Something Once Lost Can Never Return

Chapter 1

''I want that one.'' pointed the man, who was standing behind the metal bars. He was carefully watching every movement and every face, looking like a predator ready to jump on his prey. After his search in the room was done, he turned to meet his seller's eyes.

The seller was a middle aged man with an impressive beer belly. He was reeking of cheap cigar and was dressed like a pimp.

''You sure have eyes, mister.'' happily commented the seller, jiggling keys in his hand. ''He is clean, healthy and quite stunning... He can sing and dance by the way; he is quite an entertainment material.'' He stopped and coughed like a dying animal, hitting his chest several times. He took a hankerchief out of his pocket and wiped the yellowish saliva off his hand and around his mouth. When he continued his voice was wheezy. ''Of course all of this comes with a good price, you sure you can handle that?'' He eyed his customer suspiciously. Did they meet before? Now that he looked at him more carefully, something felt out of place.

''Does he have a family? Friends?'' The man asked instead of answering, his eyes now fixed on the boy in question. Who would have thought?

''Nothing. He is from Gwangju and let me tell you we have quite the information network there.'' He wiggled his eyebrows and smirked, revealing his blackened, rotten teeth. The image itself was enough to guess how it smelled. ''I made my men search for any possible family member, friend, lover... There was nothing. The only people that knew him were some random people who used to watch him dance at a club. Well, there was also his old boss but...'' He stopped and winked, ''I made him forget.''

The customer nodded slowly, processing all the information. He was looking like he already made a decision.

''How much do you want for him?'' He asked after a while.

''25.'' The seller said simply, meaning millions of USD, and watched the man's reaction. He didn't show any, looked almost bored. He handed the bag he was carrying to the seller.

''Here is 30. There are adresses to some shops written on a paper in this bag. Take him to those places. Clean him, clothe him and make him presentable. You may keep the change. I will come and get him tonight at 9.'' He stopped and checked to see if they were still on the same page. ''Any questions?''

''What will you do with him is actually what I'm wondering, mister.'' The seller asked, his brain suddenly working three times faster as he quickly counted the money. The mysterious man took a second to answer, as if he considered answering or not, then he shrugged.

''A gift to an old friend.'' He said and turned away without waiting for a reply, leaving the place to return later.

The nightclub's walls were vibrating violently with the extremely loud music. One could feel the pressure of the waves deep in their chest and along their throat. The lights were dimmed, a scale of neon lines were playing along the walls and on the high ceiling. There were people of all ages; from barely of age youngsters to one foot in the grave oldsters, he could watch them all from his seat at the second floor balcony.

The lanky man tasted the Manhattan he was served, testing the whiskey on his tongue. It was a close average. He put the drink on the wooden table with no intention to drink it again.

''How does it taste, sir?'' the server asked, holding the silver tray close to his chest. He was earing a black and red vest on a white shirt.

''Like piss water.'' The server looked personally offended by the comment. He was about to defend the drink but then the man lifted his eyes and looked straight into the boy's soul. Neon lights were playing in his blue irises, making a great contrast with his white, porcelain-like skin. But there was more to his eyes. It was neither the color nor the lights in it that made him intimidating, it was the lack of emotions. He almost felt like a doll with shiny marble eyes. A doll who could have his neck broken without so much as a second thought if he wanted.