Chapter Text
The stench filled the room, everyone looking away and holding their noses. Even though it really didn’t help with it being so strong and potent. They couldn’t believe what they found. Finding out the police had lied about finding the ten children’s bodies in the beginning of the investigation. Why the hell would they do that? Were there corrupt police officers and detectives? That could be the only explanation for all this.
“ I can’t fucking believe this bullshit! ” San explained loudly, now as far away from the tanks as possible.
“ What are we supposed to do with them? ”
“ Everyone just calm down! I can't think straight with everyone talking over each other! ”
Hongjoong yells out, his voice booming across the room. He knew he shouldn't have yelled. He knew it was a bad idea when San flinched from the impact. Immediately, he calms down and reaches out to San, a million and one apologies on the top of his tongue. But San instead pushes his leader away and walks off, slamming the door behind him. In turn, it was the very first time Yeosang ever saw the leader being so close to breaking down. With his tears threatening to spill, he storms off with Seonghwa trailing behind him. Leaving the rest on their own.
“ Great, now we done fucked up even more. ” Mingi mutters, mostly to himself but still the other’s heard him perfectly clear.
“ We? There’s no we! I’m not the one who fucking made San upset! ”
It didn’t take long for Seonghwa to find his husband. He knew where he would be immediately and for Seonghwa, he was never hard for him to find. Having known each other for years, it was like second nature to him. Making it to the rooftop of the mansion, Seonghwa could see Hongjoong lying there looking up at the night sky.
“ You really should pick a better hiding spot. ” Seonghwa says, teasing him as he climbs up.
Hearing Seonghwa's voice, Hongjoong sits himself up and turns around after being startled by someone. Even with the bright ( fake ) smile, Seonghwa could tell right away that smile was far from what he must be feeling. Or else he wouldn't be on the roof of their mansion. And also the fact his eyes are red and puffy from the crying.
" You found me. I knew you would. " Hongjoong says smiling, patting the space beside him for his husband to join him. Seonghwa did just that. Lying next to him with the pillowed blankets that were layered upon layered up with their stash of blankets and pillows the two keep up there. Just for times like these. When one of them gets too upset in a situation and needs room to cool themselves off for a while. The two sit in silence for a while, neither of the two saying a word. Until one of them breaks the tension.
“ You know, I didn’t mean to make San upset. I know he can’t stand yelling and especially if it’s directed towards him. Which you already know I didn’t mean. Damn it. I fucked up and he probably hates me now. Hwa, What I am I supposed to do - ”
Hongjoong was cut off before he could even finish his sentence. It was by a certain pair of lips he was all too familiar with. Getting over his stupid shock and actually reciprocating the kiss. Unfortunately, for long they had to pull away or else they might get carried away.
“ You have to apologize later, right? You know that, right? And San knew you didn’t mean to trigger him. He will understand when he calms down, Wooyoung’s probably with him right now. As for you, are you okay now? ” Seonghwa finished explaining, concern and worry evident in his eyes.
“ How are you always right? ” Hongjoong asked fondly, now feeling much more calm.
“ Why are you looking at me like that? And of course I’m right, someone has to keep our tiny leader in line. ” Seonghwa says, giggling at the scandalous look Hongjoong was looking at him with.
“ Don’t you laugh at me! My own husband, I don’t believe it. ” Hongjoong exclaimed with his hand over his chest, of course faking it. Inturn, making Seonghwa laugh even harder. It was music to Hongjoong’s ears. Once more, he was the cause of that laugh.
********
When Seonghwa and Hongjoong got back, everyone was where they had left them. In the basement with still all the oxygen tanks lined up against the opposite wall. Far, far away from everyone. They weren’t trying to be rude but the smell was way too much for them to handle. Surprisingly, San was back with everyone. He seemed much calmer now and had Wooyoung by his side for comfort.
Now it was time to get down to business.
