In the cold winter, the city was busy as people were walking everywhere without minding if they pushed people out of their path.

At the outskirts of the city, the slums. There were drunk men walking from one bar to another. In the dark alleys, you could see people dealing drugs to earn money.

But, all these had nothing to do with the child who saw all this.

The child who has seen these things day in and day out was just a little kid not even 10 years old.

That kid was special, he was wrapped in a thin dark cloak. His hair was messy and dirty but it still held its silver glance. His eyes glanced at everything but showing no emotions.

That kid walked past everything, he walked to where he lived. He glanced at the building he lived in, it looked like a crude building which nobody has cleansed for over a decade. Making it seem like it would collapse if it encountered a storm.

The kid entered the crude building where he would usually sleep, the only reason he managed to find this place was that no one dared to enter this ‘haunted’ house.

The child could remember having a name which he got when he was born, he was always called the same thing by others. Shin – that’s what everyone called him, so that should be his name, right? That was at least how the kid thought.

Shin walked sloppily in as he fell on the floor.

Shin took his right arm out of the cloak, a single piece of rotten bread. He smiled faintly as he could finally eat something. He lifted the piece of rotten bread to his mouth, trying to chew the rock-hard bread. As he was chewing it, he saw a pool of muddy water on the ground, he crawled towards it. Shin slurped the filthy water, trying to make the hard bread a little squishy.

After biting the rotten bread and drinking the dirty water, he finally sat down on the floor. Shin didn’t do anything, he just sat there silently, staring at the wall with no expression.

Shin knew that they would visit him tonight too, he didn’t have any choice either. He has nowhere else to stay at and he couldn’t find food by himself.

Time passed as Shin was just silently waiting, the sun went down as the sky turned darker and darker.

“I wonder how much food I will get this time…”

Shin whispered to himself while thinking that they would arrive soon enough. Even so, his voice didn’t contain anger, joy or sadness, Shin’s face was just blank too, like his eyes.

Shin had a wish, it wasn’t a grand wish, it was a rather simple wish too.

“I, I wish to see the sunrise.”

Betraying everything his face and voice expressed, Shin just wanted to live for one more day.

This was something Shin had always said as the sky turned dark, he would never know if he could live to see the sunrise.

“Hey! Shitty brat, are you here?!”

“Get out here kiddo, are you not coming to welcome us?”

“Hehe, kid, we’re here tonight too.”

Shin could hear three men speaking loudly as they entered the place where he lived.

He turned around to look at them.

Three men, they all were in their late 30s. They wore a sadistic smile while staring at Shin, laughing like they were crazy.

“Brat, are you not going to talk?!”

The man in the middle with black hair walked closer to Shin, he raised his right leg as he brutally kicked Shin’s face.

Shin who got kicked got smashed down to the ground heavily, he could taste blood in his mouth as he tried to forcefully swallow it down.

“Hey Simon, don’t start without us!”

The one to the right of Simon laughed as he also walked closer to Shin.

“Hehe, I’m sorry Larry. But, this shitty brat didn’t welcome us, so I’m teaching him some manners.”

“Right right, I will also help you teach him some manners.”

Larry said with a taunt, his lips curved upwards as he walked closer to Shin.

Shin who had managed to sit up again glanced at Larry which was walking towards him now.

“Hey kiddo, let me teach you some manners, alright?”

Larry spoke while laughing in the end. He grabbed Shin’s hair and raising his body up, making Shin scream in agony.

Larry looked Shin who was squirming around, he raised his left hand and punched Shin’s cheeks, which made Shin fly and smash down on the ground again.

Shin fell again and curled himself up into a ball as he didn’t want to feel more pain any longer.

“Don’t be so rough on the little kid, the fun is just starting.”

The last person walked towards Larry and Simon, his eyes had a glint of savageness while staring at Shin who was currently curled up in a ball on the ground.

“Hehe, sorry Serrus. Do you want to start?”

Simon asked Serrus while laughing, he couldn’t wait for his turn to begin.

“Of course, I will start.”

Serrus walked towards the curled-up Shin and spoke casually.

