Chapter Text
Ever since his boss - and closest friend - had died, Xia Fei had been forced to live from pay-check to pay-check.
It was stressful, it was hell, but it was nothing he wasn't used to. Before the modeling gigs, this had been his life too.
Most of his fellow part-time models had similar issues- they'd all lost their jobs in the blink of an eye. It was why they'd ended up in a sort-of truce. Quietly informing each other about job-opportunities catering more to someone else than themselves.
Sure, there were some who refused to share information, but that was fine. It was fine. No one was forcing them to help each other.
Now, though, he was on the bus with a fellow model who used to work for Vein. They'd gotten a job outside the city- and were heading there now.
The address was a hint sketchy, but up until they found the building, they didn't pay it much mind. They both needed the money, desperately.
Next to him, Ava swallowed audibly. "S-Something is off" she murmured quietly, eyes shimmering in the light.
Xia Fei, however, merely shrugged. "A job is a job" he found himself saying, despite already feeling exhausted. He'd wanted to stop working as a model ages ago- but he had a hard time finding a job in the field he'd actually studied for.
He glanced down at his phone. 11:22AM, 3rd of June. They were early- the shoot was supposed to start at 12:45AM. They'd made good time, they'd need at least an hour getting ready.
His eyes darted back to his ex-coworker and... currently only actual friend. "You can go if you want? It's paying big, so uh... I could lend you some of the money" he offered, despite rent being due soon.
But Ava, stubborn when talking to friends despite her seemingly more timid nature around most, shook her head. "I'm... I'm fine, j-just a job. It's... it's nothing new, s-same old" she mumbled, rambling just a hint. That, rather than the light stutter, was what made him take note of her seeming to genuinely feel unwell.
"Jinyan-" he started, switching to her real name in hopes of reassuring her that there was no reason for her to force herself, when she went ahead. He sighed, heavily so, and trailed after her.
There were some men inside the building. Tall, intimidating and looking more like they belonged into some gym rather than at a modeling shoot. None of them had cameras, and they didn't look to be models either. Bodyguards, maybe.
A scoff alerted him, and he turned around to find a familiar face. "Jack" he spat, annoyed. His ex-coworker only smiled, eyes darting between Xia Fei and Ava.
"Long time no see. No hard feelings left, right?" Jack asked, light and casual. As if working with him back then, under Vein, had been just some friendly teasing rather than workplace-bullying.
Next to him, he felt his friend step a hint closer. "P-Plenty hard feelings. You were... you were a dick t-to everyone" Ava spat, and it took all of Xia Fei's will-power not to burst into laughter.
Whereas Lu Guang had used logic, back when Jack had last come to bother him, Ava was being quite a lot more blunt and honest. It was entertaining, seeing Jack flounder with shock. Part of him had forgotten just how easily cursing came to Ava.
Really, he ought to spend more time with one of the few friends he had left.
"I- that- girls shouldn't talk like that!" the older model scowled, annoyed, when he finally caught himself. Then narrowed his eyes. "Why the hell are you two even here? We've got five others back in the dressing rooms, already"
That left them silent, because truly- why were eight models present? The gig hadn't mentioned that there would be so many, but then again... besides paying a lot, it hadn't mentioned much in general.
They couldn't talk any further, however. A tall, more lanky, man headed their way. Something about him seemed off, despite him clearly being the manager. "Ah, great, great. Finally all are here! To the dressing rooms, yes?" he gestured with a clipboard. "Stylist will be with you shortly"
Xia Fei fought a frown. There was nothing on it, just a blank paper. Maybe for notes? If it was for that, the man had yet to take any.
Still, he nodded. Heading into the indicated direction. Jack went ahead, perhaps wanting to avoid having more insults thrown his way. Ava, however, seemed a hint hesitant.
"They feel... cold" she said, her tone just a hint odd. But the far-away tone, the hint of a shiver as if she stood in the middle of Bridon's streets on a cold December day rather than in a building in the early days of June.
Still, he cracked a teasing smile. Oh, how he'd later wish he'd trusted her instinct more.
"You say that about people all the time. We'll be fine" he said, even though he himself felt as though these men were looking at them with gazes that felt wrong.
They headed separate ways, by the dressing rooms. They kind of had to, to get ready for the shoot.
The stylist was late, when Xia Fei sat down. So he got started on what he knew he could do on his own: get changed into the outfit hung up.
It wasn't anything fancy, and his nose wrinkled at the feel of the fabric. How were these people paying so much money, when their brand sucked so bad?
He sat down, tapped his fingers idly. At 11:50AM, his stylist finally arrived.
