Part 1

The Grand Palace was adorned in the most opulent and luxurious manner. Guests had gathered for the festivities, and servants continuously presented an array of food, all to celebrate the birthday of the Lee family's son, Felix Lee

Despite the grandeur, Felix found no joy in the occasion. However, being from a prestigious family, he accepted the celebrations with resigned duty

Felix's mother had passed away when he was ten. His father later married the woman with whom he had been having an affair even before his mother's death. This woman was already pregnant at the time and had given birth to a daughter, who was now ten years old

Felix was a quiet young boy. Although he could never bring himself to like his father's new wife, he didn't hate her either, for she was genuinely a good woman

"My son, come on! The cake has arrived" Mr. Lee announced with a beam, opening the door to Felix's room

Offering a faint smile, Felix nodded and adjusted his tie

As he descended the grand staircase, all the guests turned to look at him and began to applaud as if he were a groom at a wedding

"Happy birthday, my son" said Felix's uncle, Lee Jun-ho

"Thank you very much, Uncle" Felix replied with a polite smile

On the large cake stood two large candles, forming the number 18

"Make a wish" urged his younger stepsister, Hee-ju

Felix closed his eyes, clasped his hands together, made a silent wish, and blew out the candles. The room erupted in applause once more.

The party continued until nearly 11 PM, with guests gradually taking their leave. Despite now being 18, Felix had refused all alcohol and later politely asked his father for permission to retire to his room.

By midnight, the palace was empty of servants and guards; Mr. Lee had granted everyone the night off at the suggestion of his brother, Lee Jun-ho.

Just after Felix stepped out of the bathroom, he was frozen by a piercing scream from his sister, followed immediately by a gunshot. He immediately rushed downstairs.

His eyes widened in horror at the scene before him: his father and stepmother lay on the floor, bleeding.

"Father!! You... Who are you?" Felix screamed, staring in terror at the masked men standing over them.

Suddenly, a powerful punch struck him from behind, sending him crashing to the ground. Before he completely lost consciousness, he heard another gunshot and saw his little sister fall. He tried desperately to reach for her, but the darkness swallowed him.

When Felix regained consciousness, the palace was swarming with police and investigators, who were lifting the three bodies into ambulances.

"F-Father!?" Felix stammered.

Before he could process the scene, two police officers handcuffed his hands.

"You... what are you doing? Why... are you arresting me?" Felix asked, utterly shocked.

"You're still asking why?" one of the policemen retorted sarcastically.

They shoved Felix into the back of a police car. He kept pleading, asking about his father and begging them to take him to him.

"Your father is dead. Didn't you kill him yourself?" the policeman stated coldly.

"What? Me? I..." Felix's eyes widened in disbelief.

The car soon stopped, and the police forcefully dragged him out. A crowd of media had gathered, their cameras flashing continuously as they took pictures and videos.

"Mr. Lee Felix, why did you kill your family?" one reporter shouted.

"Was it because of your stepmother?" yelled another.

"Why did you do it?"

Tears began to stream down Felix's face as he struggled to comprehend their accusations.

"Don't worry, my son, I'm here!" Lee Jun-ho called out desperately, hoping Felix would hear him over the din.

Felix looked at his uncle, his eyes filled with tears, and remained silent.

Three days later, Felix's trial began. Despite his uncle's efforts to reveal the truth, the evidence was overwhelmingly scarce. Felix's eyes were sunken, his skin pale, his lips chapped, and he looked profoundly weak.

"The court is now in session," the bailiff announced.

Everyone stood, and Felix rose with great difficulty. Members of the media were also present, watching his every move.

"Lee Felix, eldest son of Mr. Lee Dae-hyun, you are accused of murdering your father, your stepmother, and your stepsister. How do you plead?" the judge intoned.

Felix slowly looked toward his uncle, his expression one of utter hopelessness. The lawyer his uncle had hired gently placed a hand on his shoulder, guiding him to the speaking spot. Felix stood up and walked over.

"I... I didn't do anything," was all Felix could say.

"All criminals say that. Do you have anything new to add?" the judge replied dismissively.

"Your Honor, please," Felix's lawyer interjected.

"Proceed," the judge allowed.

"My client is innocent. We have reviewed the evidence extensively. He was not present when his parents were killed. He himself stated that he was upstairs and only ran down after he heard the gunshot, finding his sister had just been murdered," the lawyer explained.

