"We are out." Jieun huffed out as she pulled the rope down that they had used to come down from the small but wide enough ventilation window that she had managed to spot while putting the CCTVs down.

"Good. Now get out of there and come back to base." Yoongi ordered. He was running collaboratives with the team who were almost done filtrating the building that was being used for keeping the women and children. This was something that was to be done precisely without any mistakes. Too many lives depended on him and he wasn't going to take things any slower.

"Wait. What about Aera?" Jieun pressed her ear piece. She looked around trying to spot any sign of their squad somewhere but it was all dark and quiet. Making a sound or calling out for her was not an option.

"She isn't coming back—"

"What do you mean she is not back?" Jieun was going to freak out. Ever since she had been in the team she had always ended the mission with Aera. Leaving her behind was something that she had never thought well off. Neither of them did.

"Don't waste any more time. Get back to the base with all of them. We need to take them to safety first. Aera can take care of the rest. She is fine. And I will make sure of that."

For a fact Yoongi could understand why Jieun was reluctant to leave behind Aera. She didn't want history to repeat itself.

"Fine. We are off then. Aera?" She tried calling out to her a last time. She could see Jimin curiously looking at her, praying if he could hear just a bit of her voice but Jieun knew he won't be able to hear anything.

"Her in-ear is disconnected for the moment." Min Hyuk said making Jieun sigh defeatedly.

With a last look at the building, Jieun gestured them all to follow her quietly.

"How are things there?" Yoongi asked as he looked at the monitor trying to see the movements outside the place. He could see people being taken and made to enter the vans that were going to the police headquarters.

"Sinners— being punished." Aera huffed while punching the guy who was trying to move. She was actually having a fun time torturing the people who were holding the women hostages. They had never expected her to be this combat resilient and to imagine that they would be getting beaten up and made to watch all their life's work go into the pits of hell right in front of their eyes was nothing but amusing to Aera.

"How is Rose? Is she still crying?"

"She has calmed down now. I think." Min Hyuk answered while looking at Rose who was shaking her foot nervously. Her tear stained cheeks and shivering hands were telling a very different story.

"They must be reaching soon." Aera spoke as she wiped her blood laden hands on the tattered rag lying in the floor. They were done with two floors but one floor was till left.

"Yeah."

"Take care of our special guests now, right Hwasa?" Aera nodded at Hwasa who was already cracking her knuckles as she approached.

"And remember. Not a sound."

"Jungkook..." Rose sobbed hard as she ran into the said man's arms and clung tightly to him. She was so scared when she had woken up to find him missing and on enquiry she was informed that he was being held hostage in a secluded place along with her brother and Taehyung. She had started hyperventilating then but Yoongi had taken care of her and told her that Aera and Jieun were already on their way and taking them out of there.

Only then she had calmed down minusculy. She couldn't stop herself from shaking and crying. Nightmares of never being able to see him or something bad happening to him made her heart clench. Tony had chosen to sit down quietly by her side as he rubbed her back but she just wanted to see Jungkook and feel him.

"W-Why did you go there!? I will kill you!!!" She cried while hitting him on his arm.

"Ow! Ow! Baby...I am sorry." He held her wrists and pulled her close to him, hugging her closer and basking in her sweet warmth.

Yoongi could see Hoseok standing there giving them a tearful smile. He wondered how he would react when he would see Mira. Mira had been very patient while they had been working in taking her brother out once and for all. He had seen his photos when Mira had requested Yoongi to look for him. She was doing everything she could to make sure her devil of a brother didn't kill him. Going as far as listening and obeying to every little thing that asshat told her to do even if it meant to pull her long time friend and former boyfriend Park Jimin into the gates of hell.

He motioned a few people to go bring Mira as he watched them all reunite and hug each other. Jimin's sad and forlorn expression was expected. He was stressed about Aera still being in that hell hole. But Yoongi knew she had a goal to complete and no one could convince her otherwise.

"M-Mira...?" Hoseok's shaky voice made Yoongi look up as he saw the look of pure shock on Mira's face. Her face contorted into sob as she dropped onto the floor while hiding her face as she wailed.

It was enough of an indication of how much she had been missing her partner. Hoseok didn't waste a second as he dashed to her holding her while he cried himself. Peppering her face with kisses as she tried to smile while crying hard. It was difficult but their emotions were just everywhere around the place.

"Oh my God......Hobi.." she sobbed while hugging him unbelievably closer and their reunion made other's cry as well. It was a bit heart breaking how their lives had to be the way they were right now just because of someone's selfish motives.

"Ok .... Hyung... I need you here." Minhyuk's urgent voice made Yoongi wipe at his eyes as he refocused on the work.

"I think it's time."

______

A quick look through the pot holes that I had left. Vindicated is soon going to end and I am so happy that you guys read this so far.

Merry Christmas to you all and be happy always!!!!♥️

Just wanted to drop in my Christmas tree's pic. 😂😂

Love you all🤍

~PDG.