Nothing seemed amiss with the woman, on first glance. She was quiet, timid maybe. Eyes darting every which way, mumbling a soft greeting. Nervous?
Xia Fei offered an easy-going smile and tried to make small talk while she worked on his hair.
He didn't notice her slip something into his drink.
He didn't notice the guilt in her eyes.
Xia Fei passed out at 12:03AM, none the wiser to the quiet apology the woman murmured to him as she prayed her children were returned to her, now that the job was done.
~
When Xia Fei awoke, it was to a pounding headache.
He couldn't remember where he was or how he'd gotten there. As he tried to move, he found his hand and feet bound.
Slowly, he opened an eye. Then the other. Looked around cautiously.
The first thing he registered was that they were moving. The second, that there were other people- other models.
Ava and Jack. Archie and Sammy, part-timers who didn't stick to a specific agency. Alice and Joe, who used to work for Vein as well. A random guy who certainly wasn't a part timer- idly, he thought he looked like the guy Vein banned from the premise, years before he himself had joined.
The truck stopped, eventually.
A man lead them outside at gun point. None of them dared to act out, silently shuffling into the building as ordered.
Xia Fei hated it- but he wasn't Vein. He wasn't capable of beating people twice his height and weight with a flick of his wrist and a leaping kick.
All eight of them trembled in fear at what was to come.
Inside the building, they were locked into a room. Down in the basement. The ropes binding them cut, however temporarily it may be.
There wasn't much in the room- cots for them to lay on, uncomfortable and without blankets or pillows. A small door that led into the tiniest bathroom possible.
No windows. No vents. Nothing that was usable as a weapon. Nothing that was usable to escape.
These people, regretfully, seemed to know what they were doing.
Xia Fei loathed them.
It was likely the 4th of June now. Maybe the 5th, he wasn't sure.
They were kept in the cell-like room with only minimal interactions with their captors. Pictures were taken of them. They must've looked terrible. A plate of food was brought. It was hardly enough for all of them.
While Jack and the other guy who's name he wasn't certain on didn't seem happy to share, Xia Fei easily passed his part of the ration to the others who were more willing to share.
He wasn't hungry. The thought of eating, at least in the moment, made him feel sick even though he knew, logically, that he needed his strength if he wanted to escape.
When a second plate was brought, he took his chance. Approached their captor with the most fierce glare he could muster.
"Hey, what do you people want from us?" He asked, channeled all the boldness and confidence he'd witnessed from Vein, back when he'd been alive. "I demand answers"
The man paused, eyes narrowing.
The next thing he knew was sitting on the floor, flanked by Alice and Joe.
His cheek stung where he'd gotten slapped, it would bruise for sure. It hurt.
His eyes burned, just a hint. He wasn't sure if it was from humiliation, from pain or from the shock and fear of realizing how bad this situation really was.
The man sneered, eyes cold. His accent was heavy when he spoke, but there was no denying them: "People like you have no place to make demands"
Xia Fei didn't find it in himself to counter anything, that day.
Come evening, Alice and Sammy were dragged from their room.
The rest of them huddled into a corner. In the middle of the night, he heard Ava fight a sob. He didn't point it out. He didn't ask.
He understood. All of them were scared.
Only Sammy returned the next morning, something haunted in her eyes and splatters of reddish brown staining her shirt and hands.
She sat down in the far corner, curled up with a choked back sob.
"They killed Alice" she said, voice shaky and weak. "They killed her, they killed her, they killed her-"
Xia Fei didn't dare get closer, only pulled Ava against his side when he noticed her trembling, her eyes far away.
They were all going to die, weren't they? From the uncertain stances, they all shared that worry.
Silently, he wished Vein was alive. Wished he were here, or was alive and wondering where his models went.
Because Vein was Vein, and he'd always been able to fix whatever went to hell.
On the third day, he realized that no help was going to come.
Vein was dead, had been for years, and the only people left to rely on where the seven of them.
~
It was on the fourth day since the kidnapping when things went from bad to worse.
They were trying to take him from the room.
He remembered Alice, her face tear streaked but stubborn when she and Sammy left.
He remembered Sammy, coming back a crying mess and whispering over and over that Alice had died, eyes haunted and far away.
He kicked the man where the sun never shone, scrambling back.
There was a brief scuffle, but it was over as soon as it started.
Xia Fei skidded across the floor and hit the wall near Sammy when a harsh kick connected with his side.
"This is your first strike" said the apparent leader, the man who'd insulted him before. Mentally, he dubbed him Jackass.
