Mafia Round 2: Mafia Hit - Yumei Ice

“This is a problem. One of the hostages nearly got away. If they keep trying to release people we’ll lose our advantage. Damn it, how could these idiots screw this up so badly?”

“So what do we do now?”

“Another one needs to die. We –have- to show those cops that we’re not playing around. And if things go bad…well, those kids will take all the blame, not us.”

“No screw ups this time; this time, we need to show them we’re serious, that we’re…or, rather, they’re, willing to kill to keep this coffee shop.”

“I think the school girl should go before someone decides she’s too cute to be a hostage.”

“You’re right. I bet they would let her walk out of here. Plus we’ll only look more threatening if we show we’re willing to kill a cute little tourist.”

“Who wants to do it?”

“Let me. –I- won’t screw it up.”

~*~

In the shadows, the negotiator listened with growing anxiety as the conversation unfolded, and when the chatter subsided, began to write a note. While unable to recognize voices over the hum of the walk in freezer, there was clearly a threat among the hostages.

~*~

Yumei tugged at the hem of her skirt, though it was a somewhat useless gesture, and walked swiftly to the ladies room, unsure of whether it was to vomit or to simply splash some cold water on her face.

Americans, she had decided, were a bunch of sick, sick people, and this country was a strange place indeed.

Deciding that her too small tee shirt had quite enough water on it for one day, Yumei simply readjusted her purple hair and washed her hands. She made to step out of the washroom when she heard a sound coming from one of the stalls. She turned to see what it could be.

She was not quite quick enough.

~*~

“We are –so- fucked.” Brad ran a hand over his head, sighing. “This is frickin out of control. We are so. Frickin. Fucked.” Completely unaware of the fact that what he had just said made very little sense if given any thought, Brad shoved himself away from the table and prepared to do a little more ranting about their situation. Fortunately for everyone’s sanity, he was distracted by a fluttering of paper to the floor. Looking down, he frowned.

“Huh. What’s that?”

Mural rolled her eyes. “Oh. Let me.” She bent over to retrieve the folded paper and, upon opening it up, read the note that was printed inside.

“Yumei is in danger. You must do something before she is killed. Some of the hostages are trying to kill us and put the blame on you. I dare not say more.”

Mural snorted her distain. “Well that’s dramatic.” She looked around. “Say, where’s that purple haired girl?”

She was not at all surprised to find that when she looked up, she saw she was talking to herself. She shouted after the retreating figures.

“I’ll just stay here and watch the hostages then!” She muttered. “Jerks.”

~*~

Brad had just about given up hope when he approached the walk in freezer, expecting to find nothing but the expected food products. He wasn’t sure who was more surprised when he opened the door only to see a shivering, blue lipped Yumei clutching her arms around herself and looking just as pitiful as could be. Her eyes went wide at the sight of him, and she made a little squeaking sound in the back of her throat before stepping out of the freezer and regarding him warily.

He blinked and looked around, surprised to find that his discovery had drawn something of a crowd. Then he looked back at Yumei and could see why.

She was…quite obviously cold. And sort of adorable, really, what with the deer in the headlights (don’t think about headlights, idiot!) stare and the shivering and the pigtails and all.

Brad’s gentlemanly instincts kicked in after a moment, and he immediately took off the work shirt with “Bob” on the nametag, leaving him in a wife beater tank top that displayed his tattoos prominently. He handed Yumei the work shirt with a sheepish grin.

“You look cold…hey, wait a sec…you’re bleeding! You hit your head or something?”

Yumei just shook her head, still shivering too badly to speak.

Brad blinked again, remembering the note.

“Wait a sec…who did this!?” He looked around at the group, his voice rising. “Well? Who frickin whacked her over the head and locked her in the freezer? ‘Fess up!” He felt a sick twist in his stomach as he realized just what had happened. Suddenly, he was scared, more scared than ever. The one he had spoken to when all this went down…Brad was beginning to see that initial conversation in a whole new light.

This was all his fault.

“You people make me sick.” He was shouting now. “-We- never wanted to see anyone get hurt! You weren’t supposed to be here, you hear me!?” He ran his hand over his bald head. “Frickin…do you remember? Did you see anything, anything at all?”

Brad didn’t know at this point what he hoped for. If the girl had seen nothing, then no one would have to know that he knew what was really going on. But if the girl –had- seen someone…hell, this could all be over.

Guilt washed over him at the relief he felt when Yumei shook her injured head in denial for a second time.

~*~

“I –did- club her over the head. It didn’t work; she’s tougher than we thought I guess.”

“You should have finished the job. What the hell were you thinking, putting her in the freezer?”

“Well…”

“What?”

“She was just so darn cute…”