"Do you have any evidence to support that claim?" the judge asked.

"Unfortunately, all the security cameras were either broken or not functioning that night, so..." the lawyer trailed off.

"Your Honor?" the prosecutor spoke up.

The judge signaled for him to proceed.

"I must ask, why did all the cameras suddenly fail on this specific night? The evidence that has emerged, along with the medical examiner's report, all point conclusively to the defendant. His fingerprints were found on the murder weapon," the prosecutor stated.

Felix's eyes widened in shock, and he looked at his uncle, who appeared equally stunned.

"And that is not all. Evidence suggests he also assaulted his young sister," the prosecutor added.

A tear fell from Felix's right eye. "No! I would never do such a thing!" he shouted.

"Was it because your father had an affair with your stepmother before your mother's death, and it hurt her? Is that why you killed them?" the prosecutor pressed.

"No! It's true that... I didn't like my stepmother very much, but she... was a very good woman. I never thought of doing anything like this!" Felix cried out.

"But the evidence contradicts you. Your fingerprints are everywhere. Even the expensive watch you gave your sister for your birthday was found on the floor, stained with her blood," the prosecutor said.

"That's impossible! I never even took that watch out of its box. All the gifts were taken to my room. This can't be happening!" Felix argued desperately.

The prosecutor proceeded to display all the evidence for the court: photographs of the crime scene, the gun, and the forensic report confirming a 99.99% match for Felix's fingerprints on the weapon.

"I didn't do it! Someone hit me from behind and knocked me out. When I woke up, the police were already there!" Felix shouted in despair.

"All the evidence is against you. We have your fingerprints on your sister's body, indicating you assaulted her. She was only ten years old. How could you?" the judge said, his voice heavy with condemnation.

In a final, desperate act, Felix stumbled toward the judge's bench. "I swear to God, I didn't do it. Please believe me; I didn't do anything!"

The police officers grabbed his arms, and Felix struggled against them, his tear-filled eyes locked on his uncle, who could only look on in paralyzed shock.

After his conviction, Felix was transferred to a main prison in Korea. Upon his arrival, he was processed alongside other criminals, their hardened faces a stark contrast to his own terrified expression.

His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat of fear. His eyes were red and swollen from days of crying, and his voice was a ragged, hoarse whisper from screaming his innocence to deaf ears

As the guards marched him through the corridors, the other inmates stared at him with predatory interest. Felix kept his head down, trying to shrink away from their penetrating gazes.

"This is you room now" a guard stated flatly, shoving him into a cell.

A man who appeared to be in his thirties was inside; Felix's new cellmate. He had streaks of gray in his hair but a young, weary face. The man said nothing, merely turning away as Felix entered.

"H...Hello" Felix stammered, his voice thick with fear. He received no reply.

The cell doors were only locked from late night until early morning; the rest of the time, inmates were free to remain in their cells or congregate in the common area. Felix sat on the edge of his bunk, hugging his knees to his chest. At eighteen, he was far too young to be in this place and the crushing weight of his innocence made it all the more suffocating

A short while later a guard rapped on the bars "Mealtime."

Felix slowly got up, tying his long blond hair back into a loose ponytail with trembling hands. He waited in the food line, received his tray and found an empty table just as he was about to take his first bite, a commotion shattered the relative quiet.

"Please... please, don't hurt me!" a man begged, cowering with his arms over his head

"Did I say you could eat?" a voice, cold and taunting, cut through the air

Felix looked over. A tall boy with medium-length black hair stood over the cowering man. He moved with a terrifying grace like a devil in human form.

"Sorry... I was just... so hungry" the man pleaded

Without warning, the black-haired boy unleashed a flurry of kicks and slaps, treating the man like a lifeless puppet. He then sat down, yanked the man's head back by his hair and forced his face up

"You were hungry, is that it?" he sneered. He scooped a handful of rice like it was garbage and shoved it violently into the man's mouth.

Felix's hands began to tremble, his own forgotten meal shaking on the tray. He looked frantically at the guards who watched with passive indifference and then at the other prisoners some looked on in fear while others clapped and cheered

"Eat! You said you were hungry, you bastard!" the black-haired boy yelled.

Finally, two guards ambled over "That's enough"

"Fine whatever" the boy stood up and sauntered to his usual table by the window, a place of clear privilege

Felix was still trembling when boy’s path brought him near his table.

