"I want to breathe, I hate this night

I want to wake up, I hate this dream"

Jungkook got home and opened the bedroom door, smiling brightly at his girlfriend, Emma who was sitting on her bed reading a celebrity gossip magazine. “Guess what? I got a job!” He held his arms opened and Emma excitedly got off the bed and embraced him in a tight hold. “I’m so happy for you sweetheart!” she said, smiling against his shoulder.

They’ve been living together for three months and all things were going good, until Jungkook’s job had to let go of employee’s due to low sales. Jungkook struggled to get another job and was getting stressed that no one was giving him call backs, plus the bills were stacking up. He didn’t want to struggle, he wanted to get a good paying job, and work long hours so they wouldn’t have to suffer because he couldn’t but his half in. He was the man of the house, he should be able to provide for him and his girlfriend’s needs. Yes Emma had a job, but Jungkook didn’t want only her to contribute while he waited around.

Now that he had got a job it was such big exciting news. It wasn’t the best job, but it paid really good. The hours were exactly what he wanted also. “It’s at the Psychiatric hospital and the p-“ he began to say before he was cut off.

“-You mean mental hospital?” Emma grimaced. She wasn’t sure if she liked that. Crazy people everywhere was just creepy.

Jungkook nibbled on his lip and said, “They’re just people with problems, who need help with whatever they are dealing with, I assume. I don’t know. I never worked at one before so I don’t know what to expect. Besides I’m just a janitor anyways, it’s not like I’m going to take care of them. I just have to clean and that’s it.” Jungkook saw the worried expression in his girlfriend’s eyes. “I will be fine. Trust me,” he said rubbing his hands up and down her arms trying to soothe her.

He didn’t think much of it anyways. It was a good paying job, and that’s all that he focused on. It really didn’t dawn on him that he’d be working around crazy people, since he figured they were pretty much under control with meds. So things like being scared or crept out by people of the sort didn’t faze him.

“I get paid eighteen dollars an hour, so it will be a big help to us. It’s a lot more pay than the last job I had, and I just have to scrub floors, and so on and so on.” Jungkook made it sound easy. ‘Just cleaning’ but he knew that it was going to be a lot of work that he hoped he could keep up with it.

I guess. The pay is good though, so I should be happy. Just please keep aware of your surroundings, okay? If they’re in there for a reason they could flip out and I don’t want to take it out on you since you’ll be around them.” Emma kissed her boyfriend. “Congrats though,” she said not all that happy with him.

“Hi, my name is Jeon Jungkook, and it’s my first day here,” he said to a man who looked just a few years older than him. He watched the man furrowed his eyebrows, and then noticing him snap at something. “That’s right! You’re the new janitor. My name is Jin by the way. One of the doctor’s in charge of here. Come on, let’s show you around and I’ll show exactly what you’re going to be doing.” Both males walked down a long hallway that Jungkook couldn’t help but feel like he was trapped. All the walls were bright white; almost blinding. He noticed blood spots as he glanced at the walls as he followed the doctor. He knew he was going to have to clean that up as well, but he didn’t understand why there was blood to begin with.

They turned down another hall with white halls as well, but this hallway seemed a bit scary. The huge fluorescent lights that were above one the ceiling were dimmed down a softer shade and a few of the light bulbs flickered. He looked in front of Jin and saw a few patients in gowns roaming freely as if they owned the hallway. Jungkook suddenly felt chills down his spine. He didn’t know what caused it, but he felt someone staring at him and it made him felt uneasy.

“Now don’t be scared of them, they are harmless while they are on their meds. They will have a few episodes, but we have plenty of staff here to keep them at bay. You won’t be working these halls though,” Jin said as he rounded another corner and came in front of two large doors.

“Now,” he said looking at Jungkook. “I’m going to go over this quickly for you so please keep everything I say in mind. Behind these doors is all you have to clean. It’s four long hallways that have rooms for all the patients, and the main desk is right behind these doors, so you can always ask for help from any nurse or doctor here. We do have a room for employees and a few other rooms that our patients are allowed to use. I’ll show you those once we walk inside. Now, this ward here is the where we keep patients who are very, very hard to handle. You can say they are like the bad kids in a school, but we have nurses and doctors ‘round the clock here, much more than any other place to keep them under control. They do tend to go more crazy with little triggers so please…no eye contact. None. No communication whatsoever. No anything. We had plenty of janitors quit due to this reason here; behind these doors.” Jin watched as Jungkook looked a bit uneasy, but managed to squeak out an "ok". “You will be getting a badge in a bit, and it will open the doors all over the hospital. Make sure you never to lose it.”

Jungkook watched as Jin got his badge out and slid the card through a reader, and a light flashed green. Jin smiled and look at Jungkook as he opened the door. Jungkook felt nothing but dread and fear as the doors opened. He swallowed hard as they made their way into the long hallway. The walls were not as bright. They were dirty brown with blood stains in more places than before. He saw a guy talking to a wall, then start pushing it like he wanted to start a fight with it, then started pointing at it yelling obscene words. Jin walked briskly over to the man and escorted him away from the wall and to the side bench that was placed outside the hall.