“Hey kid, if you don’t sit up, I will kill you.”

Serrus didn’t forget to threaten the little boy with his life, they did find out that this little punk didn’t want to die and it worked well to threaten him with it.

As Serrus guessed, the moment he finished speaking, Shin stiffly sat again.

Shin would do anything just to survive.

Shin had a single question that he wants to be answered, but that question was not for these men. Therefore, Shin had to survive until he could ask the question to the person he has been waiting for.

“Well, do come here boy.”

Serrus raised Shin on his feet as he pushed him towards a chair, letting him sit on it.

“Now, give me your hand. I will let you pick which hand today.”

Serrus wanted to sound generous, but, he was still showing a sadistic smile.

Shin who obviously knew what was going to happen, stared at his hands.

His left hand that had just recovered while his right hand hasn’t been injured for a while.

Shin raised his right hand.

“Hehe, seems like it will be your right hand this time.”

Serrus laughed while he grabbed Shin’s right hand. He placed Shin’s hand on the table which was in the corner of the room.

“Give me the stuff we brought.”

Serrus ordered Simon and Larry as he was still going to enjoy his fun.

Simon and Larry nodded while going back to the entrance, picking up the bags they brought along.

“Here you go, Serrus.”

Both just handed their bags to Serrus as they sat back, wanting to enjoy the show.

Serrus went through the bags, picking the few things he wanted to play with.

Shin who was looking at Serrus taking out a few things made him slightly tremble. But, Shin only breathed heavily while glaring at his own right hand worriedly.

“Boy, are you ready for some fun?”

Serrus stood across Shin, he placed a tool on the table near Shin’s hands. What he placed on the table was a hammer, Shin didn’t speak at all but his eyes widened up.

Shin tried to pull back his hand when he saw the hammer, but Serrus grabbed Shin’s small hand roughly.

“Don’t try to escape, kid.”

Serrus placed Shin’s hand on the table, not letting him move it. He used his other hand to pick up the hammer while laughing without any care.

Shin saw that the man raised the hammer up. Shin didn’t dare to watch at all, he closed his eyes tightly. He just waited for the pain to arrive.

Serrus which held the hammer raised up, looked at the fragile hand on the table. He smiled even more as he struck down the hammer with all his might towards the fragile hand.

“Bang!”

“Snap!”

“UWAAAAAAHHH!!!!”

Shin could feel his hand being crushed by the hammer he roared out in pain. Shin couldn’t take it anymore as he grabbed his right hand and fell down again on the floor, rolling around while tears emerging from his eyes.

“Uwaaaa!!”

“Ou ou uwaa!!”

Shin screamed as he saw his right hand destroyed. He could see that his bones were broken and blood was everywhere.

“Hahaha, scream more for me!”

Serrus kicked Shin’s stomach as he laughed in pleasure, seeing the kid wailing and rolling around.

“We’re just starting, don’t get weak on me already.”

“Hey, you two! Put him on the chair again!”

Serrus yelled at Simon and Larry as he wanted to have more fun.

“Haha, sure boss!”

Simon laughed happily as he was enjoying the show.

“Little brat, stand up!”

Shin which had barely managed to calm down got kicked again. Simon kicked Shin’s back without holding anything back, making Shin cough up blood as he felt the pain.

Simon grabbed Shin’s face as he dragged him towards the chair again, Simon raised Shin’s whole body and shoved him on the chair before leaving to sit in his spot again to enjoy the show.

Shin breathed heavily as he felt pain throughout his body, he could barely keep his eyes open as he just wanted to faint right now.

But before Shin could even close his eyes, he felt something hard slap his face.

Serrus slapped Shin when he saw that Shin was going to faint.

“Hehe, I won’t let you sleep yet.”

He raised his hand once more and slapped Shin a couple of times. When he finally stopped, he could see Shin’s face turning bright red and blood running down his lips.

“Ugh.”

Shin looked hazily up at Serrus while groaning.

“Bastard, don’t look at me like that!”

