Lookism: Unchained Fate

Joon-hyuk stood in front of the Warden's office door. The guard escorting him knocked before speaking, "Sir, I have done as you ordered. May I enter?"

A deep voice responded from inside, "Yes, come in."

The guard opened the door and stepped inside, followed by Joon-hyuk. The room looked like a typical warden's office—neat but filled with stacks of documents that seemed never-ending. Behind a large desk, a middle-aged man sat, focused on the paperwork in front of him.

The guard saluted. "Reporting, sir. I have brought Kang Joon-hyuk as instructed. What should I do next?"

"You may leave," the Warden said without looking up. "I have matters to discuss with this boy. Do not let anyone in until I say so."

"Yes, sir!" The guard saluted once more before stepping out and closing the door behind him.

Now, only Joon-hyuk and the Warden remained in the room. Joon-hyuk stared at the man in front of him with a neutral expression, slightly curious about why he had been summoned.

After a brief silence, the Warden finally looked up, his sharp eyes assessing Joon-hyuk. "So, you're the boy named Kang Joon-hyuk?"

Joon-hyuk remained silent for a moment before replying in a flat tone, "Yes."

The Warden put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and intertwined his fingers on the desk. His expression carried the authority of a man who had long worked in a harsh environment.

"I've heard a lot about you," he said casually, though the atmosphere in the room grew heavier. "You just arrived, yet you've already caused a major incident. And not just a minor one… you took down several inmates much older than you."

Joon-hyuk didn't respond. If the Warden wanted to talk, he would let him.

"What do you think usually happens to kids who cause trouble in this place?" The Warden raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.

Joon-hyuk stared directly into his eyes. "Solitary confinement?" he asked nonchalantly.

A thin, humorless smile appeared on the Warden's face. "That's one option. But there's another… one far more interesting."

Joon-hyuk didn't react. He knew this man was testing him.

"I've been running this place for a long time," the Warden continued. "And I know not all inmates are the same. Some need punishment, some need guidance… and some can be useful."

Joon-hyuk narrowed his eyes. "Useful?"

The Warden leaned forward, his expression calculated. "I'm offering you a deal, Kang Joon-hyuk. I can make your life here easier… or much harder. That depends on you."

Joon-hyuk remained silent, but his mind was already piecing things together.

"I need someone like you to maintain balance in this place," the Warden said. "There are groups constantly at odds with each other. If left unchecked, they could turn this place into chaos. I want you to make sure that doesn't happen."

Joon-hyuk let out a small smirk, but there was mockery in his voice. "So… you want me to be your dog?"

The Warden didn't look offended. In fact, he seemed as if he had expected that response. "That's a harsh term," he said lightly. "I prefer to call it… someone with more freedom than the others."

Joon-hyuk stared at him with a neutral expression. This offer had its advantages—his life could be more comfortable, he could gain access to information, and maybe even a chance to get out sooner. But he also knew that accepting this deal meant getting entangled in an adult's game.

The Warden observed him with interest. "You don't have to answer now. Think it over carefully, but don't take too long. Opportunities like this don't come twice."

Joon-hyuk stood still for a few seconds before giving a small nod. "Alright. I'll think about it."

The Warden's smile widened. "Good. You may go now."

Joon-hyuk turned and walked toward the door. As his hand touched the handle, the Warden spoke again.

"Oh, one more thing."

Joon-hyuk stopped without turning around.

"You might think you can refuse and survive in here without my help," the Warden said in a relaxed tone. "But I want you to remember one thing… in a place like this, you only have two choices: to be the one in control… or the one being controlled."

Joon-hyuk didn't say anything. He opened the door and stepped out, leaving the Warden behind.

As he walked down the hallway, his mind continued to process the offer.

Should he accept it? Or refuse and carve his own path?

After the conversation with the Warden, Joon-hyuk returned to his cell. On the way, he kept thinking about the offer. He didn't want to resort to violence, but at the same time, he wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. He wanted to see how his friends were doing… and he missed them.

Before he realized it, he had already arrived at his cell door.

Joon-hyuk stepped inside, and the atmosphere immediately felt different. There were no more mocking stares like on his first day. Most of the inmates avoided making eye contact with him, while a few stole cautious glances, filled with curiosity and a hint of fear.

This juvenile detention center wasn't as brutal as an adult prison, but it still wasn't a comfortable place. The walls were dull, bunk beds lined up along the room, and the air was damp, carrying a mix of sweat and disinfectant. Most of the inmates here were delinquent kids involved in street fights, theft, or minor crimes—though there were a few more dangerous ones.

Joon-hyuk walked past a few kids sitting on their beds, whispering in hushed tones, as if afraid of upsetting the wrong person. In the corner of the room, a small-built teenager was engrossed in a book, while on the other side, two others were playing cards on the floor.

As he sat on his bed, someone finally spoke.

"What did the Warden want from you?"

The voice came from a skinny teenager with a scar on his eyebrow. He looked older than most of the inmates in the cell, and his gaze showed he wasn't just some ordinary kid.

Joon-hyuk stared at him for a moment before answering flatly, "Nothing important."

The boy smirked. "Then you better be careful. This place has its own rules. If you caught the Warden's attention, that means you're already on the radar of dangerous people."