A male nurse came out from a room and apologized to Jin and said something about giving a dose to a patient who had a breakdown. Jin patted his shoulder, and said something to him nodding Jungkook’s way. Both males came toward him. “Jungkook, this is one of the nurses you’ll be seeing a lot more often, his name is Jimin,” Jin said.

“Hi Jimin, I’m Jungkook. I hope we can work well together,” Jungkook says. “I really want to work here since I really need the job, so please look after for me.”

Jimin giggled, “I won’t let anything really violent happen to you. Sometimes their attacks are sudden, but I promise there are plenty of people here to protect you.” Jungkook gave a nervous smile. He sure hoped so.

“I trust I’m in good hands with you. Thank you, Jimin.” Jimin shook his hand and excused himself to treat other patients.

“Now let’s finish the tour here, then I’ll show you where the supply closet is at. And by supply closet, I mean a good size room just for you and all your equipment,” Jin smiled at him. They continued to walk down the halls that were filthy with dirt and some stuff that looked like mud or was it….Jungkook scrunched his nose in disgust and was not looking forward to cleaning up the place anymore.

Jin stopped at a big open spaced room full of tables that contained games on them, as well as multiple T.V’s that hung way up high so no one could reach it. The TV’s played either old classic movies or cartoons. That was it. No TV shows that were being shown as of today, or news to keep them updated about the world outside, just simple in the box stuff. Of course no one was paying attention anyways.

“This is their recreation room. They can come in here and play games, sit and stare, or watch TV. No rules for them, except to behave and all that good stuff.

Anyways just be careful when you clean in here when it’s packed. I would prefer at night time when they are all in their rooms and sleeping.” Jin leaned against the door frame and looked at everyone to make sure no one was going to act up. So far, so good. “Now to the next place,” Jin said pushing himself off the frame and began walking with Jungkook who stayed quiet through it all.

After a few more places that Jin had shown him, they rounded two more halls that had patients crowding the walkways. It was the darkest hall of them all, almost scary as death itself. He gulped and just looked at the hall and wished it ended already.

Jungkook noticed some lights above their heads were not working, he was going to have to replace those as well. Down the hall he heard someone crying loudly. He looked to Jin to see if he was going to react, but he didn’t. He just kept walking normally, and zig-zag away from a crowd that was stuck in one place. Jungkook looked down at the floor as he tried following Jin close behind. He heard someone behind him chomping their teeth near his ear. He ducked his head and walked a bit faster.

His heart was beating faster than usual. This was something he never could have pictured. He was now doubting taking on the job. No wonder it was such good pay, it was a tough job to put up with. He made sure he kept the doctor’s view in front of him, and was glad to be out the group of people that freaked him out. The cry he heard was now louder, like if someone was torturing him. Jin turned to Jungkook and stopped in front of the door where the crying was coming from.

This here is someone who can’t be outside of his room while patients are out and about. Only if at least three nurses are with him. He only roams the halls at night alone.” Jin sighed and looked through the small square hole. “He’s the one person you don’t want to come across. He’s locked up for a reason and receiving a lot of help for his illness, but he’s so closed up that it’s hard to have a breakthrough.”

Jungkook looked through the hole and saw a boy sitting down with his bare feet on the floor and rocking a toy baby while crying. His black hair covered his eyes and the boy wiped his tears. He was wearing a long sleeve white shirt and white loose pants that made it look like he was dressed as a sad angel.

“Shhh, don’t cry with me Abby,” the boy said rocking the baby faster. “Shhh, it’s alright, I’m here.”

Jungkook felt bad for the boy, he didn’t know what was wrong with him, but he was sad for him. He looked at Jin and wasn’t sure if he should ask.

“I know you’re curious,” Jin said seeing Jungkook eyeing him. “But it’s confidential. And honestly…we only know so little. I told you, it’s hard to open him up about his past.”

Jungkook now watched the boy throw his head back and began laughing really hard at a joke that the baby seemed to have made. The boy kept talking to the doll and started to lay down with the baby by his side.

Jin turned to Jungkook and said, “When he does walk alone, please do not talk to him. Ignore him by all means. Don’t even think of looking at him in the eyes. And, last but not least, don’t ever touch him. He hates physical contact the most. The reason why I’m telling you this is because if you’re cleaning and don’t see him, the slightest touch will set him off like a firecracker. Make sure to always look around you at night.” Jin looked at the sleeping boy and frowned. He really wished he could help him out to cure him, but it was a lost cause.

Jungkook heard a soft snore and turned away from the door. He was going to be a bit scared working around the boy at night, but as long as he followed the rules, he should be set to work and just do what he needs to. Seemed easy enough.

“You’ll get to meet more of the staff here on this part of the ward as you start working. They’re all very good doctors and nurses, like I said, don’t hesitate to ask anything if you feel uncomfortable. I’m sure soon enough you’ll adapt to it though. Just follow the rules and you’re squared away to get your job done!” Jin placed his hand on Jungkook’s shoulder and said, “Let’s go show you your room now."

Jungkook began to walk off with Jin down the hall even more, but he had to glance back at the boy in the locked up door all alone. He shook his head and tried getting the sadness he saw in his face out of his head and continued to walk with Jin. As they walked just a bit further up, Jin stop and turned with a grin. “Here it is! Your supply room! If you need anything or run out, just mark it for inventory and log it in the book that we collect every week and we will order more stuff. So here’s the list that is hung every day, and it tells you exactly what you should be doing.”