Serrus punched Shin’s face pushing him back in his chair. But, he didn’t stop, he stood right in front of him, holding his shoulder with his left hand while punching his face with his right hand.

“You got that bastard? Don’t look at me like that!”

Serrus angrily roared while he continued punching Shin.

“Y-y-yes”

Shin could only weakly reply while getting beaten. He could only see red through his eyes.

“Hump!”

Serrus stopped punching him after he saw Shin’s face covered with blood. He looked at the table again, lifting the hammer which was dropped on it. Serrus forcibly grabbed Shin’s right hand, placing it on the table again. A crude smile appeared on Serrus’s face as he lifted the hammer again before striking it on Shin’s hand.

“Uwaaaahh!!!”

Shin could feel his hand being crushed by the hammer, Shin tried to pull his arm back but couldn’t under the pressure of Serrus.

“Hahahaha”

Serrus just laughed while lifting the hammer again and using all his might to hit Shin’s hand which was twitching on the table.

Serrus didn’t stop, he raised it and hit it down on Shin’s hand over and over.

After seeing Shin’s hand being mutilated, every single of his bones in his hand was crushed, did Serrus finally stop. He threw the hammer away while looking at the panting boy.

“n-no… stop… I don’t want it anymore…”

Shin cried as he was whispering to comfort himself, Shin’s eyes were blank as his mind was in trance after being in that much of pain.

“Hey, you two, it’s your turn now.”

Serrus finally stopped after he saw how bad state Shin was in. But he didn’t care about that at all, he was just smiling cruelly while seeing him like that.

“Yeah, it’s our turn now, haha.”

Simon laughed happily as he stood up, Larry which had been silently watching also stood up and walked behind Simon.

Simon stood in front of Shin, seeing him whisper something over and over to himself.

“Hey, brat!”

Shin didn’t answer, he was just murmuring repeatedly, wanting to be somewhere else than here.

Simon’s face twitched as he was ignored, he grabbed Shin’s hair and threw him on the floor.

“Thud”

Shin finally awakened from his daze, he glanced back at Simon in fear. Shin hurriedly tried to crawl away from them using his left arm and legs.

“Brat, don’t think about escaping!”

Simon used his heavy boot to trample Shin’s back.

Shin once again heavily felt being crushed as he was being trampled by Simon.

“Ugh…”

Shin managed to only weakly groan as he was being stepped on, he couldn’t think how many times he felt it, but it didn’t stop.

“Hey, let me come too.”

Larry glared at Simon repeatedly trampling Shin on the floor while having a fresh smile on his face. Larry tapped Simon’s shoulder as he was pushing him back.

“Kid, are you still alive?”

Larry could only laugh while staring at Shin trying to crawl away.

Shin couldn’t feel his lower body any longer, he had tears running down from the corner of his eyes as he was using his left hand trying to pull himself away from them.

Larry walked to Shin’s side as he stared at Shin, Larry then glanced at the tools they brought along. He left Shin as he was looking through the bags with tools.

“Well, what should we try using today, kid?”

Larry asked Shin with a tone filled with happiness as he was going through each tool.

“Ooh, what about this one?”

The tool Larry picked up was qilianbian (Note; qilianbian is a metal whip invented in China in the late 1900s. The lash is usually made of steel rods decreasing in size linked by smaller rings).

Larry looked at the whip as a smile emerged, he couldn’t hold himself back as he was letting the lash coil around on the floor. Larry walked slowly towards Shin, step by step, the metal whip got dragged behind him making a scraping sound.

Shin who could hear the scraping sound hurriedly glanced at the whip Larry was dragging, Shin’s eyes widened and he forgot to breathe. Fear could be seen all over Shin’s face as he made grinding sounds when biting his teeth together.

Shin hastily tried to crawl away from Larry, Shin could see the door one meter away from him. Shin could finally see some hope as he was dragging his body towards the door.

“Tap tap tap”

Larry deliberately walked slowly.

“Are you thinking of leaving?”

Larry mocked Shin as he grabbed Shin’s left leg and dragged him back.

“NO!! NOOOOOO!!!!”

