint tins? ” Seokjin asked.
“Yeah?”
“I’m going to need you to lift the lid off and pour the paint out of the light hole, we’re going to leave a trail.”
Seokjin could hear Taehyung rustling around in the trunk, and was assured the boy was following his orders.
"Okay, I’m pouring the paint now,” Taehyung told him, and Seokjin almost sighed in relief. He turned to his dispatcher, knowing there was a helicopter en route, trying to find the car.
“Update from suspected kidnapping, caller is now pouring paint out of rear brake light, it should be leaving a trail.” Seokjin informed.
"We don’t see anything yet, but we’ll keep an eye out.” The helicopter confirmed.
"We’re still trying to track down the car, Seokjin, but we’re not having much luck.” Namjoon informed.
“According to our records, the car belongs to a Lee Daehwan, 35, has a wife and one child, perhaps it would be good to also get someone over to them? Perhaps the wife can shed some light on this.” Seokjin suggested.
"I’ll get someone on it.” Namjoon answered, and Seokjin turned back to Taehyung.
“Okay, Taehyung, we have a lot of people looking out for you, okay?” Seokjin reassured him.
“I know.” Taehyung answered, “the first can ran out, I’m just getting the second one.”
"Great, Taehyung. ” Seokjin answered.
Taehyung didn’t answer, but he was nervous, his stomach rolling and his hands shaking. He was terrified that the man that had abducted him would catch him. He didn’t know what the man would do to him if he did catch him, but he was sure it wouldn’t be good.
“We’ve stopped.” Taehyung said, he couldn’t hear the sound of the car moving, but the engine was still running. Lifting the paint can out of the way of the hole, Taehyung peered out to the traffic. “We’re at a lights somewhere, but I don’t know where we are. I don’t recognise this place.”
"Are there any street signs?” Seokjin asked.
“Nothing, I can just see cars. There’s a couple of convenience stores, but nothing that notable.” Taehyung answered. “We must be close to the outskirts of Seoul though, because it’s a lot quieter out here.”
"That’s okay, Taehyung, as soon as you get moving again, start with the paint again.” Seokjin advised, though Taehyung was sure he hadn’t given Seokjin much in the way of good information.
Suddenly, the car jerked to life, and as Taehyung lifted the paint can again, but the car made a sudden jerk to the right, and the can slipped right out of Taehyung’s hand and splashed paint all over himself and the trunk of the car.
“Shit.” Taehyung whispered, picking the can back up and noting that there was little to nothing left in there now.
"What happened? ” Seokjin asked.
“He moved really suddenly, and the paint spilt.” Taehyung answered, but he grew tense as he car hurled to a stop, and the driver’s door opened and slammed shut. The car rocked, “I think he’s coming.”
Taehyung was on the verge of hyperventilating as the boot was roughly pulled open, exposing Taehyung to the light. He flinched back from the abductor, and tried to make himself go further into the back of the trunk.
"What the hell have you been doing?” Seokjin heard the man growl. Seokjin cursed, he could hear Taehyung’s breathing getting quicker and quicker on the other line.
“Namjoon, you need to find him as soon as you can, his abductor is talking with him now, they’ve pulled up to a stop.” Seokjin said in a panic.
"I’m doing my best, Seokjin.” Namjoon replied, and Seokjin knew he was, but he was beginning to panic himself, and he could feel the eyes of the rest of his colleagues on him. There was a mass panic in the centre as all free agents were trying to gather as much information as they could, as well as answering all calls as fast as they could and passing any information they thought was relevant onto his manager. This was turning into a large scale operation, and Seokjin was only beginning to realise this.
Taehyung didn’t know what to do, his body has frozen in panic. The man stared down at him with an angry face, his eyes shadowed.
“What the hell have you been doing?” The man repeated.
“Nothing, I swear.” Taehyung answered. The man delivered a quick slap to Taehyung’s face, stunning him.
“I think it’s time you stopped and had a little sleep, okay?” The man told him, and Taehyung saw him reach into his back pocket and pull out a bottle of something and a cloth.
“Why are you doing this?” Taehyung cried. “I don’t even know you.”
The man suddenly looked up, and Taehyung could faintly hear the sounds of an approaching car. Seeing his opportunity, Taehyung made to sit up and shout for help, before the man looked down to him, and shoved his head back down on to the trunk floor and grabbed the screwdriver that Taehyung had using to open the paint cans, and shoved it in the muscle above his right elbow.
