The Serial Negotiator

DO OR DIE

Chapter 1: Do or Die

 ***

"This is the news on channel FIVE, currently forthy people are being held in the board room of MM Corporation, police are trying to communicate with the suspect. There have been five deaths confirmed as to this moment. Further news are to be updated as progression of the crime scene continues."

After hearing the news report people around had began talking as they go about their normal daily lives. As if they were discussing what to have for dinner tonight, nobody looked worried in the slightest. 

Meanwhile in the police car, the men gathered were all focused soley on the phone call that is being held by their top police officer Chase . No, that was not a nickname, he really is called "Chase" as if his entire life's purpose is to chase after criminals. However the conversation wasn't progressing too well. The criminal was getting impatient and was ready to kill another one of the hostages if his demands were not being met.

"This is going to be the worst job ever..." one of the police officers signed.

"Shut it. People's lives are at stake here." his partner said with a nervous voice.

Chase was having a hard time getting through to the criminal. The conversation was stressful, nonsensical and plain insane to an outsiders perspective. It was also on speakers so that everyone in the police venichle can listen.

"YOU ALL SHOULD BE ON MY SIDE WITH THIS! IT'S WRONG, IT'S WRONG, AND I AM GOING TO FIX THIS. FOR JUSTICE!" The criminal was screaming so loudly that maybe there was no use for the phone after all.

"..." Chase was already out of things to say, he didn't want to aggrivate him further, but the conversation had to continue, he needed to buy time untill the negotiator arrives.

"LET ME TALK TO THE POLICE'S HEAD! NO TO THE PRESIDENT!" At this point nothing out of what he says makes any amount of sense.

'Oh, great he's a psychopath...' a young woman thought to herself as she approached the police vehicle at her own pace. She stepped inside and took the phone from Chase's confused hands. 

"Who is this chick?" one of the officers exclaimed. 

"Don't be rude." Chase said comandingly after he realized who she was. "This is the negotiator send by the higher ups."

"..." the officer that spoke up a moment go remained silent, but at that moment everyone was probably thinking the same thing... 'It's a female negotiator?' These days it's not uncommon to have women in all kinds of work enviroments, however the job of a negotiator is difficult, and possibly dangerous, for a woman to willingly take a job like that it seemed crazy. Even so everyone continued to listen to the call.

"Hello~! I am very sorry, however I am the official negotiator of this case. So the president won't be able to contact you." she said lightheartedly, it felt almost childlish. Everyone was confused, even Chase himself. How could she talk like that?

"Who is this? A woman? Oh fine whatever!" the criminal seemed to be confused fo a second as well but quickly restarted his nonsensical ramble. "Listen to me then! Those people are rotten, they sell druggs and weapons and kill people. But now, I'm going to reveal all they're backdoor deals and show the world the true evil of this world!" he said all that in one breath.

"You're telling the truth, I know that for a fact. MM Corporation has been in many dealings that have all been far too well hidden till now." The negotiator said with a serious voice.

"Yes! You believe me! They are a shady business and need to be stopped! My cause is pure!" the criminal was so excited to finally have someone listen and agree with him.

"However I am sad to inform you, that by holding those people hostage you won't achieve your end." she said without any hint of deceit in her voice. "But maybe I can be of assistance."

"What do you mean?" He wanted her to elaborate, but he never questioned her words.

"As a negotiator I hold a very high status, in a sense I am a more valuable hostage than any those with you." After hearing the woman's words all the officers stared at her in shock. 'She is insane' some of them thought...

"You want to be a hostage?" the criminal said with a hint of relief in his voice.

"I want to help you change the world." she continued, her tone felt sincere.

"Only you, if only you come up here, no weapons, nobody else, I can- I can" he was stuttering, not even making a proper sentence. Then everyone understood... He was on drugs. His state was particular as well, it wasn't any ordinary drug like cocaine, but something completely different.

"Of course I will come alone, but they won't allow me to untill you release five hostages they said." 

"Five? No, I-I-I ccan't..." 

"Will you allow them to stop you so easily? Is that the end of your justice?"

"Of course not! YOU FIVE OVER THERE! LEAVE! GO OUTSIDE!" he yelled and pointed to a group of 5 hostages among them were 2 women and 3 men, all between the ages of 28 and 37. But they were confused, since they couldn't hear what was coming from the other side of the line they had no idea why he was letting them go. They were afraid but stood up and did as they were told. They didn't want to die.

Finally when they got outside, the police took them in their care. The officers in the venicle were both slightly impressed and completely stunned by the woman's actions.

"I have released them, are they there?? Are tehy!" 

"Yes they have, now should I come?" she asked as if she needed his permission.

"Yeah. A-a-again, no weapons!" his manner of speach was becoming more and more odd.

The negotiator left the venicle and headed towards the building. Chase caught her by the hand and stopped her. "He is a very dangerous criminal, you can't go alone."

"Should I go back on my word and make him angry then?" she answered and shook off Chase's hand from hers. "Don't get in my way." she said in a low and serious voice, yet so quietly that only Chase who was standing next to her could hear. At that moment the look in her eyes had changed.

