TIME ─ JAEYONG

048⸰

"we're hanging up now."

"i don't think so mister. i know it's late there but let me admire your beautiful face a bit longer."

"taeil i'm seriously going to—"

we're here to interrupt your daily broadcast to report a missing person.

"wait, turn the television up." johnny instructed. taeyong squinted his eyes, the quality of the camera fluctuated as taeil flipped the screen so it faced the television.

mark lee, 18 years old, has been missing for over a month now. his family last saw him the morning of march 3rd. a witness stated they saw him being forced into a black limousine at around 4 pm the same day he went missing. if you have any information please contact the following numbers on the screen.

taeyong's blood turned to ice as mark's picture appeared on the screen. jaehyun's eyes went wide as he looked at taeyong. "who— who would take mark?"

"taeyong you know this kid?" taeil flipped the camera back to face him. "are you okay? you're pale." before taeyong could process any words to say someone began pounding on the door forcefully, startling all four of them.

taeil looked over at johnny in confusion before handing the phone over. "hold on guys." johnny set the phone down to follow behind taeil. all was silent before two gunshots rang out. jaehyun began to shake as he heard taeil groan before two thumps sounded against the hardwood floor.

"guys!? are you there!?" he shouted, not caring if he woke up the others in the house. "taeil! johnny! what's going on!?"

someone grabbed the phone, but whoever did swapped the camera again only allowing jaehyun and taeyong to look at their shoes. "bag them."

jaehyun felt his heart hammer against his chest. any faster and it would surely rip through his chest. "hand me the phone kun."

that voice. jaehyun felt the paralyzing fear spread through his body like a liquid metal. his lungs ceased to function as hot tears swelled within his warm chocolate eyes. "d—dad..." he breathed out in a shaky breath.

"ah jaehyun." his father sighed with what seemed to be content. "it's been too long son." when his face appeared the tears fell down jaehyun's cheeks. his lips trembled as did his whole body. "and taeyong? what a nice reunion. you're just the person i was hoping to speak with."

"it was you wasn't it? what did you do to mark!?" taeyong asked through gritted teeth. "tell me!"

"he's fine... for now. you see after you fled i had to do something, for you both lied to me and committed a serious crime. you know i hate liars and treason yet you still decided to do it. i thought by taking mark, the only person you care about that's left, as hostage would be great bait. i thought right."

"you bastard!" taeyong spat.

"why did you kill taeil and johnny!? they did nothing to you!" jaehyun screamed. taeyong could feel the agonizing pain in his voice.

"are they dead? you know i can't have witnesses jae." he smirked. "thanks to taeil i was able to track this call. i've been waiting for you to make this stupid mistake of contacting one of your friends and you finally did. that's the fuckup son i know." he chuckled.

taeyong lowered his head. this was all his fault. once again, he's gotten people killed. jaehyun bit his lip, he knew this was a bad idea. he blamed himself for bringing up the topic. he blamed himself for not stopping taeyong. this was all his fault.