The police negotiators kept trying.
Their voices echoed from the speakers throughout the mall, calm but firm, offering every concession they could think of — food, medicine, even reduced charges if the hostages were released safely.
But the fake leader — the loud, obnoxious one — wasn't interested in reason.
Every time the negotiator spoke, he would laugh into the microphone, the sound bouncing eerily off the marble floors and polished storefront windows.
"You think food is going to make me let people go?" he jeered, pacing back and forth in front of the cluster of hostages. "You think medicine will fix this?"
He kicked over a bench for emphasis, sending splinters flying.
"No, no, no!" he shouted. "You pigs aren't getting it! The longer you take to make your decision... the more likely it is people are gonna start dying!"
The hostages flinched, and a few muffled sobs filled the heavy air.
Akemi, hidden under her hoodie and sunglasses, lowered her head even further. Raika huddled close to Emi's stroller, her hand gently covering Emi's face to shield her from the rising tension.
Yumi stayed perfectly still, observing, cataloguing.
The fake leader wasn't even hiding his glee as he leaned toward the mic again.
"Oh, and guess what?" he added with a mocking sing-song voice. "We've got some influential people in here too. Bet you'll regret it if something bad happens to them!"
He burst into laughter, the sound harsh and hollow, like metal scraping against bone.
Behind him, the real Wolf stood silently, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.He wasn't amused.He wasn't angry.He simply watched, like a man observing a chess game he already knew the outcome of.
It was clear to Yumi now.Wolf was using the loudmouth as a smokescreen.Letting him soak up all the attention.
The negotiators, desperate to de-escalate, offered a compromise through the speakers.
"We understand your demands," the officer said carefully. "Give us until tomorrow evening. We will work with the federal authorities to arrange the transfer of your comrades. We just need time."
Yumi's heart thudded painfully against her ribs.Tomorrow evening... That's almost 24 hours.
Way too much time for anything to go wrong.
From her position, Yumi watched the real Wolf closely.
For a moment, the taller man tilted his head, almost lazily, and gave the slightest of nods.Barely perceptible — a flicker of movement.
The fake leader noticed and immediately took that as his cue.
"Fine!" he barked into the microphone. "You got until tomorrow night! After that... this place turns into a graveyard!"
A cold, brutal cheer rose from some of the masked mercenaries.
The negotiator outside sighed heavily, probably relieved to have bought at least some time.
Inside the mall, however, the atmosphere only grew heavier, darker.
Wolf turned away from the crowd, slipping into the shadows of the mall's upper level without a word, his calm presence disappearing like smoke.
The hostages remained huddled together, trembling, whispering.Waiting.Praying.
And Yumi sat perfectly still, mind racing.
They had until tomorrow night.One day to find a way out.One day... or worse.