"You're new?" Hyunjin's voice was deceptively light.

Felix stared down at his tray, paralyzed and unable to speak.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!!" Hyunjin said, closing the distance. He used a single finger to lift Felix's chin, forcing their eyes to meet. His touch was like ice

"Y...Yes ! I just arrived today" Felix managed to whisper, his body rigid with fear.

"Hmm, You're just my type" Hyunjin murmured, bringing his fingers dangerously close to Felix's ear before trailing them down his jaw "We'll be spending a lot of time together, pretty boy" In a flash his demeanor shifted. He delivered a sharp, stinging slap that snapped Felix's head to the side

Then as casually as he had arrived, Hyunjin walked back to his table where a group of men immediately gathered around him. He began to eat, occasionally throwing his head back with a laugh that sounded utterly unhinged

For no reason other than sheer, overwhelming terror a single tear traced a path down Felix's cheek. With shaking hands, he picked up his spoon and began to eat, forcing the tasteless food down his constricted throat

Part 2

Felix sat on his bunk, turning his back to his cellmate out of fear. He pressed a hand over his mouth to stifle his sobs, crying silently into the thin prison pillow until the fabric was soaked with his tears

"Hey, shut up you bastard" the inmate finally growled from across the cell

Felix only pressed his hand harder, forcing himself into a suffocating silence

The next morning, during yard time, Felix sat listlessly on a bench. This was his eighth day in this hell

"Hey boy, Today it's our turn to scrub the toilets" a burly man who looked to be in his late twenties announced

"W…. What?!" Felix stammered in shock

“You deaf ? Never gotten your hands dirty before?" an older man sneered, stepping closer "Get up”

Felix rose on unsteady legs and the three of them marched towards the restrooms

They entered a tiled room where three other men were already pretending to clean

"Where... where do we start?" Felix asked, his voice small

In response the burly man shoved him violently. Felix's back slammed against the cold wall before he crumpled to the floor

"Ah...! What are you doing?" Felix gasped, pain searing through his spine

"Lock the door" the man commanded.

Terror seized Felix as he watched the men encircle him

Felix's blood ran cold as he watched one of the others slide the bolt shut. The men already inside stopped their work and turned, their expressions shifting from boredom to predatory interest

"W-What are you doing!? Leave me alone!" Felix shouted, scrambling backward

"Let's have a good time, You're so pretty" the ringleader said, running a rough hand over Felix's cheek

"No! Stop! Please, stop!" Felix pleaded, thrashing against their grip

The man responded with a sharp, stinging slap that snapped Felix's head to the side

Then they yanked his pants down around his ankles, their hands groping his bare skin

"Wow, you're pretty all over" the man leered

"You bastards, stop!" Felix cried, his struggles growing more frantic

Suddenly the door creaked open

"Hey, I thought I said guard the—" the ringleader began but his words died in his throat

"What's going on here?" Hyunjin asked, his tone utterly nonchalant as he leaned against the doorframe

"Nothing! Just a bit of fun" the man said, forcing a nervous smile

"P... Please …. help me" Felix begged, his eyes locking with Hyunjin's through a vale of tears

"Shut up" one of the men grunted, hitting Felix again to silence him

"Please! PLEASE!" Felix cried out, his gaze desperate, pleading with Hyunjin as his last, impossible hope Even though he knew Hyunjin was dangerous, he was the only one who could intervene

Hyunjin's dark eyes flickered over the scene, taking in Felix's disheveled state, his exposed body, his tear-streaked face.

He looked him up and down with a cold, appraising stare

"And why should I help you?" Hyunjin asked, his voice devoid of all emotion

Felix's eyes widened in stunned disbelief, A faint, cruel smirk touched Hyunjin's lips

Then as if he had merely stumbled upon an empty room, he walked past them to a urinal, unzipped his pants and began to relieve himself

"Please, help me!" Felix screamed one last time

But it was too late. The burly man had already unzipped his own pants and forced himself inside Felix

"AHH!" Felix cried out in searing pain, his body going rigid

Hyunjin finished, zipped up his pants, and gave a casual shake. From his position on the floor, Felix still watched him with a sliver of desperate hope even from that distance, he caught a glimpse of Hyunjin's size

"Please … s…stop" Felix whispered, his spirit broken as the assault continued.