Taehyung cried out, but the man covered his mouth, muffling all sound.
“Is everything alright back there?” Taehyung heard a man ask.
“Fine, the lids weren’t on the paint cans right. Got a mess everywhere.” His abductor replied, a fake smile plastered on his face.
“Do you need a hand cleaning it up?” The man asked, and Taehyung hoped to everything he knew that the man was suspicious about what was really going on here.
“No, no, everything’s fine.” His abductor reassured.
“Okay,” the man replied, and Taehyung heard him begin to walk away.
Taehyung heart sank, this is not what he wanted. He wanted the man to come over, to see him and rescue him. He heard the man open the door of his car, and the engine start up.
The car didn’t move. Taehyung’s hoped spiked.
His abductor let him go, and Taehyung’s hand reached out to hs elbow where the screwdriver was still set. His abductor reached behind him and grabbed the shovel.
“No! Don’t!” Taehyung shouted as his abductor ran from the car, and Taehyung heard the sound of a window smash, and Taehyung couldn’t even describe what the sounds that followed. He was terrified, he couldn’t move, he wanted to move.
The pain in his elbow was pulsating, but he was afraid to remove the screwdriver.
“You did this!” His abductor shouted, and Taehyung began crying again.
He didn’t choose any of this. He screamed as the man walked back and approached him.
Seokjin was scared, he’d been calling out to Taehyung for a few minutes now but he hadn’t received any kind of response.
“Taehyung?” He tried again, but when he got no response, he turned to face his manager who had walked over to his station. “He’s not answering me, the line is still live, but he’s not responding.”
“That’s okay, give him a few more minutes, he might be in a situation where he can’t respond at the moment.” His manager replied, his voice reassuring him.
Taehyung was going to be okay, he wasn’t going to allow him to not be okay.
"Seokjin.... ” It was Namjoon over the dispatcher.
“What have you got?” Seokjin asked quickly.
"We’ve found the car, but it’s empty, they must have swapped cars.” Namjoon explained, and Seokjin’s heart sank.
“You’re making it sound like there’s more.” Seokjin said nervously.
“There’s a lot of blood here, Seokjin. ” Namjoon whispered, and Seokjin felt like being sick. "We’ll get the scene analysed, but he’s got to be close.”
“Catch him, Namjoon.” Seokjin sad, “this kid, we know him. Taehyung went to school with us.”
"Seokjin…”
Seokjin’s heart stopped.
"Taehyung? What happened?” Seokjin demanded.
“He killed someone,” Taehyung whimpered, “he just...he just…”
"It’s okay, calm down, do you know who this other man is?” Seokjin asked.
“No. I don’t,” Taehyung answered.
"Okay, we’re going to need to find out who he is. Reach into his pocket, and see if you can find his wallet.” Seokjin suggested, and Taehyung began crying again, "we need to know who he is, Taehyung.”
“Okay,” Taehyung cried, and laid the phone down, and reached over into the man’s pocket with his good arm, careful not to jostle the other one too much.
Moving his hand blindly through the dark, Taehyung eventually managed to find his wallet.
“Park Jihyo.” Taehyung mumbled.
"That’s great, Taehyung. ” Seokjin told him, and Taehyung felt calmer this time, him and Seokjin had garnered a rhythm, and Taehyung was beginning to understand why Seokjin was asking him all these questions now.
“Seokjin,” Taehyung whispered.
"Yes, Taehyung?”
“The man stabbed me with a screwdriver, above my right elbow.” Taehyung informed him.
"Okay, we’ve got people real close to you, you just need to hang on a little longer.” Seokjin reassured him, and Taehyung didn’t know how to respond to that. He wanted to be hopeful, but Seokjin had been telling him that for a long, long time now.
“Has anyone told my parents?” Taehyung asked.
“They’re aware.” Seokjin answered.
“Can you pass on a message for me?” Taehyung asked.
"You aren’t going to die, Taehyung. I’m not going to let you.”
“No, no, tonight was supposed to be important. My dad was being honoured in work, so I need you to tell them that I’m sorry.” Taehyung whispered, “tell him I’m sorry I’m always ruining his big moments.”
"I’m sure he’s more worried about you than he is about his award, Taehyung.”
“Fun fact, the day I was born, my dad was supposed to have this real big job interview. It was for a big company, a once in a lifetime opportunity. He had to leave before it started because of me.” Taehyung smiled, thinking back to the amount of times his father had shared this story, “but he said he got the best job of all anyways, he got to be my dad.”
