Chapter Text
Meanwhile, Slovenian entrants Zala and Gašper were sitting in the hotel lobby, away from the other entrants. They were never one for big crowds, they usually preferred it to just be the two of them. They would have liked to see the sights together today, but of course that wasn't possible. No one was allowed out.
"We have to do something," Gašper said finally, "Day three of the hotel being on lockdown, with no one allowed to leave. We have to stop this madness."
"No, come on," Zala said, "You can't do anything. We can't win against him, no one can."
"If not us, then who?"
"Anyone else, Serhat can go fight him if he has to, but not us. Not us, please."
"Someone say my name?" the two Slovenians turned around to find Serhat himself facing them.
"Oh- well- Serhat!" Zala beamed, "What a... pleasant surprise."
"Right," Serhat grinned, "It's weird, even though we've been locked in this hotel together for days, we haven't gotten to know each other properly yet."
"Speaking of being locked in here, don't you think it's time we put in an official complaint?" Gašper said, "Jon Ola Sand can't exactly keep us all hostage in here because of some video."
"A complaint against Jon Ola?" Serhat said, "I like it but I don't think you'll have any luck with it."
"Well if we all do it then the EBU has to do something," Gašper said.
Zala had to let out a chuckle at that. Complain to the EBU, which Jon Ola was the head of?
"Jon Ola owns the EBU like he owns everything," Zala said, "Serhat is right. It's useless."
"Ah, but I didn't say it was useless," Serhat said, "I just said an official complaint wouldn't work against him. Something else would have to be done, although what exactly, I'm not too sure."
Just then, the doors to the lobby swung open and Jonida ran into the room. She looked incredibly upset.
"Jonida!" Serhat said, "What's wrong? Are you okay? You're shaking, what's happened?"
"It's Mahmood!" she yelled, "Jon Ola has taken him away! He's gone!"
Silence.
"Oh no," Zala said, "He's started... no..."
"Are you sure?" Serhat said, "Why would he do that?"
"I don't know," Jonida said, "Maybe Mahmood was the one with the video, I don't know, but he's been taken away from the hotel."
The four of them searched the hotel for Mahmood just to be sure, but sure enough, although every other contestant was in the hotel, the Italian was not there. Word spread quickly throughout the hotel that Mahmood had been kidnapped. It shocked everyone. No one had expected this. This contest was quickly becoming a disaster. Hatari couldn't help but blame themselves. This had all started because of that video, after all.
Later that day, Hatari and Kate were sitting in the Icelandic hotel room.
"It's all my fault," Klemens said, looking down at the floor, "He thinks Mahmood was the leaker. I wish I'd never gotten that video from Leonora."
"Don't say that," Kate said, "You guys did a good thing, you're not responsible for what happened to Mahmood. You showed the whole world the real Jon Ola Sand. Besides, Jon Ola can't harm any contestant, especially not before the contest. Mahmood will be back, he has to be. He'll be fine."
"Do you really believe that?" Matthias said, "You saw that video. You know what he's capable of. You think someone like that could show mercy? Even a little?"
Einar, who had just been sitting there in silence, finally spoke up.
"I have... another video from Leonora," Einar said, "So... maybe we could-"
"We can't," Matthias said, "Mahmood is gone, if any more videos come out then who knows what-"
"Ah, but think about it a little more," Klemens interrupted, "If Jon Ola has Mahmood and another video is released, that would prove his innocence and he would have to release him!"
For the first time that day, Matthias smiled. That made sense. If another video leaked while Mahmood was in custody, that would prove he wasn't the leaker.
"That... that is perfect, Klemens!" Matthias grinned, "We'll prove that he didn't leak the video by leaking another one!"
The plan sounded good, but putting it into action might be harder this time. Still, Hatari hoped to pull it off. They had to, for Mahmood's sake.