Part 17
All the prisoners were herded into the vast, cold, concrete hall used as the workshop. The air was thick with the pungent smell of fresh-cut lumber and metal shavings.
This space was essential for mental training and provided an income source for the prison through trade skills.
Here, all tools chisels, saws and hammers were meticulously counted and monitored by the armed guards to ensure no prisoner could use them as weapons
Felix and Jae-bum were bent over their workbench, focused, meticulously fitting joints for a wooden chair
"I think we're almost finished, Hyung" Felix said with a satisfied smile, momentarily easing the tension in his shoulders
The heavy, steel door at the far end of the hall groaned open with a rusty shriek and Hyunjin walked in. His long, dark silhouette filled the doorway, his hands instantly tucked into his sleeves. The low hum of work immediately stifled as his presence swept over the room like a cold front
"Hand me that hammer" Jae-bum requested urgently, his eyes focused on the alignment he was trying to hold steady
Felix's attention, however was lost. His eyes were riveted to Hyunjin, following his slow, deliberate path towards the far side of the room, not sparing Felix even a glance.
"Felix!?!" Jae-bum said sharply "Are you listening to me!? Felix!?"
"Huh? What? Sorry, did you say something, Hyung?" Felix asked, blinking rapidly, pulling his focus back with visible effort, his adrenaline already spiking
"Give me the hammer" Jae-bum repeated, thrusting his hand out impatiently
"Oh, right! Okay!" Felix stammered, flustered, nearly dropping the heavy hammer before shoving it into Jae-bum's waiting hand
Just as Jae-bum raised the hammer, a sudden, violent, animalistic roar ripped through the hall, making tools clatter and several prisoners jump
"Hey! Why don't you answer me when I ask you a question, huh!? I said you're new here!" Hyunjin shouted, his voice cracking with brutal fury. He was gripping a young boy's collar so tightly the fabric stretched, having thrown the boy onto a scattering of wooden planks.
A terrifying, absolute silence descended upon the workshop
"Y-yes, I'm n...new" the prisoner whimpered fearfully, his eyes wide and pleading
Hyunjin ignored the plea. He moved with swift, cruel grace, firmly grabbing both of the boy's cheeks with his large, strong hands, forcing the young man's head back in a humiliating display "Pay attention to your surroundings from this moment on. Or I will personally be the one to kill you the first time you make a mistake."
Felix felt a wave of nausea and pity. His own hands clenched into useless fists at his sides, his breath shallow . He felt a deep, genuine sympathy for that young boy, knowing exactly how quickly Hyunjin could turn his life into a living hell
"Who does that bastard think he is, running this entire prison?" Jae-bum ground out resentfully, slamming the hammer down hard enough to make the workbench jump
Hyunjin then changed his hold, grabbing a handful of the boy's sweat-damp hair. He jerked the boy close then leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of the boy's ear and whispered a poisonous threat. He pulled back, his mouth twisting into a slow, chilling, malevolent smile
As Hyunjin pulled away, his eyes, still burning with residual cruelty, slashed across the room and locked onto Felix. The devilish smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold focus. He held the gaze for a stretched moment then slowly tucked his hands back into his sleeves. Felix, feeling the intense, exposed heat of the stare, violently flinched. He quickly spun his body around, presenting a frantic, shaking back to Hyunjin
Hyunjin moved deliberately, walking over to a completed, polished chair across the room, sitting down and spreading his arms wide, his body language screaming absolute ownership of the space
"Yaaa!!!" Hyunjin shouted again, the sound booming and aggressive "you are all so talented! Why did you choose prison when you're this smart, you stupid fools?" he said loudly, letting the insult hang in the air, enjoying the collective slump of the workers
From his seat, Hyunjin's unrelenting gaze was glued to Felix's back. Felix was acutely, painfully aware of the scrutiny. his hands were shaking so violently that he had to brace them against the workbench to keep them steady. His movements were jerky and panicked
"Hah~ That pathetic fool is still shaking?" Hyunjin murmured under his breath, a look of profound, bitter contempt settling on his face, confirming that Felix was precisely where he wanted him terrified and completely under his observation
During the mealtime rush, as Felix and Jae-bum were heading towards their usual table, Felix spotted that boy sitting completely alone. He was middle in height, had brown hair, large, vulnerable eyes and some scars on his face that looked recent, perhaps still new. He looked profoundly sad, lost in thought and untouched by the chaos of the dining hall.
