Detecting Falsehood

I drift in and out of sleep for what feels like forever, too bored to do anything, not really understanding what's going on anyway. My body feels exhausted, my wrists sting from the after effects of the rope, and my ass is painful because this chair is made of the hardest damn wood in the goddamn world.

Seriously. It feels more like concrete than wood.

But I can't sit on the floor, because I don't know what's been on it, and I don't trust these people. I've been given no reason to, and they kidnapped me.

That seems like sensible logic to me.

But after a very long time, that's probably only about five hours rather than years as I believe, I hear movement outside the door again. My heart rate picks up, and I listen out, both terrified and excited.

Something is finally going to happen. That's a huge relief, and one that I can't downplay. But it could be something bad, so I'm also worried that I'm now going to get hurt.

It all depends on who is out there and what they want with me.

"How long has he been here?" a voice grumbles.
"He'll hear us, I can't tell you, boss," another voice stutters out, and I recognise it as one of the voices that were present when I was being transported here.

Wherever here is.

"It can't do that much harm, boy. Just tell me."
"Just over twelve hours, boss," the second voice says nervously, and the first sighs in frustration.
"Goddammit, and he's not been able to pee for twelve hours!? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"He's not tied up, anymore, we saw on the security footage that one of us untied him."
"Good, at least he can fucking move. Has he eaten?"
"One plate of food, sir. Ate the whole thing."
"Let me talk to him."
"He might try to get out."
"Through the fucking door, you idiot. Seriously, why are you part of my team?"

I bite my lip, just a little bit baffled by this dialogue. They're being both honest and false, I've never heard anything like it. They're avoiding telling the total truth, I guess, which makes sense, but is just something I've never had to contest with. They don't trust each other, clearly, but they also need to get on. For whatever reason.

"Right, kid, I'm talking to you now. Ignore the annoying minion. Are you alive in there?"
"Yeah," I say nervously, and I hear a sigh of relief.
"Thank fuck. We may have captured you, but we're not beasts. There are some things we just have to do."

Interestingly, this is true, or at least he believes he's being honest. I wasn't expecting that.

"Why am I here?" I venture shyly, standing up cautiously and moving closer to the door.
"You're here because we need a hostage, and one of my men said that you would be ideal. I'm not sure why, said something about you being vulnerable at the time?"

My mind automatically goes to Junghoon, texting someone as he left Jin and Namjoon's house, and I grit my teeth, more than a little bit annoyed. If it was his fault that I got captured by these people, I will never forgive him. And I know that this stranger is telling the truth, thanks to my ability. Which makes it even worse. "Why do you need a hostage?"

"Part of a deal I'm trying to do with a big company, trying to blackmail them. It's not important. As long as you're safe and alive, we've kept our side. If they go back on their part of the agreement, I'm afraid your safety will have to be compromised. It's just business, nothing personal."

Again, true. Not the whole truth, of course, but it's the sort of quiet honesty that makes you realise that someone isn't as bad as you originally thought.