A week had passed since he was brought to the facility when Jared was finally granted permission to leave his room.
He felt detached from the passage of time, as if it were happening to someone else.
What was Yeny, whom he had promised to meet, thinking about Jared’s sudden disappearance? Was she angry or worried?
He also wondered what his father had said to his grandfather.
As long as Jared was going to be here, a day would come when he would have to explain. If he had been sold off to someone at that point, there would be no room for flimsy excuses.
His grandfather, who was strong in his sense of justice and valued relationships, would surely be furious if he learned the truth. He might even desperately search for him… such a naive thought crossed Jared’s mind.
Before that, he might be tempted to cut down his father, but that was irrelevant. Still, he wished he could kill him with his own hands.
“Your face has changed a lot. Most people’s spirit breaks, and they get a vacant look, but yours is different. Still, looking like that won’t do you any good. This is where the children eat three meals a day. You can come and go as you please, but I don’t really recommend it.”
Jared, who had been guided through the facility by Tom, the man he first spoke to on the first day, was finally brought to the cafeteria.
Along the way, they passed several boys and girls, but they all had a lifeless look on their faces, like they were living dead.
Jared felt a sincere desire not to end up like them.
As the cafeteria door opened, about thirty pairs of eyes focused on Jared.
One boy laughed, seeing him as prey, while another girl called out a welcome and declared she wanted to adopt him as a pet. One boy glanced once, lost interest, and returned his gaze to the book he was holding.
There was a sense of freedom that was uncharacteristic of a containment facility, but what they all had in common, unlike the other children Jared had passed, was a spark of life. No, they had a fierce, beast-like gleam in their eyes, and he could sense a strong will to survive, even if it meant devouring others.
“He’s new. Follow the rules and don’t annoy us with trivial things.”
There was no reply. But Tom didn’t seem to mind. He patted Jared on the shoulder once and left the cafeteria.
Since he had already finished breakfast, there was no reason for him to stay here. Jared decided to return to his room. He reasoned that engaging with an unspecified number of people would lead to nothing good, but then—
“Hey, newcomer.”
He was called out to and turned around—and a fist filled his vision, delivering a shock to his cheek.
By the time he realized he had been hit, he was already on the floor, and a cheer erupted.
He understood what Tom had meant by “it won’t do you any good,” but he felt no joy. He hadn’t even had a proper fight before.
Jared’s body froze with fear, recalling the violence he had suffered from adults, making him unable to resist.
“At least greet someone.”
He hesitantly opened his eyes to see a slightly overweight boy, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a lecherous smile.
“…Hello.”
Knowing that this wasn’t the greeting he was looking for, he spoke. The boy’s smile widened, and then a kick came.
After being repeatedly kicked in the stomach, legs, and face, Jared lay spread-eagled. The boy approached him, a smile on his face.
“I like you. If you become my subordinate, I’ll protect you from the others.”
He wanted to say, “Who’s going to be your subordinate?” but his mouth was cut, and he didn’t want to speak. Just then, several boys and girls gathered behind the boy who was waiting for his reply.
“Why are you getting ahead of yourself?”
“I spotted him first, so he’s mine.”
The boys and girls began to argue over who would have Jared as their subordinate, and the surrounding crowd cheered them on.
Through his dazed consciousness, Jared realized that there were multiple groups within the facility. Children followed the slightly overweight boy and the girls who had spoken to him, vying for power within the facility.
*Like untamed beasts.*
“Whatever,” he thought, when a blond boy who had been reading, seemingly uninterested in the commotion, moved and crouched beside Jared.
“Hey, can you hear me? Nobody’s going to explain anything, so I will. This is a ridiculous facility, but there are at least basic rules among the kids. First, don’t steal food. You have to eat a set amount, or the adults will beat you for interfering. We don’t kill, either. Someone died from a fight in the past, and the one who killed him was taken away, and no one saw him afterward. He was probably disposed of.”
Jared’s body tensed at the word “disposed of.”
“Don’t be so scared. Nobody’s stupid enough to kill. Besides, they don’t have the courage for it. Oh, and looking at your eyes, it seems you won’t serve anyone, so I’ll tell you something useful. Always assume we’re being watched. So, if something happens, make a big fuss, and the adults will beat them up for you. Well, good luck.”
As the boy, holding his book, started to walk away from Jared, Jared couldn’t help but call out to him.
“Hey, who are you?”
“…I’m Luzer. And you?”
“Jared. Jared Murphy.”
“I see, Jared. Well, here, have this as a token of our acquaintance.”
With that, Luzer threw the book he had been reading.
Since he couldn’t move his body properly, the book landed on his stomach, causing Jared to cough heavily. Luzer laughed.
Watching him leave, Jared clutched the book, and with a heavy body, dragged himself back to his room.
This was the first meeting between Jared Murphy and Luzer.
And they would meet again a week later.