Jungkook looked up at the ceiling.‘Was it his job to change the light then?’ he thought.

Jin noticed him looking and said, “You can change it if you want, but maintenance will come in this ward at least every two weeks. They are scared to come down these halls as well.”

“Oh. Um, yeah I’ll change it out when I complete the list. Thanks again Jin for the tour and um…wish me luck?” he said hesitantly. He didn’t want Jin to leave him just yet, he felt safe around the doctor. He was hoping he could be safe without him as well.

“Good luck. I think you’ll be just fine though. I’ll be here just about every day, so it’s not like I won’t see you,” Jin said turning away. “Oh by the way, your badge will be waiting for you, so before you leave make sure you pick it up at the front desk. Bye Jungkook!”

Jungkook sadly waved and watched the doctor disappear down the hall. He looked in his supply closet and walked inside. It had everything he needed. He checked the list and the first thing to do was wipe the walls. He groaned as he remembered the disgusting filth he saw as he was walking down the halls. He didn’t know what to clean walls with though…he never cleaned walls in the past. He looked around for cleaning solution and saw dawn dish washing liquid and decided to just use that with some water. As long as the walls were clean he didn’t care how the job got done.

Time passed by pretty fast as he concentrated on the walls, ignoring patients who walked up to him and just stared for minutes at a time. Another nurse named Hoseok would lead them away from him and slowly started putting them in their rooms for the night. He liked Hoseok, he seemed like a great funny guy that eased his mind. Jungkook sighed of relief when it was now quiet down the long hallways. He wasn’t going to finish four long halls in one night, so he only worked on the very dirty spots that were very obvious.

“Hey Jungkook, we are going to go grab a snack, want anything?” Jimin asked with Hoseok by his side both smiling.

“Oh, sure, anything is fine. Thank you,” Jungkook said. He was surprised they offered him anything, but he was appreciative of the gesture.

“You’re welcome! And Namjoon is the doctor in charge for the night, he’s at the front desk right now checking charts so if you need him while we’re gone, just go up to him and ask. He’s a really cool guy. We’ll be back in a few minutes! I’ll get you a soda also. It’s a welcoming gift for you.” Jimin and Hoseok waved goodbye and left.

Jungkook smiled and was enjoying the night time better now that he could work faster without feeling threatened by the patients. He took out headphone and decided to listen to music while he scrubbed, maybe time would go by faster. He blasted some hip hop in his ears and went back to work.

Almost done with one side of the hallway. Jungkook smiled happily at his work; big difference. He soaked up his sponge again and worked the walls again.

At the end of the hall, stood the boy holding his baby as he stared at the man who was nodding along to music.

Jungkook did some sweet moves as he lipped sync along with his music and moved his bucket further down the hall. He felt someone starting at him and the hair on his arms stood up. He looked down the hall and saw the boy staring right at him. ****! He made eye contact and he started to shake a little. With so many other patients from earlier, none of them scared him like the boy did. It looked like some horror movie type of shit, and he wasn’t ready to die. He just got a house not too long ago and beautiful girlfriend who was waiting for him at home.

He took off his headphones and turned off his music. He had to listen out for sounds in case the boy approached him, and he didn’t want to bump into him on accident. He ignored the stares that he was receiving and went back to cleaning feeling shaken up. He looked to the other side of the hall, and was wishing Jimin or Hoseok would check up on him already. He didn’t know why he was thinking that way for, it wasn’t their job to check up on him, he wasn’t the patient. Still, he was scared for himself.

He heard footsteps coming from the side of the hall where the boy was at. He wanted to take off running, or call it quits right then and there. He tried not to breathe loudly as the boy’s footsteps got closer and closer to him. He dropped the sponge and blamed his shaky hands as he reached down to pick it back up. There he saw the boy’s bare feet standing right next to him.

He ignored him and dipped his sponge back into the water, and nervously started to clean again.

“Hi,” the boy said in a deep smooth voice. He watched the man clean and cocked his head to his side. Maybe he didn’t hear him. “Hi,” he repeated again.

Jungkook began to hum to himself and checked to see if other nurses were coming down this deserted hall. None. He tried his best to ignore the boy. The boy didn’t sound crazy though. He sounded really normal. He didn’t know his illness or situation so he didn’t want to overstep his bounds on what Jin had warned him about.

Jungkook heard laughter coming on the opposite side of the hall and looked to see Jimin and Hoseok walking towards him with his snacks for him. He grinned ecstatically as his new co-workers appeared before him. Jimin waved from down the hall and flashed him his soda that he picked out for him.

“Sorry we took so long, we had problems along the way with one of the patients,” Jimin said as he handed him his stuff. Jimin looked at Tae and smiled. “Hello. Make sure you leave this man here alone while you walk the halls,” Jimin said laying his hand on Jungkook’s shoulder. “He needs to only work, no talking or interfering. I mean it.” Jimin gave the boy a stern look.

Jungkook felt really weird between all this.

“What did I do to him for me not to talk to him?” the boy asked not understanding why he had to distance himself.

