cannibal | wonhui

1

"You're in for a treat," the blonde haired nurse mumbles as she led me down the hall, "He's a wildcard, but he should be a bit more agreeable today. Doctor Lee gave him a sedative during his bedcheck. Junhui doesn't like it when people touch his things."

I nod and she continues to lead me up multiple staircases. It was strange a hospital this size didn't have an elevator, but elevators didn't matter in this moment. We reached the top floor and turn a couple corners, to a door painted purple with a dry-erase door reading his name. I was surprised at how similar the door looked to that of a child's bedroom. The patient could easily escape, knowing his history.

"You remember what Dr. Choi told you, no writing anything down, you have to record him. And don't tell him you're recording him, either. He likes his privacy. Sit where he tells you to sit, take anything he gives you, but don't hand him anything. Understand?"

"Yes, Ma'am." I dug through my book bag and pressed record on my phone before sliding it into my pocket and handing my bag to the nurse.

"Junhui, someone's come to visit you,"

The boy sat at his desk, in front of the barred window, not bothering to get up. The nurse sighed and shook her head, "You know the drill, Junhui. Get up and put your cuffs on."

"Only one."

"We've tried that before, Junhui, but the didn't work out so well, remember? It'll only be for a while, just so this man here can stay safe while he talks to you."

When he turned around, he smiled as if he knew me. I nod a hello before introducing myself, "Hello, Mr. Wen, I'm Jeon Wonwoo. I'm a student at Temple University, in Japan. I-"

"You wanna pick my brain to write a thesis, right? You want to use me for a grade at your little college, how Silence of the Lambs."

"Well, you are a cannibal," I state. I watched his face twist into an intrigued grin. He reached out his hands, not breaking eye contact with me as the nurse put on his handcuffs and loop them into the leg of his desk.

"I'll just leave you two alone. Mr. Jeon, feel free to call for me anytime, if you need assistance. Junhui, be good."

As soon as the door clicked shut, the patient gestured me to sit down on his bed. I obliged and began looking at the sketches he put up on the wall. Some were beautiful sceneries, mostly of forests and mountain tops. I scanned the wall and noticed the artwork transitioned to extremely graphic paintings of past incidents. I swallow thickly as I stop on one. I knew that was the Yoon incident. The patient chuckled, "Are you afraid, Mr. Jeon?"

"Please call me Wonwoo. I'm too young to be a Mr yet."

He leaned foreword, "How young?"

"How young are you?"

"I'm an old man. Older than your great grandfather. I'm hudreds of thousands of years old."

"Are you sure about that, Mr. Wen? The books say you're not that much older than me. A good three years, in fact."

He leaned back, crossing his legs, "How do you know me, Wonwoo? What's your major? Why come all the way to China to see little old me?"

"Psychology and I minor in Journalism. I wanted to meet the cannibal with the longest list of victims."

He hums, "Journalists are tragic. Not one good muscle, except in the fingers. To kill something for just the hands is more tragic than their very existence."

I nod, hoping my phone was picking everything up. The patient continued, "Jihoon was pretty much the same. Musicians are only good for their hands, but sometimes the hands get so brittle and cracked, that they're not even worth it. You, on the other hand, look a bit different."

He watched as I barely reacted and frowned, "You don't seem to care about the fact that I find you delicious."

"I didn't realize that it was an attempt to make me react. Besides, I take that as a compliment. Not every day you get told you look good enough to eat."

He nodded, and turned his attention back to the window, "What do you want to know, Wonwoo? I don't have many answers."

"Why, I guess. What makes you do the things you do. What's so appealing about killing another human being and eating them. Stuff like that."

"Stuff, hm?" He snickers, "How eloquently put."

"But will you tell me?"

He turned back to me, looking me in the eyes. I could feel every little ounce of insanity itching to break loose from him. He shows me his teeth as he pulls a sly grin, stroking his Adams apple in thought, "Perhaps. What will you give me, in exchange?"

I restrained from squirming in my seat. I really had nothing to give him, and the nurse told me not to. I look down at my hands and pull off my brass ring, "This is just collateral, until I can bring you something you'd like," he immediately slipped it on, grinning from ear to ear, "What would you like for me to bring you?"

"I like this."

"Then keep it. So will you tell me?"

He hums, "Come back tomorrow, I'll be more prepared. I can show you more drawings."

OHo how are yall tonight??? I literally just wrote this yesterday lmao, but please enjoy!