Mountain Soul PART 3-5 (1/1)

PART 3-5      The riot forced Eric to stay at home for the following week. The all while, he  called one of his closest coworker at the prison to be updated, and after three days the situation was finally put under control. The squad team made an assault when it was known one of the hostage was dead, and a lot of blood was shed, but they eventually got the prison back in their control.The inmates were on lockdown for the following week, and even after that rules changed and the security became tighter.Eric was not sure what to think about the incident. He heard people were dead and a lot more injured, and he knew too well what had provoked such situation. After Miles' attack, everything had escalated, and it had just been a matter of time before something like that was happening. It was like the guards were waiting for it, for an occasion to get blood for their hurt friend. He could hear such motive, but these people were supposed to represent the law, and it was no way to behave in law's name.He knew too well already how corrupted prison was, and the more time was passing the more he was hating it. He wanted to stick to his job though. These men needed him, and he would feel like a traitor if he was quitting just because of the dysfunctional system in prison. The inmates were victims of it on a daily basis, and him, as a worker for this institution would leave because he could not stand to watch it happen ? It would be an insult to these people he was trying to help, and on this Monday as he was getting ready for work, he could not help wonder how much things would have changed because of the riot.

The tension was palpable, and his coworkers almost all warned him about the prisoners. He could not count how many told him to be careful and to maybe take a couple more weeks away. He could understand the concern, but he was not a coward and would face the situation no matter what it was.Taking his coffee in the staff room, he was filled in on the amount of injured people (be it inmates or guards) and could only feel the sadness to hear how many were dead. Not only they had lost a colleague, but eight prisoners were killed (be it while the riot or the squad assault), and it was such a pity so many lifes were lost because of such dysfunctional system.He did not comment on it though and just shared his coworker's grief."You've got a list of the injured ?" He asked, sipping on his coffee, and nodding, Martins (the guard in charge) got him the wanted paper."Twenty-two people were injured. Five guards, two squads and the rest are inmates."The rest. Eric did not like such term to talk about people, but he did not say anything about it either and just read the list. He knew every guards injured and only a couple of the inmates. Then he spotted a name making him froze in place and swallow thickly.Beside Lee Minwoo's name was written a date he was not expecting."What happened to Lee Minwoo ?" He questioned, looking up with a frown on his face and list in hand. "It says here he was brought to the hospital on the same day the riot started.""Huh, yeah." Answered Martins after a look at the list, then he sipped on his coffee. "We found him in the storage room in wing C, the one leading to the yard." He moved his head and added, "The guy was badly injured. They said he was tortured.""Tortured ?" He repeated, hoping he was hiding his shock well enough."Yeah, you know. These things happens at such time. He certainly pissed off the wrong guy." He answered dismissively, and Eric could not believe what he just heard."What hospital is he resting at ?""Century. He's been there for a while already, they should transfer him back soon."What Martins meant by a while was in fact barely a week (which was far from enough in Eric's opinion if Minwoo was tortured), but he did not comment on it and just nodded.

It was hard to focus on his paperwork when his mind was always drifting back to what had happened in Block D. He should not be so concerned, but he could not help it. But the worst was not that. No. The worst was his main preoccupation was this inmate, Lee Minwoo. He did not even know himself why he cared so much about the guy who clearly despised him, but he could not help it either.His boyfriend had often told him he was a masochist for sticking around a troubled guy like him. He had thought at the time his lover was just being the self-blaming, unsecured guy he knew he was, but today, he could not help think he was maybe right. He would not be so concerned about someone he did not know anything about otherwise. Someone who had clearly showed his distaste for his person and sent him so many death glares that he could be dead by now.Eric thought he might have some kind of problem for loving so much the trouble ones. Not that he liked Minwoo in that way, but… he did like his job, and his job was about perturbed people who had many problems he could not do much about but was trying to. He just wanted to help Minwoo, even if the guy did not want to hear from him. It just made him want to try harder to get to know what this guy was about.

