As Yuuki was escorted to his designated room, a sense of dread settled in, like a shroud cast over his entire being. With each step down the corridor, his eyes frantically scanned his surroundings, searching for any glimmer of hope, any opportunity to escape. The doors lining the hall seemed to mock him, each one a potential exit or sanctuary, yet standing firmly as barriers to his freedom.

As they approached room 202, one of the guards instructed, "This is your room," but Yuuki's attention was drawn away from his designated space by a staircase leading down to a lower level. The stairs beckoned to him, a tantalizing possibility, a flicker of hope amidst the uncertainty that had been suffocating him. He didn't know where the lower level might lead, but it was a risk worth taking. It could harbor an escape route, a hiding place, or perhaps something more.

A surge of adrenaline coursed through his veins as he made up his mind. His eyes landed on a striking owl-shaped woolen statue, about 100 cm tall, standing near the door. Inspiration struck him like a bolt of lightning. This could work, he thought, a plan beginning to form in his mind.

As the guards became momentarily distracted, Yuuki saw his opening. With a swift and decisive motion, he lunged for the statue, swinging it with all his might toward the nearest guard's head. The impact was jarring, the force sending the guard stumbling back, shock etched across his features. The sound of the statue connecting with the guard's skull was a sickening thud, a stark reminder of the violence that had just erupted.

Emboldened by his sudden success, He followed up with a swift kick to the gut of the second guard. The guard doubled over, gasping for breath, as Yuuki shoved past the now-stunned men. He darted toward the staircase, adrenaline fueling his movements, his heart racing with anticipation.

But his haste proved to be his downfall, as Yuuki's foot caught on a stair, sending him tumbling down the steps. He fell hard, his body rolling down three steps before crashing onto the landing with a jarring impact. A searing pain shot through his leg, a harsh reminder of the price of his reckless abandon, and he gasped as he struggled to catch his breath.

Gripping the railing, Yuuki hauled himself up, wincing as he put weight on his injured leg. He gritted his teeth, fighting to shake off the pain, as his heart racing with anticipation. With a nervous glance over his shoulder, he assessed the situation, unsure of how much time he had before the guards regained their footing. The hallway stretched out before him, a dimly lit corridor that seemed to lead back to the bar counter he had glimpsed earlier, a potential refuge or a dead end.

As he cautiously made his way down the hall, the imposing figures of club guards came into view, standing like sentinels, their postures alert and watchful. Yuuki's heart skipped a beat as he pressed himself against the cool wall, his chest heaving with fear. He held his breath, considering his next move, as the guards' eyes seemed to scan the hallway, searching for any sign of intruders. The air was thick with tension, and Yuuki knew he had to think fast, to come up with a plan to evade the guards and find a way out of this precarious situation.

With a Herculean effort, Yuuki managed to compose himself, hiding behind the corner as he struggled to keep his fear in check. He couldn't afford to let panic dictate his actions now, not when he was so close to escape. The pain in his leg throbbed like a drumbeat, threatening to overwhelm him, but he gritted his teeth and bit down on the inside of his mouth, using the physical discomfort to distract himself from the emotional turmoil.

Just as he was starting to feel like he was getting a handle on his emotions, the sound of approaching voices and footsteps echoed through the hallway, mingling with the muted hum of the lounge. A group of visitors was heading in his direction, oblivious to his presence. Seizing the opportunity, Yuuki pasted a casual smile on his face, attempting to blend in with the crowd.

He took a deep breath, trying to exude an air of nonchalance, as if he were just another carefree patron of the lounge. As the group walked by, he pretended to be engrossed in his surroundings, careful not to make eye contact or draw attention to himself. His heart still racing, Yuuki held his breath, hoping to go unnoticed, and that his disguise as a harmless bystander would fool the guards and allow him to slip away undetected.

As Yuuki navigated the lounge, his eyes scanned the room, and his heart skipped a beat as he spotted Ryu, his presence a stark reminder of the danger that lurked nearby. The sudden surge of adrenaline made his pulse quicken, and fear tightened its grip on him. Ryu was completely absorbed in a phone call, his expression a mask of intensity, his eyes narrowed in focus. Yuuki's anxiety spiked, his mind racing with the possibility that Ryu might already be aware of his escape.

