The Guilty Defence

Chapter 23

🎧 I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys 🎧

_____________________________________

Jake's POV

As I sat on my bed, I contemplated all of the crazy things that happened for the past few days. It was like everything was a dream; everything happened so quickly it didn't even feel real.

Five years.

I have to stay here for five long years with no contact with the outside world.

I haven't felt so alone ever since I arrived at the orphanage 12 years ago...

Flashback

"Jake, you will be living here for the next four years..." my social worker, Seokmin, said as he parked the car and went to grab my bags from the boot.

As I got out of the car, I looked at the orphanage in shock.

I'm going to live in this shithole for four years?

The orphanage looked like it needed a lot of maintenance: the building had cracks running along its wall as if it was on the brink of collapsing, windows cracked slightly and the roof had missing tiles - clearly making this place seem dangerous.

Isn't this illegal? It's full of kids for God's sake?!

"Come on..." Seokmin called out as he started dragging me towards the building with him as if I was a sort of dog on a leash.

________

As I stepped in, it looked even worse than the outside: the wallpaper was ripped, the carpet had some missing pieces and all of the kids stared at me as if I was some sort of criminal.

But I'm not a criminal.

I didn't do anything...

I was just trying to live life as a mere 14 year old boy in peace.

Why do I have to bear the responsibility my dad put onto me?

I don't even know these people...who do they think they are for staring at me like that?

However, they looked as if they'd been neglected; I could see some bruises that were visible on their arms and legs and they looked starved.

"Everyone. This is Jake, and he will be staying with us for the next few years." a woman, who went by the name of Ms Yoon apparently, said while holding onto my shoulder as a way of welcoming suddenly startled me from my trance.

She looked like she was in her mid 30s, her hair dishevelled like she didn't even bother looking presentable for my visit.

"I hope you enjoy your stay here Jake, now go introduce yourself properly to the others, if you need me I will be in my office."

_________________
Few weeks later

"Enjoy your stay here." Ms Yoon's words repeated in my head as I sat against the wall of this cold, dark basement. The incident of what happened previously felt like the walls were closing in on me and everything felt claustrophobic.

"Your father is a murderer, isn't he Jake?" one of the kids said.

"Why are we living with a piece of shit like you?" another one stated, looking at me with a sort of hatred as if it was my fault all of this happened.

"Who knows he might kill us in our sleep!"

As I replayed the memory in my mind, I couldn't help but constantly scratch my arm, so much to the point it started bleeding.