"..." Chase was left with nothing to say, he didn't have any authority over her after all, if he were to interfere any more than this it could cost him his position. 'You have always been so reckless' he thought to himself.

As she walked up the stairs, and getting closer to the board room, a strong metalic sent could be felt in the air. It was blood. Five people were killed in there, now another five have been released. The total people in the begining were 40, so now there are only 30 more that can be either saved or killed after she walks in there. So which one will it be? Oh of course herself included that would increase the number.

"I'm here!" She said behind the door and waited calmly for an answer. She didn't seem to feel any fear, she wasn't shaking, if anything she looked like she might actually be enjoying this horrifying situation.

"Enter!" The criminal said, his voice cracked as he shouted it. The negotiator entered the room calmly and showed her hands to prove she wasn't carrying any weapons. "S-say something! Don't be so quiet, it's-s c-creepy!" the criminal on the other hand was getting worse by the second.

*(‘C’ is used to shorten ‘criminal’ that’s when he speaks. While ‘N’ here I have used to shorten ‘negotiator’)

N: "May we continue our talk?" she said as if she was speaking with a close friend of hers.

C: "Ye-yes. Ho-how can I defeat MM Corporation?" he was like an on and off switch.

N: "First can I ask, have they done something to you?"

C: "They didn't need to do anything to me!"

N: "Was it to someone close to you?"

C: "My wife Gravia, they-t-t-" he stuttered but the negotiator simply listened and did not rush him for an answer. "They sold her a we-weird drug, th-then she died." his words weren't too strong, but his expression spoke volumes. 

However the negotiator didn't show any sympathy and simply spoke N: "How did you find out it was MM Corporation?"

C: "IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW! The impo-po-rtant thing is that I have! and now I'm going to serve justice to everyone here!" This was beyond insanity. Some of the hostages had blacked out due to stress and others were so scared they could neither move nor cry.

N: "Is everyone here guilty of the crimes you spoke of?" 

C: "OF COURSE! Every single one of-fff of them!"

N: "Are their children guilty?"

C: "N-n-no b-but their pa-parents are!"

N: "Should those children pay the price?"

C: "Of c-c-ourse not... But they might become evil. I know they will."

N: "Are you sure?"

C: "I-I-I DON'T KNOW! L-l-look, I am not sm-smart. I h-haven't gone to H-harvart or anything."

N: "We are similar. I myself haven't gone to Collige, so I am also not smart."

C: "You understand right! Y-you are on my side!"

N: "Could you tell me what you want to achieve?"

C: "Okay, so I-I want to make this world s-see the truth! Be-behind those corrup-p-pted bastard's lies and they're face justice. I-I will make every-t-thing right! No m-matter what it takes!"

N: "Could all of them really be guilty?"

C: "You- what are you trying to say? Don't try anything weird!"

N: "There are innocent people here, it wouldn't be justice if they were caught up in this."

C: "Stop it! You are confusing me! wHO IS INNOCENT?! They are all rotten! ROTTEN! They should all die here!"

N: "MM Corporation doesn't care about their lives."

C: "What?!"

N: "They are as you said, cruel and heartless, they do not care about their employees."

C: "But then... then how are people going to see the truth?! HOW? HOW?"

N: "...What is the truth?"

C: "What do you mea-a-an? i-IT-s u-umm..."

N: "The truth you have been talking about, the justice..."

C: "I,I..."

N: "Hey... who really took those drugs? Your wife, or you?"

C: "M-my wi--fe"

N: "How did she die? Do you remember?"

C: "She.. f-from... she couldn't breathe."

N: "Hm.. did you strangle her to death?"

C: "NO! I DIDN'T DO IT! I DIDN'T I DIDN'T I DIDN'T DO IT!"

N: "Then who was it?! Tell me..."

C: "I didn't do it, it wasn't me, it's not my fault, she couldn't breathe, she was... was... was..."

N: "What did she do? Cheated?"

C: "She, she, she... I TRUSTED HER! THEN WHY! Whyyy... did she cheat on me? No, how did you know?"

N: "I know a lot of things. I can also tell you how to take over MM Corp, but first..."

C: "What do do you want first?"

N: "Release the rest of the hostages, they might be spies that will report to MM Corp about your plan."

"Ye-ah, ALL OF YOU LEAVE NOW!"

The crowd of people was scared breathless by listening to this absurd conversation, they jumped from topic to topic and nothing made sense, but never the less everyone heard the words 'leave' loud and clear.

So everyone stood up slowly and left, the men even carried those who were unconsious.

The criminal and the negotiator were left alone in the board room.

C: "Now tell me the plan! Or I will kill you too!"

N: "How scary, but my death will not change a thing for you. Or... your child."

C: "My what? I don't have one!"

N: "But you do. Your wife is gone, but she had a child before her death."

C: "What? Where is it?"

N: "Gravia Lanberg, is your wife's name right?"

C: "Y-yes."

N: "Well your daughter is with child protective services for now, but I can get them to release her. She doesn't have a name as of yet."

