{ D - 183 }
Jisoo clutched onto the stack of paperwork as he stood in front of the tall white building. Out of the years he had been an instructor, this was the first time he had ever visited District 17 Headquarters. This place was where classified information and data about the District were stored. Not many people were allowed inside, only a few instructors, the members of the Head Council, and of course the workers of the building were allowed to enter and exit. The prison was hidden deep within, a few levels underground.
Once he stepped inside, he was immediately bombarded with questions from a worker. He answered all of them calmly, which allowed him to walk deeper into the front lobby of the room and towards the front desk. He politely asked for directions to where the prison was, or as they call it, the Confinement Floor.
He was then directed to the elevator, where he was given a special key that allowed him access to the button selection for the Confinement Floor. Once the elevator was closed, he inserted the key inside the small keyhole and turned it to the left, causing a small button to slowly reveal itself. He pressed on it hesitantly, and the elevator began to move downward. When the elevator finally opened, he was greeted by two other guards who had been waiting for him to arrive inside. They were dressed in the usual white DPO uniform, along with a helmet to cover their faces and their identities from being revealed.
"Right this way, Instructor," one of them said.
Jisoo followed the two guards down what seemed like an endless hallway. His eyes darted everywhere, trying to take in his surroundings. He always thought prison was some run-down underground chamber made of rough concrete, but it was quite the opposite.
The cells were made of white walls, with one thick glass wall that acted as a one-way mirror at the entrance of each cell. You were able to see the inside of the cell, but the person inside Confinement couldn't see outside. The glass appeared to have no way in or out of the cell, which made Jisoo more curious as to how they got citizens inside them. Each cell had either one or two smalls beds covered with sheets, pillows, and blankets. There were also bathrooms installed in every one, the basic shower, sink, and toilet inside. Some were being occupied by citizens; some were empty. Finally, they stopped in front of a cell that was labeled CELL NO. 1.
Jisoo's eyes widened, almost welling up with tears. Inside cell no. 1 was a young man sitting inside on his bed. The male was dressed in all white, his brown hair cut short. His droopy eyes were staring at a wall as he subconsciously twiddled his fingers. His sharp nose, chiseled, smooth face, and thin lips were just as Jisoo remembered.
Jeonghan.
The guards pressed a numbers on a keypad, entering some sort of passcode to allow Jisoo to enter inside. They were about to press a button that was labeled "unlock," but Jisoo quickly stopped them.
"I have a request," Jisoo said, "for when I go in."
"Yes, Instructor?"
"Could you leave us alone for a little bit?" He asked, "Releasing prisoners always calls for many protocols that are classified just between the them and those doing the releasing process."
He hoped his excuse was good enough to give them some alone time. He looked at the two guards, who only turned towards each other in silence. Jisoo could tell they were a bit suspicious.
Coincidentally, a young male came over, dressed in the same DPO uniform only with no helmet. The other two guards bowed at the male, calling him Captain as he walked towards them. He had jet-black hair that was cut very short, no hair strand grew past his eyebrow. He had big eyes with long eyelashes and a somewhat flat nose that complimented his chiseled features.
"I need you two back at the enterance," he ordered, "I'll watch over the instructor."
The two guards bowed again before marching back to the entrance where Jisoo has first met them. As soon as they were out of sight, the guard's eyes met Jisoo's, causing the instructor to internally panic. Why has the Captain of the Confinement guards come to watch over Jisoo? What if he intervenes with his plan? What if he reports them to the Head Council?
However, all of his worries withered away when the Captain gave him a warm smile.
"You can go inside whenever you're ready," the male said, "The room itself is completely sound proof, nothing you discuss in there will be heard out here. I'll make it so that the glass can give you guys some privacy, okay? You'll be able to see me from the inside, but I won't be able to see you."
Jisoo looked at him, confused. The Captain of the DPO, the person in charge of all security in this building was practically giving me exactly what Jisoo needed on a silver platter. Out of all people, he should be the one suspicious of what Jisoo was doing. So why would the Captain do this for him? Jisoo was sure the Captain could tell he was confused by these actions, but the armed man only sighed looked over towards the cell, his eyes focused on the male inside.
"I'm sure two best friends need some alone time to catch up," he explained, "you haven't seen each other in years I'm sure."
He gave Jisoo another warm smile, causing an worry or suspicion the Instructor had to wither away.
"I won't interfere with anything. Take your time." The Captain assured him.
Jisoo smiled back at the Captain before he turned to face the glass, glancing over at where his best friend was sitting. Jeonghan was just sitting there, completely unaware of his friend's presence, since he couldn't even see the other at all. Jisoo took one deep breath, and nodded at the Captain to open the entrance. The Captain tapped on a button, and a rectangle shaped opening appeared out of the glass, allowing Jisoo to enter inside.
Slowly and hesitantly, he stepped in, the glass closing up behind him. He looked back at the glass and saw his own reflection. Almost a second after, the glass began to blur then clear up, onto this time he saw the outside hallway. He knew it was a sign that whatever happened in here could not be seen by those out in the hallway.