“ Alright, here’s the plan. Mingi, I want you to run an autopsy, just try your best and then report back to me with a cause of death. San and Jongho, I want you two to help Mingi in moving the tanks. After that, research as much as possible on Kim Minji. I think I may have a theory. Yeosang and Wooyoung, come with me and Seonghwa. Get going. ” After Hongjoong gives his orders, everyone disperses and gets to work. Except for Yeosang and Wooyoung, who Hongjoong had stated that he and Seonghwa wanted to see them in the leader’s office.
“ Over the course of the months that you and Wooyoung have been here, we’ve been doing everything we can as you know and we may have more information. ” Hongjoong explained, leaning back into his chair with Seonghwa standing beside him.
“ Can I ask what that may be? ” Yeosang asked, holding onto Wooyoung’s hand who was sitting in the chair next to him. The both of them were of course scared to know but at the same time they had every single right to find out.
“ Kim Minji. And we may think she has paid off many police officers and detectives, which can explain why the ten graves that were found turned out to be fake. Instead of finding human remains, what was buried were mannequins. Child sized mannequins to be exact. What we found were the ten children’s remains in the oxygen tanks, Mingi had confirmed that. ” Hongjoong says, looking Yeosang in the eyes, making sure he knew he was serious.
“ I knew it. ” Yeosang mumbled more to himself but he guessed they all heard him too, judging by the look he’s getting from Hongjoong.
“ What I mean is that I had a feeling when I found the tanks in the wall at the factory. I could smell it. ” Yeosang said, feeling so disgusted and not at the tanks, at the corruption of the politician, police officers and detectives who seem to not care anymore. Or maybe they never did.
“ What do we do now? ”
Yeosang turned his head to see Wooyoung, who looked so scared and confused with tears threatening to fall. Pulling his best friend into his arms, holding him tightly. His shirt was getting soaked with tears but that didn’t matter, Wooyoung was more important than his clothes being ruined.
“ San and Jongho looked into her finances, finding out that she did fund the experiments. When those millions were meant to go to the different charities she sponsored and was the face of. She was trafficking children by using those fake charities as a cover up. The only way to disguise where the money was to create a fake charity that doesn’t exist, funding that instead. Cause that’s where all the money went too, the fake charity that ironically helps children in need. All went to her step brother, Hwang Hyunjin and his one sided lover, Lee Minho. ” Seonghwa explains, his hand resting on his husband’s shoulder giving it a tight squeeze.
It all made sense. Everything was starting to come together. The many charities that just didn’t quite make sense the more they looked. Mannequins buried instead of giving the children the rest they needed after all they’ve been through.
“ And there was one more thing, Yeosang and Wooyoung. San and Jongho also found that Minji targeted homes of poor families. Such as your own. And you already know the rest. ”
Yeosang could feel his whole world spinning. That's how Hyunjin targeted children and brought them to the factory to be experimented on. Turning every single child into hybrids. But instead, it ended up killing them. Killing them for his sick, disgusting pleasure. To create and make his fantasies come to life. Yeosang and Wooyoung were the only two survivors, the only two who made it out alive.
Now, they know how Minji helped her step brother with the money that was supposed to go to the charities she was practically the face of. She was their main sponsor and funder of money. Extremely well liked, unlike many other politicians who were not, plus she was beautiful. She had the looks and the power to raise her to the top, fooling everyone and lying. Fooling people into thinking she was one of the only good ones left, giving her the picture, perfect image. Enough for her to win every election with flying colors. It was a tight plan, a solid plan that was excellent.
But that doesn't explain why she would help her step brother when they hated each other? Why send him millions for the experiments? Why didn’t he have high tech medical equipment if he had the money?
“ Good questions, Yeosang. ” Hongjooong commented, a small smile present on his face. Yeosang snapped out of his thoughts, realizing he must have said all that out loud.
“ It may be because it was a way to still keep her step brother at a distance but not completely cut off. Plus it gave her the advantage to have some of her own fun, satisfying her needs as well. It gave her the opportunity to torment him, slowly break him bit by bit even if he was already broken and twisted on the inside. So, shoving millions of dollars into his face shut him up. ” Hongjoong explains, hands now joined together on his desk.