C: "R-really? M-my wife had a gril, I KNEW IT! Is it from that bastard that she cheated on me with?!?!?!"

N:  "She is your child. But Gravia left her with the CPS so that her lover wouldn't find out."

C: "B-but why ddidn't she tell me?"

N: "...How many bullets do you have left?"

C: "How many what? I, have some left..."

N: "But how many?"

C: "I don't know."

N:  "Could you check?"

C: "Y-yeah, b-but what happened with my-my daughter?"

N: "You could save her..."

***

In the meantime outside...

"What's taking her so long!" Chase was already angry because the negotiator isn't out yet.

"Why are you so worried chief? All the hostages have been released so-" one of the officers tried calming Chase down, but those words made him even angrier.

"So it's fine if she dies inside? Is that what you're saying?" Chase asks with a freezingly cold voice. So much so that the officer that dared speak to him was left with nothing to say but barely making a small "Sorry" escape his mouth.

Chase had known the negotiator for a while. Time and time again she would come to hostage situations and solve everything, but each time she would also put herself in as much if not more danger than the hostages were. It's just the way she operates. 

"Seriously... does she feel like dying today?" Chase mumbled to himself, worried for her safety. Even thought they didn't speak much, he was very attached to her. She was brave, intelligent to the point of maddness and also... pretty. Even thought everyone else would say that she looked rather average, but in his eyes she was beautiful nonetheless.

He had feelings for her that even Chase himself couldn't discribe, was it simply attachement? Did he simply want to protect her? He always wanted to talk to her more, but he never found a proper time to say anything. After all, they only ever met at these times where everything else is more important.

"Do you think she is okay?" The only female police officer on the scene - Jenna asked with a concerned voice. 

"It's her we're talking about. So no need to worry." Someone completely different spoke out of nowhere before anyone else could say anything. "After all, I found her myself." he spoke proudly.

Chase realized who it was instantly and showed respect. "Sir, we weren't expecting you to be here."

"Hah! I wasn't planning on coming here either, however I wanted to see what she would do this time."

"This time?" Another officer by the name of Millar had spoken up, he was new to the team so it comes as no suprise that he still doesn't know of the negotiator.

"Oh yes! You probably have never seen her work. Well she should come down soon, so let's prepare to storm in shall we?" the man spoke with a rather carefree attitude. So who was this man? The negotiator's boss James Hetterson. He looked rather amused at what was happening as well.

Then a gunshot was heard...

"MEN MOVE!" James commanded the officers to move. They quickly responded by running inside, but none of them were expecting to see what they did.

The negotiator is simply standing unmovingly and looking down at the corpse of the criminal. He had a bullet wound through his head, and he was holding his gun. A suicide. That was the conclusion. But how did it happen?

"Again..." the negotiator mumbled to herself, then moved away from the body lying at her feet. She exited the room without speaking. Chase went after her.

"Wait!" he yelled while walking after her. 

"Do you need anything officer?" She stopped and turned around as she spoke.

"I need to question you about what happened-" he was cut off.

"I will write a report and send it over, I don't need to be questioned."

"But it's how it's done."

"Chase. This isn't the first time we've been on the same crime scene. Why are you acting like this?"

"You know my name?"

"Of course I do. I know every person on your team as well."

"That's over 30 people!"

"So?"

"Then can I know your name as well miss Negotiator?"

"My name doesn't matter."

"Isn't it unfair to be the only one to know the other's name?"

"...How childlish exactly are you?"

"I'd like to know your name, it's been a while since we've started seeing each other and-"

"You make it sound like we're in a relationship."

"I didn't mean it like that miss."

"Fine, just stop calling me "miss" My name is Bella."

"Bella, it's nice to finally know your name."

"Alright, now can I go?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"What a weird person." Bella said quietly, but Chase heard her loud and clear. Maybe he was weird. He ironicaly so, wanted to "chase" after her again. Was he developing feelings for her?

***

(‘B’ stands for Bella and ‘R’ stands for Rose.)

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Shouting so loudly that everyone outside the office could hear her as if she was 1inch away from their ears, Rose was boiling with anger at Bella's words.

"He killed himself! Now stop yelling for crying outloud!" Bella yelled back at her with a tone more subdued in comparison.

R: "I am sick and tired of this happening! I send you there to save the hostages not to serve justice!"

B: "And the hostages are saved! What more do you want from me goddamn it!"

R: "Have you learned nothing this past years?! Why should all my hardwork go to waste?!"

B: "What else was I suppossed to do?!"

R: "You dare do it one more time!"

B: "Would you rather me getting killed?"

R: "That's not what I meant and you know it."

B: "Do I? Am I some kind of mindreader to you?"

R: "You might as well be!"

B: "You're seriously pissing me off Rose."

R: "Bella, you have gone too far. Do you even know who that man was?"

B: "Not really, I only ever looked up his name from the case file."

R: "So you have no idea, do you?"

B: "I don't, and I don't care to find out, he's gone now, so does it even matter?"

R: "The fact that he is gone is what matters most!"

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