Lily took a deep breath, letting the first notes of the music help her to slip on her mask. At least you're doing what you love...

When her cue came, she turned on her heels and started singing. It was a song about sex that she would normally never sing, but it's what the people wanted. She swayed her hips as she walked forward, making sure to make eye contact with the customers closest to the stage, even though she didn't really see them.

When the tempo sped up, she planted her feet and dropped to the ground, spreading her knees and running her hands down her thighs. She led her head drop back to expose her throat, hoping the makeup would keep.

The next cue made her spin, and she dropped to a sitting position in one smooth move. One of her legs stretched out and she rested her head on her knee before leaning back slightly, letting her head fall back again.

She stretched out one hand as she moved to take some of the money being waived at her. Making sure to touch their hand before she accepted the money, she would wink at them then shove it into her bra, making the move as sexy as she could.

One song ended and led her right into the next one when some of the other performers would join her on stage.

They had a routine they would do together before the others would go to participate with the audience. One man stayed on stage together and they would dance. He took her hand and twirled her in a circle before pulling her to him. She spun gracefully into his arms, only to be dipped, her head nearly hitting the floor. But they had practiced it several times, she knew he wouldn't drop her.

When she was back on her feet, he brought her back into his chest and started grinding against her. She reluctantly returned the motion, knowing it would drive the audience wild.

The dance continued like this for several minutes, with them occasionally switching positions, while the audience soaked up every second of it.

Except for two people.

Wooyoung had pushed the girl off his lap and stood, San joining him. Silent tears ran down their cheeks as they watched their precious Lily. She looked like she was enjoying it, but they could catch a glint in her eyes between changing expressions that told them her mask was on.

He didn't notice his father watching him, smiling...

When the song finished, Lily and the other performers bowed a couple times before heading backstage.

The boys made to head that direction, but a firm "Sit", stopped them.

Wooyoung turned to see his father watching them. "What's... going on?" He asked, but he didn't sit.

"You're not the only reason we are celebrating. As you heard, I am pretty well known in this place. In fact, I own it. Well, co-own it. I have a business partner who oversees finding the performers. Flower is the best one, the nights she performs definitely draws in the most people. The nights she doesn't... well let's just say she brings in just as much money, if not more."

San gripped his friend's arm, seeing him slowly turning red with rage.

"You knew." Was all he said.

"Yes."

"Why."

"My partner asked me to. He wanted to make a deal with you that you couldn't refuse. I will fund your dream, if you stay away from this place. Forever."

The boys felt their mouths open slightly, stunned that he would give them a choice like that.

"You saw her, she's born for the stage, and she's good at it. Along with... other things." The man grinned, a knowing look in his eyes.

That caused Wooyoung to snap, and San could see it. "No, let's go. Youngie let's go. We can figure this out later." He started dragging his friend backward.

"You bastard! I will never accept your filthy money! You bastard!" He tried to rip himself from San's grasp, but he was so angry he couldn't control his flailing limbs.

When they got outside, San slapped him, knocking him out of his stupor. He then cupped the cheek and ran his thumb over it. "I'm sorry but getting mad at him will do nothing for her now."

"We have to get her out of there..."

"I know."

"San, what if..."

"I know." He pulled Wooyoung in and they held each other for a long time.

They finally found her. But helping her seemed impossible...

---

Later that evening, the rest of the members were filled in and they were brainstorming what they needed to do to get Lily out of that place.

"What if..." Yunho said. "You said your father said she still makes money on the night she doesn't perform, right?" He got a nod. "What if we tried to get her on one of those nights? There must be a way to... to request her." He hated how that sounded on his tongue.

"But who would do it? Wooyoung and San would probably be recognized." Seonghwa said.

"Hell, we will all be recognized now that we've formed Ateez." Jongho said.

"What if we wore a disguise? Used a fake name?" Hongjoong said. "There's no way they use real names in that line of business.

"I'll do it then." Yunho said. He ignored the slight glare he got from Wooyoung. "I'm not afraid."

The others contemplated for a moment, but they couldn't come up with any better ideas, so they agreed.

Seonghwa grabbed his laptop and opened the website for the club. Already the front page advertised the strippers working there. He scanned the website and discovered in the bottom right hand corner, almost too small to see it, was a little image of a door.

He clicked.

A single page came up on the screen. It was a chat.

Someone typed: 'request'

Seonghwa bit his lip. 'Flower'.

'Wednesday. 10 o'clock. 1 hr. $1,000.'

The chat window closed.

"Holy shit." Jongho said, earning a quick glare from Seonghwa. "How are we supposed to get that kind of money?"

"We will make it work. "Hongjoong said, pulling out his phone so he could check his bank account. Everyone else followed suit.

They just had enough. It would push them to the limit, but thankfully they didn't have to pay rent anymore since the house was given to them to train in.

"Are you sure you can do this?" Seonghwa asked, cooing over Yunho as he got ready to leave Wednesday night. They decided to go with a long trench coat, a ball cap, and no makeup. They even put blue contacts in to change his eye color and added a couple of fake piercings to his face.

They were all worried it wasn't going to be enough.

"Yes." He said, looking at the computer on the table behind Seonghwa. The chat screen was open again.

'Side door. Password: Songbird.'

His stomach churned at the word. But he kept a strong face on for the others.

"You get out of there if anything suspicious happens." The eldest said, resting his hands on Yunho's chest. "Mingi and Jongho will be across the street, so they can be there in a second."

The taller nodded, pulling out his phone and opening up Jongho's contact information so all he had to do was press dial if he needed to call.

Seonghwa nodded, feeling slightly better at the sight.

Yunho hugged everyone once. He needed to feel their touch one more time, trying not to think it could be the last time.

After that, he left the house, getting into Seonghwa's car and driving away. Mingi and Jongho followed after a few minutes.

He found parking a little way down the street and walked to the club. Keeping his head down. The alley was dark, but he managed to find the door. He knocked.

It opened a crack.

"Songbird." He said.

The door opened and he was allowed inside.