Wherever Taeyong was by now, he hoped the older was alright.

He would find the information, for him and his brother. Hyunjin could no longer dance around the subject.

The alpha would face his captors.

With new and strong determination, he stomped down the stairs to the living room.

Chan and Woojin looked surprised as they watched him have that serious face, sitting down on the opposite direction with a notebook.

"I want you to listen closely. I won't play this game anymore."

~~

When they had succeeded to gather all nine boys in the room, Hyunjin had all of them seated on the couch as he sat on the floor across them.

"Now when all of you are here, I need to make things clear. I refuse to be a brick in whatever stupid game you all are playing. And I know your words are meaningless, so don't even try to speak until I'm done or ask you to." Jisung who had opened his mouth quickly closed it again, all of them still wearing the surprised masks of theirs.

"I want to know everything. About my parents, my siblings, my family. Also about my brothers friend that are obviously involved in this. Gangs, your job, everything." Felix winced, trying to voice something else as Hyunjin glared at him. The boy fell silent.

"In return.." He breathed out, fighting the urge to run away again.

"I'll stay with you. Forever if you want to, just do whatever you want with me. Kill me if you got the information you need." Neither of them flinched.

Good. They might start to show their real selves now.

"I don't fucking care if you are lying because I'm sick of going around knowing nothing. If you want me to get the information graved in the back of my head, give me something to work with. Take your time to consider the deal. In the meantime." He stood up, ignoring the way his legs slightly shook and the eight pair of eyes burning into his skin.

"Better write down something in that notebook." He didn't say anything more as he proceeded to nonchalantly go up the stairs again, slamming his door shut.

Hyunjin finally breathed out, being so nervous. Sweat ran down his back as he sank to the ground with his back against the door.

He knew they would lie again and again, it would never stop. At least he would get some information and hopefully be able to find Jinyoung in his own. And then he had to get Taeyong's location.

He just hoped they could hold out until then.

Damn, even for being an alpha, he was pathetically weak. Felix, despite being a n omega had that powerful aura like the other seven and it gave him goosebumps as he tried to be dominant.

( he isn't going to talk about the fact that he almost tripped at the pressure in the room before )

His reaction was just like an omegas. That was one of his many questions. Why did he react like this? Can they control him just because they are mated?

His hyung always told him that if you lost your mate, it would be like dying your own death but twice. He didn't even know what would happen once he had found Jinyoung. Would they decide to kill him?

Of course they would. You're just another toy.

Hyunjin curled himself up, biting back the sobs breaking through. He was going to do this, because he was strong.

He could do this.

For Jinyoung and Taeyong.

They already took too much from him.

~~

"Hyung?" Seungmin stared at the writing block in front of them.

Chan had his eyes directed in the direction Hyunjin had disappeared, the boy's distressed scent clearly showing. He chuckled lowly.

"He's fierce also, huh? I like it. He's still our innocent angel after all." Minho lazily waved with the book, yawning.

"Are you planning on taking the deal?" Jeongin was studying him close. They were amazed Hyunjin wasn't showing any sign of weakness even as they pumped out pheromones in the air.

He didn't either bother to hide the smirk as Hyunjin had disappeared with shaky steps.

The boy didn't even battle a thought on his own well being. Such a pure soul, sacrificing himself for the sake of others.

"He's still confused. The plan will succeed, soon enough his mind will break." Woojin sighed, eying Jisung as he dug for something in his jacked.

"No weapons so long. But sooner or later we should kill him. Until then, give him tiny bits of information, nothing on his brother." Changbin's dark eyes swept by the notebook to Chan's face.

"And the other male?" Jeongin's statement mirrored their thoughts, all of them not so happy with Hyunjin almost escaping.

That didn't matter now, they could find him anyways if he even tried. Chan knew the boy wasn't that stupid.

"I'll take care of him." He looked at Felix, the other calmly nodded.

~~

Hyunjin had a hard time breathing.

Finally facing them, he thought it would be better. But the pain wouldn't stop.

I'm sorry.

That's what they always told him. Liars all of them, those words meant nothing for him.

As long as his brother was released, he was detinded to at least stay. He ignored the thought that they could kill him whenever they wanted.

You're just another toy.

The knock made him flinch.

"Mind if I come in, baby?" He clenched his jaw at the sweet words, Jeongin's voice coming from the other side of the door.

I need to get up. Show them no fear.

As if you weren't afraid already.

He sat up, making sure his eyes weren't swollen as he straightened his clothes, sighing deeply. "Sure, come in."

Jeongin opened the wooden door with a soft click, smiling as he saw Hyunjin sitting by the window.

"We are still...considering. But it was so brave of my baby, wasn't it?" They must enjoy this, playing with him. What did Hyunjin really expect? No way they would let this goddamn facade fade.

All of it was just games, for fun. Fun.

"I'm afraid we can't tell you about your brother." Lies. Again.

"But we will grant you information." At least he came somewhere.

"Baby.." the soft tone in Jeongin's voice made him shook his head as the younger's eyes focused on him. The sound following made him freeze.

A gun.

Hyunjin looked at Jeongin in panic, lip quivering in fear.

"I hate to see you like this, you know? We really care about you." He didn't dare to breathe, scared as he still had no vision of the weapon.

"Baby, we both know all of us want this. That's why I want you to trust us." He laughed hollowly, pressing his back against the window.

"With a gun in my face?" Jeongin shook his head.

"Let's do this together. So please open up for us again." As if Hyunjin already weren't deep in their claws.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

The younger just smiled sweetly, leaning closer to land a kiss on his lips.

" brave baby boy."