“ Then that also doesn't explain the non-existent of the equipment? Why would he splurge on it when he had the money and the means to do it? ”
“ It boils down to keeping the experiments on the down low, not wanting anyone to find out why there was medical equipment being bought. When instead Hyunjin used Minho to steal from the hospital for him. There was a report written for the stolen equipment but of course, nothing was done to retrieve what was stolen. Instead they bought brand new equipment with, you guessed it, Kim Minji’s money. ” Seonghwa explains then continues on more.
“ Everything was in that oxygen tank. Literally every single thing that could destroy Kim Minji’s career. Transactions, addresses, phone numbers…etc. We have everything to get rid of her for good. Enough to send her to prison for life. ”
Before Yeosang and Wooyoung could answer back, the two hybrids got cut off. The doors to the office slams open, hitting the walls behind them. It was Mingi and San, rushing in looking frantic and with a terrified look in their eyes. Something must have scared them so bad to the point they were both shaken up and trembling like a leaf. San was having a hard time getting his words, all that he could say was nonsense. Nothing he said made any sense or came together. Mingi wasn't even better than San was. He was more worried and scared than any of them have ever seen him look. It took them a while to calm down and even a harder time trying to get them to stay still.
Wooyoung was glued to San's side the whole time. Well more like his whole body was glued to San's. He had immediately pulled the hybrid into his lap after Seonghwa had convinced him to sit down on the couch that was in the couch. San had a death grip on Wooyoung, looking so scared that if he let go Wooyoung would disappear into thin air. Of course that would never and will not happen. San knew that very well but at the moment he couldn't think clearly, not having the brain power to think or form anything coherent.
Mingi was with Yeosang and Hongjoong onto the opposite couch, Hongjoong kneeled onto the floor, his hands gripping Mingi's thighs. Providing a grounding point for him to focus on. Yeosang was sitting next to him on the couch. Sweat was dripping down his temples and cheeks, almost like he ran a marathon coming here. It wasn't until someone asked the burning question they're all thinking.
“ Mingi, baby, can you tell us what happened? ” Hongjoong asked, in a gentle and calm tone. Wanting to prevent spooking Mingi further, even if just by the sound of his voice.
“ Um...Y-yeah, um, We d-did like you said. A-and when we g-got to op-pening them, of c-cousre we wore the protected hazard suits and masks. It smelled so fucking bad. Not just because it's dead, rotted bodies. It was because I recognized the smell. The acid that was used. ”
“ What did you smell? ” Yeosang asked, feeling scared for the answer.
“ It was a mixture of different chemicals but the main ingredient was Sulfuric Acid. It can liquid human bodies within like a few weeks to a month. That's what I smelled, the bitter and sour, irritated smell mixed with the dead bodies. I couldn't perform the autopsy like you wanted, so I can't confirm the cause of death. Oxygen tanks filled to the brim with the liquefied bodies. ”
Once Mingi was done explaining and much more calmer, it was a lot to process. The thought of that happening was terrifying. All evidence of their bodies were gone. Dissolved into a liquid and stored into oxygen tanks that were stacked, masked into a wall that for sure looked brand new. Until like the rest of the factory.
“ Yeah, that was what we found. Me and Mingi had run in here to tell you what we discovered. There was also a lining of thick plastic in each of the tanks, preventing the metal of the tank from dissolving. ” San explained, seemingly looking and feeling much better. Even though his grip on Wooyoung had lessened, the hybrid looked too comfortable and he’s sure San wouldn’t let him move anyway.
“ It’s because Sulfuric Acid can’t break down plastic as in why the oxygen tanks are still in one piece. ” Mingi explained once more, now fully calm and collected, finally back to normal.
Suddenlying the doors open again and this time it’s Jongho, who still looks calm but not fully. There was a wild and panicked look in his eyes.
“ You need to see this. ”
Was all Jongho said before they all ran out trailing along with Jongho. Was there something wrong with Yunho, who was still in the med basement? It could literally be anything but nothing could have prepared them for this. Believing him when they saw what had him so panicked.