CLANG
The sound echoed everywhere across the cafeteria.
"You got a death wish, huh?" Maelin growled, blood trickling down the back of his head. His eyes burned with fury and rage like a wild beast.
Before Taejin could react, Maelin seized him by the ribs and slammed him to the ground with brutal force. Pain exploded through Taejin's body as blood spurted from his mouth. He gasped, choking on it.
"You'll pay for this, motherfuck—"
Taejin's hand scrambled over the floor, fingers curling around a metal fork. With a guttural yell, he lunged up and stabbed it toward Maelin's face. The fork sank deep—just beneath Maelin's left eye.
Maelin let out a surprised grunt, staggering back.
Taejin didn't waste the chance. He hurled another tray, this one smashing directly into Maelin's skull. The impact made a sickening thud. But Maelin didn't fall or falter at all.
In the blink of an eye, Maelin was on him again, grabbing him like a ragdoll and hurling him into a nearby wall. Glass shattered as Taejin crashed through the divider window, smashing into the cold metal behind it.
His bones screamed in pain. His vision started faltering.
Maelin advanced, unrelenting. He grabbed Taejin by the ribs again, trying to crush them, but Taejin roared and drove a shard of broken glass—gripped in his bloodied hand—into Maelin's back. Again. And again. Dozens of times.
Maelin bellowed, then grabbed Taejin's face and slammed it into the ground hard.
Stars burst behind Taejin's eyes. The world was spinning. Blood poured from his forehead and gushing out his mouth.
But before Maelin could strike again, someone yanked him back with monstrous strength.
A blur of movement. A wild mane of jet-black hair.
Taejin barely focused through the pain. Someone was standing over him—tall, imposing.
"You're an interesting fellow," the stranger said in a calm, almost amused voice.
Then a fist—hard and sudden—crashed into Taejin's face.
Everything went black.
Taejin's body collapsed.
[Infirmary-hours later]
He woke up to the the sound of slow, rhythmic beeping.
A heart monitor.
The metallic taste of blood lingered in his mouth disgustingly.
The harsh fluorescent lights overhead made Taejin's eyes ache as they struggled to adjust.
The scene of the fight constantly replayed in his head.
The tray.
The crash through the window.
THE FIST.
Taejin groaned.
Every inch of his body throbbed in agony
Bones. Muscles. Joints
All of them screamed in protest to every little movement, like his whole frame was stitched together in pain.
A nurse entered the room.
"You're awake 972-A"
Taejin took a moment to process what she said.
"It's going to take some time for me to get used to being called 972-A and not my name"He muttered to himself.
His body managed to let out a strained voice "Yes"
The nurse looked no older than 30.Dark circles under her eyes which symbolised how tired and overworked she was. Her look resembled that of a zombie.
"You are lucky" She said while checking the IV "You got no fatal injuries."
" Anyways, I came here to tell you that you got a visitor."
Seongwoo stepped inside the room. "Why did you do it? Why did you fight Maelin."
"I-I didn't like h-how he treated you as beneath him"
Seongwoo had tears that began to form in his eyes "That's just how life is."He muttered grabbing a tissue to wipe his face. "If you died there it would have been my fault."
Taejin replied "You shouldn't cry over a guy who you just met a day ago."
The nurse interrupted their conversation. "Visiting time is over. Get back to your cell."
With no further word being said Seongwoo turned around and left the infirmary.
[Two days later]
Guards bust into the room and dragged Taejin away.
Taejin was half-awake "What's going on?"
The guards had a firm grip on him. Taejin wasn't planning to run away, he couldn't even if he wanted to.
"We gave you sufficient time for you to rest up and recover. "The guard spoke with authority "We are taking you to solitary."
"S-Solitary?"Taejin questioned.
The guards just carried on without answering further.
[Solitary Confinement]
The guards opened the metal door and threw Taejin inside.
"You'll be here for 5 days."
Clang!
The door shut. Leaving him alone.
"Eww.This place reeks of sweat"
He said that out loud even though he knew he was alone with just his thoughts.
Until...
A voice cut through the silence.
"You'll get used to it kid"
The voice continued "What you in here for kid."
Taejin was shocked by how thin the walls of solitary confinement were. He wasn't alone.
He responded to the strange voice "I caused a fight in the cafeteria"
The man behind the wall chuckled. "Did you win?"
Taejin let out a sigh "No. The last thing I remember was a fist crushing into my face"
The man laughed hysterically "What a loser"
Taejin couldn't stand this mockery, he started punching the wall. "SHUT UP! That Maelin guy is no joke."
He stopped laughing "Maelin?"
Taejin responded with a simple "Yeah"
The man chuckled "Whats your name kid"
Taejin gave him his name"972-A and I'm not a kid"
The man told him"You idiot I'm asking you for your real name.Why the fuck would I want to know the 'name' assigned to you by the guards"
"Jae Taejin.What's yours."
"Jinho Woo"
Jinho questioned Taejin "So you fought a king and survived."
Taejin answered him with not just a "yeah" but also added on with "I stabbed his face with a fork"
He expected Jinho to sound amazed but instead he was met with an ominous tone.
"He's gonna come for you"
Taejin was shocked by this tone "What? Why? He already won"
Jinho took in a deep breath "You stabbed him in the face. He's not the type of guy who will let that slide."
Taejin gasped.
Jinho continued "If there's one thing you should know about the kings it's that they do not play around"
Taejin asked him "What should I do then"
Jinho laughed "The answer is so clear. This place is not for the weak.You need to climb up the hierarchy "
Taejin was confused "What do you mean"
Jinho stopped laughing and cleared his throat "I'm saying you should fight Maelin.Even if he doesn't attack first you need to be quick and strike him."
"But I'm too weak to do that."
Jinho sneered "Then build your body up and gain the respect of those around you there are only 3 key things to remember inside this shithole. Pain. Power and Fear.
"How do I gain respect here"
Behind the wall, Jinho had a devious smile "There's two ways. The first is win your fights. The second is to deal. I suggest you do both to get more respect in a quicker time"
Taejin was dumbfounded "Deal? What does that mean?"
"Drugs."
Taejin was even more perplexed at this idea. "How do I obtain them"
Taejin hesitated. The idea of selling drugs twisted his gut, but... what other choice did he have? In here, it was eat or be eaten
"Sneak out of your cell 10 minutes before Lights out. I suggest you have someone cover for you. There will be a guard near the west of the yard. He will already know what you're there for. Take the drugs and sneak back in your cell. Hurry up before the lights go out"
Taejin took the information and made a mental note of it.
"Who do I deal to"
Jinho replied. "The main prison"
"The main prison?"
"It's for the adults. You can get there by climbing over the western gate of the yard. That gate separates the juvie from prison. Remember to not get caught though."
"What happens if i get caught?" Taejin asked.
"Well just know unless your associated with the main gang your thrown away as a expendable."
"How do I get associat-"
"Well thats enough chitchat you little brat go sleep or something." Jinho yawned lazily.