Framework | Stray Kids FF

Prologue

_________

Framework:

a system of rules, ideas or beliefs,

that is used to plan or decide something

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Deep breaths. Concentrate on breathing. Relax.

He had his eyes closed, waiting for the next wave. His arms were chained to the two massive iron poles standing on his right and left sides. Cables connected with his bare torso. He could barely hold himself up, but he wouldn't show any weakness. Never would he let them know anything. He would stay mute. He had to, for the sake of the others.

«Won't you give up already? There's no point in not talking. We will find out eventually,» the mechanic voice he resented so much spoke up once again. It was the voice of the person who was responsible for him being here. Here, in this small, square room. It was maybe two to two metres, not more. The walls, the floor and the ceiling were ugly grey concrete, dust and dirt decorating the walls and piling up in the corners. There were dark spots on the roof and on the boy's right side greasy stains could be distinguished. No windows to let any form of light in. Just a flickering old and by now probably illegal light bulb to taint the room in a dirty yellow, burning two to three hours a day. At least that was, how the boy could estimate. It was rather difficult to keep track of time when you aren't allowed to move. He never knew whether it was day or night. Sometimes he would count the seconds to keep himself distracted. It was a way of not losing one's sanity. It had worked until now.

There was a heavy door on the backside of the room. He wasn't able to see it, but he knew that it was there. At the front, facing him, was a camera and a speaker installed. He used to send death glares at the camera the first few hours he spent at the torture chamber, but by now he kept his head low and did his best to ignore the people watching him. It made them upset. And as long as they were upset, they didn't know anything. Because they couldn't stand not knowing anything. Especially when the information they wanted was right in front of them, but they had no access to it. The corners of his lips slightly lifted in an imperceptible smile. He still had the upper hand.

Just then his body got hit by a new wave of electricity. It was worse than the ones before, way worse. He felt his skin burning and blistering and he screamed, closing his eyes in pain. His whole body was cramping and he felt a warm and sticky substance dripping from his ears. Even when the electricity was no longer flowing through his body his limbs were still shaking uncontrollably. His vision was blurred from all the tears flowing out of his eyes, his hair sticking to his forehead, damp from the sweat. His hands were formed to claws, his head thrown back. The smell of burnt flesh stung in his nose. Harsh breaths escaped his mouth, drying out his already dry throat even more.

Everything was pain.

He tried to calm down, slowing down his racing heartbeat and evening out his erratic breathing. His eyes were still closed and he eventually managed to drop his head back down, going back to his original position. His body was still trembling from time to time, the aftermaths of the electric shockwave.

«How long do you intend to keep up this stupid play of yours?» the voice snared and he could hear an exasperated sigh and the angry slamming of a fist on a table. «Is this really worth it? It would be so much easier for you to just give up,» the voice continued.

The boy internally scoffed. You mean it would be easier for you since you wouldn't have to waste precious time on me. Giving up is not an option for me.

The light bulb went out. They never kept it burning for more than a few hours a day. He was used to it, he liked the dark more than the dimmed light. He could breathe more freely in the dark. He always felt exposed in the light, and even though he knew that they could see his every move in the dark as well, he felt protected by the pitch black darkness surrounding him.

«You really like to play this game, don't you?» The voice sounded definitely angrier than before. They were becoming desperate. And this was dangerous. Desperate people tend to take drastic measures. He just hoped they wouldn't hurt anyone. He wouldn't be able to save them by starting to talk. He made a promise, and he would keep that promise, no matter what it took. He would take his secrets to his grave. They won't be able to make him talk. Never.

———

The tall man on the other side of the speaker was fuming. He turned off the microphone connected to the speaker in the room and stood up. He just stared at the screen of the night vision camera, where the boy could be seen, not moving, never changing. «You'll see you silly boy, we'll make you talk. You can't keep this up forever,» he pressed out through gritted teeth. With steady steps he exits the room and walks past countless people, all wearing the same white and unstained shirts, pants and shoes. Some wore glasses who worked as minicomputers, some had tablets in their hands, everyone was busy and had a job to do. Everyone was the same, just as it should be. Everyone had a purpose and a place. No one was left out, no one was discriminated or looked down on. It was a perfect society. Yet there were still some who wanted to destroy all of this. They didn't want to fit in. They chose to rebel. They had to be stopped before the whole system collapsed and the world would be like it was before. Full of war, violence and terrorism. Since the last great war, the world had changed. There hadn't been any wars, no epidemics. The humans lived longer than ever before, illnesses that were labelled as incurable weren't problematic anymore. The world became a peaceful place. At least on the inside of the cities. Past the walls, the world was destroyed, contaminated and almost every form of life had vanished.

The tall man arrived at his destination, entering a white waiting room that led to another track of the building. A young lady with black hair sat behind a big table in front of multiple screens, typing on a keyboard connected with them. When she heard the man entering, she paused from her work and looked up.

«I'd like to speak to No. 32 if he's not busy,» the man politely requested, straightening his back.

The lady nodded in response and tapped something on one of her screens. After a few seconds, she pressed a button on her desk and a small microphone appeared. She leaned in and spoke with a clear but demanding voice. «No. 32, I.N, Mister Chwe would like to talk to you. Please return to your room.» She nodded at the man in front of her and returned to her work.

The man called Mister Chwe thanked her briefly and proceeded to walk away, down a long hallway all in white. Every ten meters there were new corridors branching off. There were numbered doors on both sides one looking like the other. After walking through this labyrinth for several minutes, the man stopped in front of the door with the number 32. He knocked three times before entering. It was a small but bright room, with nothing but a bed, a desk and a closet in it. No decoration, no personal belongings to be seen. On the bed sat a young boy with black hair, wearing the same clothes as everyone else. As soon as the man entered he stood up to greet him politely.

«I.N, right?» Mister Chwe asked the boy.

The boy nodded.

«I have a task for you. You'll be given further instructions once your time of departure is defined. You find the basic information written down here.» Mister Chwe handed I.N a small computer chip and left the room without saying anything else.

The boy could hardly hide his excitement. This would be his first official task to help the government. He took out his glasses and scanned the chip, transferring the data to his own device. He carefully read the information given to him and gasped in surprise. This wasn't just some small mission. This one was huge. He couldn't help but wonder why they would choose someone like him for something like that. Nevertheless, he was extremely proud to be given this task and he was determined to succeed with it. He could do it and would make them proud. He would help to keep their world save. He would do anything to do so.