Jisoo turned back over to where his friend was sitting, slowly walking towards him. He could feel his eyes water, but he tried to prevent myself from crying as he held back any tears tempted to fall. Jeonghan was here. He was really here.
Jeonghan only closed his eyes and sighed.
"Seungcheol, I already told you that I don't want to eat-"
He turned towards Jisoo, expecting someone else. His terse expression immediately softened when he saw the Instructor standing there. They were now only a few feet apart, staring at each other in silence. Jisoo tried to soak it all up: Jeonghan in front of him, him in front of Jeonghan, both just staring at each other in the middle of a prison cell. Slowly, Jeonghan's eyes started to well up with tears, but Jisoo could tell he was trying not to cry. Jisoo felt tears of his own trickle down his face, but he only chuckled and brushed them off with his finger.
"Who's Seungcheol?" Jisoo asked with a grin, trying to ignore the fact that he was about to sob, "You didn't replace me as your best friend did you?"
"Oh will you just shut up?" Jeonghan finally said, rushing towards the other and pulling him into a hug, "Why would I do that, you idiot!"
Jisoo laughed hysterically as more and more tears fell, wrapping his arms around Jeonghan's trembling body. They cried into each other's shoulders, embracing each other with all their might. Finally, after all these years, Jeonghan was here with Jisoo again. They were together again. Everything was okay.
After a few minutes of crying like babies, they released their embrace. Jeonghan continued to stare at the former in disbelief, as if he were dreaming.
"W-what are you..." he stammered, "How the heck did you even get here?"
"It took me awhile," Jisoo said, "But I was able to do it."
"Do what?"
The Instructor held up the paperwork he had, grinning confidently as he waved them in front of the prisoner's face.
"Bust you out of course."
Jeonghan's eyes widened even more. At this point looked like they were going to pop right out of his face.
"You're lying."
"Mmmm lying is against the Law."
"You mean I'm really gonna get out of here? Like... back out into the district? Doing... District stuff?"
Jisoo laughed at how shocked Jeonghan was. After six years in Confinement, he was unexpectedly getting released and let back into society. Of course he'd be baffled by the news.
"Yeah, you are," Jisoo smiled, "but that's not the exact reason why I'm here."
His expression grew serious as he gently gripped onto Jeonghan's shoulders.
"I have a plan, Han," He said in a low, hushed tone, "A plan to leave."
Jeonghan slightly knit his eyebrows, "Leave?"
"A plan to leave this place. This whole District. This whole way of life," Jisoo explained, "And I want you to be a part of it. You were the best trainee back when we were younger. You were a master with weapons. Your combat skills were incredible. I know somewhere deep down inside, you still got that fight in you. I want your help."
His griped onto Jeonghan's shoulders tighter.
"I need your help."
Jeonghan was silent for a moment, thinking of something to say. Jisoo was worried the latter would say no. Jisoo was busting him out of jail and letting him come back into society he had once called his home, only for them to leave it right after. The chances of Jeonghan refusing to help were almost as high as him saying yes.
"I'm in," he said, causing all of the Instructor's worry to disappear.
Jisoo let out a sigh of relief, pulling his friend back into a hug. Jeonghan just chuckled as he patted his friend's back in a comforting way.
"I almost thought you were gonna say no," Jisoo mumbled, earning a chuckle from the latter.
"Dude, I used to break the rules for fun. Do you think I'd want to miss out on our biggest, most intense crime yet? I'm Jeonghan, not a DPO soldier."
"I mean you were going to be..."
"Hey hey, that's in the past. I'm an ex-con now," he joked, "Let's get out of here, because I can't stand this cell any longer. You'd think it'd change every now and then over the course of six years, but no. It always smells like cleaning soap."
Jisoo laughed at his friend's complaining as he knocked on the glass and The entrance reopens; and two stepped out of the cell, noticing that the Captain was still waiting outside, leaning against the glass. Once he saw they were out, he gave them a smile before pressing a few buttons to close the cell and change the glass back to how it was.
"Welcome back," he greeted, "did everything go well?"
"All thanks to you," Jisoo bowed respectfully, "thank you."
"Yeah thanks, Seungcheol," Jeonghan said, casually slapping the Captain's back, causing the man to flinch.
Jisoo's eyes widened and looked back up at the Captain.
"You're Seungcheol?"
The Captain, or Seungcheol, smiled awkwardly before nodding.
"He watches over all the prisoners and stuff," Jeonghan explained, "Brings us food, sometimes snacks. He's a pretty cool guy."
"Thank you," Seungcheol said quietly, "you guys know your way out?"
Jisoo nodded before thanking him again. The two friends waved goodbye to Seungcheol as they walked down the hall and back to the entrance. The guards were slightly taken aback once they saw Jeonghan out of his cell, but the former prisoner simply grinned at them as he boarded the elevator with his friend. The guards bowed politely as a farewell, the two in the elevator doing the same.
Once the elevator door closed, Jeonghan let out a sigh before smiling from ear to ear. The sight of his friend smiling made Jisoo's heart fill with joy. He swung an arm over the latter's shoulder.
"Glad you're back, Hannie," Jisoo smiled.
"Good to be back, Shua," Jeonghan grinned.
———
this one's a longer chapter than usual oops.