“You know why. Just keep about your business and let him do his job.” Jimin kept his eyes on the boy and looked away to avoid staring for any longer. After years of working with the boy, Jimin and the staff they got allowed to make eye contact, but not for too long, or he would flip a switch.

The boy sighed and looked at Jungkook who was clearly avoiding him. “Everyone here ignores me. I have no one but my baby here to keep me company. What’s that Abby? You’re hungry?” the boy says as rocks his doll and turns around. “I’ll be talking to you later on again,” the boy said looking over his shoulder at Jungkook.

They watched the boy walk down the dark hall that was missing lights from above, and sat a bench cradling his baby doll.

“He’s harmless at times, but he is one unpredictable kid that we have to keep an eye on from time to time.” Jimin sighed, “Anyways, its best if you stay clear of him. He’s the hardest kid to control around here.”

Jungkook didn’t see what was so bad though. Yeah he was scared of him from what they were telling him, but as of meeting the boy, it was nothing really. He was just really lonely.

Out of nowhere he hears screaming and he whips his head around to see the boy on the floor screaming in agony. He didn’t know what to do or what the hell was even going on. He just watched the two nurses rush to his side, and as they grabbed the boy his screams turned into the worst cries he’s ever heard. Jimin and Hoseok were struggling, and around the corner ran a doctor with a needle in his hand.

As he watched the two nurses hold down the boy, the doctor injected him with some kind of medicine and the boy slowly slumped down. The doctor picked him up and walked him to his room to lay him down. Jimin and Hoseok talked to the doctor and all three went down the hall to talk more. He couldn’t hear anything since they were so far, but it had to be about what just happened.

Jungkook looked where the boy’s door was and frowned. Just what was wrong with him? He went back to work and finished up as much as he could of the walls before rotating to another chore on his list. He wasn’t sure if he was going to be able handle this madness at night though. Should he fear for his life? No…the boy didn’t seem to want to hurt him, he seemed like he was wanting a friend. There was just has something wrong with him, that’s all.

Still, regardless of anything he was going to stay away from the boy as much as he could, and prayed, just prayed the boy would learn to leave him alone.

"I'm trapped inside of myself

And I'm dead"

To say the first night was a bit spooky, was an understatement. It was something that made his skin crawl and he didn’t like the feel of it. He sure didn’t tell Emma about how his night went, because then she would freak out and make him change his job.

As he laid in bed, he thought of all the patients that were just out of it, and some who were more aggressive in their own state of mind. He couldn’t comprehend any of it, but then again he wasn’t meant to. He thought back to the boy who was holding his baby like if it was real. He wondered what his story was that had the staff on alert. Why was he the only one that got to walk the empty halls while everyone slept? Why didn’t he like to be touched?

So many questions filled his head as he tossed and turned on his bed.

He stared at his ceiling and decided to just let sleep over take him when it was ready.

The next day at work Jungkook made sure his uniform was neatly presentable, and got the key badge he needed to enter his side of the ward. He walked in the hospital and waved at Jin who sat at the front desk in the main part of the building. He made his way down the same halls as yesterday and went around to the main doors that awaited him.

He took a deep breath and slid the card key into the slot and watched it flashed green. He opened the door and was greeted by Namjoon, the doctor whom he met last night as he retrieved his badge key. He was also the same guy who gave the boy the shot. He had greeted him back and resumed down the dark hallway, and was stopped by a woman who smiled right in front of him.

She reached out and tried to touch his face, but he moved and tried to go around her. The lady started to make kissing noises while looking at him and licking her lips in a sloppy motion, then laughing like a mad-woman. He quickly moved around her trying his best to avoid her, and briskly walked down the hall dodging people left and right. He turned a couple more corners and was back at his supply closet. He didn’t hear no crying this time. It was actually very quiet in the halls this evening. He checked his list and saw that he had to sweep and mop the floors.

He got his mop and bucket and went to get it ready. He wanted to start on the first hallway, but everyone was still roaming the halls. What if someone fell? Or slipped? He decided just wait until the halls were empty. He put his bucket away that was full of water, and just placed aside in the supply room. He checked the list once again and balled up his fists, the restrooms. They were in the patients rooms, so while they were out walking around, it was his chance to clean up what he needed to do.

He grabbed his cart and placed all his supplies on it that was needed, and wheeled it to the first hall. He smiled at Jimin and walked into the first room on the right. The patient was sitting on his bed just looking at the curtains with his mouth hung open. Jungkook walked straight to the restroom and almost hurled. The stench and look of it made him clutch his stomach as he held his hand over his mouth.

He quickly got some air freshener and sprayed the restroom, then put his gloves on and got straight to work.

After working on the first two halls he was surprised he didn’t throw up. As he walked to the third hall, the patients were going back to their rooms for the night. He marked it down on a paper he had, on where to pick up on tomorrow since he didn’t want to disturbed them while they slept. He decided to sweep and mop the all the halls instead.

He finally reached the third hall, and only had one more hall to go. He got his long duster broom and continued on down the hall making sure to get all the edges, so it would look good. Last thing he wanted to do was slack off and get fired, then he wouldn’t be able to afford his bills. He heard singing down the dark hall; squinting his eyes to see where it was coming from. It was a nice low voice that echoed so beautifully in the hall.

