Hiccupping and crying uncontrollably, the little boy found himself trapped in the iron grip of the man's hand, his tiny wrist squeezed tightly. Tears blurred his vision as he pleaded, "P... Please let me go..."

But the man's anger seethed, and he dragged the boy even more ruthlessly, his feet hurting badly as they hurried through the dark and eerie corridors.

"P... Please, Uncle, my mom will be waiting for me," the boy wailed in anguish, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. The man showed no mercy, his heart seemingly ruthless to the child's pain.

The boy's fear escalated, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. His thoughts raced to his mother, waiting anxiously for him to return. He yearned to be back in her loving embrace, safe and secure.

 Each step was agonizing for that little boy, but he dared not resist, fearing the man's wrath.

That tall man didn't even look in that little boy's way just continued dragging him to his desired place.

"Uncle-" That little boy tried to speak but that man suddenly halted and glared dangerously at that boy...

"SHUT UP!" 

That boy trembled in his grasp, he tried to free his hand from his grip but failed when his captor crouched his height and clutched his little shoulder .... painfully

"Consider your mother dead, YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" That man barked at his face making that little boy cry even more.

Hearing his cries, that man's eyes went dark with rage 

Not able to control his anger anymore, he slapped that little boy ruthlessly 

That little boy's 8-year-old body was thrashed to the concrete floor with the impact of the slap...

That man picked him up with his arms and started drag him again, after, what it seems 5 minutes of 'walking' ...That boy was pushed in a dim-lighted room

He cried feeling a stinging pain in his lips and cheeks, he sat in the corner of that room and observed his surroundings 

He was not the only one in the room, the room was stuffed with five-six more children around his age, they were not making any sound, they just sat in that room ......like some dolls 

More tears emerged in his little doe eyes, he was playing outside until late evening when his captor came to him and said His mom told him to bring him to her.

Being an innocent 8-year-old boy, he held that man's hand and that's when all his life went down.

He just wanted to return to his mother's safe embrace, his tears and hiccups were not stopping.

He winced soundly when he accidentally touched his bruised lip, silent tears were flowing through his eyes...

Looking down his lap, he was trying endure that stinging pain in his lips when he felt someone standing prior him

sniffing softly, he lifted his head and almost screamed at the little girl standing near his face.

She had a ghostly appearance, her eyes had purple bruises, her lips were also busted like his.... She was wearing only a long white T-shirt which was covering her necessary body parts.

"w... who" He tried to speak, but his voice came out like a broken whisper

The girl's eyes were emotionless, and she sat in silence, making the boy feel uneasy. He crawled closer to the wall, feeling scared of her presence. Curling up with his legs to his chest, he cautiously observed her and noticed a small white cloth in her hand.

As the boy retreated in fear, the girl remained expressionless, as if she was used to this kind of reaction. Despite this, she approached him and lifted her hand, holding the small cloth. The boy whimpered, expecting her to harm him like the man did, but to his surprise...

Instead of violence, the girl gently pressed the cold cloth against his busted lip. As he opened his eyes, he saw her caring for his injury.

She silently patted his lip injury, with not an ounce of emotions on her face

He was observing her, his silent cries fading away ......He felt so guilty for comparing her with that horrible man...that he just sat there.... speechlessly

"T... Thank you" he whispered when she was done, but she didn't glance in his way ...

She just kept that cloth near him and went away, like she was never there......

Two winters, one summer and one spring .... he saw it all .... but from that Iron shielded window 

The atmosphere was getting colder again, just like last year ....

As much as he despised it, he had come to accept his grim reality. The harshness of this place, an Underground Assassin training Centre, was now his adapted home, just like it was for the other children around him.

It took him several months to comprehend the true nature of this dreadful place. Here, countless children like him had shed tears and pleaded to be set free, just as he had once done. However, in the end, they all came to realize that escape was not an option, as anyone who attempted it would be mercilessly beaten to death.

The door creaked open, and a figure was thrown into the dim-lit room with force. It was the same girl who had once helped him. 