He did not have any group session on this day, so once done with his paperwork and the few individual counseling, he went on his way back home. He could have stay home today considering the little he did at the prison, but he wanted to see and hear from his colleagues. He could not stand being kept away from the situation that had occurred at his workplace.Linda, one of the nurse, crossed path with him on his way outside, and greeting the woman, he had a small chitchat with her before resuming his way. She looked busy anyway, so he did not feel like he was trying to hurry their conversation.      Once in his car, he was still focused on this information Lee Minwoo was tortured. He could not understand what had happened, and he felt the urge to check on the other man to be sure he would be alright. Maybe he could wait for him to be transferred back at the prison, but he could not find the will to do so.He needed to see him, and he needed to see him now.It was all it took for him to start his car and drive to Century hospital at twenty minutes from Mountain Soul. Traffic was fluid, and he reached the place quickly. His heart started pumping faster in his chest and his mouth turned dryer. He did not know why he was so nervous, but getting out of his car, he could not deny he felt anxious at the idea he was about to visit some inmate who rather see anyone else but him.Not one to cowardly back away from possible conflicts, he headed inside the hospital and asked for Lee Minwoo's room. Of course, as he was expecting, he was denied the access. Minwoo was kept in the secured wing (the one for prisoners), but with the flash of his work badge and an explanation of his visit, he was let in. The woman at the reception looked at him funny (as if it was uncommon for counselors to visit their charges), but he ignored it, smiled at her and headed to the third floor.      It became emptier and quieter as he neared the secured wing, and after a long corridor linking two buildings together and a double door, he arrived face to a guard watching the wing's entrance. The man was sitting (or should he say slouching) on the chair behind the desk and visibly having the life bored out of him."Huh, hi." Smiled Eric when the guy looked up at him, and he seemed so surprised to see someone that he almost fell off his seat. "I'm here to see Lee Minwoo, number 4809 from Mountain Soul penitentiary."The guard blinked, tried to wire his brain again before nodding, gulping a "yeah" and starting to look at his register. "Do you have an authorization ?" He questioned, and Eric showed his badge before explaining the reason of his visit."I'm his counselor at the prison. I work for the Anger Management Program and I'll like to check on my patient."Patient. It sounded funny even for him. He had never called any of the inmates patient before, and it made him feel like a psychoanalyst or something."Huh, okay. Let me check with my boss first."Eric nodded and waited as the guard radioed his superior. He was not sure he would be left inside (he never did that before) but he really hoped he would be able to see Minwoo. He caught himself being disappointed and frustrated at the thought he would have to leave and wait for the man to be transferred back at the prison. He even began to plan his way inside if he was refused the access, and at this point he started to wonder what was wrong with him.      He could not hear clearly what was said over the radio, but when the guard (Clarkson) smiled up at him and let him in, he could not help relax. Stepping through the doors, he found himself in a wide room with several hospital beds lined up on both sides. Some were hidden behind white curtains, and making a visual check, he could not spot the wanted man."Eric Mun ?" Arose a voice, and looking up at another guard he presumed was Clarkson's boss, he smiled and shook the man's hand. "This way." He continued, accompanying him to a bed at the far end of the room hidden behind a curtain. "He's cuffed to the bed, but don't get too close and…" Eric looked up at the man. "Don't hesitate to shout if you need any help."He nodded slowly as answer and felt a lump form in his throat.Why was this sounding so alarming coming from this guard ? He was working for the past eight years with inmates and he had not felt that nervous about them in a long time. It was not like every prisoners in the room would suddenly rise from their bed and rebel against the staff. They were all cuffed to the bed, so he should calm down and breathe.Stepping to the curtain, he hesitated before sneaking a hand between them to open a passage for him.Minwoo was looking at him with big eyes when he eventually dared to meet his gaze, and plastering a smile on his lips, he hoped it looked comfortable enough."You ?" He blurted out, as if out of all people he could have expected to come see him Eric could not be one of them. "What the hell are you doing here ? How did you get inside ?"Minwoo sounded annoyed now, and he could not help feel uneasy about it. What would he say to his superiors if Minwoo was