Lookism: Unchained Fate

The flashing streetlights reflected off the windows of the police car as it sped through the night. The sirens had been turned off, leaving only the hum of the engine and the crackling voices from the radio to fill the silence. Joon-hyuk sat in the back seat, his hands cuffed in front of him, staring blankly out the window.

His mind was empty. He felt no fear, no anxiety. Just an overwhelming exhaustion.

"This kid... he's still a teenager?" one of the officers in the front whispered to his partner.

"You saw it yourself, didn't you? Everyone in that building was knocked out, some even had broken bones. This kid isn't normal."

Joon-hyuk heard everything, but he didn't care. They didn't know what really happened, and he had no intention of explaining. It didn't matter if he was punished—as long as those who preyed on the weak had been taken down.

It didn't take long before the police car pulled up in front of a large building with high fences—a juvenile detention center.

"Kang Joon-hyuk, get out," one of the officers ordered.

Joon-hyuk stepped out without resistance. When his cuffs were removed and replaced with a juvenile inmate's uniform, he remained silent. No protests, no signs of fear. Even the guards escorting him sensed something unusual about him—it was as if he was already used to harsh environments.

He was led through long hallways until they finally arrived at his cell—a small room with bunk beds, a toilet in the corner, and walls covered in graffiti. A fellow inmate, a 16-year-old boy with scars on his face, looked down at him from the top bunk.

"New guy?"

Joon-hyuk didn't answer. He simply climbed onto the bottom bunk and lay down, his head still heavy.

"What's your name?" the inmate asked again.

Joon-hyuk exhaled. "Kang Joon-hyuk."

The boy fell silent for a moment before chuckling. "You're the one who took down that cult, huh?"

Joon-hyuk neither confirmed nor denied it.

The inmate smirked. "Be careful in here. Not everyone will sit back and watch a newbie like you."

Joon-hyuk simply closed his eyes, ignoring the subtle threat.

His first night behind bars had begun.

The night sky beyond the prison bars was bleak, starless, hopeless. The noisy chatter of the inmates gradually faded as time passed.

Joon-hyuk sat on his narrow bed, silent, staring at the worn-out wall with a blank expression. His body still felt sore from the long journey from the interrogation room to his cell.

He knew this would happen.

He knew that sooner or later... he would fall asleep.

And once that happened—

Twitch.

A sharp pulse stabbed through his head. Joon-hyuk let out a quiet groan, his body trembling slightly. His eyes flickered, his golden pupils slowly dimming.

Darkness swallowed his consciousness.

Then, silence.

—Until a pair of pitch-black eyes opened.

Joon-hyuk's dark side had awakened.

A slow smirk curved on his lips as he sat up. He lifted his hands, inspecting himself.

"Hah..." He let out a low chuckle. "Finally, some fresh air."

Rolling his shoulders, he stretched his neck, letting his joints crack slightly. How long had he been locked away? Since the fight at the cult? Since that angel had wept in despair?

Joon-hyuk's dark side laughed softly.

He stepped toward the bars, surveying his surroundings.

This prison was full of insects.

Weak.

Pathetic.

Trash that thought they ruled this place.

But before he could enjoy the view for much longer, a deep voice from the next cell called out to him.

"Heh… new guy. I heard you're the one who wiped out that whole cult."

Joon-hyuk turned.

A large, muscular man with a tattoo on his neck sneered at him.

"Don't think you can act tough in here, kid," the man continued. "In prison, brats like you learn to submit to those who are stronger."

A few other inmates chimed in with mocking laughter.

Joon-hyuk's dark side said nothing.

He simply smiled faintly, stepping closer to the bars.

"Do I look like a kid you can just push around?" he asked, his voice calm—almost dangerously quiet.

The man laughed. "I know your type. Acting tough, thinking you're special. But once you're in here, you'll learn that this place belongs to people like me—"

BANG!

Without warning, Joon-hyuk slammed his head against the bars, startling the man.

His pitch-black eyes glowed in the darkness.

"Say that again," he whispered, his grin widening.

The man froze for a moment, not expecting such a reaction.

