Something is wrong. Where am I?

Hastily I opened my eyes to see Trigg hovering over me, eyebrows knit with concern.

"Hey, didn't expect you to be back so soon." The woman grinned before gesturing to a figure behind her.

"What the fuck?"

"Serves you right, fag." Suddenly everything made sense as I looked at Jason. You fucking pink-haired snitch.

He's the reason you got caught.

He's the reason you're separated from...

"Where's Santiago?"

"Aww, the little boy is afraid about his boyfriend, huh? He's probably dead because of you."

Immediately, my vision became clouded as I lunged at him. Recalling Santiago's cries of pain, the blood, all the blood, the motionless body.

"Shut your fucking mouth!" Kill him, goddammit! I grabbed a fistful of his obnoxious hair, dragging him to the chair I had been in moments before. He jerked around, nails digging into my arm.

CRACK!

I bashed his head into the wooden chair, not caring about the blood or the whimpers. You could've escaped if it weren't for him.

CRACK!

You could have been out of this hellhole.

"ENOUGH!" Jason's head, or whatever it had become, sagged to the floor, still attached to the body as I looked at Trigger. She appeared unusually grim. As I glanced past her, I realized why.

"So this is our star player." Had the bald man always been there? Trigger looked at me with...concern?

The bald man sighed, "Trigg, get rid of the body, will you? Mr. Park, follow me."

He turned and walked out of the room. Not seeing a different option, I followed him down a surprisingly brightly lit hallway. I walked past a painting that I was pretty sure was authentic with a hefty price as I was led into what appeared to be an office. Only now had it occurred to me that I had no fucking clue where I was. It definitely didn't have the summer camp vibes like all the other rooms.

"We're underground, in case you haven't noticed."

The bald man then proceeded to sit behind an expansive looking desk that could probably feed a starving family for a year. I, on the other hand, got a very uncomfortable wooden chair across from him.

"What the hell is going on? Where are Santiago and Stephanie?" I growled. Did she actually make it out?

"Probably dead." The man sighed, "Mr. Guzman wasn't as impressive compared to you and the redhead. However, that's not what we're here for."

"Then why the fuck am I here?"

He continued brightly, ignoring my question. "May I be the first to congratulate you on becoming a guard, and soon, perhaps, a leader of our country?" The man gestured to the decorated wall behind him that I had not previously noticed. Pictures of baldy and a variety of officials, including the Secretary of Defense, himself, Mr. King smiled back at me, coldly.

"I must say some of my colleagues didn't believe that you would succeed, but here we are. Your cleverness and pride have astonished us."

"Why would I wanna be a goddamn guard?" I interrupted, slamming my hand onto the armrest. Pain immediately shot up my arm, my eyes following the path to find fresh bandages under my two tallies.

"I figured you would say that," he paused, "You have two options, train under us and become someone to look up to by the next generation of leaders, or, to put it simply, suffer a fate worse than death."

"I don't care." My hands were trembling, so I stuffed them into my pockets, imitating the frustratingly laid back appearance I had given all my teachers. If they could see me now.

"Your father would be proud of your success." What?

"You know my father?"

"Don't tell me you thought your parents didn't know about the predicament they put you in?" The man ruffled through various papers before putting a letter in my hand.

Minhyuk:

I hope that you have not let us down. Your mother wishes that you recall our pride as a family. Should you succeed in gaining a worthy leadership position, we deem it appropriate that you are re-accepted into the family.

Jaehwa Park.

"Fuck you, old man." "Deem" it "appropriate" to "let" me back in my ass.

"Consider your options and give me your final decision tomorrow morning. Trigg will take you to your room." At that moment, the woman had entered the room. Somehow, Trigg was the only reassuring thing in this place, even with her cold exterior.

Quietly, I followed the woman, occasionally catching my disheveled appearance in the mirrors. Dark eyes were hidden behind even darker hair, settling against pale skin. The only thing that had remained the same were the various piercings adorning my ears. Before long, we had come upon a simple door. Its looks were obviously deceiving because it opened to an outrageously large room with almost everything you could imagine. A soft bed, a dresser, a desk, all of excellent quality as well as my duffel bag from the cave. So they knew where we were.

Trigg merely snickered at my astonishment. "Did you honestly think we slept outside, too?"

"Do all the guards have rooms like these?" How are there enough rooms?

"Nah, only those with potential to behold a position that would require such rooms." What have I gotten myself into?

"The room next to you belongs to Bruce. You'll meet her tomorrow, provided you make the correct decision." I didn't realize Bruce was a girl's name. Without my noticing, I had already sat on the bed, ready to fall asleep at any moment.

"Well then, I'll leave you to it." Trigg left, shutting the door behind her with an ominous click. I closed my eyes, only to find my thoughts instead of blissful sleep.

If Steph really made it out she'll come back for Santiago.

If Santiago is alive, he'll need some help.

If I want to make it out, I'll have to act the part.

Regardless, I knew that when Steph came back, I'd be ready to help her. When I get the chance, I'm gonna kill every last one of these fuckers in this hell hole. 

A/N Thank you all so much for sticking with the story!

+++++PLEASE READ THE NEXT CHAPTER!!+++++