The Witness ➳ Taegyu

15. He Was Just a Child

*Four years ago*

For the first time, the side of good had managed to gain the upper hand against Black Reaper. For the first time, they figured out where one of their hideouts were and detained some of their members.

It wasn't ideal, but Chief Kim killed the boss. They needed to take him alive specifically, but there was no way the chief would leave alive if the boss was still alive. He was dangerous, and there was no way he was gonna be able to be restrained.

"Sir," he heard someone say in his ear piece while he stood over the dead body. "We've cleaned out the building."

"Good. Head outside and get every member you arrested back to the station for questioning. I'll stay here to see if I can find any important files."

He went over to the man's desk to look through it, finding nothing on top of it, and realizing that a key was needed to actually open the drawers. He sighed and was about to look on the man's body for one, but heard the officer speaking in his ear again.

"Sir, be careful. One of them told us that the boss's son was also in this location. He's dangerous."

"Thanks for letting me know. I-"

"Dad!"

His eyes widened when a person ran to the body on the floor, and he quickly took out his gun to shoot him, squeezing his eyes shut when the boy started screaming in agony. The sound was one he would never get used to, even if it was a member of this group.

He walked around the desk and looked at the person who was lying on the floor, clutching his stomach and gasping for air. If this was the boss's son, it would be smart to take him alive. He cautiously kneeled down and pulled his hands behind his back to handcuff him, taking note of the way he didn't fight back. He just stared at his father's body with tears in his eyes.

"How old are you?" Was the first question Chief Kim asked. When the boy didn't answer, he pulled him up to sit against the desk and pulled his shirt up to start treating his wound with supplies he always kept on his person. "Answer me."

"Seventeen..." he mumbled so quietly that if anyone else were in the room, they wouldn't have heard it.

This was just a kid? He tried to not get angry with himself, but the fact that he shot a teenager did nothing to make him feel any better. "What's your name?" He didn't get an answer. "If you cooperate, I won't hurt you anymore."

"It doesn't matter." His voice was still quiet. "He said that I'm not ready to be the boss because I'm not independent enough. I'm not independent. I can't do anything without his guidance. It doesn't matter anymore."

"Is that some stupid belief that your father pounded into your head? What, you wanna die now that he's gone?"

He continued cleaning the wound while waiting for a response, understanding that he would get one eventually. "I don't want to die, but do I really deserve to live? Black Reaper has hurt so many people. My father and I both have too. I don't think that someone like me even deserves to live. You should kill me like you did my father." He looked into the chief's eyes. "My name is Taehyun. Since I told you, I want you to kill me."

His eyes widened at everything he said. He was the son of the leader of this organization, but he didn't believe he was allowed to live after what he had done. Here he was, completely vulnerable and at the officer's mercy, accepting whatever was happening.

Maybe... just maybe, information could be taken from this kid.

"How many people have you killed, Taehyun?"

"I've ordered my men to kill many, but I myself have killed fourteen. It's not like I wanted to kill them." He shut his eyes as his voice broke. "Even if I am the second highest power, if I refuse any job, I will be punished. No amount of power or respect is worth it to hurt or kill people. I wish I never had this power. I wish I was never born!" He cried, making the chief flinch away.