"For your trouble, I'll show mercy and only give you a taste of the potential consequences"
He snapped his fingers, and one of the guards stepped up. Next to him, Xia Fei looked like a small stick figure.
The brute stepped into the cell, eyes scanning over them. He seemed happy, to cause them so much fear.
Slowly, he lumbered towards Sammy... only for Ava to stumble in front of her. Arms held out and with the most fierce glare he'd seen from her yet.
"D-Don't touch her!" she shouted, and Xia Fei tried to get up. Emphasis on tried. The kick had knocked the air from his lungs, and his body refused to cooperate.
With horror, he watched as the target changed from a coworker he hardly knew to the one he considered his currently best friend.
From his angle, he could only see a punch. Then a kick. Perhaps a stomp. One or the other. It caused the most horrid crunching noises and a shrill scream that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
~
That night, Joe and the man who'd haughtily proclaimed himself to be called Daniel tried to escape.
Xia Fei had only shook his head, cradling his best friend against his chest as she shook and sobbed, Archie desperately attempting to stabilize her broken ankle with what they had.
It would do none of them good to leave someone injured and to their own devices- they wouldn't survive this, if they did.
Jack stood at the far wall. Utterly silent. He'd been silent ever since this all started. Out of character, for someone like him, but selfishly Xia Fei was glad.
He didn't know what he'd do if Jack acted like his usual self.
They all watched the escape attempt in utter silence.
They didn't get far- Joe chickened out when it mattered, but Daniel tried to push past the man who'd brought them food.
He was pushed to the floor, head banging against concrete and bouncing off.
Still, he thrashed and shrieked like a man possessed. "Don't you know who I am?!" He shouted, and Xia Fei couldn't help but think: No, probably not.
Jackass came, a knife in hand. Eyes utterly empty. He crouched by Daniel's head. "And who may you be?" He asked coldly.
Daniel floundered. "I- how dare- I am Daniel Jones! I'm famous! I even dated Bridon's most dangerous-"
There was a sickening noise as the knife sliced through his throat. Then the thud of a body hitting the ground.
Daniel Jones was dead.
Out of eight, only six of them were left.
~
The next day was a blur. Chaos, gunshots. Violence.
He remembered little, aside from fighting tooth and nail to prevent anyone but the other models and himself from touching Ava.
He wasn't sure if she'd gotten unlucky or if it was the injury, but she'd gotten sick.
They weren't given any medicine to try and help her. With how out of it she seemed, he couldn't help but think that he was going to lose her for sure.
The thought was painful- was he just fated to lose every single friend he had?
As it was, they'd been kidnapped anew. Brought to a whole different place via a truck.
None of them understood the language spoken by the men around them- they seemed deliberate not to speak in one they might knew.
Their stubbornness got Joe killed.
Xia Fei felt guilty and empty at the same time. They were all going to die, no matter what happened, weren't they? One after the other.
Selfishly, he wished he'd been the first. Then he wouldn't have to witness people die.
All of them were losing hope, little by little.
On the tenth day, a man grasped his chin. Tilted it up, this way and that. He resisted the urge to spit in his face.
The man said something. Xia Fei didn't understand. The man didn't try to repeat himself.
It wasn't until he came closer, touches lingering and leaving his skin feeling like he got burnt in the worst way, that he was starting to realize what he may have meant.
He shrank away, tried to dodge when the other attempted to kiss him. Let out a pained noise when his chin was grabbed in a bruising grip to keep him still.
Before he could be kissed, Ava retched next to him.
He'd never been more thankful for something like that.
Xia Fei hid himself away in a corner, for the rest of the day. Tried to forget the lingering touches and disgust welling up in his chest.
Sammy disappeared, that night.
When she was brought back in the morning, she was stumbling and looked horrible.
None of the hushed questions were answered. She looked dead inside, and Xia Fei could guess what had transpired to break her spirit for good.
When he was taken, he struggled at first. A punch to the stomach left him winded enough to stop for a while.
It wasn't until he was shoved and fell onto what must've been a makeshift bed that he snapped out of his stupor, only to freeze at the sound of a camera shutter. Like a deer in headlights, he glanced over. Found a second man standing there with a disgusting grin and an old camera in his hands.
A hand grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him up, and he struggled with renewed panic when the first man who'd brought him here slung a leg over him.
He hated it- being underneath the slimy pig-faced man. One of the buttons of his shirt gave away at a particularly harsh tug, and tried kneeing the other in the groin. For his efforts, his hair was grabbed. His head harshly tugged back.
Xia Fei screamed- in a mixture of pain and outrage. The men laughed- chattering with each other almost casually. He didn't recognize the language- switching between pleading them to stop in Chinese and English.