Joon-hyuk didn't respond. He had known that from the start.

Before anyone could continue the conversation, the bell rang, signaling that curfew was approaching. The inmates began preparing for sleep. Some continued whispering, but most had already laid down on their thin mattresses.

As his body lay on the hard mattress, his mind began to fade into darkness. However, just as his consciousness was slipping away…

His eyes opened again.

But this time, it wasn't the usual Joon-hyuk.

As his consciousness faded into darkness…

His eyes opened again.

But this time, he was not the same Joon-hyuk.

His body subtly shifted—his golden hair darkened into a sleek black, falling smoothly as if shaped by the very shadows around him. His once gentle aura vanished, replaced by something far more sinister. His gaze was sharper, colder, filled with a newfound awareness. A faint smirk formed on his lips as he sat up on the bed. He rolled his wrist, feeling more refreshed than ever.

"A juvenile detention center, huh?" he muttered, his voice lower, edged with amusement.

He scanned the dimly lit cell, eyes gliding over the other inmates. Some were snoring softly, while others tossed and turned in their sleep.

Joon-hyuk—or rather, the side of him that had just awakened—smirked.

"You've been holding yourself back for too long, Joon-hyuk," he whispered to himself. "It's about time I had some fun."

Moving with the silence of a shadow, he slipped out of his bed. His steps were light yet deliberate, controlled yet full of hidden menace.

And then, he left his cell.

The juvenile prison was eerily quiet, its dim hallway bathed in the cold glow of flickering overhead lights. Guards remained at their stations, monitoring the facility through security screens, their patrols predictable and routine.

But for someone like him, they were nothing more than obstacles to be bypassed.

With casual ease, he moved through the corridors, his presence seemingly unnoticed. To anyone watching the cameras, he was just another part of the darkness.

But then, a prisoner stirred.

One of the inmates, by pure chance, opened his eyes.

And for a brief moment, their gazes met.

The prisoner's breath hitched. His heart pounded against his ribcage.

Because under the dim lighting of the hallway, he saw something that made his blood run cold.

Joon-hyuk's smile—calm, knowing, yet utterly devoid of warmth.

The smile of a devil walking among them.

Joon-hyuk continued strolling casually through the silent corridors of the juvenile prison. No one noticed his presence, except for the one unlucky inmate who had seen him and quickly turned away in fear.

He smirked. "Just looking at me makes you scared?" he whispered.

But he didn't stop. His feet carried him forward, as if he was hunting for something interesting.

Until, at last, he arrived at a darker corner—a secluded spot where a group of inmates frequently gathered at night for shady dealings.

And tonight, they were back again.

There were five of them, all tough-looking teenagers, some with tattoos despite their young age. One was sitting on a small wooden table, shuffling cards, while the others whispered among themselves, discussing bets, fights, and perhaps a few illegal activities.

Joon-hyuk grinned, enjoying the sight.

"Looks fun," he suddenly spoke, his voice low but clear.

Five pairs of eyes immediately turned to him.

They frowned, surprised to see someone who wasn't part of their group standing so casually in front of them.

"Who the hell are you?" one of them asked—a large-built teen with a scar on his cheek. "Are you lost?"

Joon-hyuk chuckled softly. "Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted to see if this prison had anyone interesting enough to catch my attention."

The inmates exchanged glances, confused by his words.

The big guy scoffed. "Listen, kid. We don't care who you are, but if you think you can mess with our business—"

CRACK!

Before he could finish his sentence, Joon-hyuk had already moved. In an instant, he closed the distance and grabbed the teen's arm before he could react.

Then, with a single motion, he twisted his arm behind his back and slammed him onto the table.

BANG!

The wooden table trembled violently as the teen crashed against it.

He groaned in pain.

The others immediately stood up, shocked by what had just happened.

Joon-hyuk remained relaxed, a small smile on his lips. "If you want to play rough, make sure you know who you're up against first."

For a few seconds, no one dared to move.

Their eyes were filled with hesitation and fear.

But then, one of them—a skinny teen with a sly expression—reached into his pocket.

A sharp object, crafted from a sharpened metal spoon.

He sneered. "Acting tough, huh? You think you can take us all on?"

Joon-hyuk glanced at him briefly.

Then, he stepped forward.

In an instant, he kicked the teen's leg at just the right angle, making him lose balance and fall backward.

The makeshift weapon slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the floor with a metallic clang.

Before the teen could get up, Joon-hyuk was already on top of him, pressing a hand against his throat.

His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.

"Don't bore me," he whispered coldly. "I haven't had fun in a while."

The teen couldn't speak.

Everyone watching the scene froze in place.

This wasn't just strength.

This wasn't just speed.

This was dominance.

Joon-hyuk finally released his grip and stood up.

The other inmates remained silent, none of them daring to make a move.

He swept his gaze over them. "I won't interfere with your business," he said casually. "As long as you don't interfere with mine."

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

Leaving behind a room filled with fear.

As he returned to his cell, he lay back down.

But before he fully drifted off to sleep, a voice in his head whispered softly.

"Don't forget… you still have something to do here."

And a small smile appeared on his lips once more.

The night had only just begun.