Ignorance was never Bliss (VMIN)

Chapter-2

As Jimin was coming out of the back room, he did something he never thought he would do. He looked over his shoulder to sneak another look at the hybrid. The leopard remained motionless. A sack over its head and the chain binds secure around its torso. The room was still dimly lit by a single light bulb hanging off the ceiling in one corner of the room. It cast looming shadows on the bare gray walls and floor. It was eerie. A chill ran down Jimin's spine because he has always been afraid of the dark and enclosed spaces. But somehow his fears seemed silly.

Is it not afraid of the dark?, he wondered.

Darkness is all it knows. Why would it be afraid?, a voice inside his head whispered.

Daejung shut the door behind him and secured it with a lock. He guided his son back to the front, to his office. As they reached there, he placed his hands on Jimin's shoulder and turned him so they stood face to face.

"Min, are you up for it? Are you willing to help your old man?", Daejung asked, a pleading look on his face.

Jimin hesitated, as his sneaky mind wondered back to the back room.

"Yes dad, I will help", he forced a smile and nodded.

Daejung hugged his son tight. "I knew I could count on you Min. Thank you", he smiled as he pulled back.

"Why don't you hurry along? I will have Kenji drop off the hybrid at your place in an hour or so, yeah?", he smiled.

Jimin bowed and hugged his father quickly as he made his way out. His mind swirling with a thousand different thoughts.

Has his father always been this cold and ruthless towards hybrids?

Are hybrids always treated this mercilessly?

How could I be so inhuman in choosing to steer clear of atrocities of such outrageous degree towards these poor creatures?

How long has it been kept like that?

What is going on in its head?

Is it in a lot of pain?

*****

As he was making his way back to the main gates he came across the familiar enclosure of the fox hybrid he had crossed by earlier to get to his father's office.

This time however, instead of quickening his steps and walking away, he stopped and stared. It will only be a minute, he convinced himself. The hybrid was sitting with its legs crossed on a stone slab towards the left of the enclosure. A long chain hanging off the leather collar on its neck and bolted to one of the walls of the cage. It wore simple clothes, grey pants and a black t-shirt.

For the first time, Jimin darted his eyes and looked around the space. It was built to represent a mini forest complete with tall trees, a small pond and a little cave. The cave has some sort of bedding material sprawled on the floor. There was a small platform at the entrance of the cave where two bowls were placed. For food and water, Jimin thought.

Then, with hesitation he stared in the direction of the fox. Its eyes were fixed on him. Jimin was standing at a considerable distance from the enclosure but its gaze still bore holes into his very being. Suddenly he was hit in the face with extreme guilt. From where he stood, he could tell that it was a female fox and that it was very young. Not more than thirteen or fourteen, he assumed.

It's just a kid like the other, Jimin gasped. It bothered him to no end.

Unable to take the brunt of the piercing vision of the hybrid, Jimin broke into a run and did not stop until he reached his car. He quickly opened the door and sat down, panting.