The glass doors of Harrison Psychiatric Hospital slid open with a soft hiss.
A young man stepped out into the evening breeze.
He wore a black hoodie over a plain white T-shirt, blue jeans, and a pair of spotless white sneakers. His black hair had grown longer during his stay, the messy strands falling over his forehead and partially covering his eyes.
At first glance, he looked like any ordinary young man.
But the cold, suffocating aura surrounding him said otherwise.
His name was Shawn Harrison.
He stopped just outside the entrance.
For several silent seconds, he stood motionless, his eyes fixed on the hospital's signboard.
Harrison Psychiatric Hospital.
A place built to treat the mentally unstable.
A place the outside world believed had "cured" him.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Shawn's lips.
It wasn't a smile of happiness.
It was the kind that carried exhaustion... and quiet mockery.
Without another glance, he slipped one hand into his hoodie pocket and walked forward.
Outside, a convoy of black SUVs was already waiting.
Beside the first vehicle stood a handsome young man dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His neatly combed hair, emotionless face, and earpiece gave him the appearance of a professional bodyguard.
His name was Luis.
Behind him stood over a dozen security guards in identical black suits.
The moment Shawn approached, Luis lowered his head respectfully.
"Welcome back, Young Master."
The guards followed immediately.
"Welcome back, Young Master!"
Shawn didn't respond.
Not even a nod.
Luis had expected that.
He simply smiled faintly and stepped aside.
One of the guards hurried forward and opened the rear door of the SUV.
Shawn entered without a word.
Luis took the front passenger seat while the chauffeur quietly started the engine.
Soon, the convoy pulled away from the hospital.
Inside the vehicle...
Silence.
No one dared to speak.
The only sound was the low hum of the engine.
Then...
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Shawn's fingers rhythmically tapped against his thigh.
Soft.
Steady.
Unhurried.
Yet each tap tightened the atmosphere inside the SUV.
The chauffeur's hands slowly became damp against the steering wheel.
Even Luis unconsciously straightened his back.
Neither of them knew what Shawn was thinking.
And that uncertainty was far more frightening than his anger.
The tapping continued for several minutes.
Then...
It stopped.
Shawn leaned back against the seat and slowly closed his eyes.
The darkness behind his eyelids quickly swallowed him.
Along with memories he had spent two years trying to bury.
The first memory arrived without warning.
Warm sunlight spilled across the school courtyard.
Students in neat uniforms laughed as they hurried between buildings, filling the campus with youthful energy.
"Shawn!"
A cheerful voice called from ahead.
A young man with soft, coily black hair turned around, his round glasses slipping slightly down the bridge of his nose. A bright smile spread across his face as soon as he spotted Shawn.
It was the kind of smile that could melt anyone's heart.
Hope.
"There you are!" he laughed. "Catch me if you can!"
Before Shawn could respond, Hope spun around and took off running.
"Hope!" Shawn called, unable to stop the smile that appeared on his own face. "Slow down! You're going to trip!"
Instead of listening, Hope laughed even harder and ran faster.
Shawn sighed helplessly before chasing after him.
"You asked for this," he muttered.
The distance between them grew smaller with every step.
Hope glanced over his shoulder.
Seeing Shawn catching up, he grinned mischievously.
Then—
Bang!
He collided with another student.
The force sent both of them crashing onto the ground.
The lunch tray in the stranger's hands flew into the air before clattering across the pavement. Rice, soup, and vegetables scattered everywhere.
"My lunch!" the student shouted.
Hope immediately scrambled to his feet.
"I'm so sorry," he apologized, bowing repeatedly. "I wasn't looking where I was going."
"Sorry?" the student snapped.
He grabbed Hope by the collar and yanked him forward.
"You think 'sorry' is enough? Are you going to buy me another lunch?"
Hope's glasses slipped crookedly across his face.
"I... I'll pay for it."
Before the student could say another word, a hand seized his wrist.
He turned sharply.
Shawn stood between them.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"He apologized," Shawn said coldly.
"It was an accident."
The student scoffed.
"And what if I don't accept his apology?"
Hope quickly reached for Shawn's sleeve.
"Shawn... it's fine."
But Shawn didn't move.
His icy gaze remained fixed on the student.
For a brief second...
No one spoke.
The surrounding students instinctively backed away.
They could already sense trouble.
The student finally jerked his hand free.
"So what?" he sneered. "You want to fight?"
Without warning—
Thud!
Shawn's fist slammed into the student's face.
A loud gasp erupted from the crowd.
The student staggered backward, clutching his bleeding nose in disbelief.
"You—"
His eyes filled with rage.
"You bastard!"
He lunged forward and threw a punch.
Shawn dodged effortlessly before driving another punch into his stomach.
The student collapsed onto the pavement.
Shawn grabbed his collar and struck him again.
And again.
Each punch landed harder than the last.
"Shawn!" Hope shouted in panic.
"Stop!"
The students watching were too frightened to interfere.
Hope rushed forward and grabbed Shawn's arm.
"Please! That's enough!"
Acting on pure instinct, Shawn shoved him aside.
He hadn't even used much force.
But Hope lost his balance.
His body stumbled backward.
Then—
Crack.
The back of his head struck the edge of a stone bench.
Time seemed to freeze.
Hope slowly slid to the ground.
A thin stream of blood trickled down his forehead, staining his pale skin.
Shawn's raised fist froze in midair.
His breathing stopped.
The world around him disappeared.
There was only one thing he could see.
Hope.
"Hope..."
His voice came out as nothing more than a whisper.
Hope slowly lifted a hand to his forehead.
"Ouch..."
He forced out a weak smile despite the pain.
"I... I'm okay."
But the blood running between his fingers told a different story.
For the first time in his life...
Shawn felt fear.