Chapter 16: Broken Beyond Repair
The restroom, once a place of sterile white tiles, was now a scene of absolute carnage. The "Boss" of the waiters swung the aluminum bat with a sickening rhythm. Every strike sounded like a heavy hammer hitting wet clay.
CRACK.
The bat slammed into Ren's left forearm as he tried to shield his face. The sound of the bone splintering echoed against the walls. Ren let out a strangled cry, his arm falling limp and useless at his side. He was coughing up thick, metallic-tasting blood, his vision swimming in a sea of red.
The bullies finally stopped, their chests heaving. They stood in a semi-circle, laughing at the broken boy twitching on the floor. Ren was sobbing—not just from the agony, but from the sheer helplessness of his situation.
Gritting his teeth, Ren used his one good hand to grip the edge of a sink, dragging his shattered body upward. He stood trembling, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
The Boss stepped closer, a cruel smirk twisting his face. "I heard your sister, Hana, is quite the beauty," he hissed, leaning into Ren's ear. "Once you're dead and out of the way, I think I'll go pay her a visit. She'll be mine."
Something inside Ren snapped. The fear vanished, replaced by a cold, white-hot rage that bypassed his pain. With the last of his strength, Ren swung his right fist, connecting squarely with the Boss's jaw.
THUD.
The Boss stumbled back, stunned that the 'half-dead' kid had the nerve to strike back. "You little rat!" he roared.
Before Ren could swing again, another bully stepped up behind him and swung his bat with full force.
WHAM.
The metal caught Ren squarely on the back of his head. His eyes rolled back, and the world vanished into instant darkness. He collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
But they didn't stop. For several more minutes, they kicked and beat Ren's unconscious body until his clothes were soaked through with blood.
"Enough," the Boss panted, wiping blood from his own lip. "The break is almost over. Throw this trash out the back alley. Make sure the owner doesn't see."
Two of the waiters dragged Ren by his feet, leaving a crimson trail across the floor, and tossed him into the rain-slicked alleyway amongst the overflowing trash bins.
Back inside, the restaurant returned to its busy routine. The owner walked toward the counter, looking around for his newest employee.
"Where's Ren?" the owner asked, stopping one of the senior waiters. "He was doing such a good job this morning. I haven't seen him since the break started."
The waiter didn't even flinch. He put on a fake, sympathetic face. "Oh, him? He quit, sir. Said the work was too hard and he didn't like the environment. He just walked out the back door and told us not to follow him."
The owner sighed, looking disappointed. "I thought he had more spirit than that. Well, if he doesn't want the gold, I can't force him. Get back to work."
Outside, in the freezing mud of the alley, Ren lay motionless. His heart was beating slower with every passing second, and the shadow of death was closing in.