After breakfast, Lily said she needed to go home to change and freshen up. And after much protesting and forced promises of coming back, the eight boys finally let her leave. As she walked down the sidewalk, she heard someone calling her name.

She stopped to see Wooyoung coming after her. "What's up?" She asked quickly.

"Nothing," he smiled brightly. "I just wanted to walk you home." He said as he walked past her.

"You don't have to do that, it's not that far."

"I know." He said, glancing over his shoulder. He kept walking, trying to stay calm. Truth was, he was afraid to let her be by herself after what he had seen. He also wanted to get to the bottom of what happened to her, and he was hoping to find some answers in her house. He had quietly asked Seonghwa what he thought of the idea, and the older nodded in approval, wanting answers himself.

Lily hesitated, but then followed. They walked in silence, but when they got to her house, she turned to him. "D-do you mind waiting out here? I won't be long."

Wooyoung's eyes closed slightly as he fought to hide his concern. He nodded once and shoved his hands in his jean pockets.

Lily sped inside her house and up the stairs, thinking about what she needed to grab. She stepped into the bathroom and pulled off her clothes, avoiding the mirror, before climbing into the shower.

Outside, Wooyoung counted to fifty before he walked into the house. He heard water running upstairs, sending a silent thank you to the universe for the timing. The house was nothing like Seonghwa's. No pictures decorated the walls, paint was peeling all over the place, a door to the downstairs bathroom was hanging off one hinge, beer bottles were stacked in almost every corner, and it smelled... Wooyoung cringed when he glanced at the stained couch angled to face the tv. Some looked like beer stains, but he didn't know if he wanted to know what the other stains were.

He crept into the other rooms, looking for... anything. Anything that could help him learn more about what happened to Lily. In the corner, a small chest caught his eye. He hurried over and tried to lift the lid. Locked... he shook it and heard something that sounded like metal rattling on the inside. Cursing silently, he moved on, glancing around. Then his eyes fell upon the note sitting on the counter.

Wooyoung jumped when he heard the water turn off. He hissed and pulled out his phone, snapping a photo of the note. Then when he heard another door close, he exited the house and waited out front, staring at the photo...

"Thanks for waiting." Lily said softly, walking out of her house in the same hoodie but in a pair of jeans that hung loosely around her legs.

"No problem." He answered, forcing a smile on his face.

The couple started to walk back to the other house, and without thinking, Wooyoung took Lily's hand. He could feel her tense at his touch, but was pleasantly surprised when she didn't pull away, although he did see a slight blush creep into her cheeks.

When the arrived back at Seonghwa's, the madness had died down. The four boys in the other dance group were in the backyard, practicing their routine. Yunho, San, and Yeosang were practicing a couple of moves in the living room, the couch had been pushed against the wall. Yunho broke down each step, giving suggestions to the others on how to perfect their stance.

"You're back!" He said excitedly and stopped the music.

Lily smiled and pulled out her iPod from her gym bag in the dining room. "Should we get started?"

"Yes!" the three cried out, San shuffled over to her and pulled her to the center of the floor. "Show us your dance again, we can't remember what happens during the second verse."

"I'll be back in a second," Wooyoung said before leaving the room. He poked his head outside and motioned for Seonghwa to join him.

The older jogged over, panting slightly. He brushed back the platinum blonde hair plastered to his forehead and pulled Wooyoung off to the side. "What did you find?"

"Not much. The inside of her house almost looks worse that the outside. There are no pictures anywhere, so I don't know who else she lives with. But... I did find this." He pulled out his phone and opened the picture.

Seonghwa mumbled as he read it. "Behave... I will know if you don't... I expect you to be waiting for me?"

"Hwa, she didn't want me to go inside. She asked me to wait out front... She's hiding something, and I'm worried it's whoever wrote this."

Seonghwa nodded slowly, pondering something. "We can't let her go back there."

The younger sighed in relief. "I agree, but how do we convince her? She wouldn't even tell us who is hurting her?"

"I don't know..."

---

The rest of the weekend passed with long rehearsals. Hongjoong had offered to help with the music for the other team, using his computer to combine some of the songs together. The teams even helped each other practice, giving tips on the routines they saw.

"It looks so much better with five people! It's too bad the class was short one person." Mingi said, watching in awe as the other team ran through the part Lily had created.

