Chapter 14: Manipulation of the mind

Beyond has been more careful than he normally did. Near noticed he was extra careful to let Near not know what was outside his room. He had only left his room once since they moved. That time Beyond had blindfolded him so he still had no idea what was outside his own room.
Near could still feel his new wounds covering his skin on some places on his arms and abdomen. Beyond kept him blind for the world around him and had poked him with a burning hot metal pipe. The high temperature scorching his skin and making very painful burns. His body was already covered in cuts what made the burns only more painful.
Beyond did this with a reason for once. He asked every time before he burned his skin what he did to betray their hiding place. He had resisted the urge to tell everything after he felt the hot metal against his skin for the first time. But there's only so much he can take. After many other burns he told about the sedative's weak point. He was able to move his eyes and could use Morse code to communicate through the webcam when Beyond held his head up. The man had laughed when he heard how he did it. He had laughed... but Near could tell he was pissed that he hadn't thought about that little detail. Fortunately the torturing stopped and Beyond had dragged him back to his room.
He almost managed to fall asleep on the bed when the only light source on the ceiling turned on. Near's eyes flew open and had to blink a few times against the sudden light. There was probably a light switch on the other end of the door, because just after the light turned on Beyond entered the room, carrying a large plastic container filled with some green looking liquid.

'I think you're way to cosy here,' Beyond said while he walked towards the centre of the room and put the container down on the floor. 'You even got your own bed now, that's a whole upgrade if you tell me,' he continued.

Near thought it was better to say nothing back and stayed on his bed, watching Beyond carefully.

What's in that container? Do I have to drink it maybe?

'If you ask me it's more than you deserve after giving away our last hiding place, don't you think?'
Beyond's red eyes pierced almost through his own dark orbs as he glared expectantly at him, waiting for an answer.

Near hesitated with his answer and Beyond looked like he wasn't in one of his happy moods. 'Answer,' he hissed.

'Uhm... I..I think... maybe?' Near stammered quickly.

Beyond snorted. 'Pathetic.'

He threw the blanket off Near and flipped him over on his stomach. Without giving an explanation his wrists were tied together behind his back once again. Beyond grabbed him by an arm and pulled him roughly to his feet, dragging him to the mysterious container. Beyond pushed Near to his knees in front of it and kept a hold on the back of his head. Near could feel his fingers entangling in his white hair.
Near's eyes widened in shock when figured out what would going to happen. Just in time he took a deep breath before Beyond pushed his head forwards right into the large container. He had closed his eyes in a reflex and tried to keep the air in his lungs as long as he could. After about a minute Beyond pulled him back.
Near gasped for more air and felt relieved when fresh air entered his lungs. Beyond simply let out a short cruel laugh and pushed his head back in the container before he could take a deep breath as he did before. Now he hadn't any air in his lungs at all! He tried to struggle his head out of the strong grip of Beyond, but as all other times he was too weak to compare with the older man's strength.

I need air, NOW! My lungs feel like they are going to explode!

Near couldn't stop it any longer and after the minute was almost over he opened his mouth to breath. Unfortunately his head was still being hold into the greenish liquid. His eyes flew open and widened when he felt some of the liquid going where it does not belong. It tasted like poison, a sharp bitter taste.
Finally what seemed like an eternity his head was pulled back up and he coughed violently to remove the awful substance from his body. Though it didn't take long before his head disappeared in the container for another time… and another… and another and so on.

My head is spinning… my lungs and throat are burning… and… and…

...

What was I thinking again?

...

Why am I wet?

...

What am I doing here?

After some time he didn't know what was up or down. The repeatedly submerge in the container with the strange liquid caused his thoughts to be hazy.
Finally Beyond released his head and Near fell backwards flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling. His eyes didn't seem to focus.
Beyond's face appeared above him while he tried to see more clearly.

A grin spread across his face. 'Everything alright, Near?'

The boy looked confused up while he tried to understand the question he was asked. 'What am I doing here?' he asked in a small voice. 'This is not Wammy House?'

Beyond reached out for him and held him up by his shoulders. Him the only reason that Near managed to sit up and not fell down again.
'Did you forget, my little Near?' he said in a serious voice. 'Wammy House is the reason you're here.'

Near frowned in confusion. 'Why?

'Because L is a terrible person who did terrible things to his successors.'

'Terrible things?'

'Yes,' Beyond nodded. 'He doesn't care about them, far from caring. His successors are just replacements would he die. That means he doesn't give anything about you too…'

'But… I remember him searching for me…' Near said sadly. He looked at the ground. 'Him and… two others.'

'Lies, Near. Those are all lies,' Beyond said. 'They only want you back because you know too much about L… about Wammy's.'

Near looked up at Beyond, puzzlement clear in his still slightly unfocused eyes. 'Really?'

'Yes, Near. 'You're just too dangerous for them to let loose. If they ever take you back there you're just a pawn again. A pawn in L's game of chess.'

Beyond went on with his manipulation for a while, while Near had no idea what was true and what was false. Until the white haired boy fell asleep of fatigue. His dreams a confusing mess, thoughts were mixed up and his mind was a chaos.

I got the idea of the greenish liquid from Black Butler season 2 ep. 9.
It looked like it messed up some memories and made Ciel go hazy.