"What? Are you scared now?" Joon-hyuk smirked wider. "Don't worry… I enjoy playing with people like you."

He reached through the bars, grabbing the man's collar before yanking him forward.

A loud thud echoed as the man's face slammed into the iron bars.

"UGH!"

The other inmates went silent, stunned.

Joon-hyuk's dark side pressed his face against the bars, staring directly at the man, who now looked at him with a mix of rage and fear.

"No one pushes me around," he whispered. "Not outside. Not in here."

He let go, allowing the man to stumble back, his nose bleeding.

A small chuckle escaped his lips as he returned to his bed, sitting down casually as if nothing had happened.

"I'm going to enjoy this place…" he murmured, closing his eyes in satisfaction.

Outside the cell, a few inmates who had witnessed the scene swallowed nervously.

They had just met the devil inside a cage.

........

The next day marked Joon-hyuk's second day in prison.

Joon-hyuk couldn't remember what happened last night, but he could feel the changes around him. The inmates who had previously looked at him with disdain were now staring at him in fear. It was as if they were looking at a demon.

Curious, Joon-hyuk turned to one of his cellmates. "Hey! Why are you all looking at me like that? Do I look that scary?"

The man stammered, "N-No, w-we just... well, we just didn't get much sleep last night. It's nothing." After saying that, he quickly moved away.

Joon-hyuk frowned but didn't dwell on it for long. A prison guard called them out for work, and he had no choice but to follow orders. He pushed aside his curiosity. Maybe they were right. Maybe they just didn't get enough sleep.

Joon-hyuk went about his assigned work, but his mind was elsewhere. He wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. He needed to figure out a way to escape.

He avoided conflict, just like he did in middle school. But in a place like this, staying silent wouldn't keep him safe for long.

During lunch in the cafeteria, a large inmate with a tattoo on his neck approached Joon-hyuk. "Hey, sect golden boy. Do you think you can survive in here without submitting to someone?"

Joon-hyuk glanced at him but said nothing.

"Silent, huh? Maybe I should teach you a lesson."

The man raised his hand, ready to shove Joon-hyuk.

CRACK!

Before his hand could reach him, Joon-hyuk moved first. He grabbed the man's wrist and twisted it sharply, producing a faint cracking sound.

"ARGHH!" The man screamed in pain.

Joon-hyuk stared at him, expressionless. "I don't like violence. Don't touch me again."

The cafeteria fell silent. Some inmates started whispering. The name Kang Joon-hyuk began spreading among the prisoners.

In the warden's office, a prison guard hurried inside. "Sir, there's been an incident in the cafeteria. An inmate's arm was broken by another prisoner. What should we do?"

The warden raised an eyebrow. "Why are you reporting this to me? Fights happen here all the time. Even worse incidents don't usually get reported. What's different about this one?"

"The perpetrator has a 'special' status, sir. Please take a look at his file." The guard handed him a folder.

The warden read through the document, his expression changing slightly. Now he understood why this was being brought to his attention. His first instinct was to punish the inmate responsible. However, an idea struck him. If this worked, it might bring some temporary peace to this chaotic prison.

"Bring him to me," the warden ordered. "I have something to discuss with him."

"Understood, sir." The guard quickly left to carry out his orders.

After lunch, Joon-hyuk returned to his cell and lay down to rest. The other inmates, still shaken by last night's events, kept their distance.

As Joon-hyuk pondered how long he would be stuck here, a knock sounded at the door. One of his cellmates opened it and found a prison guard standing outside.

"What is it? More work assignments?" the cellmate asked.

"The warden wants to see Joon-hyuk. He has personal business to discuss with him," the guard replied.

The cellmate hesitated before turning to Joon-hyuk. "J-Joon-hyuk, the warden is asking for you. He says it's personal."

Joon-hyuk frowned. He didn't even know who the warden was. What business could they possibly have? But his curiosity outweighed his doubts.

He got up from his bed and walked to the door. "Why does the warden want to see me?"

"I don't know," the guard admitted. "I was just ordered to bring you to him."

Joon-hyuk thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright, lead the way."

The guard escorted Joon-hyuk toward the warden's office.