They’re quiet as they walk down the hall, Jisung next to him and Minho behind them like a mere shadow. Their footsteps are near-silent on the lacquered floors. Leading, Felix feels the careful mask he wears slip over his face. He walks out of Jisung’s sector like his world hadn’t shattered in the last few minutes.
“Morning.” A few City residents nodded to him as he passed them, their cordial smiles plastered on their faces, heads bowing a little in greeting.
“Morning.” Felix nodded back, and then their eyes shifted over to Jisung and they fell silent, some turning away, some openly staring. No one noticed Minho.
As they neared closer to the center of the building, more and more people showed up in the hallways. Where before the workers walked with stubborn determination, these people were visitors, and they lingered, their eyes trailing after them.
“I never realized how big this place was.” Someone said – a young girl, clutching her mother’s hand. The mother’s lips were set in a thin line as she looked around, searching for something. Felix’s stomach twisted.
“Children’s Ward?” He asked, his voice dropping to the soft, smooth customer service voice he utilized at his job.
“Oh!” The woman startled, turning to him. She hadn’t expected him to stop to speak to her, it seems. Her black dress looked old – careful stitches repairing damaged ends. Her hair was tucked behind her ears, and her heeled boots were out of place in such a classy place. “Yes, do you know where it is?”
“You’re in luck.” Felix smiled a little, setting her at ease. “We’re just heading there ourselves. I’m Lee Felix.”
“Oh, thank you. I’m–” She rattled off a name, but Felix wasn’t focused on her. Instead, as the woman followed them down the hall, past the main office, his eyes were drawn to her daughter. She was Jeongin’s age – young and curious. There was a skip in her step, her wide boba eyes staring at everything they passed.
“What brings you to the City, ma’am?”
“It’s my daughter, Chae. She’s been acting odd lately.” She lowered her voice a little, throwing a glance over her shoulder. “I don’t think her pills are working. I was wondering if I should up the dosage.”
Inwardly taking a deep breath, Felix shook his head as he punched in a code to enter his sector. “You normally won’t use this door, but since you’re with me…” He motioned for them to walk in ahead of him.
They passed through the door, followed by Jisung, and then, hesitantly, Minho.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your daughter, ma’am. Kids tend to be more rowdy than adults. I’m certain that she will grow out of emotions, just like everyone else. You needn’t worry.” The words feel thick in his mouth, speaking them feels wrong.
“Her teachers have begun commenting on it.” The mother interjected. “The other kids are tamer.”
Wincing, Felix leads the group towards his office. On the way, they pass by a hospital-like ward. There are kids there, sitting silently in small chairs, staring straight ahead. There isn’t a single sound coming from that room except the authoritative, systematic voice of the lecturer.
“What’s that?” The little girl – Chae – asks.
Felix barely spares the room a glance. “It’s for troubled boys and girls who haven’t learned their lessons.” He says, and next to him, Jisung arches an eyebrow.
“Please tell me we didn’t just pass a brainwashing session.” He hisses into the younger’s ear.
“Hannie.”
“Yeah?”
“Please don’t push it. I said I’ll show you, not tell you.” He couldn’t tell them – the words feel like acid on his tongue and make him choke up and suffocate. He vowed to never tell, and a City vow can’t be broken. Not unless you wanted to die.
They walk further down the hall, and Changbin nods at him, stopping the group.
“Lix-ah.” He leans in close – so close his breath ghosts over the younger’s skin, raising goosebumps in its wake. “There’s a new group that just arrived here. Yuna called out of work today, can you take them?”
Felix nods, and Changbin doesn’t move, continuing. One of his hands grips Felix’s bicep, steadying him. “They’re from out of the country. Start them on our intense routine, stat.”
Then, straightening out, he locks eyes with him. “I’ll take whatever you’re working on right now – you need to head to the left wing.”
Leaving Chae and her mother in his boss’s care, Felix grabs Jisung’s wrist, dragging him around the corner as his breathing picks up. He hears Minho follow them.
“Not a word when I work — got it?” He asks, and both men nod. Jisung’s pupils are blown up as they stand centimeters away from each other. Felix’s breathing picks up a little as he panics — what he was doing was very, very illegal. Technically, outsiders weren’t even allowed to step foot into this part of the building.
“It’s okay.” Jisung whispers, his hand coming up to cup the younger’s freckled face. “You’re doing great, Lixie.”
Behind him, Minho eyes him warily. He’s like a security blanket, extinguishing Felix’s worries as he steps forward to pat him on the shoulder. He smells faintly of mint.
The left wing is loud as he walks in, sliding doors shutting behind him. “Lee Felix clocking in.” He calls out to the main desk, and a young woman runs his name through the system, gesturing towards the lower hall.
“They’re waiting for you.” She says. Her eyes linger on the two men behind him, but his self-sure manner prevents any questions.
“Send Chan here, too.” He tells her, and she picks up the phone, dialing the number as he heads towards the lower hall.
Throwing the doors open, his boots click on the marble floors. A few dozen children stop their horsing around to look up at him.
He knows what they see — what everyone sees when they’re shipped in.
The large doors being thrown open, the descending silence, the other caretakers taking the back doors out and vacating.
They see him step in, loud in the sudden silence, so unlike anything they’ve ever seen. They see the unnatural blond hair, the pale skin, the dark eyes. They see the monochrome uniform of this new world, the same uniform they’ve been forced into upon entry.
They’re wearing white nightgowns — rows upon rows of bright-faced children stare up at him, their dirty hands folded in their laps. They’re scared. They’re tired.
They’re emotional.
By the time the City would be done with them, they would no longer be any of those things.
YOU ARE READING
city of stars
Fanfiction~hyunlix~ There's something almost hypnotic about his voice - it's so deep, dark- but at the same time, there's a softness to it, almost a gentle caress to the words. There's nothing rough about the way he sings, rather, it's soft and reassuring - r...