Panic began to set in, threatening to overwhelm him, as he realized that time was running out. The guards who had escorted him earlier were closing in, their voices growing louder as they combed the area, searching for him. Yuuki knew he had to think fast, to find a way to evade their attention. He carefully observed the guests around him, searching for an opening, a chance to slip away unnoticed.

That's when he spotted it - a door behind the bar counter that appeared to lead to a liquor storeroom. It was a potential refuge, a place to hide and regroup. Without hesitation, Yuuki darted towards the door, his movements swift and silent. He slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind him, and found himself in a dimly lit room filled with shelves stacked high with bottles of liquor. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, and the shadows provided a temporary sense of safety.

Yuuki squeezed himself into a corner, his heart still racing, as he listened intently for any sounds outside. He held his breath, hoping to remain unnoticed, as he planned his next move. The storeroom was a temporary reprieve, but he knew it wouldn't be long before the guards thought to look for him here. He had to think quickly, to come up with a plan to escape, or risk being caught and dragged back to his captors. The silence was oppressive, and Yuuki's senses were on high alert, as he waited and watched, his fate hanging precariously in the balance.

                                                                        ***

Ryu's phone buzzed persistently in his pocket, shattering the tranquil atmosphere of the lounge, where the soft hum of conversation and the gentle clinking of glasses had created a sense of relaxed sophistication. He glanced at the screen, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the number - one of his guards. A sense of foreboding settled over him like a shroud, as he answered the call, his voice low and even.

"Sir, we have a situation," the guard's voice crackled over the line, laced with a mix of urgency and panic. "The boy, Yuuki, he's escaped." The words hung in the air like a challenge, and Ryu's jaw clenched in response, his teeth gritting together with a soft, menacing sound. His fist tightened around the phone, as a surge of frustration and anger welled up inside him, threatening to boil over.

For a moment, he struggled to contain his temper, his pride stung by the guards' incompetence. How could they fail to manage a boy so much smaller and seemingly less formidable than them? The question burned in his mind, but he knew that anger had to be set aside, at least for now. He took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the room, as he processed the news and began to think strategically.

Across from him, Nakajima sensed the shift in Ryu's demeanor, the tension crackling in the air like a live wire. He raised an eyebrow, a silent question hanging between them, as he leaned forward, his interest piqued. "What's happened?" he inquired, though he had already guessed the answer.

Ryu's response was curt, his vexation evident in every word. "Yuuki's gone," he muttered, his voice dripping with frustration. "He's somewhere in the building, and we need to find him." The words hung in the air, a challenge and a warning, as Ryu's eyes locked onto Nakajima's, his gaze burning with a fierce intensity. The hunt was on, and Ryu would stop at nothing to recapture his escaped prisoner.

Nakajima nodded curtly and swiftly reached for his phone, his fingers moving with a sense of purpose as he began to contact the security team responsible for monitoring the CCTV. This team was tasked with ensuring seamless surveillance throughout the expansive property, and Nakajima knew that their expertise would be crucial in tracking Yuuki's movements.

"We'll track his movements through the cameras," Nakajima said, his voice firm and resolute as he orchestrated the logistics of the search. "We'll find him." His words were laced with a sense of determination, and Ryu could sense the unspoken understanding between them - they would leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of Yuuki.

With Reina no longer present, having excused herself earlier, the responsibility of leading the operation fell squarely on Ryu and Nakajima's shoulders. Every second counted, and they couldn't afford to waste any more time. Ryu's eyes locked onto Nakajima's, and he could see the same sense of urgency reflected back at him.

"Let's move," Ryu ordered, his voice steady and calm despite the emotion brewing beneath the surface. His gaze swept the room, taking in every potential hiding place, every possible escape route. With Nakajima by his side, they plunged into the labyrinthine corridors, their presence radiating an air of authority as they hunted for Yuuki's elusive shadow.