Jungkook went back to his job and listened to the singing as it continued till he got closer down the hall. The singing stop once he reached the boy’s door. He wondered if it was him that was singing, if so, he was impressed that someone in here could sing so flawlessly. He heard a click as he passed the door and quickly went faster to avoid any form of contact. He knew at a certain time someone would go by and unlock his door, but he didn’t know what time, or when since he worked at different halls as well.

He assumed the boy knew when to come out on his own time. Again he heard footsteps his way, and he panicked, since the outburst he had yesterday was completely random and spontaneous, he didn’t know when he would turn into someone else.

“Still ignoring me?” the boy asked.

Jungkook bit the corner of his lower lip and cleared his throat.

“I know your name. It’s Jungkook, right?” the boy asked with a smile playing on his lips. The boy was playing with his baby’s hair and kissed her cheek. “I heard the female nurses earlier talking about you. They were talking about the new sexy janitor that worked at nights.” The boy began to laugh. “Don’t you find that weird? They talk about you like an object and you can’t do anything about it.” The boy started to laugh harder while saying, “C-can you…can y-you imagine what they.” He doubled over laughing then tears started rolling down his face. “W-what t-they all think of me??”

Jungkook didn’t laugh. He didn’t understand what was so funny about it. He stood uncomfortable and picked up on sweeping, but slower this time. The boy wiped his tears and blew out a breath trying to calm himself down so he could talk again. “I must admit. I am a bit crazy…but I’m also in my right state of my mind from time to time. I don’t think I can ever be cured…you see, I’m damaged, in here,” the boy points to his heart. “And in here,” he said pointing to his head, “Is all kinds of fucked up.” The boy went silent and walked along Jungkook.

What was he supposed to say? Jungkook wasn’t allowed to give advice or anything, he didn’t even know why he was paying to what he was saying. All he did was sweep and mind his own business until he heard the boy whisper, “I didn’t do it.” Jungkook made the mistake of locking eyes. He didn’t mean to look at him in the eyes, but the words that came out just got the best of him.

“STOP! STOP! PLEASE!!!” the boy scream as he began to throw himself at the wall at full speed. Then ran back and ran back into the wall again just has hard as the first time. Over and over until the nurses heard the screams and ran straight for the boy. They grabbed him again and he only got worse as they injected him with medicine. Jungkook was freaked out…it was his fault for looking at him, he felt bad what had happened. He didn’t understand what the boy meant by his words, but he was intrigued by it. If he didn’t look at the boy, maybe he would’ve said something else about him. Something he could understand.

The nurses carried him and took him back to his room. A male nurse came up to Jungkook and asked what had happened.

“He was just talking and he said he, didn’t do it…I…looked at him and I know I’m not supposed to, but curiosity got the best me, **** I’m so sorry,” he apologized.

“He says that from time to time. And I know you got curious, we all did at one point while we work here. Just please avoid anything with him. He seems like a good kid, he does, I know, but he has too many problems to socialize with anyone. Anyways, I’m Yoongi by the way, Jimin told me all about you,” he grinned.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Jungkook, and can you tell me the name of him?” Jungkook said with a sharp nod towards the boy’s door.

“His name is Kim Taehyung. He’s eighteen. He’s been in here for three years and he’s still the same as he was brought in here,” Yoongi told Jungkook.

That was more info than Jin and Jimin has told him. He was shocked to hear that at fifteen he was admitted to this hospital where no one in their right mind would ever be. Then again…he was not in his right mind. But the boy said he was sometimes, so why didn’t he use that opportunity to open up to the doctor’s here that wanted to help him? Again, so many questions he had no business knowing.

“Pretty sad. Seems really hurt about something,” Jungkook said as he kept staring at the door.

Yoongi snapped his fingers in front of his face and said with a serious face, “Don’t let him get you curious about him. He can, and will hurt you, and trust me, it won’t be nice. No one will tell you that here, but I’m going to tell you since you seem to want to pick at it with him. I’m telling you now to stop. You’re not strong enough to deal with such great pain he has been through. There’s more to the story that meets the eye. We know what happened to him. What we can’t get out of him, is his side. It’s not a pretty picture of what his story is.”

Jungkook lowered his head and said, “I’m sorry. I guess, I have a good heart and just wanted to help him out. He’s so young to be in here and I just thought…well…I don’t know what I was thinking. I apologize, I won’t get involved again.” Jungkook had to say it in a mantra, over and over to forget wondering about the boy's name, Kim Taehyung.

It was his break now, and it was at the end of the fourth hall where the ward ended. Jungkook had placed his tray down of what he had order at the cafeteria, and sat down alone in the big room. He watched the T.V that was playing and it was just cartoons. He bit his burger and laughed at a funny part the show was playing.

“Are you hungry?” a voice said behind him.

Jungkook nodded while watching T.V and said, “Yeah, I’m glad it’s break time, I was starving all day.” Jungkook picked up a fry and smiled to who he thought was a nurse that was going to join him, but it wasn’t.

Kim Taehyung.

