Chapter 6 - The determination to escape

That was the first time Seon decided to escape.

He didn't know much about the outside world, but he was certain of one thing—anywhere was better than here.

Yet, as soon as the thought of escape settled in, harsh reality followed.

Where would he go?

What about food? Shelter?

He was just a ten-year-old child with no money, no home, and no connections.

He could read and write, but strangely, he didn't know how he had learned. His mind was fragmented, full of gaps. Had he been affected by the drugs too?Still, the decision had been made.He would escape.But how?He thought of countless plans, but none seemed practical.

And just like that, a month passed.During that time, he learned to survive.He stole from a nearby supermarket, replacing stolen goods with rocks so the weight wouldn't give him away.He traded birds for food with the local butcher, using the meat to sustain himself.He crafted a sling from scraps after watching a street seller demonstrate one—and soon, he had enough food to last.Seon realized something about himself—he was changing.He was getting smarter. Sharper. More cautious.

And with his newfound knowledge came terrifying discoveries.

The dean and nanny were experimenting with drugs for an unknown purpose. But they weren't acting alone—someone wealthy was funding and encouraging them from afar. Every month, a newborn baby mysteriously arrived at the orphanage. Health checkups weren't for the children's well-being—they were to track the drug's effects on their organs. If a child's organs showed signs of failure, they were given an extra dose and then taken away for organ extraction. The drugs were mixed into the salt in the kitchen. Even the kitchen staff seemed unaware, as they ate the same food as everyone else.

Seon pieced together this horrifying truth by sneaking out at night and following the dean when he met with outsiders.At the same time, he secretly returned to school to learn more.

And with every lesson, every bit of knowledge he absorbed, he came to understand something else—

A smartphone.

A device that could connect people, store information, send messages.If he could get his hands on one, it could be his key to freedom.For now, though, he had to keep gathering information.From meat sellers, school lessons, and nearby neighbors, he was slowly piecing together a plan.

Because this time, when he left…

He would make sure there was no coming back.

He began to enhance his engagement with the butcher by fabricating a tale of woe, claiming he was responsible for a younger sister and a sick father at home. This seemingly credible narrative caused the butcher to lower his defenses, leading him to offer various words of caution and even extend an invitation for dinner. Seon, however, declined the invitation, aware that staying out for extended periods would raise suspicion. He then learned how to use a mobile phone and devised a plan to steal one from someone. Lost in thought, he noticed a truck approaching the super mart, which he had previously stolen from. In a roundabout manner, he inquired about the truck from the butcher, who informed him it was a vegetable delivery from a nearby village, praising the freshness of the produce. The butcher began to act as a sales representative for the farmer, as he was observing the truck he saw a familiar van passing by the truck as he observed he came to conclusion it was same that used to carry people from orphanage to take their organs in sense it kill them. As the van passed, he immediately ran toward the orphanage, ignoring the butcher's calls. He quickly climbed a tree and then onto the rooftop, where he saw the scar-faced man enter with a serious expression.

 Upon entering the dean's office and closing the door, he found himself unable to hear anything for several minutes. Suddenly, the dean, the scar-faced man, and the nanny rushed toward the prayer hall. Seon's heart raced as he leaped from his perch, scraping his knees slightly, but he managed to jump through the window and reach the prayer hall. Inside, only students were present, seated in a trance-like state, gazing blankly at the stage. Seon's heart raced as he blended in with them, feigning a similar daze. He observed the scar-faced man, the nanny, and the dean entering, while the students remained oblivious to their surroundings.

Upon entering, the dean abruptly advanced towards a student, with a smile, uttered a chilling command: "Smash the person next to you against the wall three times." The student, approximately eight years old, began to drag the individual beside him and forcefully struck the other child's head against the wall. The resounding impact echoed through the otherwise silent hall, yet the onlookers remained in a state of shock. A girl, initially dazed, was jolted back to reality by the pain and began to scream and struggle. The dean then approached, seizing the young girl and choking her while lifting her off the ground. Having already lost blood from the earlier impact, she lost her breath quickly. The dean carelessly discarded her body onto the floor.

At that moment, a man with a scarred face observed the students and nodded at the dean with a smile, remarking, "The young master will be pleased with the results. Congratulations, sir." The dean replied, "It is still early; we will increase the final dosage by the end of the month. The young master will undoubtedly be surprised, and these students will regain consciousness in about an hour."

The scar-faced man inquired, "Is that so? Then can we discuss the terms for high funding from the young master? He believes in your success and has sent the contract terms. Let us proceed to discuss this; we wouldn't want our contract to be tainted, would we?"

The dean responded affirmatively, "Yes, sir. Please give me a moment." He then directed his gaze towards the nanny, who appeared unfazed by the events. Upon meeting his eyes, she hurried outside to summon the instructors, instructing them to clean up the girl's body and load it into a van.

As the cleaners began their work, the dean instructed the students to take a nap in their respective areas before departing with the scar-faced man, while the nanny oversaw the cleaning process. Seon retreated to his room, feigning a dazed state while trembling uncontrollably. He rushed to the bathroom, where he violently vomited and broke down in tears, his body shaking with fear. Although he was aware of the ruthlessness of these individuals, witnessing a murder firsthand was a harrowing experience for him. Initially paralyzed by fear, he eventually managed to calm himself and wash away the evidence of his distress with cold water from the tap.