[Neo Zone] Population: 23 Kids

An Online Chat

I want to remind everyone to please protect yourself when talking to strangers on the internet. You are allowed to block people when they make you uncomfortable or just not respond. You are allowed to be rude in those cases.

Also, for the sake of the story and because I don't have the heart to take her out, Ruby will stay. Rest in peace.

Taeil was terrified, and terrified was only the start of it. He felt violated and for the first time in a long time, he felt like a child. He was under one too many blankets just to feel like nothing could get to him, and his arms were filled with stuffed animals he hadn't touched in years but now he couldn't imagine putting them down just to go to the bathroom.

A song played softly on his phone next to him to try and get him to sleep, but the lyrics were just making him cry harder. Not even his usual comfort songs were doing any good, and all he wanted was to curl up between his parents and fall asleep in their bed. The only thing stopping him from doing that was the thought that they would then ask what was wrong and he wouldn't be able to lie and they'd be disappointed in his most recent choices.

Using a children's chat room his Mom had put him on months ago but he never really touched, someone had messaged him. Just a simple "hello sweetie" was enough to make him panic, but he still decided to respond because he figured it was just how people interacted on the app. Within three bland responses the person was trying to get him on an adult website so they could video call, and their spelling of come made it even more clear their intentions were less than pure.

Nothing more had happened since he blocked them immediately after that, but it still made him feel like something had. He had always been told he was mature for his age, making him think he could handle adult things and move on with his life. This was too harsh of a reminder he was only thirteen and he was a child.

There was no one for him to talk to that would make him feel any better, and it seemed as though there was no song that was going to allow him to sleep. So, with all of the courage he could muster, he chose one teddy bear to take with him, and he emerged from his pile of blankets, throwing a hoodie over himself just to keep that sense of protection.

His parents had granted him permission awhile ago to go outside to stare at the sky, and he was going to take that opportunity in a last ditch effort to fall asleep. He left the house as quietly as he could, taking a deep breath when the cool air hit his face. The moon was full and comforting to look at from right outside his house, not daring to go any further from the door.

The sounds of someone crying snapped him from his trance, and he almost ran right back into the house at the thought of approaching another human right now. Knowing he wouldn't ever be able to sleep if he didn't investigate, he tightened his grip on his bear and searched for the source of the crying.

A small child could be seen curled up on the sidewalk curb not far from his house, and if a car passed he was most certainly going to get at least his toes run over.

"Hello?" The child jumped at Taeil's voice, quickly wiping his eyes even though the tears weren't stopping.

"Is that a teddy bear?" Taeil nodded, slowly approaching him so he could see. The kid reached out for the bear, but there was no way he was going to give up him only sense of comfort that easily. Instead, he sat down next to him and allowed him to pat the bear's head.

Now that he was closer, Taeil could properly get a good look at the kid. He was frail looking with clumsy hands that made it look like he hadn't grown into them yet, and his hair hung into his eyes. His pants were almost a size too small for his long legs, revealing the bottom of a leg brace on both legs. 

"What's your name?"

"Jisung. I'm five." He held up five fingers with a small smile, almost making Taeil smile.

"My name's Taeil, and I'm thirteen." Jisung scrunched his nose.

"You're old." He just softly laughed it off, now realizing he was far from old and it would take a long time for him to get there.

"What are you doing out here?"

"Don't have no where to go." Taeil furrowed his eyebrows, not liking that thought.

"Where's your parents?" He shrugged, all tears forgotten as he continued to pet the bear.

Taeil had no idea what to do anymore. He could bring Jisung home with him, but he knew his parents wouldn't like him doing that without their permission. He could take Jisung to the police station, but he felt the need to personally take care of this kid.

Before he even could fully think out any other options, another kid walked down the street and casually sat down on the other side of Jisung. Taeil tensed, taking in the eccentric look the kid had.

"Whatcha guys doing?"

"Pettin' Taeil hyung's bear."

"Cool." The kid then reached out to pet the bear too, smiling as he did.

"What's your name?" Taeil asked, and the new kid took a moment to respond since Jisung was whispering something to him that made him laugh. Except Jisung wasn't that good at whispering so Taeil knew he was telling the new kid how he thought he was old.

"I'm YangYang. Want to come meet my friends?"

"Sure!" Jisung jumped up and started following YangYang down the street, running back to Taeil when he realized he wasn't joining them.

"Are you coming?"

"No, my parents won't like me going somewhere with strangers." Jisung's face fell.

"Your Mom and Dad are here?" Taeil nodded, mentally confirming with himself his suspicions. 

"Can you please come? Please? I pet your bear. We not strangers and you make me not sad. 'm not going without you." Jisung pouted, and YangYang came back over to him.

"You'll really like my friends. We all get together in Johnny's basement and there's a lot of us. And I know they'll let Jisung live there too since Yuta does too." Taeil hesitated. This was the exact way he wanted to help Jisung out, and it really looked like the kid wasn't going to go without him.

"Alright, but I'll have to come back home soon." Jisung smiled brightly and took Taeil's hand, dragging him down the street with a very excited YangYang.