"We're splitting up," he affirmed, turning to Nakajima with a sense of decisive finality. They needed to cover more ground, to spread out and search every inch of the compound if they were to have any hope of finding Yuuki before he slipped away.

With a nod, they parted ways, pursuing different routes within the extensive compound. Each man was driven by a fierce determination to retrieve the missing piece of their plan, to recapture the boy who had so brazenly escaped. As Ryu navigated the maze of halls and rooms, his focus sharpened, his mind racing with every possible hiding place Yuuki might seek. He knew the boy was resourceful, but he had underestimated him - and that was a mistake he wouldn't make again.

Despite the urgency pressing down on him, a grudging admiration for Yuuki's audacity simmered beneath the surface of his thoughts. By escaping, Yuuki had demonstrated a grit and tenacity that Ryu hadn't fully credited him with, and it was a realization that left him feeling both impressed and annoyed. He shouldn't have underestimated the boy.

Just as he was starting to think, his phone rang, Nakajima's name flashing on the screen. Ryu answered, his voice curt. "What have you got?" he asked.

"I just received an update from the CCTV team," Nakajima replied, his voice crisp and efficient. "They've tracked Yuuki's last movement, and he was last seen entering the liquor storeroom." Ryu's eyes narrowed.

“Where is the storeroom?” he asked into the phone, his tone sharper than intended.

“It’s tucked away behind the bar counter,” Nakajima replied, voice steady. “But you need to know the boy looks hurt.” The words hung in the air, and Ryu's expression darkened, his jaw clenched in a mixture of concern and frustration.

Ryu took a deep breath, the tension in his chest tightening further. He wouldn't let his emotions get the better of him. “I’m on my way,” he stated firmly, ending the call.

He rushed through the lounge, weaving past the mingling guests with a sense of purpose, determination fueling his stride. The patrons were oblivious to the storm brewing within him, their laughter and conversation a distant hum that only served to heighten the tension building inside him. As he reached the bar area, he quickly scanned for the hidden door that led to the storeroom, his eyes locking onto the subtle seam in the wall that betrayed its presence.

Finding it, Ryu flung the door open and stepped inside, urgency pulsing through him. And there, crumpled against the wall, was Yuuki. The moment their eyes locked, Ryu could see the resigned realization washing over the boy’s face. In an instant, the thrill of the chase morphed into a stark acknowledgment of capture.

“Fuck you!” Yuuki shouted, the frustration spilling over as he instinctively backed away, his eyes flashing with a desperate anger. “Get away from me!” The words were a challenge, a defiant cry that only served to spark Ryu's irritation.

Ryu’s irritation flared, a reaction to Yuuki's defiance mixed with the stirring concern for the boy's wellbeing. “Stop fighting!” he snapped, exasperation lacing his voice as he took a step closer. Without giving it a second thought, Ryu quickly grabbed Yuuki's arm, pulling him closer before throwing him across his shoulder, effectively controlling him in one swift motion. Yuuki gasped in surprise but was unable to retaliate against Ryu's iron grip.

The guard's eyes met Ryu's, a fleeting expression of concern crossing his face as he took in the scene unfolding before him. Ryu's gaze, however, remained resolute, his jaw set in determination. He couldn't afford to be gentle. he had to maintain control, to assert his dominance over the situation. There was still a part of him that acknowledged Yuuki's pain, a pang of recognition that the boy had tried to escape, driven by desperation and fear. Yet, as he gazed at Yuuki's anguished face, a spark of anger simmered beneath the surface, threatening to ignite into a full-blown flame. If Yuuki wasn't in so much pain, Ryu would have been tempted to slap him, to punish him for trying to escape, for testing his patience and pushing him to the limit.

“Let me go!” Yuuki gasped, his voice strained with a mixture of fear and frustration, the words tumbling out in a desperate plea. Ryu's grip, however, remained firm, unyielding, as he adjusted the weight of the boy's body on his shoulder. He could feel Yuuki's heart racing, his chest heaving with each labored breath.