"Eh," Jongho shrugged. "We are still going to kick ass."

"Language." Seonghwa hissed as he watched the girl in front of him. The freedom he saw on her face as she danced brought a small smile to his. This is where she belonged. This is what she was meant to be doing. He just wished he knew how to help her.

---

When Tuesday night rolled around, Lily's luck had run out. She returned home from campus to the smell of alcohol and some violent show blaring from the tv. She didn't even make it two steps into the house when her father stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

"Where were you." He growled.

"I had an exam today, Father. I told you about it last week. It was scheduled to start at 5 o'clock."

He grunted but didn't move.

"How was your trip, Father."

"Lucrative. But I missed my little bird." He reached up and caressed her cheek. "If you weren't studying to get a job to make me money, I would have brought you with me." He sneered, leaning in to breathe her in. "We would have had so much fun."

Lily shivered, but otherwise worked to keep her face blank.

Her father continued to caress her, moving his hand to her neck, rubbing his thumb over her jaw. He wrapped his other hand around her waist, pulling into him. She felt her heart sink when she felt something else against her waist...

"I want to hear you sing." He said, lust soaked his words.

---

The next day, everyone could tell that something was wrong the second Lily walked into the dance studio. All the light that had entered her hazel eyes were gone.

Seonghwa quickly walked over to her. "What's wrong?" He asked, brushing a thumb across her chin, trying to comfort her.

Lily flinched and pulled her head away. "Nothing. I'm just tired." She mumbled, looking at her feet.

"Lily..."

She ignored him and walked past him to put her things down.

When Wooyoung glanced at Seonghwa, he could see the pain in his eyes as he shook his head ever so slightly. The younger gritted his teeth, then turned to Hongjoong, trying to pretend nothing had happened. "Joongie, can you plug in your laptop so we can practice to the song you made us?"

Hongjoong nodded and walked to the speaker system, ushering the remaining teams out of the room. Professor Lee stayed, however, wanting to see what the two teams had prepared.

"Are you ready?" Yunho asked Lily, excitement flashing across his face.

She nodded, smiling as she slipped on her mask.

When the music started, she let herself slip away again, performing all the moves to the best of her ability. But she found herself struggling. Her thighs were sore, and it made it hard for her to move as smoothly as the others. Still, she forced herself through it, and when the music stopped, their professor stood and clapped.

"I knew I had made a solid team here. Lily seems to really compliment you boys. Keep it up!"

Yunho cheered and turned to Lily. Without thinking he picked her up and spun her in a circle. Even in her surprise, she couldn't help but laugh. His cheer was so contagious. She found herself throwing her arms around his neck to hold on as he spun her faster.

When he finally set her down, the rest of the team rushed up and forced everyone into a group hug, relishing the huge feat they had accomplished. As they started to hop up and down, Lily felt someone's hand take hers, but she couldn't see who it was.

"Alright, alright." Their professor said, laughing slightly. "You aren't done yet. The first part is solid, but you still need more. Don't forget there's a time limit of 10-15 minutes. I know it's not easy, especially with the way you five dance. But I have faith in you." Then she turned and nodded to the other team, signaling for them to start.

Lily watched, smiling as Hongjoong, Mingi, Jongho, and Seonghwa ran through their routine flawlessly. They had been working hard too. She was just getting into the music when her phone buzzed.

She felt all the color drain from her face as she pulled it out and stared at the screen.

HOME. NOW.

Lily knew she couldn't refuse. She quickly gathered her things and started to leave, and a hand gently grabbed her upper arm. She turned to see Wooyoung. "Where are you going? We still have work to do..."

"I-I'm sorry. Something c-came up and I h-have to leave. Now." Lily shook off his hand and scurried out of the room.

Wooyoung cursed and ran his hand through his hair. By then the other team had finished and Seonghwa hurried over to him. "What happened?"

"I don't know, but I don't like it. She lost all her color when she looked at the phone."

"Let's follow her." Seonghwa said. He motioned for Yunho and Jongho to come with him and told the others to go home.

"What's going on Hwa?" Yunho asked.

"I'll explain later, but I think Lily needs our help." He said. The other two nodded quickly and the four of them left the room.

---

"HOW." *slap* "DARE." *slap* "YOU." *slap*

Lily cried out as the last one sent her flying into the kitchen island. She sobbed as she cradled her red face, too scared to look at her father.

