Haruki had lost count of how many days they've spent there. Was it a week, two weeks, a month or less than a week. The prison they were in had no say, no night, no sun, no light.
The only way they knew it was a new day was when they came to collect Hinata's blood. The process grew crueler each day, they they lost count of days. This day's collection was nothing short of cruel. There had been bulky men that flogged Haruki if Hinata made the slightest declination. Haruki wondered why they won't collect his own blood, since he was also a merman.
He looked down on his unrecognisable brother and the tears couldn't help but fall. His treasure, his world, his always shining brother was now nothing but a blood bag for all these monsters. He wondered where all the blood went, except he already had an idea. Legend has it that a merman's blood can prolong and even double a human's life. Even a dying one. His mind would drift to home once in a while, he wondered what they were doing, and if they were even making any effort to look for them. Something had to be done. Fast, or he'll lose his brother.
His back throbbed and blood was still dripping, but that wasn't his worry right now.
Hinata opened his eyes feeling numb everywhere. He was getting used to the blood collection and was almost insensitive to pain. He didn't want to worry Haruki, so he didn't tell him that he was beginning to forget things. Haruki was always by his side, that was the only reason he still remembered his brother.
It got to a point, Hinata started thinking that he had been here all his life and his only purpose was to give his blood. At times like that he would try to shake the thought off making himself believe that he was forced here's. ' What was he doing before he was brought here?' He would sometimes ask himself but he had no answer for that. He just decided to keep quiet and go with the flow.
In a private hospital***
Crash! Crash!! Crash!!!
This was the nth time the elderly man sitting on the hospital bed had threw the mirrors.
" I've been using his blood for almost two weeks now so why am I still like this?" He yelled. " Didn't you say merfolk blood had some ridiculous shitty thing called miracles? So what the heck is this?"
He was a president candidates running for election for presidency. On one of these outings it was fed a drug? disease? no one knows what exactly. All the doctors and scientists couldn't name what exactly was constant his pale dying look, lots of weight and blood. He was just like a dead man breathing. Even his top scientist, Elinar and Aries were at a loss before they came across an article of merfolk blood during one of their research. If what the article said was true then the supposed blood can cure all disease. Scientific confirmation of the claim was also found and that was why they went ahead with their plan.
" Calm down uncle, if you want this to work you would have to be patient and stop stressing yourself. You'll need to be relaxed. How many times do you want me to repeatmyself?" Elinar asked becoming impatient.
The death glare Elliot gave him was enought for him to fall on his knees. This man might be dying but if he wants you dead he didn't need to blink twice.
" I'm sorry uncle, but the effect will start showing soon,"
" And how do you know that?"
" You know when I first met Aries four years ago, she told me about her grudges with the merfolk clan. I didn't believe her then and counted it as drunken talk. But clearly she has decades of hatred towards the merfolk. Apparently she had been with the kids we're using since birthday waiting for the perfect chance for revenge. Though her relationship with them is not clear, I'm confident in her research."
Elliot looked at him for a while, "Out."
" Huh?"
" I said out!!!." And with that Elinar left, feeling his rage rising. Had all he said fallen to deaf ears?
Back in the lab***
Elinar was feeling irritated and annoyed at his uncle's dismissal. He was trying his best here, not able to contain his anger he ordered his men to get a whip and drag the two bastards to the lab.
Haruki was shocked when he and Hinata were dropped on their knees in the lab Hinata was scared and he held Haruki's arm like his life depended on it. This was dynamic, something like this had never happened before.
" Your blood's becoming useless and that is spoiling my plan" he said smiling maniacally. The first whip landed and Hinata and he winced a little, the reaction only fueled Elinar's anger at the started whipping Haruki till he was satisfied.
Hinata on the other hand was held down by the bodyguards as he started trashing around when he saw brother got beaten up.
When the devils made their way out, he held his brother. It was his turn to hold and console his stubborn brother who initially wanted him to lay on his laps.
The same lady that had been dropping their food and her scowl that no-one asked for, dropped a basin of water and a cloth, and left. At least the water was neat. Hinata tried to get close to the water without hurting his brother more, and after strenuous efforts, they finally got there.
He squeezed the cloth with whatever strength he had left. He dabbed on the wound gently, and Haruki would flinch or whimper occasionally. He made sure he cleaned the wounds gently and slowly. After spending almost an hour there, he was done. He just stared at the wound and suddenly they started to close. This startled him a little but he just stared emptily. At least Haruki won't be in pain again. Setting his brother on the floor, he snuggled in his arms and drifted off.