The camera kept going off, and tears streamed down his cheeks when a kiss was forced on him- desperately trying to push the taller man away.
His skin crawled where he was touched- his face, his shoulder, his chest, his waist- when the hand reached his hip, the kiss turned from rough and disgusting to a sharp pain.
The sting of his lip being bitten, combined with the panic of what was about to happen, left him in such a panic that he stopped trying to push the man away and instead swung his fist closer to his own head.
The weight eased, and he threw another punch. Blood dripped down on him, but he couldn't tell if it was his own from the bleeding lip or from the man's nose he'd probably just broken.
All he knew was that he wanted to cause enough of a problem to not end up like Sammy.
The rest of them didn't know what had transpiring, just one stair case up above them, they just sat and waited.
None of them had dared to speak while Xia Fei was gone. Archie had tried his best to be there for Sammy, Ava laid in her own corner, out cold. Jack had sat and paid more attention to the rest of the survivors than ever before.
As Felix returned the same day, they were all on edge. But he seemed basically uninjured to them, aside from bruised knuckles and some around his neck. He wasn't limping, despite the blood on him.
His shirt was a mess though and they could all see it- rumpled and with a torn button near the top, stained with some blood. Xia Fei, all in all, looked disgusted and shaken, tear tracks drying on his cheeks.
Yet he was still in better shape than the young model who'd been dragged off before him, his eyes burning with defiance. Silently, the ones still capable of thinking wondered how long that fire would last.
It was a different man who'd brought him in, but none of them dared to question it, despite there being no trace of the one who'd originally dragged him off. The man headed for Sammy, and everything went by far too fast the next moment.
Sammy shrieked in fear. Archie leapt to his feet. A punch was thrown. A knife glinted. The model went down.
Seeing Archie die sent shivers down all their spines, but it was Sammy who wailed in despair.
She was silenced seconds later.
They took Jack instead.
Xia Fei, exhausted and shaken, slunk off to where Ava laid. Dropped down next to the unconscious girl and silently cried, despite telling himself that he'd avoided the worst.
He wanted to go home.
~
Xia Fei didn't know it, but it was twenty-second of June that early morning.
Jack was shoved back into their cell and Xia Fei was attempted to be dragged out.
He knew what was going to happen. He knew that if he didn't fight now, he'd lose his hope for good, too.
So he fought as violently as he could, kicking and biting and scratching. Jack, despite being exhausted and in pain, leapt and tried to help.
A knife glinted, a body fell.
It was Jack's, and despite never having gotten along, he felt sorry for him.
A gun clicked, but it wasn't aimed at him. "Stand down, or I will put the girl out of her misery" the man warned.
Xia Fei saw red. Literally and figuratively.
Six of eight people had already died. He was done. He wouldn't, couldn't, let them take his only friend. Ava was all he had left now.
The next thing he knew was standing over a disfigured corpse. Panting.
There was so much blood, but he'd done that. He was done for. He'd snapped, and he'd killed someone.
Guilt and satisfaction clashed in his soul. He felt dizzy. Exhaustion coming over him fast now that the adrenalin faded.
He crashed to the floor, to his knees. Slowly shuffled over to Ava, put her head on his lap and prayed she'd get better soon. Prayed she'd live, despite having been out for days now.
Despite her feeling cold to the touch, as if she were dead already, he didn't dare check her pulse. Couldn't bring himself to.
He couldn't do this on his own.
And then the doors slid open. Slow, leisurely steps approaching. They were too light to belong to the armed men who'd captured them.
Two people stood there. One with red hair, clapping idly. One with pink, glaring at him before looking around with morbid glee.
It must've been a hallucination. Or maybe he was dead. It couldn't be-
"Oh my, you caused quite the mess~"
But no, it was boss's voice. It was Vein's voice. His face. Him. Everything screamed Vein, and wasn't that horrifying?
Because Vein was dead.
His mind was going a mile a minute, and he wasn't sure whether to yell at him in anger or to cry in relief or to ask him a million questions.
Eventually, he croaked out: "You're alive?" and almost sobbed at the nod.
He wanted to cry. But as it was, he had to break down over his dead best friend being alive later.
"Please don't leave her here" he begged, even though he knew Vein was bound to recognize another one of his former employees. "Please. She doesn't... she doesn't deserve to be buried somewhere she doesn't belong-"
Whether Vein would leave her there or not, however, he'd only find out later. Because the exhaustion finally won over, and Xia Fei's eyes rolled back as darkness decided to claim him.
After the hell he'd been through recently, he deserved it.