How did he find out?

"Did you really think I wouldn't find out that you've been whoring yourself out while I was gone?" He roared, slapping her again. "I'm not stupid! I had eyes on you. I ALWAYS have eyes on you!" He stormed forward and pulled Lily up by the neck, choking her.

"I-I'm.... S-s-sorry..." She forced out. "It's n-not like that. It's f-f-for a c-class." She pulled at the hand around her neck, hoping for a release.

"I KNOW YOU DIDN'T COME HOME ONE NIGHT." Her father roared, throwing her against the wall. "I know you brought one of them home with you!"

"N-no! I d-didn't, Father. He just offered to w-walk me home. He waited outside; I s-s-swear." She pleaded with him, holding her hands in front of her as a poor attempt for a shield.

"DON'T LIE TO ME." He pushed her hands away and grabbed a fist-full of her hair, pulling her to the stairs. She whimpered as he pulled her up them, her back-side slamming into each step. He was cursing at her, calling her whore, slut, and any other filthy word he could think of as he threw her into his room.

She immediately crawled into the corner, hoping if she submitted, he would go easier on her. He smirked at the sight of her kneeling on the floor, head bowed, in her corner.

"That's a good girl. But you're not going to get off that easily." He hissed as he pulled the collar out of the chest in the corner.

Lily did the best she could to force down her tears as he ripped her hoodie off her back and tore her t-shirt in half before strapping the collar on, tightening it more than he usually does. He then pushed her against the wall and tore her pants off, leaving her shivering in her underwear and bra. She knew better than to try and cover herself though, so she sat there, letting him run his eyes, and soon his hands all over her.

When he had his fill, he attached the other end of the collar chain to a ring on the wall, making sure she couldn't go anywhere. He left the room for a few minutes before coming back with a beer in each hand.

He stared at her hungrily, ready for more. But first, he said, "Sing."

Lily took a deep breath, hoping it would control her quaking voice. "Lay down.....Your sweet and weary head.....The night is falling......You have come to journey's end.......Sleep now.........And dream of the ones who came before......They are calling......From across the distant shore....."

The man had passed out by the end of the first verse, but still she continued, letting the meaning of the words wash over her.

"Why do you weep?......What are these tears upon your face?......Soon you will see......All of your fears will pass away.....Safe in my arms.....You're only sleeping....."

.

.

.

Outside the house the four boys crouched behind a parked car. Watching. Only one light was on, the front bedroom, but the curtains were drawn.

They waited in silence, hoping for a sound, a movement, a hint that she was ok...

Then a voice could be heard singing. It was slightly muffled, but Wooyoung's back straightened out when he recognized it.

"What can you see......On the horizon?.....Why do the white gulls call?.....Across the sea.....A pale moon rises.....The ships have come to carry you home...."

"That's her." He whispered. His chest ached as he heard the pain behind the voice.

"What's the plan?" Jongho said, popping his knuckles.

Seonghwa shook his head, indicating the youngest didn't need to be prepared to go that far. "What do you think, Wooyoung? You've been in the house before."

"I know, but no one was home..." He bit his lip, then staying crouched over, made his way to the front door. "Stay behind me and stay quiet."

The other three nodded once as he opened the door.

Inside, Lily's voice was clearer. They could hear her struggling to stay calm. Wooyoung placed a finger to his lip and pointed at the stairs. They started creeping up them when they heard movement.

A man's muffled voice sounded from behind one of the doors. The four boys froze and when the handle rattled Wooyoung motioned for them to quickly back up.

The scurried down the stairs and hid in the hallway by the front door, pressing themselves into the wall.

"Keep singing, Songbird. Daddy will be right back to finish what he started." The slurred words echoed down the stairs.

Yunho growled and clenched his fists. Seonghwa shook his head again, eyes wide with fear.

Jongho, being closest to the stairs, peered around the corner. He watched as a stocky man stumbled his way down the hall, away from the stairs.

Lily's voice came out of the room, still singing as the man had asked. "And all will turn.....To silver glass.....A light on the water.....All Souls pass....."

When another door closed, Jongho waved quickly and they scrambled up the stairs, making sure not to make a sound.

The youngest walked past the open door to stand watch, while the other three slowly pushed the door open and stepped into the room.