"That’s a nice story, Taehyung.”
If the situation had not been as it was, Seokjin was sure he and Taehyung would have been great friends. But this was not currently the case.
“Hey, Taehyung?” Seokjin called after a beat of silence.
“Yeah?”
“ My friends are having a party next weekend, how about you come?” Seokjin knew this was breaking so many rules, but he wanted to have something to look forward to, he wanted Taehyung to have something to look forward to.
"Can’t, sorry. My friend Jimin has already claimed me for a college party next weekend.” Taehyung answered. Seokjin sighed.
“Maybe some other time then,” Seokjin added.
Taehyung suddenly started screaming, and another voice joined his.
"Stop, stop. You have to stop.”
“Taehyung? What’s happening?” Seokjin shouted.
There was a struggle on the other side, and Seokjin was beginning to panic, he didn’t know what was going on.
"Stop it! He’ll hear you!”
“Stop! That hurts.”
Taehyung was desperate, Seokjin could hear that much, then suddenly all the noise stopped.
"Don’t ever do that again, this is your fault he died.” That wasn’t Taehyung, Seokjin was sure of that.
"Don’t touch me.”
"But you’re so pretty, I’m going to make the prettiest of you. ”
His abductor was running his bloody fingers up and down Taehyung’s face, and Taehyung shivered. Blood was seeping from his elbow after his abductor had ripped it from his arm to stab the other man in the trunk. There was blood all over all of them, and Taehyung was shaking so badly he felt like he was going to vomit. He was on the verge of a full blown panic attack, and he was terrified that any breath he took could be his last.
“You’ll be a good boy, now, right?” His abductor told him, before slamming the lid back down and leaving darkness to surround Taehyung.
"I’m okay,” Seokjin heard Taehyung say, but Seokjin could tell Taehyung was anything but okay. He voice was shaking, he could hear his teeth chattering.
“Glad you’re still here, Taehyung.” Seokjin answered, he was relieved. “What happened?”
"Jihyo is definitely dead .” Taehyung whimpered, “it’s all my fault, there’s blood everywhere, Seokjin.”
“It’s not your fault, Taehyung.”
"But it is, if I had gotten him to be quiet, then he would be alive.”
“Don’t think like that.” Seokjin scolded lightly.
“It’s really hard not to think like that.” Taehyung answered, his breathing was shallow, and Seokjin was concerned he was going into shock, especially with a wound. Seokjin couldn’t gauge how badly it was bleeding.
"We’re taking a highway route out of the scene. It’s a guess, but there were treadmarks on the road leading in this direction, and Hoseok and I are hoping it’s the same as the car Taehyung is in.” Namjoon’s voice filtered over the dispatcher.
“Great, keep me up to date. He’s going to need a medic. So, I’ll arrange to have someone on standby,” Seokjin informed.
"Received. ” Namjoon responded and Seokjin returned to his call with Taehyung.
“How’re you doing, Taehyung?” Seokjin asked.
"Not too bad considering,” Taehyung responded, "we’re on the move again, I don’t know where we’re heading, I can’t see the brake lights in this car.”
“That’s okay, I’ve got police on their way,” Seokjin said, but he felt like he’d been repeating this sentence a lot, but he was saying nothing but the truth.
“I know.” Taehyung responded, "I’m feeling very tired now.”
“Just stay with me, okay, Taehyung? Don’t go to sleep.” Seokjin warned, he was worried that whatever adrenaline was keeping him going earlier was starting to wear off. He couldn’t have Taehyung going into shock.
“Wait, we’re pulling up somewhere. ” Taehyung suddenly said, “I think it’s a gas station.”
“How do you figure that?” Seokjin asked typing the information up for the message to be passed along to Namjoon and Hoseok.
"Sounds like gas station music.” Taehyung responded.
Taehyung listened to the sound of the man getting out of the car, and walking around the car. He briefly panicked thinking the man was coming back for him, but the trunk didn’t open, and he heard the sound of pumping gas above his head.
“Definitely at a gas station,” Taehyung confirmed.
Shining the light around the trunk, Taehyung noted a peculiarity on the board that led to the back seats.
“Seokjin, I think I have an idea.” Taehyung said.
"Is it a stupid one?” Seokjin asked worried, Taehyung knew that Seokjin didn’t want him doing anything rash, but he had to do this.
