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Kaoru cried out wretchedly as he was dragged down a hallway by the chains on his wrists. His back burned with pain; he could still feel the fire. He sobbed and dropped onto his knees as another wave of pain brought sickness into his throat.

The man stopped, glaring down at the red-headed boy as he retched violently onto the cold concrete. "You little shit," the man growled, dropping Kaoru's chains. Kaoru collapsed face forward into his own mess, but he didn't move. "Who do you think has to clean this up?" he spat. He kicked fiercely into Kaoru's gut; Kaoru gasped for air as the pain consumed him.

"Now get up." He grabbed at Kaoru's chains once again yanked Kaoru unwillingly to his feet. Kaoru's knees felt like jelly as he stood.

The man took off in his long strides, jerking Kaoru behind him; Kaoru cringed as one of the chains peeled at his skin on his left wrist, releasing the flow of blood. He sobbed, tears flooding his eyes, keeping him from seeing properly. He felt the world dance around him as the brutal headache gnawed at his temples.

Before Kaoru could topple over and faint, they arrived at the old iron door that he knew so well. The man threw it open and pushed Kaoru inside. He stumbled at the push, only keeping his balance from the man's grip on his chains.

Wincing, Kaoru stared around at the kids in the long room. Their eyes were wide in fear as they stared at him; he didn't blame them; he was covered in blood.

Then their eyes flashed up to the man and they all ducked their heads, remaining silent. Many shivered and quivered in their obvious fear.

Behind him, the man shoved Kaoru's back. He let out an agonizing scream from the touch to his blistering wounds; his vision blackened for a split second. But he was not spared the pain; he was thrown back into painful consciousness. He willed himself to faint, to die even, anything to rid himself of this nightmare.

They walked down the line of kids till they came to the middle, where Kaoru's place was, next to Arisa. Her pale green eyes flashed to his orange orbs, full of worry. Her lips trembled as she glanced at Kaoru's badly bleeding hand.

The man forced Kaoru to his knees, but he went willingly since he legs were ready to give out anyway. Quickly, the man wrapped the chains back onto the wall, clicking the lock shut ensuring no escape.

Kaoru collapsed lightly against the wall, careful not to scrape against his back, and positioned the chain so it would not dig into his wrist any longer. As the man leaned over him, adjusting the chains one last time, Kaoru held his breath; he couldn't handle the stench of him anymore.

He drew his face to his right, squinting into the eyes of Arisa. She reached and he reached out, their hands meeting in silent comfort but then drew away as the man stepped back. The room was in deafening silence as the man's footsteps echoed slowly down the hall to the door.

Kaoru hung his head in despair, his eyelids low. His head lulled to the side as he glanced over at Arisa once again. Kaoru winced as his whole body ached.

"Are you okay?" Arisa asked quietly. Her eyes darted to the door, where the man was rummaging in something in a corner.

Kaoru glared. "Do you think I'm okay?" he spat. "I feel like my body is on fire."

"You'll be okay. We all got used to it," she urged.

Kaoru shook his head in protest, his head still spinning. "Why didn't he kill me? He didn't kill me," he muttered.

Arisa frowned sympathetically. "They don't kill anyone here," she whispered. "That's the only comfort any of us have. At least, they don't kill on purpose. Some just die because they can't take it."

Suddenly the man froze by the door. The children closest cowered. He turned his cold eyes on Arisa; shit, he had heard her.

He stomped his way over the two of them, a sadistic smile forming on his face. "What was that, girl?" he asked cruelly.

Her eyes widened, fear dancing in her eyes for the first time. She shook her head, lowering her eyes.

He reached forward with his greasy fingers, lifting her chin. Her jaw jumped in anger. "What did you say?" he asked sternly.

She shook her head, releasing herself from his grip, and glared. "I said nothing," she growled.

His brows dropped further as he glared. Looking away, his gaze snapped to Kaoru. "Maybe I can make your friend talk for you instead." Arisa stared in horror as he approached Kaoru slowly, producing a knife slowly from his pocket. His grin grew as he forced Kaoru's head forward to reveal his bloody back. Kaoru winced at the sudden movement.

He leaned down, tilting the knife so that it glittered against the dim lighting, ready to cut into the young boy's skin. "Wait!" Arisa cried, unable to bear suffering on her behalf. "I'll tell you," she said much quieter.

He stepped back, releasing Kaoru, who stared over at the girl. He hoped she wouldn't get in too much trouble. "Well, what is it?" the man snapped.

She dropped her eyes and said, "I was telling him… I was telling him that no one gets killed here."

Kaoru's eyes darted to the man's face. Surely something so small wouldn't enrage the man… But he was wrong. The man's jaw was set, his eyes cold and punishing. "So," he breathed, "you're saying that we are going soft on you?"

"No, no!" she cried, her body shaking.

Kaoru spoke up, panic seeping through his veins. "She really didn't mean anything by it!"

He only grinned down at the two teenagers before saying, "Well, I'm glad you pointed out this flaw in our system." He turned to the rest of the room, bellowing, "It seems that I have to strike a little fear into you little shits!"

And he turned on his heel, heading for Kaoru. In his chest, Kaoru's heart jumped double time. God no, please! He squeezed his eyes shut, but then felt a breeze pass him.

He opened his eyes just in time to see the man bend down upon the girl on his left. Kaoru froze in sheer shock as he pulled the girl up by her tangled hair. In response, she began to laugh manically.

And, in one quick flick, the man slit her throat, cutting off her laughs in a gurgle of blood. Thick blood, splattered across the floor, spraying across Kaoru as the other children began to scream. Kaoru couldn't breathe, couldn't think as he held up a hand covered in fresh, warm blood.

"I'm going to be sick,' he thought before disappearing into a world of black.