Over the past year, he had observed her silently, noting how she never spoke to anyone within these walls. Among the other children in the training center, she was an enigma, and they referred to her as a freak.

The reason for the label became apparent as she endured even more brutal beatings than the others. Rumors circulated that she wasn't brought here like the rest of them; she was born into this unforgiving place.

The other children feared her immensely. If they caught sight of her approaching, they would hurriedly change their paths, not daring to cross her. 

Only during training did her dead eyes ignite with emotions. In those moments, she transformed into an entirely different person – deadly and ruthless.

Despite being just nine years old like the rest of them, she possessed an astonishing ability to take down a fully-grown man and end his life without hesitation. Her lethal prowess was an awe-inspiring and terrifying sight to behold.

Her enigma intrigued him...

He wanted to know her; she gives off a weird sense of protectiveness to him....

Sometimes during their lunch which was practically a bread and a milk bottle, he saw some emotions running in her eyes, she would often look around to other children who were happily talking and resting with their friends after their tough training, her eyes sometimes sadden looking at them.

Nobody talks to her, hell nobody even breaths in her radius 

He understood she was lonely and tired ......tired of herself

That's when he got a green flag to approach her, he wanted to be friends with her?

It would be around six months ago when he started his struggle to be her friend, but all this time she just ignores him...

He admits his first try was not the best, but at least he ...tried 

"H-I" He gulped nervously as he stood in front of her, as usually she was sitting in the corner with her 'meal'  

He stood up with his shaky legs, he had to admit, she was intimidating 

After 5 minutes he got a chance to blurt out some words and all he said was "Hi" that too came out like a squeal.

She looked up at him and like usual didn't say anything but continued eating her food.

"Can I sit here .... with you?"  He bit his chapped lips in nervously, in anticipation 

but when he got no answer in return he just sighed and took the seat across her ...anyway

She didn't react or said anything, but continued eating 

That's all that happened—nothing more progressed verbally after that day. Every day, after ruthless training and painful beating, he would just sit across from her and eat his lunch. There was a kind of mutual understanding between them: she wouldn't say anything to him, and he would just sit quietly and eat. 

Not every time friendship needs gossiping, sometimes it's all about understanding.

He understood she wasn't a talker, so he opted to stay quiet in front of her ...soon, their friendship became a good topic in the Centre.

Each year, on the very same day, she would be whisked away to some unknown place, only to be later thrown back into their 'room,' bearing numerous bruises.

When he saw his 'friend' again being thrashed inside the room, just like last year .... He immediately stood up and went towards her ...to check on her.

His eyes were screaming a thousand emotions, but his lips were sealed .... He immediately made his dizzy friend sit aside the wall and took out a small white cloth, which was the residue of his shirt ....

It was snow Season; the walls were damped with dripping snow.... He pressed that white cloth on the damped wall making it drenched ....

That cloth observed that freezing water and acted like a good ointment, he carefully pressed that freezing cloth on her eye bruise making her wince....

"W... why"

For the first time in past year, he heard her voice 

He couldn't recover from shock and maybe ...happiness, she looked straight in his eyes with emotions ....

"W-what?" With increasing nervousness and fumbling happiness, he dumbly asked her what she was saying.

"Why...do you ...want...to be my friend?" she whispered, her voice was broken...

At that time, his mind became completely blank .... Why did he actually want to be her friend?

Because she was powerful? ruthless? beautiful? mysterious? 

No

"You feel like home...."

That's what he whispered in reply, he saw her taking a small breath ...

Call it a nature instinct or a sign .... but for the first time when he saw her .... He just wanted to be her ...Friend...

Her lips twitched with his reply, tears gathered in her eyes ......hesitantly she forwarded her hand, he was too shocked to even move...

"Y/N" She whispered 

Too happy with all things happening today, he smiled hugely and took her hand before introducing himself 

"Woo-Hyun"

In that blazing hell, they made their friendship an escape

______________________________________

{A/N: Woo-Hyun is an original character, not any Idol...}