“Potentially.” Taehyung told him.
"What does this stupid plan involve?”
"It might involve me climbing over a dead body, through a small gap to the middle row and escaping through the back door,” Taehyung told him.
“That’s not a very good idea, Taehyung.” Seokjin advised.
"If it gets me out of here, I’m willing to try. If I get out and run behind the gas station, he won’t even notice I’ve gone until he gets to whatever ditch he’s planning on leaving me in.” Taehyung answered, and though Seokjin could see where he was coming from, he didn’t want Taehyung getting himself in more danger.
“How big is this gap into the middle row?” Seokjin asked.
"It’s like the armrest thing, I’m sure I could squeeze through if I breathe in.” Taehyung replied, and his response didn’t fill Seokjin with too much confidence. "Scratch that, I’ll force myself to squeeze through if I have to.”
“Listen, Taehyung. I’m only onboard with this if you think you can really do it.” Seokjin told him.
"I’m positive.” Taehyung answered.
“Then go for it.” Seokjin advised, and turned to his dispatcher, “Namjoon, Taehyung thinks he has a way out, but he’s going to need assistance ASAP, still unsure of his whereabouts yet.”
"Received.” Namjoon replied.
Taehyung pushed the armrest through, and stuck his head timidly up to the hole and looked out. He couldn’t see his captor, which worried him slightly, but he wasn’t going to be deterred by this.
He ducked back into the trunk when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and listened till they settled down. He stuck his head back through, and saw his captor standing to the right of the car, looking out over the car.
“This is my chance, Seokjin.” Taehyung informed, “I’m going to move the phone to my pocket so I don’t drop it.”
"I’ll still be here.” Seokjin replied back, and Taehyung took this has his chance.
Ignoring the blinding pain in his elbow, Taehyung stealthily, pushed his arms and his upper body through the arm rest. He paused briefly to look to his right. His captor was looking at the pump. He wasn’t paying attention to the car.
He pushed himself out further, trying to make his body as long and as slim as he could, he kept his eyes on his right and balanced his weight on his arms, despite the pain it was causing him. The man swiveled his head around and Taehyung froze, if the man caught him like this then he’d never be allowed to see the light of day again.
“Do you need any help mister?” A new voice called catching the man’s attention.
Taehyung took his chance, and pulled the rest of his body through the armrest, almost crying when his hip caught on the top where a hard bit of plastic stood and drew blood as it scraped along.
“There’s someone else here.” Taehyung whispered, and hoped it was loud enough to Seokjin to hear.
The man turned to look back in his direction and Taehyung stopped. For a moment, Taehyung was sure the man was looking directly at him, but when he made no move to pull him back into the car, Taehyung took his luck, and pulled the rest of himself through, and landed ungracefully on the floor in the middle section of the car.
Taehyung watched in fear at the men turned his head back to the other voice, and began arguing with the voice. Seeing his opportunity, Taehyung pushed himself backwards to the door on the other side of the car, and slowly lifted his hand up to the handle, and pulled on it gently.
The door opened with a pop, and the man’s head snapped in his direction, but looked above him. Taehyung was panicking, this was risking way too much, his heart was pounding in his chest, and his legs were shaking so badly he wasn’t even sure he would make it out of the car, but when the man looked back at the gasp pump once again, Taehyung gently pushed the door open.
Once it was open enough for Taehyung to get out, Taehyung quietly turned around and climbed out of the car, remaining as low as he could to not alert the man that he had escaped. He gently pushed the door closed, and kneeled on the ground, looking up through the window to see if the man had caught him.
“Seokjin, I don’t know if this helps, but the gas station is called Galileo.” Taehyung said, and Taehyung heard some static in response, but he wasn’t going to risk saying it any louder.
The man had disappeared.
Taehyung couldn’t see him.
Taehyung panicked.
He turned slowly in all directions, but he couldn’t see him. The courtyard was silent, and this set Taehyung on edge. But he couldn’t see the man. He was nowhere to be found.
Backing up slightly, away from the car Taehyung turned in all directions, but was still unable to find the man.
Suddenly, the door of the gas station shop opened, and Taehyung ducked away from view behind the car. He could hear the man muttering, and he was positive it was his captor. He heard the door of the car opening, and Taehyung peaked his head up to the window, and looked in. The man hadn’t gotten into his car yet.
