NightShades || Taekook

Chapter Eight: Two Peas in a Pod

˚✧₊⁎❝᷀ົཽ≀ˍ̮ ❝᷀ົཽ⁎⁺˳✧༚

Ambulance sirens drowned the sound of chaos surrounding the orphanage. Curious pairs of eyes peeked over shoulders to watch two stretchers rolling out two severely wounded werewolves. Gasps and murmurs filled the air as the onlookers took in the messed-up and bloodied state of the two orphaned wolves. The omega looked more beaten up than the alpha kid. But the alpha kid appeared to be more critical with his gash wound surrounding the left eye, drenching his entire face with red, fresh blood.

The bid circular entrance of the orphanage was crowded by a sea of people. It looked like the whole town had gathered to witness what could possibly be the biggest gossip of the town, surely for a long while. The gossip mongers wondered who could be responsible for such heinous acts of aggression upon the screaming and crying alpha teen. The omega lying unconscious on the other stretcher looked out of the question. Certainly, the weak and miserably beaten omega couldn't be the aggressor, right? Then was the omega crying and running alongside his friend's stretcher, the aggressor? Absolutely not! Everyone around the town knew that Jimin, the sweet and innocent omega could never do such a thing. Then that leaves only the omega lying on the stretcher, currently being rolled into the ambulance as the only possible culprit.

If yes, then what made the omega commit such brutality? First-hand aggression? Or Self-defence? The more they pondered, the more questions enwrapped their consciousness, as they watched the horrified and anxious director accompanying the wounded alpha into the ambulance. While Jimin, the little kid was getting into his friend's ambulance. Either way, the gossip mongers could smell a big scandal for a town as small as theirs. Sad, how little they cared about the people, more like the kids involved.

After two days in the hospital, Taehyung was released from the institution. While hospitalised for his two broken ribs and numerous hairline fractures across his body parts, the police did come to take his statement. But under the burning, warning gaze of his oh-so-protective and soul guardian, Taehyung could only lie and name the incident as an accident. A fall from the stairs, to be specific. He had to weave another remotely plausible explanation for his involvement behind the ten stitches around the left eye of the alpha kid next room.

The director could not afford to disclose a bullying incident at his orphanage and expose his incompetency and partiality to the world which would ultimately lead to him losing his reputation and government job. The police were dubious of the statements given by the three kids and their guardian but they dropped the case since they had more pressing matters at hand. Like finding who stole the corner flower shop owner, Mrs Vivian's violet bicycle, i.e. note the sarcasm.

Had Taehyung known the treatment he'd get at home, at his orphanage, he would have begged the hospital authorities to hold him longer in the disinfectant-smelling hospital room. If life at the orphanage was hell before then he had transcended to a level higher. The moment he stepped foot inside the orphanage, he was dragged and locked in a dark, smelly and dirty room on the top floor and distant end of the orphanage.

His scared eyes watched his director locking the door behind him and unbuckling his leather belt while his ears tried their best to drown the loud sounds of his Minnie crying and thumping at the door, begging the director to let his friend go. Whip after another whip, Taehyung received several whips over his weak and still recovering body. 

Tears of frustration more than tears of pain ran down his cheeks as he couldn't fathom his fault in the situation. Why was he being punished so brutally by the director? All he wanted to do was save his friend. Why couldn't the director see Gwi Nam's heinous crimes when he could very well see his crimes?

No matter how strong Taehyung was, he eventually broke down into helpless cries and heartbreaking apologies just to save himself from the painful whips over his body. The pain and injustice were too much for the fifteen-year-old.