Just before the door swung shut, Hyunjin paused. He took one last, long look at Felix a cold, inscrutable glance and then he was gone leaving Felix to his torment

Felix lay on the cold floor for what felt like an eternity. The stone leeched the remaining warmth from his body and the tears on his cheeks had long since dried into salty tracks. His body was a canvas of purpling bruises, making him look like a broken doll discarded in the shadows. Then from the depths of his shattered spirit, a single, raw scream tore itself from his throat a guttural, pained wail that echoed his utter desolation

When the call for the next meal came, he didn't move. He couldn't. Using the last of his strength, he dragged himself back to his cell and curled into a tight ball beneath the thin, rough blanket. His entire frame trembled uncontrollably, a mixture of shock, pain and soul-crushing shame. He was just a boy far too young for the violence he had witnessed and devastatingly unprepared for the violation he had endured

Sometime later his cellmate entered the room. The sound of the door sliding shut made Felix flinch and he instinctively shrank deeper into his meager cover as if he could simply disappear. The man paused, his eyes taking in the huddled, trembling form. In that instant, he understood exactly what had transpired but he offered no words of pity or condemnation. He simply turned away, granting Felix the one thing he could a silent, hollow space to suffer alone

Felix was led into a small stark visitation room. There was no glass partition instead his uncle sat waiting at a simple table. The moment Felix entered, Jun-ho was on his feet

"My boy" he breathed, pulling Felix into a tight, desperate embrace.

They sat down across from each other. Jun-ho’s eyes, filled with a mixture of love and anguish, carefully studied his nephew’s face. His gaze suddenly fixed on Felix’s cheek, and his expression shifted to one of alarm

"Felix" he said, his voice low and serious "Look at me. What are these marks on your face?"

Felix's eyes instantly welled with tears, the shameful memories flooding back. He bit his trembling lower lip, forcing a fragile smile "It's nothing Uncle. You know how it is in here... fights happen sometimes"

Jun-ho’s face darkened with understanding and fury but he swallowed his anger speaking with controlled calm "Alright, my son Just... please try to stay out of trouble. Keep your head down"

"Is there any news?" Felix asked, his voice a thin whisper of hope

His uncle's shoulders slumped, his expression becoming deeply troubled. He leaned forward, clasping his hands on the table "Unfortunately, we still don't have any concrete evidence to prove your innocence. The case... all the physical evidence is still completely against you"

A silent sob shook Felix's shoulders as tears began to stream freely down his cheeks. "Uncle..." he whispered, his voice breaking. "No matter what they say… Do you... do you, yourself, believe I could have done it?

Lee Jun-ho reached across the table, gripping Felix’s hands tightly. His eyes burned with fierce conviction "What are you saying? Of course not! You are innocent Felix. I know it with every fiber of my being and I will not stop until I prove it to everyone"

"I couldn't even... I couldn't even attend their funeral" Felix choked out, the pain of this fresh wave of grief overwhelming him as more tears fell

Immediately Jun-ho stood up and moved to sit in the empty chair beside his nephew. He wrapped a firm, comforting arm around Felix's shaking shoulders "Shhh, my son" he murmured, his own eyes glistening "I am here. I will not abandon you. We will get through this"

Part 3

The yard was crowded after the meal, a low hum of tense conversation filling the air. Hyunjin held court at his usual outdoor table, surrounded by his crew. After a moment, he stood and casually strolled over to one of the guards on patrol

"Hey, I want a cigarette" Hyunjin stated, his tone devoid of request

The guard looked at him, incredulous "What did you just say?"

"I'd hate to repeat myself" Hyunjin said, his hands sliding into his pockets as he stared the man down

The guard glanced at a colleague who after a tense pause gave a subtle, reluctant nod. With a scowl the first guard pulled a cigarette from his pack and handed it over

"Ah, one more thing" Hyunjin smirked "Can you light it for me?"

The guard let out an exasperated sigh but flicked his lighter, holding the flame out. Hyunjin leaned in inhaled until the tip glowed then blew a cloud of smoke directly into the guard's face

"Good boy" he purred

The guard's face flushed with fury but a sharp gesture from his partner forced him to stand down

Hyunjin sauntered back to his bench his predatory gaze scanning the yard until it landed on Felix. Isolated on a lone bench the young boy was running his fingers slowly through his vibrant blond hair, his attention seemingly absorbed by a book

A dark smirk played on Hyunjin's lips, he stood up and his men began to rise too but he told them to stay put. He walked over until his frame cast a long shadow over Felix and his book

The light vanished. Felix looked up and flinched the blood draining from his face

"Why are you trembling?" Hyunjin sneered "See a ghost?"

