WARNING: This is the other chapter why I put the rape/non-con warning. TW: SA of a minor. Discretion is advised. I tried to write it as less graphic as possible.

A little brother's sacrifice

The cell was quiet, the heavy silence broken only by Violet's shallow breathing. Dash stayed close, watching over her as she slept, his hand resting over hers. He could still see the faint tremor in her body, could see the lines of pain etched into her face even in sleep.

The cell door creaked open and two guards stepped in.

Dash's stomach turned cold.

One of them was him. The smiling one.

He had seen that grin before—every time he saw Violet. She was terrified of him, her eye went wide with dread, whenever this particular man entered. She had even warned him to never be alone with him. She had never said why, but Dash knew it was bad.

"She's still out cold," he muttered. Then he chuckled. "Man, she looks like hell. Guess the doc really tore her up this time."

Dash glared at him, gripping Violet's hand tighter.

The other guard leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Might not last another night."

"Exactly." The Smiling One grinned wider. "So, you want some fun before she kicks the bucket?"

Dash's heart stopped for a second. He didn't know exactly what they meant. Not really. But he felt it—something dark, something wrong.

The other guard shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know, man. If we play with her, we could kill her, and if they notice, we might get in trouble."

"Oh, come on. She's already half-dead. And if she doesn't make it, they'll just assume it was because of the vivisection. They won't know we did anything… unless you decide to talk."

The other guard snorted. "Nah. Not a snitch." He stayed leaned on the wall not wanting to participate but not stopping the other guard. If anything, he looked… amused. Curious. Like he wanted to watch.

Dash didn't fully understand what they meant, but every instinct screamed that it was bad.

Dangerous.

Dash stood up, stepping in front of her, fists at his sides. His heart pounded so hard it hurt.

"Stay away from her," he growled, his voice shaking.

The other guard grinned. "Look at this little guy." He said mockingly.

The smiling one took a step forward, towering over him, a twisted amusement dancing in his eyes. "You really think you can stop us?"

In an instant, Dash lunged, fueled by a surge of terror and anger, his body moving before his brain could catch up. He shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "Don't touch my sister!"

They couldn't touch her.

Not her.

One of his punches actually connected, and the Smiling one staggered back.

Dash felt a flicker of hope—

Then… a knee slammed into his stomach.

The air was knocked from his lungs. Dash collapsed to his knees, gasping, vision swimming.

Then… he felt a fist in his face.

Dash felt a sickening crack as his nose was broken with another punch. Blood poured into his mouth, but he barely tasted it. His head swam, but still, he tried to push himself up.

The other guard stepped forward, to join in. He hit him on his ribs.

The world blurred as the two guards ganged up on him, raining down blows. He barely felt himself hit the floor. His body curled instinctively, protecting his head as best he could, but they weren't stopping.

His ears rang. His body screamed in pain.

"You little shit!," the Smiling one muttered.

No longer smiling. His eyes were cold, almost empty. Each blow was a punishment, each one a reminder that Dash was powerless.

The other guard moved quickly, grabbing him by the arms and slamming him against the cold floor. He struggled with everything in him, using his legs to kick, his body writhing, but he couldn't free himself, the guard was heavier and stronger than him.

But when he saw the smiling guard step closer to Violet—still unconscious, still helpless—something inside him snapped.

"WAIT!"

His voice was desperate—raw. He barely recognized it as his own.

Both of the guards froze.

"I'll take her place!" he blurted out, his voice hoarse and desperate. "Whatever you were gonna do to her—do it to me instead!"

Dash's breath came out in ragged gasps, his head spinning. He didn't understand why he said it. But he understood that Violet was helpless. He couldn't live with himself if he let them hurt her again, after all she'd already been through so much.

If they had to hurt someone, let it be him.

The Smiling one turned to him, intrigued. He crouched down, gripping Dash's chin in a bruising hold, forcing him to look up.

"You?" The guard laughed, dark amusement in his voice. "Do you even know what we wanna do to her?"

Dash clenched his jaw. He was right, he didn't understand what, exactly, he was offering. But he also knew one thing with absolute certainty:

The last time he didn't offer up for something he didn't understand, Violet went through unbearable agony, leaving her on the brink of death.

Not this time.

"I don't care. Take me instead. Just… just leave her alone... Please." His voice cracked.

The other one shrugged. "Might be less risky. He's not half-dead."

The smiling guard's grin returned. "Heh… got yourself a deal, kid." He turned to his partner. "You in?"

"Nah, I'm good. He is all yours man." He said, releasing Dash and moving away, leaning against the nearest wall, as if he were preparing to enjoy a sick show.

Dash's pulse quickened, but as the guard dragged him to the far side of the cell, far enough that he couldn't see Violet, couldn't look to her for courage.

For a moment, Dash didn't quite grasp the guard's intent—but the glint in the man's eyes made panic surged through him, instinct screaming at him to run, to fight. But he thought of her, lying unconscious on the floor, bruised and broken, and he forced himself to stay still, forced himself to breathe. He clenched his teeth, digging his nails into his palms, steadying himself.

"Alright," The guard's grin grew wider, as he started to undo his own pants. "Let's have some fun, then."

Dash didn't know how much time had passed, everything seemed to stretch in a haze of pain and humiliation. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out everything, to disappear inside his mind, to pretend he was anywhere but here.

Every touch, every whispered taunt, every sickening glance sent spikes of revulsion through him, but he bit down on his lip, refusing to give them the satisfaction of his cries.

Eventually, the guard grew bored. He tossed him to the ground, laughing cruelly as they left him there, battered, bruised and his pants still down. The cell door slammed shut, and he lay there, shaking, his body aching, his mind numb with what he'd endured.

Dash remained on the floor for a few more minutes, his chest heaving with silent sobs. He felt hollow, shattered.

Broken.

Slowly, painfully, he turned his head.

Violet was still unconscious. Untouched.

He had stopped them.

He pulled up his pants and forced himself to move, to crawl back to Violet's side. She was still uncouncious, her breathing slow and shallow, unaware of what had just happened.

He collapsed beside her, his head resting against her shoulder. As the adrenaline faded, the physical and mental pain began to sink in, but he clenched his fists, pushing it aside. He had kept his promise, Violet was safe.

…

So... why he couldn't stop crying?