He quickly avoided his eyes and swallowed his fry then shoved more fries in his mouth to keep him from talking anymore. ****, what was going to happen now that he spoke to him? He heard the chair next to him open up and plopped down the boy with his baby who he placed in front of him on the table. “My beautiful baby is amazing…don’t you think?” he asked Jungkook brightly.

Jungkook ignored him and faced his body the other way. “I asked you a simple question, Kookie. You don’t mind if I call you that right? Of course you don’t. Why should you mind?” Taehyung giggled and began playing patty cake with the baby on the table.

Jungkook looked at the corner of his eyes to the side and looked at the boy interact with the doll. It was a bit crazy of him to do so, but there had to be a reason for his craziness to go with it. He looked back at the T.V and just ignored the boy as he started to eat his burger again.

After his break was over he got up and threw his trash away, and of course Taehyung followed closely behind with his baby in his arms cooing at her cutely. Jungkook walked to his supply closet and checked the list of what else he needed to do for the night. He had to clean the windows in the rooms that were open and unoccupied, finally something easy. He got his Windex and roll of paper towels on his cart and walked to the first hall, with Taehyung following closely still.

He looked down as he pushed his cart and saw the bare feet that were really close behind him. He hoped the nurses that he passed would stop him, since he didn’t want him following him at all anymore. He rounded the first hall where the main desk was at and walked down waving at Jimin as he saw him up ahead.

He noticed Jimin furrow his brows and walked up to him in a questioning manner. “How long as he been following you?” Jimin asked Jungkook.

“Oh…for about twenty minutes now. He sat with me during my break, but!” he quickly added it, “I didn’t do anything!”

“You spoke to me you liar,” Taehyung said with a smile. Taehyung looked at his baby and swung her around happily. Jungkook wanted to scream. “I swear I thought it was one of you guys as I was eating and watching T.V…I didn’t think it would be Taehyung!”

Taehyung snapped his head in Jungkook’s direction as he heard his name.

Jimin opened his eyes widely and pushed at Jungkook out of the way just as Taehyung was about to swing his fists at his body with his baby in tow. Taehyung starting pulling his own hair and tried to attack Jungkook. Jimin held the boy, and the boy acted like if fire was touching him as the nurse held him.

Jin came running and brought a straightjacket to not move around so much. “Jimin, get him in position!!!” Jin shouted. Jimin got in a position to where the boy’s arms where facing straightforward and then Jin quickly strapped him up and both doctor and nurse picked him up to carry him to his room.

Yoongi came running out of a room and looked at the boy being hauled off as he was thrashing his body around making it difficult for the two men to hold him in place.

“I heard you say his name,” Yoongi said to Jungkook. “I know I told you his name, but I forgot to tell you, it’s forbidden around him as well. I didn’t think his meds would wear off so fast, and him go look for you.”

“I’ve been ignoring him though! I didn’t want him to keep following me! He freaks me out a bit, I can’t do anything without making him go more crazy than he already is!!” Jungkook exasperated. “I don’t know how long I can put up with him.”

“I know…but want to hear something strange?” Yoongi said to Jungkook.

Jungkook didn’t really want to know, he was done. Still, he was curious and he hated it.

“What?”

“Never mind,” Yoongi says.

Jungkook got irritated. Now he wanted to know what it was, but was already frustrated that he let it go. “Okay. Well I’m going to back to cleaning my windows.” He walked into a room and sighed as he rubbed his eyes hard. This boy name Kim Taehyung, was going to be a problem in his future here at his job if he kept on following him.

Would he be able to deal with it in the long run?

“Don’t wanna be lonely

Just wanna be yours”

Taehyung woke up after he had an episode, and he frowned when he had on the straight-jacket still. He tried getting out of it and saw his baby laying down in the cold room without his warm embraced. He began to scream and yell at the top of his lungs. He heard nurses rush inside and he looked at them with a panicked face and began shouted, “MY BABY!! SHE’S COLD!!! SHE NEEDS ME!!!”

The nurse’s unstrapped Taehyung and he hurriedly rushed to his baby’s side picking her up and rocking her as he kept her close to his warm chest. He cried while he cradled her and kept saying, “I’m so sorry my baby…I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” He began to sob loudly and hated himself for letting his other side take over. He left his baby in danger, and he was now suffering all over again.

The nurses watched him for a bit to make sure he was going to be okay, then they took off locking the door behind them. Taehyung just sat alone once again and held his baby tighter.

Jungkook just showed up for work once again, and was ready to take on his night shift with a positive attitude this time and planned to just do his job without having to have the boy to make him curious. He had a good life, a good job, and no patient was going to take away from him. He made it his goal to try his hardest, and to not get tempted or tricked by Taehyung’s whacked out ways.

He walked to his closet and needed to pick up on the restrooms again. He gathered his supplies and headed to where he left off at. He heard a growl behind his ear, then the sound of someone barking at him. He kept walking to the room he needed to clean. As he approached the room, the person was not in the room, and he sighed of relief as he was not going to be bothered. Wrong. The man was in the restroom peeing all over the fuckin’ walls. Jungkook just stood there and closed his eyes as he wanted to just punch something. He waited for the man to be done, and once the man was done he smiled at Jungkook and said, “Now that’s art!” Jungkook balled up his fist and sucked in a deep breath. The man went about his merry way and left Jungkook to clean up his “art work.”