making a scene and hurting someone because of him ? He did not know if he was allowed to visit a prisoner from his group, but he had never heard anything about it, so he guessed he did not have to worry much. But still, he could not help worry at the thought the Warden would find out he had visited Minwoo at the hospital.He was not doing anything wrong though, so he should just relax and smile."I'm your counselor, they let me in." He answered casually, and Minwoo glared at him."I don't want to see you." He answered in a suddenly tired sigh, and watching as the shorter man shut his eyes and let his head fall back on the pillow, he wondered how bad his injuries were.He could not see much, but the fading angry bruise on his throat was a big worry in itself. He had thought Minwoo had just woken up or was drugged for his voice to sound so raspy, but in fact, it was because his throat was hurt. How badly, he did not know, but he was sure it must be painful if the deep frown on Minwoo's face was anything to go by."I just wanted to check on you." He answered, and the shorter man snorted before wincing.Staring at Minwoo, he felt like looking away when the man opened his eyes on him and looked through his soul. He had never noticed how deep his stare was, and he found himself drew to it for a second."What ?" He asked, realizing Minwoo was talking and he was not listening to him.Rolling his eyes, the shorter man said, "Why do you care about me ? I don't need your pity.""It's not pity." He defended immediately before adding at the look Minwoo pinned him with, "I'm just concerned."The man snorted some more and looked like he wanted to laugh in his face, but his injured throat did not allow him to."Are you alright ?" He asked then."Fine." He answered, shifting in the bed before going real still, as if in pain."I heard about what happened.""Good for you." He shot back with his eyes closed softly and his body stiffly laying on the bed."Who did this to you ?" Minwoo tensed up and did not answer, so Eric continued. "I heard you were… tortured." He saw the twitch on the shorter man's face at the word, and the sight hurt him without really knowing why. "Why ?""Why do you care ?" He answered tiredly."Because…" He was not sure what to answer, and decided to just get with the flow. "As crazy as it can sound to you, I care about you. Don't ask me why, I'm not even sure myself but…" He licked his lips and would have preferred if Minwoo had not looked at him before he was done talking. "You intrigues me."The shorter man let the information sink then scoffed. "I'm not some lab rat. You won't get anything out of me by watching my every moves.""I've never said you were.""So get the fuck outta here.""They said you'll be transferred back to Mountain Soul soon. Do you know when ?""Why ? You wanna throw a welcome party for me ?" He shot back with a mocking smirk, and Eric caught himself liking it more than he should before responding to it."Why not. If I got my hands on enough balloons, maybe I can do something respectable."Minwoo snorted at his answer and actually showed a sincere expression."Get me some beers then. It's been forever since I could have one."Eric smiled and said, "I'll see what I can do."He knew the game was over when Minwoo's expression darken and became this mask of toughness he was used to show around."I just wanted to be sure you'll be alright." He said softly, as if he should not even say such words. "I'll see you at Mountain Soul." He added then, ready to take his leave.He knew Minwoo did not want him here but, even if at the right moment he was not kicking him away, he did not want to wait for it to happen either. He rather keep the illusion they had parted on not so bad terms instead of having the other man spat at him to get the fuck out of here. He knew Minwoo would say it, and he wanted to keep the image of this sincere expression on his face and not the angry, hateful one he was so used to."Eric !" He heard as he was about to step through the curtains, and stopping, he turned around to look at the other man. "Can you get me some water, I'm fucking thirsty." He asked with the rudeness he was used to show."Sure." He answered, walking to the little table beside Minwoo's bed. "Here." He smiled, handing the man a glass of water."Hum." Was his answer, and Eric took it as a thank you.Watching Minwoo, he realized the man looked in pain when drinking and hated the fact.Still staring, he snapped out of it when he noticed Minwoo was struggling to put the glass back on the table, and hurrying to take it from him, he was not surprised by the glare he received, but more by the fact the shorter man actually looked away from him without any harsh comment on his action.Smiling some more, he said his goodbyes and left in a rather good mood despite the fact Minwoo ignored him and did not greet him back.His visit went a lot better than what he was expecting, and on his way home he could not help anticipate further meetings with the other man.RicMin ! RicMin, RicMin, RicMin.This chapter was a RicMin one, so I hope you're happy >_<xD