Felix's hands shook as he closed his book. He said nothing standing up immediately to retreat

“Hey, where do you think you're going ?” Hyunjin said, stepping smoothly into his path. He took a final drag from his cigarette before dropping it and crushing the butt under his heel

Felix remained silent, trying to sidestep him but Hyunjin's hand shot out, gripping his arm like a vice "Ahh!"

"When I ask you a question, you answer, you piece of shit" Hyunjin growled, his eyes widening with manic intensity

"Please …. l….let me go" Felix whispered, his eyes glistening with unshed tears

"Ah, so you can talk" Hyunjin mocked, his smirk widening "Remember a few days ago? You were crying like a child begging for me to help you"

The memory struck Felix like a physical blow. A tear finally escaped and traced a path down his cheek with a surge of desperate strength, he yanked his arm free and hurried away, nearly running back toward the cellblock

A low appreciative "Ohh" escaped Hyunjin. He turned to his watching crew, smirking as he ran a hand through his hair, his eyes fixed on Felix's retreating form with possessive interest

Felix retreated to his cell, his heart hammering against his ribs. He placed a trembling hand over his chest, trying to steady his breath as he wiped the lingering tears from his cheeks. The mere thought of Hyunjin sent a primal fear coursing through him. He dropped his book onto his bunk and turned only to startle upon seeing his cellmate already inside

He swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the cold floor. Despite having been incarcerated for several weeks the man across from him remained a stranger, he hadn't even learned his name

"You're pale, What happened ?" his cellmate asked, his voice low and even

"N...Nothing! You just... startled me, that's all" Felix stammered, the lie transparent

The man studied him for a long moment "Do you want to talk?"

Felix looked up, his eyes wide with shock "W...What?"

"Come on Sit, Let's talk" the man said, gesturing to his own bunk as he sat down

Hesitantly Felix lowered himself onto the edge of his own mattress, facing the man. He sat rigidly, his shoulders tense

"You look like you're waiting for a firing squad. Relax" the man said, his tone not unkind.

Felix took a slow breath and allowed his posture to soften slightly

"What's your name? And how old are you? You look too young for this place"

"Fi... Lee Felix, I'm 18"

"As I thought, Just a kid" the man replied, a hint of pity in his voice "And you? What's your name?" Felix ventured hesitantly

"Kim Jae-bum, I'm 28" For the first time, Jae-bum offered a small, fleeting smile . It was a stark contrast to his usual stoicism and it made Felix feel a fraction safer

"What are you in for?" Jae-bum asked

Felix's eyes dropped to his hands, his fingers twisting together "I was... accused of killing my father, my stepmother and my stepsister"

"You didn't do it, did you?" Jae-bum said not as a question but as a statement of fact

Felix's head snapped up, his eyes meeting Jae-bum's with stunned gratitude "I didn't"

"Do you know who did?"

"No" Felix whispered "And... why are you here?"

"A large quantity of narcotics was found in my apartment. I have no idea how it got there. The evidence was overwhelming and I had no way to prove otherwise" Jae-bum explained, his voice laced with a resignation that came from years of defeat

"How long have you been here?"

"Seven years"

The number hit Felix like a physical blow "That's a very, very long time for an innocent person" In that moment, a terrifying vision of his own future unfolded decades trapped within these walls or worse a death sentence for a crime he didn't commit

"Sorry I didn't warn you sooner about how things work here” Jae-bum said, his tone turning gravely serious

"Warn me about what?"

"Listen carefully, Don't trust anyone here. Keep your distance from everyone especially stay away from Hwang Hyunjin and his men”

Felix's hands trembled. He understood that Jae-bum had known all along what had happened to him

"Is... Hwang Hyunjin... that man everyone is afraid of?"

"Yes, He's not just a man, he's a predator. He won't leave you alone until he's destroyed you" Jae-bum said, his voice dropping to a near-whisper

"Do you have a problem with him?" Felix asked

"No" Jae-bum stood up abruptly as if ending the heavy conversation "Let's stop here for now, Get some air. Walk with me"

Felix nodded, offering a small, genuine smile for the first time in weeks. He stood and together they walked out of the cell