He was now done with them all, except Taehyung’s room, since it was locked and he couldn’t go near him. He was okay with that still, he didn’t want to get involved anyways. He started to do other tasks around the place, then once everyone started going in their rooms, he picked up on sweeping and moping.

He was now in the third hall and was feeling anxious since that’s where the boy stayed at. He quickly moped and knew since the night was still early, the boy would be still locked up. But as he passed his room, he saw the boy’s face peering out the small window looking at him.

He looked away and pretended like it didn’t happen. He quickly and quietly moved along and made his way to the end of the hall. As he reached the last hall, he smiled as he was almost done with no distractions. Now with the fourth hall finished up, Jungkook smiled and felt accomplished at this work at bay. As he began to walk up the hall he saw the boy standing in the middle of the walkway to turn into the third hall, where the boy slept.

Jungkook froze and lowered his gaze as he walked around the young boy. “I’m sorry,” Taehyung said as he saw the man walk his way around him.

Jungkook stopped in his tracks.

“I know I’m crazy, but I promise I don’t mean to go off. I’m just fucked up in my head,” the boy said as he held his doll closer to him.

Jungkook wanted to walk forward, he really did, but the tone in his voice said another story. “Please don’t talk to me,” Jungkook said in a serious voice. He knew he shouldn’t have said those words, but if he didn’t tell the boy, then he wouldn’t be able to work the way he needed to. He didn’t know why the boy was clinging to him.

Taehyung began to walk closer to him and said, “I’m scared of myself.”

Jungkook ignored him and shrugged. He didn’t want any more interaction with him. He walked back to his supply room to put his mop and bucket away. He didn’t have the time to deal with him. There were doctors and nurses for that, not him. What the hell could he do for someone with an illness? He had his own problems to deal with, not anyone else’s. Jungkook kept his distance from the boy and worked better without being followed.

It was now his break time and he went outside for some fresh air, since being stuck all night in the hospital was too closed in for his taste. He walked to a nearby bench table that was placed in the yard and sat down holding his stomach. He forgot to get his food and was very hungry. He groaned and just suffered through it. He’ll just eat at home anyways, even though he still had a few hours of work left.

Hoseok walked outside and joined him on the table. He had his dinner with him, and Jungkook just eyed it, then looked the other way. He was almost tempted to ask for a piece of his pizza. Hoseok tore a piece off and handed it to Jungkook. Jungkook just looked at him and dumbly just took it.

“So how’s your job going? Is it everything you’d hoped it would be?” Hoseok smirked then took a bite of his pizza.

“It’s okay…the other patients I’m getting used to, they have their weird moments, but you guys always rush to them, so I feel safe. I don’t know how any of you have the patience to tend to all of them, then again, you signed up for all this so I’m sure you adapt to it all.” Jungkook was still hungry, but he held it in.

“It’s still a stressful job though, but we’ve seen so many recover and get the help they need. If we can try to help them and get them back to reality, then our jobs make us more hardworking. It’s like a reward to us. Even though a lot of people won’t recover, we still take care of them and try to help them. We think of it as ‘what if it was our own family in here’ type of thing. They belong to someone out there too, but families can’t handle them. Or like many cases, they have no family, or anyone to really care about them,” Hoseok said as he sighed.

Jungkook just stared at the table and thought of Taehyung and what he said. Why was he scared of himself? He remembers him telling him that everyone ignores him. Did he not have family to visit him or anyone at all? Hell, he’d go crazy himself if he was locked away in a room with no one for years. His heart pained him a bit whenever he thought of the boy crying and holding his baby. Maybe that’s why he was so attached to his doll, maybe it was his only comfort he got.

He treated the doll as if she was real. Maybe deep down he wanted her to be real so he could have a friend, and someone by his side. Was that why he was scared of himself? No real contact was making him more crazy? He didn’t know the truth, but he was going to assume that for now. Now he felt bad that he ignored the boy after the boy opened up to him on how he felt. He made the boy feel even sadder now. Jungkook shook his head and tried to grip reality. He was here to work, nothing more.

“So you’re in a relationship?” Hoseok asked trying to change the quiet mood.

Jungkook snapped out of his daze and said, “Huh? Oh…yeah I am. Her name is Emma. She’s a care taker for the elderly, and she’s pretty awesome.” Jungkook smiled as he thought of his girlfriend. She was his number one supporter in everything that he did.

Hoseok nudged him and chuckled, “In love, are we?”

Jungkook did a goofy grin and nodded his head shyly.

“Lucky. I can’t seem to get a girlfriend with my hectic schedule here,” he said thumbing the back of his shoulder to the building. “I did date one girl from here, but relationships here don’t last. Besides once you got to know her, you’d think she was a patient here,” Hoseok laughed.

Jungkook laughed with him; he really did like the nurse. He made him feel at ease all the time when he was working. Jungkook noticed the stars and wondered if the boy has seen the stars. He turned to Hoseok and said, “Can patients come outside and stuff?”

Hoseok nodded his head while his mouth was full and barely managed to say, “Yes.” Hoseok swallowed his pizza and said, “Yeah, they come outside every Friday if they want.

