My Escape [vjoy/taejoy]

Chapter 3

Flashback:

An 8 year old Joy smiles widely at the man in front of her as he hands her two lollipops. "Thank you!" She says and runs off back to where her mother, sister, and brother stand waiting in line for carnival tickets.

"Ji ah!" Joy yells happily. The younger sister notices Joy and grows excited as Joy hands her a loli pop. "Thanks Sooyoung!" the younger exclaims. She was the only one to call Joy by her real name besides her mother. Jimin, her older brother, frowns "Hey what about me?" He whines. Joy sticks her tongue out "cuz boys are gross" she taunts.

The two girls giggle together while their mother watches them fondly. She bends down to their level. "What would you kids like to next? We've got a whole amusement park to explore."  Jimin was about to speak up when Ji Ah interrupts.

"I need to pee!" Ji Ah says confidently. Their mom laughs and looks around for a sign to direct them to the bathrooms. She frowns at the long line that has gathered behind them questioning if it was worth it to get out of line. "Can you hold it?" She asks Ji Ah who shakes her head. The mother sighs thinking of what to do.

Their mother turns to Jimin, who is the oldest at 10 "can you take her?" She asks. The boy crosses his skinny arms. "Come on Mom please don't make me." Joy notices her mother's hesitancy. "I can take her mom I see the bathroom right over there." She says pointing her finger towards the small building. "Yeah Mom!" Ji ah says. "We can be quick!" Jimin nods in agreeance with this plan.

Their Mom sighs but tentatively nods. "Okay girls but be careful. Me and your brother will be right here and watch out for strangers and make sure to stick together." The girls nod confidently and run off hand in hand. Their mother and brother blissfully unaware of what's to happen next.

Joy underestimated how tall people were. But she kept her hand clamped tightly onto Ji Ahs as they pushed through the crowd. A man stops in front of the two. Joy looks up and he gazes down at her and then shifts to Ji Ah. "What pretty girls, you ladies need any help?" He asks

Joy just shakes her head and try's to move aside. But the man steps in from of them again. He looks at the girls matching elephant shirts. "You girls like elephants huh?" Joy nods and Ji Ah smiles excitedly. "Yeah!" The man smiles at them. "Well I actually work here as an elephant keeper. Would you girls like to see a real life elephant?" He asked.

Joy thinks about her mom while Ji Ah looks to her older sister for permission. 'We can find Mom later' Joy thinks to herself . "Yeah!" Joy shouts. The man chuckles at their innocence. "Well the elephant gets nervous with too many people so I can only take one of you at a time." He looks at Ji Ah "what your name sweetheart?"

"Ji Ah!" She says. He turns to Joy "and you?" He asks. "I'm Joy" she smiles brightly. "Joy is it alright if I show Ji Ah my elephant friend first? We'll be right back." Ji Ah looks at Joy hopefully. "Pleeeease Sooyoung" she pouts. Joy nods annoyed. She wanted to see the elephant first but she can't say no to her little sister. "Yay!" Ji Ah exclaims.

With that Joy let's go of her sisters hand and watches as the man wraps his hand around around Ji Ahs. He looks at Joy before they walk off  and smiles "stay right here so we can find you okay? It'll just be a few minutes." Joy nods. As they walk away Ji Ah looks back with a wide grin and waves what was supposed to be a temporary goodbye. Joy waves back. Left alone in a crowd.

Joy waits but after thirty minutes she turns to hear a frantic voice. "Sooyoung!" It's her mother. She wraps her arms around the girl tightly while her brother stands off to the side. "Where have you been I was worried sick!" Joy watches her mothers eyes look around her coming to a realization. "Where's Ji Ah?" She questions, anxiety evident in her voice. Joy looks at her mother "she went to go see an elephant."

Joys mother frowns in confusion. "What? What do you mean Sooyoung, explain" Joys looks down, she knows she's in trouble. "This man the elephant keeper said we could see his elephant. But we could only go one at a time cuz the elephants nervous. He and Ji Ah went to see it. He said they would be back in a few minutes." Joy watches as her mothers face drops in horror at the mention of a man walking off with Ji Ah.

The next few hours were a blur. While Jimin went home with a family friend. Joy sat for hours, questioned by police about the mans appearance, his mannerisms, any detail that could help. Her mother sat pale and still next to her while her father was out with a search party. They looked all day but found nothing.

The next day her sisters body was found, washed up on the shores of the river.

The loss of a child broke her parents. At first the grief was paralyzing but soon everyday was constant shouting matches. Then when her father turned to alcohol to numb the pain, his violent side became ignited. Overpowering any words her mother could shout.

Soon enough her mother sank into deep depression. Speaking less and less until nothing at all. Jimin, once loud and rambunctious, became quiet. Spending most of his time hidden in his room. Whether from grief or to avoid their fathers fits could be anyone's guess.

Joy, so young, hadn't known such a heavy and deep grief could be possible. The pain only made worse by her guilt and her parents treatment. She could tell her father shared the same opinion she did. That it was partially her fault Ji Ah died. Which is why it was her he abused the most. At first just mentally but grew to become more physically. As years went by Jimin did his best to protect Joy from their fathers wrath. But he was only two years older, still a child. 

About a week before Joy turned 16, she had a terrible fight with her father, he couldnt stand that Joy lived to be another year when she was responsible for Ji ahs life being cut so short. After multiple blows Joy finally ran out of the house. She didnt return for two days, spending her nights sleeping behind her high school. Finally Joy realized she couldnt continue living like that and returned home. Only to find Jimin was gone. Her father gave no explanation as to why. But  after Jimin disappeared, Joy had difficulty finding a will to live.

Her sisters death, her part in that, Jimin leaving, Dongsuks attack, her fathers beatings, her mothers despondency, all these things weighed on Joy, and the burden of her life finally became too much to bear.  

Which is why on Joys 16th birthday, she tried to end her life.  

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This was initially part of the last chapter but it just got too long.

There was a lot of dark subject matter in this chapter. Sorry if it was a bit heavy, but I feel like it's important you guys understand how she's been living and what caused it so her character makes more sense.