"Hello?" Yongguk answered the phone, trying to sound as calm as possible. His palms were sweaty, his heart was racing and it felt like he almost couldn't breathe. It was hard keeping himself together when he was falling apart on the inside.

There was silence over the phone.

"Hello," Yongguk said again, this time his nervousness was quickly being replaced by impatience. Again, he received no response. His grip on the phone was getting tighter and tighter. "I swear to God if this is some sort of prank I'll-"

"Do what?" a voice said, interrupting him, causing Yongguk to gasp in surprise. "Don't kid yourself. Remember, I'm the one who has Junhong."

Yongguk looked to his remaining dongsaengs, hoping they could help him not say anything that could inadvertantly hurt Zelo. "Let me hear him," he finally said. "I want to hear that he's okay."

There was more silence. Himchan placed his hand on Yongguk's shoulder, giving him a light squeeze in hopes of comforting him a little bit. Everybody was beginning to think that Yongguk's demand had been ignored.

But then they heard a familiar voice, and everyone practically sighed in relief.

"Hy-Hyung?" came Zelo's voice.

Jongup bit his lip, trying his hardest not to say anything. He wanted to scream to Zelo that everything would be okay and that he shouldn't be scared because his hyungs would come to save him. But Jongup was terrified. And as much as the kidnapper knew, Yongguk was by himself. Jongup didn't want to risk Zelo getting hurt.

Yongguk sighed again, closing his eyes as he tried to take deep breaths to calm himself down some more. "H-hey, Junhong," he finally said. "Are you okay? He hasn't hurt you, has he?"

Zelo swallowed. "I'm fine...scared...but fine," he admitted.

"Don't worry, okay?" Yongguk said. "I'll give this man what he wants and I'll get you home again soon, okay?"

There was more silence. It was making Yongguk nervous again.

"You think I took Zelo because I want something from you?" the man asked this time. 

Daehyun's eyes widened at the question as he looked desperately to the leader. What did that question even mean?

"People don't kidnap for no reason," Yongguk replied. "Maybe you don't want money, but you want something else, don't you?" he asked. "What is it? I'll get it. Just guarantee that Junhong will be fine."

The man's laughter made Yongguk's heart stop. "Maybe you're right," the man finally said. "I do want something from you."

"Then what is it? Just tell me!" Yongguk said, practically begging. 

"I want you to know what it feels like," the man finally answered. "I want you to know what it feels like to watch someone you care about slowly die."

Yongguk's breath caught in his throat. "What...what are you talking about?"

"I don't plan on returning Junhong to you," the man explained. "Well, he won't be returned to you alive."

Yongguk felt his hands shaking at the statement. He was hoping he heard incorrectly, that his mind was just playing a nasty trick on him. He heard Youngjae take a shuddering gasp.

"Not to worry," the man started speaking again upon realizing that he wouldn't get a response soon. "I'll send you frequent updates regarding Zelo's status," he added, as if that was supposed to be reassuring. 

"Why are you doing this?" Yongguk finally asked. "Junhong didn't do anything to you, I know he didn't. Why are you doing this to him? It's me you want to punish, why couldn't you just take me?"

"What lesson would you learn if you were the one to die?" the man asked. "Zelo seemed to be the best choice. He's so innocent."

"Please," Yongguk begged. "There has to be another way. Let him come home."

"It's too late," the man said, his voice becoming darker. "Because of you, I lost two people dear to me. Did I get a choice when that happened? Why should you?"

"What did I do?" Yongguk asked, feeling his eyes watering. His maknae would be wrongly punished for something he may have done. "At least tell me what I did so we can clear some things up. I don't even know what I did. But I know punishing Junhong isn't right. If he wasn't involved with whatever you're talking about, why does he need to suffer in this?"

"Don't try to talk me out of anything," the man said. "Be glad I only took one of them."

Yongguk sobbed. "Please-"

"Three weeks," the man cut him off. "Zelo has three weeks."

Everyone's eyes widened at the statement. 

"And if you try calling the police, Zelo will be dead before the operator can even answer the phone," he warned. "So think carefully about that. Remember the messages I sent you, Yongguk."

The phone call went dead after that. Yongguk found himself dropping to the ground on his knees, feeling powerless.

"Hyung," Jongup asked Yongguk as all five of them started kneeling down as well. "What do we do? We have to save him."

Yongguk swallowed, seeing all of s silently beginning to cry. "I...I don't know," he choked out. "I don't know."

Yongguk honestly didn't know anything. 

All he knew was that his maknae had three weeks to live...

...and it was all his fault.

This story is a result of a promise that if I got 1000 subbies I would create this so here it is! ^_^

Any guesses as to why this guy is so angry with Yongguk? I love reading my readers' guesses