Author's Notes: This is a prologue for an upcoming FanFiction I intend on doing. Also, this is my first as well. Enjoy.
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Kim Tae Hoon exited the bus and approached the Inchon Orphanage. It was a hot day but that didn't stop him from shivering as it was his first day on the job and he was nervous. He examined the place. It wasn't exactly a run-down building but it was past its former glory days, whenever that was. Pacing himself, he took deep breaths as he walked towards the entrance doors. As he entered, he was embraced by the cool air inside of the building. Inside, there were some people waiting for their appointments, a couple who were reading, and those who were just simply dozing off. Tae checked his wristwatch, a gift from his brother. 11:25, I'm on time. After giving the front desk receptionist a simple wave and nod, he made his way towards the Administrator's Office.
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After climbing a couple flights of stairs (Damn, they have no elevator) and walking down several hallways, he finally reached the room. Tae, with a nervous heart, knocked on the Administrator's office. In a couple seconds, the door opened, revealing a very neat and well composed Caucasian man probably in his late-forties.
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"Welcome Mr. Kim.", the Administrator said with a smile that washed away all of Tae's nervousness. "I hope the bus ride here wasn't too bad for you."
"Oh, not at all Mr. Administrator. It was a fine trip from Seoul." Tae replied.
"I see. I'm glad to hear that and please enough with formalities, just call me Jean." For such a professional looking man, he's actually pretty laid back… So far, so good.
Jean moved away from the door and moved to his cupboard. Tae took this time examine the office. Various awards and medallions were hung across the wall. There was a shelf filled with various files and books ranging from child care to child psychology to Shinigamis and Vampires… Shinigamis and Vampires… Huh… HUH!? Wait a sec! What kind of book is th-
"Would you like some tea or coffee, Mr. Kim?" asked Jean, head still in cupboards, clearly unaware of Tae's small revelation.
"Wah… uh… I mean, AHEM! Tea please." Tae said, voice a little shaky, moving his head away from the "book".
"Alright then. Mr. Kim? Your voice seems a bit… unnerved. Are you alright?" Jean looking back at Tae.
"Oh... Um, I'm fine!" Tae exclaimed, trying to avoid eye contact with the Administrator.
"Are you sure? You seem a little pale in the face. Should we change the appointment to tomorrow?" asked Jean, coming with a tray of tea, face full of concern.
"NO! I mean… No sir. I am fine. Thank you." Tae said, settling down in a nearby couch, accepting the tea.
"Well. Alright. Let's settle down for business." Jean said, sitting down in front of Tae.
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He violently awoke from his nightmare. The same nightmare he had been dreaming for the past ten years in his miserable life at the orphanage, in confinement. He held his cold, pale hands to his face wincing at the reminiscence of the dream. He could feel their presence in the room. "GO AWAY!" he yelled. But they wouldn't. He could feel their eyes carving into the back of his head and back as he heard their voices. He then, felt cold. Really cold. Soon, he started to cry silently.
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TEN YEARS AGO
It was a fine, Saturday evening. Warm and mild, it was a night to enjoy. The five year old boy held onto his mother's hands as she was swinging him back and forth on the sidewalk. The two were walking home after the boy's preschool performance and they were enjoying themselves now as they were several hours ago. From a bystanders point of view, it seemed as if this was the perfectly happy family.
"Sukki?" the mother asked as she stopped swinging the child as she ruffled through his silvery long hair.
"Yes mommy?" the boy replied, his innocent little face and silvery blue eyes beaming into her chocolate brown eyes.
"Are you happy?" she asked.
"Yes! Of course!" the boy replied back eagerly.
"I'm glad to hear that." She said.
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They were walking through the community park. It was becoming darker as evening drew up its curtains to the world. They continued walking until they started to pass the playground and the swing sets. Especially the swing sets.
"Mommy? Can I ride the swings?" asked the boy
"Now, now Sukki… it's getting la-"
"PLEASE?~" asked the boy, using his cute face, trying to convince his mother.
"Oh, alright but just for a little bit." She finally said, chasing after the boy as he ran towards the swings.
She started to push him as he finally got onto the swing set. He started screaming with glee. He loved the swings, especially when his mother pushed him. The two were enjoying themselves too much, that they didn't notice a dark figure, looming several meters behind them.
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"Mommy, I can do the swings by myself now. Look!" the boy bragged as he showed his mother that he could.
"That's good Sukki. Mommy is going to sit on the bench over here so come back here when you are done, okay?" she replied.
"Okay!" He said, swinging higher and higher. It was truly exhilarating for the young one as he rode the swings. The feeling of euphoria, of sailing through the air… Oh how he wished he could fly like the birds of the sky…
"Mommy, look at me! Look at how high I am up" the boy exclaimed.
No reply.
The boy thought his mother hadn't heard him so, he repeated himself.
No reply.
The boy waited until his swing came to a halt. He jumped off the seating and ran towards where his mother said she would be. Strangely, all the lamplights for the park were off. Mommy said she would wait for me right over there, the boy thought to himself, running towards the bench.
When he arrived, his heart dropped.
His mother was gone.
That wasn't all. There were scraps of ripped fabric on the surrounding grass. The boy reached for a piece and found it wet… Not with water… But with blood… The metallic blood smell was now definitely in the air. The boy was now having cold sweat appear on the back of shirt and neck.
Then, he froze, paralyzed with fear.
He had seen it.
The hollow.
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He woke up once again, sweating profusely. He must have fallen asleep while crying to himself. Sighing, he got up. After brushing away his silver bangs, he propped himself to the wall. He had already seen enough of his nightmare. Looking at his only possession, a silver watch that was a gift from a past friend, he saw that it was 3:00 AM. Sigh, I had enough of sleep. Guess I better get started already. Upon saying this, he got out of bed.
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"So wait a minute. This orphanage, isn't just any orphanage?" Tae asked with surprise nearly spilling most of his refilled tea.
"Yes, you are quite right." Jean replied coolly, without flinching at Tae's sudden response.
"Let me get this straight. Inchon Orphanage is an orphanage… and a mental institute? For orphans?" Tae asked once more.
"Precisely. You see. Many orphans we come across aren't… what would you say… in an exact mentally healthy state of mind. Now, those orphans, oh those orphans, they tend to cause a… how would you put it… a hell of trouble around here. So in an effort to solve that, we built a mental institution along with this establishment in effort to help those poor children." The Administrator finished.
After listening to the Administrator's words, Tae began "I see. So… About my position…"
Jean replied almost instantaneously, "Oh yes! Your position!" From previous interviews and your resume, it appears that you have a major in the Human Psych? Correct? Also, I heard word from your previous professors and peers that you have… a gift for speaking with people. Correct?"
Tae blushed a bit, "If you put it that way, yes. I seem to have a knack of doing so."
The Administrator pulled out a silver-blue file from his desk and laid it out in front of Tae on the table. He began to open it.
"What's this, sir?" Tae asked, filled with curiosity.
"Oh this?" Jean said with a rather suspicious grin, "This is the patient you will be working with."
Jean laid out the file, opened on the table in front of Tae. The file showed detailed information on a certain person in the orphanage. He had long, silver hair, had silver-blue eyes, and pale skin. He was fifteen years old and it also noted that his body was abnormally cold yet, functioned correctly. There was a wealth of information on this boy, yet, his name wasn't on the file.
"Who is this young man, sir?" Tae asked.
"This boy… He is Patient No. 1087."
"And his name if I am may ask?"
"His name… is Daisuke Shirai.