Tainted (Rewriting)

Wonwoo

Wonwoo loved reading. Something about the thought of escaping reality was appealing to him.

Maybe that's why he spent the majority of his time reading in his grandfather's library.

But no matter how much he wanted to escape reality, he wasn't dumb. He wasn't oblivious. He knew exactly what was going on with the tainted ones.

He believed that they weren't as evil as the government claimed. The true evil people, in his opinion, where the people who wanted to take advantage of them and use them.

But, as Wonwoo's grandfather always told him that the world isn't black and white. There is no clear distinction between good and evil, just a massive gray area.

He never voiced his opinion though. Anyone caught disagreeing with the government over the tainted was convicted with treason. No one really knew what happened to these people after they were convicted. Maybe they were sent away. Maybe they were killed.

Recently Wonwoo had been thinking about the tainted more frequently. As he sat at a table, skimming through a random book he found, he began wandering about them. He believed they was innocent, but he couldn't risk telling anyone else his thoughts.

The other day Wonwoo heard on the news of the son of an extremely wealthy and influential businessman was tainted and was taken away to the institution. Wonwoo didn't know what will happen to the boy, but no amount of money would be able to save him.

"Wonwoo, your mother says it's time for you to head home for dinner."

His grandfather's voice startled him out of his trance. How long had he been sitting here, staring at the book? He realized he hadn't even been reading the book; he just absentmindedly flipped through the pages.

"Okay. Just let me gather my things before I go." Wonwoo put the book into his backpack and closed it.

"Is something on your mind, Wonwoo?"

Wonwoo gave his grandfather a small smile. He always could read Wonwoo like an open book.

"I'm just curious about something."

"Do tell." His grandfather encouraged.

"Just about the tainted people." Wonwoo knew he could trust his grandfather with anything.

"What about them?" His grandfather was more hesitant to answer his questions after he revealed the topic.

"How do people decide what is good or evil if the world is mainly in the gray area in between?"

Mr. Jeon thought for a moment before he replied. "Well, what's good or evil depends on your point of view, Wonwoo."

Wonwoo shot him a confused look before he continued. "From the tainted's perspective they are being wrongly hunted down by the government and tortured. Plus, they have to deal with organizations wanted to use them for malevolence. They have few people they can trust." He paused. "On the other hand, a portion of the government believes that the tainted are a threat to are society and must be eliminated. The other portion believes that we must get them before the real evil people do. Few believe that they can be of any good to society."

Wonwoo nodded, understand what his grandfather was telling him.

"Now you need to head home before your mother worries."

Wonwoo stood up and bowed. "Thank you." His grandfather had cleared things up for Wonwoo, yet at the same time gave him new questions.

Wonwoo wanted to learn more about them.

Maybe that's why he wasn't as worried as he should've been when he figured out that he could read people's thoughts.

Mind readers weren't as common as elementals for a tainted.

Wonwoo knew he had about a month before he need to escape; he had to leave to get far enough away before the government realized he was missing.

He began planning. He mapped out cities and subway lines and where he needed to go to escape. He planned to get to the coast and stowaway on a cargo-ship heading to Hong Kong. He would head to China from there and hoped to be in the countryside before anyone realized who he was.

But whether or not he accomplishes his plan another story.

Wonwoo noticed that he could sense people's emotions from the atmosphere they give off. He could tell when people were sad, gleeful, or seething with rage. Maybe this could also be useful to him on his journey.

Mr. Jeon could tell that something had changed with his grandson. His grandson began spending less time reading and more on this "project" of his that is secretive.

He put clues together. He knew Wonwoo was tainted and planning to escape; he did nothing to stop him.

Mr. Jeon wanted what was best for Wonwoo, which would be freedom. He knew Wonwoo had to run in order to escape the prison that he would be kept in. He knew Wonwoo wouldn't want a life where he'd either be poked or prodded like a science experiment or killed.

Maybe that's why he had accepted it when Wonwoo's mother called, crying, that he had run away and only left a note saying 'I'm sorry."

No matter what happens, though, Mr. Jeon will believe that Wonwoo is good.

Author's note: Sorry I've been busy with work and preparing for school to start back up. Here's a hint at who's next: vocal unit member.