Walking slowly towards the back of the car, Taehyung looked at the man from the behind the trunk of the car. He was facing the other direction, so with slow and deliberate steps, Taehyung kept his eyes trained on the man as he stepped towards the gas station shop. He wished he could talk to Seokjin, but he knew this wasn’t the moment to be doing so.
Taking one step closer, Taehyung miscalculated his footing, and knocked into a stack of cans in the center of the court. Taehyung froze, the man’s eyes darted in his direction, and caught him.
Taehyung watched as the man’s eyes narrowed in fury, his face twisting grotesquely as he noticed Taehyung standing there.
“Move,” Taehyung commanded to himself, but his body was frozen under the look the man was giving him. He couldn’t move, fear gripped him in place.
The man approached slowly, and Taehyung’s legs began to shake.
He couldn’t move.
He couldn’t move.
He didn’t know what he was going to do.
“What are you doing out here?” The man asked, his voice dark and sinister.
“Nothing.” Taehyung answered.
“Nothing?” The man laughed, the sound sending shivers down his spine.
Seokjin was terrified, he’d been calling for a response from Taehyung for a while, and he’d received nothing. Then, all of a sudden, Taehyung’s voice filtered through the line, followed by the sound of his captor.
“I knew this was a bad idea.” Seokjin shouted, “Namjoon, you have to get to that gas station ASAP, he’s out of the trunk but Daehwan has him.”
“We’ll be there in two minutes, we can see it in the distance.” Namjoon replied, but Seokjin was sure it wasn’t going to be fast enough. He knew this man could do a lot in two minutes, and he was terrified for Taehyung.
Seokjin leaned back on his chair, pulling at his hair. He didn’t know what to do.
There was nothing he could do.
Taehyung looked at the man, he willed his body to move, but he couldn’t. There was something stopping him, and he didn’t know what to do.
“What’s going on out here?” Another voice sounded, Taehyung turned his head slightly to see the shopkeeper walking over.
“Nothing.” The man replied, and Taehyung shook his head slowly.
“Wow, is that kid alright? He’s covered in blood?” The shopkeeper asked, and Taehyung hugged his arm closer to his body. He could feel the blood and paint drying on his skin.
“He’s fine.” The man replied, but Taehyung couldn’t find it in himself to say anything.
“Ain’t he the one on the news? The one everyone’s been looking for?” The shopkeeper questioned, and Taehyung hoped to god the man ran back into the store to get help. He needed the help.
His captor growled, and ran towards the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper backed up slightly, but Taehyung’s captor, grabbed him, and pulled the screwdriver from the pocket of his jeans and stabbed the shopkeeper repeatedly in the heart.
“Shit, stop it!” Taehyung shouted, running toward the shopkeeper. “Stop, stop, stop!”
His captor let go of the shopkeeper who fell limply to the floor and turned to grab hold of Taehyung on his bad elbow. Taehyung cried out as pain radiated through his arm, and he tried to break free, but the more he struggled, the harsher the man gripped his arm.
“You’re not leaving me.” The man growled and began pulling Taehyung back to the car.
“Let me go, let me go.” Taehyung chanted, desperately trying to pull himself away as the man dragged him back towards the car.
The man laughed as they reached the car, and he shoved Taehyung violently against the side of the car.
“No, I’m not ever letting you go,” the man whispered, moving his rubbing his bloody hand down Taehyung’s cheek, the handle of the screwdriver dragging along with it, “now be a good boy and get back in the car, and we can be back on our way like civil people.”
“There’s nothing civil about this,” Taehyung retorted, smacking the man’s hand away from his face. “Why don’t you just kill me and get it over with? Why even bother?”
“Because there’s no fun in that,” the man whispered, pointing the tip of the screwdriver at Taehyung’s heart.
Taehyung went silent, he felt his heart beating wildly, the area was silent, there were no cars on the road, and there was no hope of his escape. He should have known he wasn’t going to get away with this.
There was a tense moment of silence where Taehyung didn’t know what the man was going to do, the man continued to hold him against the car, staring at him.
“You really are a pretty one.” He said eventually, and Taehyung had no response only to turn his head away.
Taehyung squinted his eyes, in the distance, he was sure he could make something out. He was sure he could see something, and it was approaching fast.
There were flashing lights on the top of the car.
Taehyung looked back to his captor. He hadn’t noticed.
The sound of sirens started.
His captor panicked, and lifted Taehyung as he started to scream and kick as the police car skidded to a halt in the gas station courtyard.