Jungkook was hesitant to ask about Taehyung, but he really wanted to know. He bit his lip and just took a chance with it. “How about Taehyung? Does he go outside?” He studied Hoseok face when he asked and he didn’t seemed bothered by it.

“Nah. He doesn’t want go outside, he feels better in the halls, I guess. He really doesn’t do anything, but walk alone and have his episodes…that’s pretty much it. As a matter of fact,” he said turning to Jungkook. “He seems to cling to you. He’s never done that with anyone, and I mean anyone. Sure in the past he stared and followed the janitor’s out of curiosity, but never stayed by their side as much as he does to you. Weird,” Hoseok said rubbing his chin. “I guess, ‘cause you look around his age or close to it.”

Jungkook played with his hands as he was thinking. He couldn’t stop thinking of Taehyung and it was eating him alive inside. He didn’t want to fired or anything either, but at the same time…they boy was maybe trying to reach out to him. He wanted to scream in frustration, but held it in, in front of Hoseok. Jungkook stood up and said to Hoseok, “I better go back in, my time is almost done.”

Hoseok look up at him and said, “Yeah! I’ll see you inside in a bit!”

Jungkook waved him bye and walked back in the hospital. He went walking down the hall where he saw Jimin and Namjoon talking and looking over paperwork. Jungkook waved at them and went walking to his closet. Taehyung stood around the corner crying softly while squeezing his baby. Right away Jungkook felt like going over to him and asking if he was alright, but he knew the answer already.

Taehyung looked up and saw Jungkook. He quickly wiped his tears and placed a small smile on his face. He saw Jungkook walk past him with his head down and Tae followed him closely again. He was happy to see the janitor. He didn’t know why he would feel like this, it just made him comfortable to be by his side.

Jungkook looked out the corner of his eye and saw Taehyung so close, that if he stopped abruptly he would run into his body. Jungkook didn’t feel scared anymore after a while, he didn’t think his episodes would freak him out either at this point. He was after all, a damaged soul. Jungkook was at his closet looking for something to clean the walls with again, he swore it’s like one minute they’re clean and next they’re back to being filthy. He grabbed what he needed and headed to the first hall where he saw some more ‘shit’ on the walls. He turned around and saw the boy squatting on the ground still hugging his baby. He stopped next to him and just stood there for a few seconds not looking at him.

Then he began to push his cart, and take off down the hall. Taehyung smiled and took it as a sign to follow him. He happily sat up and kissed his baby on the top of her head, then whispered something in her ear. Jungkook held back a smile and was glad the boy understood him, even if no words were exchanged.

He walked down the first hall and waved at Namjoon who just waved back looking confused at him. Jungkook could tell he wanted to say something, but he didn’t, he just watched him walk by with the boy following closely. He got started on his job and began cleaning the mess that was made. He didn’t want to look at Taehyung, and make him start screaming so he played it cool to quickly look at what the boy was doing. He was laying on the cold floor with the baby hovering over his face. He was playing with her as he was cleaning up. It was cute. Crazy, but cute.

Taehyung played with his baby and then stared at Jungkook. He smiled and began to laugh loudly as he started to roll around the floor. He saw the nurse Jimin and waved at him, getting an odd look in return. He crawled on the floor to go back to the janitor who was still scrubbing the walls. He rolled up in a ball and just laid right next to his feet.

Jimin walked up to Taehyung and said, “I told you to stay away from him. I don’t need you acting up tonight.” Jimin looked away from the boy’s eyes and waited for an answer.

Taehyung looked up at Jimin and shook his head. “I’m staying here.” Taehyung was keen on staying put where he felt like he belong, the sudden thought of being alone felt like a shadow that what was ready to swallow him whole. He didn’t want that feeling, it was scary.

“No, you’re not. Come on, get up! Let’s go for a walk someone else. He needs to work without you following him,” Jimin said motioning him to stand on his own.

Taehyung curled up his body and stayed by Jungkook’s boots. He wasn’t going to go, he didn’t want to.

Jungkook looked at Jimin and gave a small shrug. He didn’t want Taehyung to leave either, he felt like this was what the boy needed; company. Even if he didn’t look at Taehyung, talk to Taehyung or touch him, he felt like they could communicate without it.

Namjoon walked towards the trio and led Jimin away from the duo. Jimin gave Namjoon a look as he was being dragged away. “Do you see a change in Taehyung’s behavior?” Namjoon said looking at the boy.

Jimin looked and just saw how he got in the way of the night time janitor. “No…what? He’s not letting him breath. I don’t want him flipping out again.”

Namjoon said, “Look. He’s never been like that before. It seems he became attached to Jungkook in a way. I think it’s because there’s no one else at night to walk with him or anything that he simply found himself a new partner.”

Jimin now understood. “Ahhh, okay now I see it. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. I’m just afraid of what Taehyung could do though…”

“That’s why we have to watch him closely. Maybe Jungkook could be the one who opens his heart and helps cure him. Let’s just wait and see what happens,” Namjoon said still looking at the Taehyung who was smiling looking at Jungkook’s face.

Jungkook finished up the mess on the walls and waved to Jimin and Namjoon who just stared at him. He walked down the hall with a giggling Taehyung by his side, and for the first time, it was a nice feeling.