Felix suddenly changed his direction and walked straight toward the boy's table. Jae-bum, surprised by the abrupt shift, immediately followed suit
The boy slowly raised his head, his eyes wary and shadowed "Are you here to torment me too?" he asked quietly, his voice thin with apprehension
Felix gently cleared his throat, offering a soft, reassuring look "Of course not. I'm Lee Felix" he said, extending his hand across the rough tabletop for a handshake
The boy looked at Felix in shock, his eyes widening slightly before he hesitantly took the offered hand "I... I'm Jang Si Hun!" Si Hun managed, shaking Felix's hand with a nervous grip
"Oh hello, I'm Kim Jae-bum, Jae-bum said with a warm smile, quickly shaking Si Hun's hand as well, trying to put him at ease
"So you're new here, right?" Felix asked, keeping his tone gentle
"Yes, I am" Si Hun confirmed, looking down at his untouched tray
"What are you in for?" Jae-bum asked bluntly, cutting straight to the point without any preamble
Felix sharply kicked Jae-bum's shin under the table, glaring at him for the inappropriate intrusion
"Hey, let's just eat our food before it gets cold" Felix quickly interjected, raising his soup bowl and taking a loud sip
"I killed my father" Si Hun stated flatly, his voice devoid of emotion, looking straight ahead
Jae-bum visibly choked on his soup, staring at Si Hun in stunned shock "What?"
"He used to beat my mother and my younger sister and me a lot. He would always come home drunk and violent. So yesterday when he was completely drunk and went after my mother with a knife, trying to kill her, I took a kitchen knife and stabbed him to death" Si Hun explained the horror with a heartbreaking, matter-of-fact calmness
"I don't know... what I can possibly say to you..." Felix began, searching for a way to offer comfort
"But I'm actually very happy now" Si Hun smiled, a brittle, slightly unnerving expression "We're finally free from that hell" he finished, finally picking up his fork and beginning to eat
Felix nodded slowly, his heart aching. He knew Si Hun was celebrating escaping his external nightmare, completely oblivious to the new, organized hell he was walking into here because of Hyunjin
"May I ask how old you are?" Jae-bum asked, his voice now much softer and more respectful
"I'm 23," Si Hun replied
Suddenly two large, heavy hands slammed down firmly onto Si Hun's shoulders from behind. Si Hun instantly flinched, raising his head slightly, terrified and shocked
"Well, well. You're already making new friends, Si Hun? Or are you just being a treacherous little snake? I'm starting to feel quite jealous. What about me ?aren't I good enough, hmm?" Hyunjin said, his voice a smooth, dangerous drawl
"We're eating right now. Go away" Jae-bum said resentfully, his gaze snapping up to challenge Hyunjin
Felix watched the interaction intently, his eyes darting between them. He noted the annoyance and resentment radiating off Hyunjin as he stared down Jae-bum, the firm, painful grip of Hyunjin's hands on Si Hun's shoulders, and the visible trembling that ran through Si Hun's slight frame
Hyunjin lowered his head, his mouth close to Si Hun's ear, and whispered something sharp and proprietary. He smirked, then straightened up slowly
"Well, I'll leave you to your meal, Si Hun" Hyunjin said, his voice carrying a subtle threat, before stepping back and disappearing into the crowd
"What did he say to you just now?" Felix asked urgently, leaning closer to Si Hun
"Huh? No... he just wants to scare me" Si Hun said nervously, avoiding eye contact
"He's such a damn evil fucker... just be careful around him, kid" Jae-bum warned, his jaw tight
Si Hun nodded slowly and then the three of them quietly began to eat their cooling food
In the bathroom, Felix was at the sink preparing to wash his hands when Si Hun approached him cautiously
"Felix?" Si Hun said softly, his large eyes filled with apprehension
"Yeah?" Felix replied, offering a quick, warm smile
"I have a question, since I'm new here....Do you happen to know where the place in Section A that has some extra supplies is kept?" Si Hun asked, fidgeting slightly
Felix frowned slightly as he dried his hands "Why are you going to Section A? And today is not cleaning day !?"
"I know but the guards... they said since I'm new, I have to work first... to learn the ropes when we start" Si Hun explained nervously, his voice barely above a whisper
Felix, understanding the typical, unfair initiation rituals, quickly explained the location to him, detailing which hallway to take and how to identify the specific storage closet
"Thank you so much" Si Hun said, his face breaking into a grateful smile as he quickly turned to leave
"Wait!" Felix called out suddenly, stepping forward a little
Si Hun turned back to face him
"I'll help you" Felix offered immediately, his kind nature overriding caution
"Huh! No, no, I want to do it alone" Si Hun smiled, perhaps trying too hard to appear confident
Felix paused, then nodded, respecting the request for independence "Alright then"
Si Hun nodded again, offering a quick, appreciative smile and walked out of the bathroom. Felix then finished up and returned to his own room. He lay down on his cot and picked up a book, attempting to read for a while
After approximately ten minutes of strained silence, his eyes suddenly widened in sheer horror and he snapped the book shut with a loud thud
"Did something happen ?" Jae-bum asked immediately, jolted by the abrupt action
"No! I just need to use the bathroom again" Felix lied weakly, standing up with unnatural haste
He left the room quietly, trying to appear normal but the moment he was out of Jae-bum's sight, he broke into a desperate, breathless sprint down the hallway
"Damn it, how... could I have been so unbelievably stupid?" Felix muttered, his breathing heavy and ragged as he continued running, the realization hitting him like a physical blow.
The guards never sent new prisoners alone to remote sections, The specific storage area in Section A was the unofficial headquarters the private territory of Hyunjin and his men. Si Hun was walking right into their den