“Daehwan, put the boy down.” A man ordered, and Taehyung looked up to him and saw that he was holding a gun.
Taehyung figured Daehwan was his captor as he turned himself around so Taehyung could no longer face the police.
“No,” Daehwan answered and walked back to the trunk of the car.
“Put the boy down,” the other officer ordered, and his voice was familiar to Taehyung, but Taehyung wasn’t sure how.
Taehyung heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and Daehwan roughly dropped Taehyung to his feet and placed Taehyung in front of him, the screwdriver digging into his back.
“What are you going to do now?” Daehwan taunted, “one wrong step and I’ll push this screwdriver right into his back.”
“You don’t need to do this, okay?” Taehyung looked up to the officers in fear. He definitely recognised them, but in his haze of fear he couldn’t remember their names. He wasn’t even sure this was important now.
“If you let him go now, things will be much better for you.” The other warned, and the name Hobi floated through Taehyung’s head. Hobi. Hobi. Hobi.
The first officer took a tentative step forward when Daehwan made no move, and Taehyung could feel Daehwan tense.
“I warned you,” Daehwan commented, and before Taehyung could react, a burning sensation ripped through the lower part of Taehyung’s back.
“Shoot him,” Taehyung heard over a sea of noise,and before he knew it, he was being let go.
He felt his body fall to the floor, and panic in the background, but Taehyung reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“Seokjin?” Taehyung murmured, and Seokjin burst back into life.
“Taehyung?” Seokjin asked, “what’s happening? Are you okay?”
"I don’t know, but the police finally came. Just like you said.” Taehyung told him, and Seokjin was sure he could hear him wince at the end of the line.
“That’s great, Taehyung. You should talk to them now though, okay?” Seokjin told him gently.
"I will. ” Taehyung responded slowly, “hey, Seokjin?”
“Yeah?”
“We should definitely meet up sometime. I’m guessing you have my phone number, so send me a text okay?” If this was any other situation, Seokjin was sure he would laugh, but it was an entirely different situation.
“I will,”
“Because you saved my life, Seokjin.”
“Thank you, Taehyung.” Seokjin answered,
"Seokjin, Daehwan has been apprehended. Medic’s are en route. Taehyung’s not in a good condition, but I’m positive he’ll pull through, Hoseok is with him now.” Namjoon informed over the dispatcher.
“Okay, let Hoseok know that he can turn the call off now.” Seokjin answered, “oh, and Namjoon?”
"Yeah?”
“You know, right?” Seokjin asked.
“Yeah.”
Seokjin turned from his PC content, listening as Hoseok helped Taehyung disconnect the call. He knew Namjoon would keep him up to date. He wasn’t supposed to know, but for this one, he knew Namjoon would break a few rules for him.
“So, it’s not exactly the college party I invited you to last time, but I’m sure we can make this one just as memorable.” Seokjin started as he guided Taehyung to his living room sofa.
“It’s okay.” Taehyung answered with a smile, sitting down slowly. It had been a month, but Taehyung was still experiencing issues with his elbow and back after everything that had happened, “what are we watching?”
“Well, you said you enjoyed watching Hollywood type of movies, right?” Seokjin started as he rummaged through his DVD collection.
“Yeah,” Taehyung answered suspiciously.
“Well, I was thinking this.” Seokjin said as he proudly displayed the box for Bridget Jones .
“Sure, I think I’ve heard of this one.” Taehyung answered, and made himself more comfortable.
This would be the first movie night Seokjin and Taehyung had shared, but they had met up on a few other occasions. Seokjin had come to visit when Taehyung had still been in hospital recovering, then for coffee meet ups, and then Seokjin had invited him to a different college party, where he had been surprised to find that Jimin had been invited already, and therefore it was a given that Taehyung should have gone. He turned that one down, he didn’t want to face dark rooms and rooms with no space just yet.
“Isn’t it strange how all of our friends are friends, but we’ve never met?” Taehyung asked.
“Slightly,” Seokjin laughed as he set up the television and grabbed the snacks and drinks and placed them in the centre between them.
But Taehyung enjoyed this, he enjoyed the time he spent with Seokjin, and he was sure Seokjin felt the same. It was the beginning of something new for both of them, something good that had come from a horrible situation.
“Did you take any exciting calls today?” Taehyung asked as the movie started.
“You wouldn’t believe this one call I had…” Seokjin started, and Taehyung smiled. This was the start of an interesting night.