Hi! This chapter is incredibly short, but I felt like this specifically needed to be by itself before I moved on. Next chapter is time skip.

Also this is moderately the same as Abuse, but after this chapter the two storys split for good. this version of the chapter in the story 'Abuse' has much more interaction with the hallucinations. Since that Tsuna is going to the asylum i tried to amp up her mental state more. this gals goung to be in society so i gotta keep her halfass sane. even just by a bit lol.

It was the faint sound of screaming and heavy thundering footsteps that woke her. She stayed glued to the ground. What was going on? That sounded like a lot of people. Her nails scratched at her arms. She couldn't even feel the new blood trickling over the scabs she had scratched off.

The yelling died down but she still heard voices. Too muffled to hear. Maybe papa was fighting his friends. The thumping of footsteps caused her head to pound with great intensity. She ruined her temples, wincing at the pressure on her fingertips. Her boredome causes her to pick at things. Her nails as well. Not that she could see, but her fingertips were raw, bloody, and cracked. She concentrated on the steps as they seemed to come closer to the basement door.

Suddenly the door at the top of the stairs was slammed open. She slowly pushed herself halfway up and squinted at the door. A bright flashlight immediately caused her to close her eyes and duck her head. She heard someone inhale sharply. "Oh my god."

The light flickered on. Tsuna peered at the person at the top of the stairs confused. Her eyesight was incredibly blurry. She rubbed her fists into her eyes trying to rub away the blur. The person at the top of the stairs was speaking quietly into a small device. He stared at her wide eyed. She faintly heard him ask for an ambulance. What was happening?

Tsuna's eyes widened slightly and she sat up fully and pushed herself against the wall. Drawing her knees close to her chest. Locking herself into a tight ball. Papa had only brought friends down here sometimes. Papa was always there with them though. Who was this? Did papa trust him? She didn't want papa to be angry at her for him being there.

The man at the top of the stairs very slowly walked down the stairs. He approached carefully with his hands up and palms facing outwards. He stopped a few feet from the girl. His throat constricting at the smell. His heart pumping feverishly at the site. The small girl was bare except for a blanket. Grime, blood, and excrement covered her body. The entire area around her was thick with goop between feces and urine.

The girl was only covered by that thin blanket and when she had curled into herself it fell off revealing her skeletal form. Her skin darkened with grime, pulled taught against her bones. It looked like she had open wounds and lacerations covering her body as well. Her eyes were wide and feral. Any hair on her head looks as though it's in one giant matted lump. He inwardly choked. Why would anyone do this?

"Can you speak?" Tsuna flinched at the words and stared. She tried to open her mouth but only a coarse cough came out. The man looked at the rope of the stairs where a few more police were. They all looked horrified. He made a motion with his hands and one of them slowly approached, bringing a blanket and water bottle. Tsuna greedily reached out as the man gave her the water. "My name is Tsuyoshi. Do you know what's going on?"

Tsuna sipped the water, wetting her mouth before she took a drink. It had been so long. So long since she had water. Her body desperately wanted to chug it but she barely held herself back. She had to treasure this. When would she get more? Tsuna eyed the man in front of her. The others at the top of the stairs had left. Had this man bought her? She dare not believe the uniform he wore. She had learned better.

Tsuna shook her head a slight bit. He smiled and Tsuna watched the man warily. He motioned towards the door. "Why don't I tell you more outside?" Tsuna winced. What cruel jokes they played. Tsuyoshi slowly approached and Tsuna flinched her head back against the wall, hard enough to make her dizzy. But suddenly something lightly set over her shoulders. He had put a blanket over her. She tried to draw away in confusion but his arms wrapped around her and he picked her up. "St-p….p..eesh"

Tsuna tried struggling. She really did. But her body couldn't do much. She could barely raise her arms so how could she get out of his grip. Her eyes widened. He was carrying her towards the stairs. What was going on? "Let's get you out of here." He started up the stairs. Panic. Fear. Whispers came from behind them. Whispers that seemed to envelope her even as they got closer to the door.

Tsuna for the first time and a long time felt tears well up. Was it true? Was this happening? This was so vivid could this really be a dream? This had to be fake. Unless she's finally dead? Maybe that's it! She's finally drawn her last breath and was being freed. "I'm…...b….lt...ot? 'M….b….leht ouh.." Her voice cracked. They passes the door frame. She sobbed. The whispering stopped.

Sobbing turned into loud wails. Her body limp in the policeman's arms as she cried. Her eyes stayed shut. Scared to open in case it was truly fake. They stayed shut as they passed the kitchen. The living room. The stairs. Eventually reaching the front door. "I'm going to put something over your eyes okay? I don't know how long it's been just to be safe."

Her wailing had died to sobs. She didn't react as something covered her eyes. Slowly opened one eye seeing cloth. It was so bright. She opened both eyes wide staring at the inside of the cloth. An array of colors blended through the fabric and she gasped. It was so pretty. This must be real. It has to be. But it can't be. There's no way it's TRUE. Her mind slowly caused all the noise around her to fade.

The loud sirens, voices yelling, distant chattering. The sound of someone talking to the man holding her. The sound of his rushed footsteps. She stared unblinking at the colors filtering through the cloth. Her senses narrowing down to the colors, and the soft yet strong beat of the man's heart. She was free. Right? 'You will never be free.'

It all came back into focus as she left the man's grip as she was placed on something soft. Panic reared through her as she grasped at the man not letting to let go. "Hold on there! Here." He pulled her against him and slowly sat down and pulled her next to him. "We are going to take that cover of your eyes okay? Very slowly now." The cloth pulled back slowly but to Tsuna it felt like thousands of years.

Everything around her took a moment to come into focus. A group of people behind a barricade of police vehicles. Cameras flashing. The chattering. The sirens suddenly so loud, the white of the cloth around her too bright. The sky too much. Too much. It was all too much. Her eyes squeezed closed and she whimpered. She felt his arms wrap around her. Warm. Gentle. Comforting. Did she even know what that meant?

"Its okay, slow and steady. You got this. Here, look at me." He gently tilted her head and leaned back. She slowly opened her eyes again. Her eyes locked on his face not leaving. Her breaths having slowed. He offered some more water. She accepted immediately. After a large drink she tried to grasp her bearings. "I- freeh? Not….go'in...ba-k?"

Tsuyoshi stared solemnly at the young girl. His heart ached. He had no clue what had happened but he knew, no one would ever be free from this. Not mentally. But hopefully she could learn how to live with it. He reached out and wiped the tears from her face. Along with it some grime that came of with the wetness. Her skin pale as a ghost underneath. He sucked in a breath. "Look up with me. You see the sky? See how free it is? That's you. Your free now. You can see this sky anytime you want to. You just need to look up."

Tsuyoshi teared up and he watched the girl stare up at the sky in awe. Her mouth slightly parted. She didn't even react as a paramedic tried checking over. Slowly Tsuna turned her head and what felt like the first time in her life, she smiled. Though small, and only for a moment it was there. "Than'...you." He gripped her small frail hand in his. Tsuna revelled in the warmth. Her mind slowly fading. The activity being taken much finally took a toll and she passed out. Tsuyoishi helped the paramedics lay her down. They yes looked stricken with horror and fear at the girls wellbeing.

And to think they never would have known she existed, if it wasn't for them proceeding with a drug bust. The adults. were caught and seized as soon as they entered the home. But they were searching through the rest of the house and had found the girl. They knew nothing of her, but after interrogating the adults that would soon change. He would make damn sure of it.

Did the feels get across? it didn't feel right to me but I wasn't sure how to rewrite that part lol. Some people might have preffered the original but oh well. RR!