Shin’s nails chipped as he tried to grab on the floor making a trace of blood run from every nail.

“NOOOO!!”

Shin could see himself being dragged further and further away from the door, screaming in pain as his last hope was being shattered.

“Hahahaha.”

Larry laughed as he uncoiled the whip, he glared down at Shin who was yelling out in pain. Larry let out a smile as he walked back a few steps before lashing out the whip towards Shin’s unprotected back.

The whip hurled while creating an ominous sound.

“Wh-tch!”

Shin could feel something sharp slashing his skin, Shin clenched his teeth and left fist while trying to endure the pain.

“Ugh!”

Weak groaning sounds could be heard as blood could be seen from where the whip hit.

Larry coiled the whip back again before he lashed out once again.

“Wh-tch!”

Again and again

“Wh-tch! Wh-tch!”

Larry finally stopped when he couldn’t hear Shin’s groaning anymore, he couldn’t even see Shin moving either. Larry could only barely see Shin’s fingers twitching.

Shin could barely feel his body anymore, his vision began turning black as he stared at the door trying to stretch his arm towards it.

Larry unhurriedly coiled the whip together while walking to the bags full of tools, he threw the whip in the bag again as he glanced through the items once again before sighing.

“There’s nothing fun to use…”

“Simon, Serrus, did any of you bring something fun to use?”

Larry asked with a smile while glancing at the two men enjoying the show.

Simon shook his head while pointing towards one of the bags.

“That’s all I brought this time, I can bring more stuff next time.”

Larry sighed once again while glancing at Serrus.

“You?”

Serrus smiled as he thought of something good then nodded with a shine in his eyes.

Serrus took off his jacket, placing it on the table. He zipped open the pocket, grabbing the item and pulling it out.

Larry’s eyes widened before laughing wickedly, he glared at the needle in Serrus’s hand.

“Serrus, what did you buy this time? Haha.”

Serrus spoke pridefully while looking at the needle filled with serum.

“Neuron amplifier. This one here will amplify all senses over 10 times!”

“Really?! Let’s use it right away.”

Serrus nodded as he walked towards Shin, crouching beside him. Serrus stabbed the needle on his neck and emptying the liquid in his body.

“Ugh!”

“…Wh-what’s t-this?!”

“Uwaa”

Shin groaned and screamed because he suddenly felt his whole body burning up in pain.

As Shin tried to overcome the pain, he felt a crushing pain destroying his ribs.

Shin landed on the floor face up, hazily looking at the two men kicking him repeatedly. Shin’s groaning weakened as his vision turned dark.

All that Shin could feel was a stabbing pain throughout his whole body. Shin’s breathing became heavier, his eyes were black, seeing nothing.

Serrus, Larry and Simon didn’t stop. They trampled Shin, threw his body against the walls and used knives to cut his skin while wearing a smile on their faces.

When they took a break, they could smell the room stank of sweat and blood. They also saw the first shine from the sun shining through the windows.

“Uh. I’m tired.”

“Yeah, it was tiresome.”

“Hehe, let’s go back.”

Simon, Larry and Serrus stretched their bodies as they put the tools in their bags.

Simon and Larry both picked up their own bags as they started walking towards the door.

“Hey, did anyone bring a piece of bread?”

Before they could leave, Serrus asked the two of them.

Simon shook his head as he used his hand to knock his head.

“No, I forgot.”

“What about you, Larry?”

Serrus asked Larry before Simon could finish speaking.

Larry nodded lightly as he remembered. He placed the bag on the floor once again and going through the extra pockets, grabbing a piece of bread covered with mould.

Larry glanced at Shin who was barely breathing before he threw the piece of rotten bread near his head.

“Don’t forget to eat, we don’t want you to die.”

Larry spoke those words with no sincerity before he walked out the door.

Simon and Serrus both followed him without looking back.

After Shin’s breathing turned a little better, his eyes started to see some colour too. He hastily looked around before he sighed in relief as he grabbed the piece of rotten bread with his left hand.

Shin managed to lean against the wall while the piece of rotten bread was still in his hand. He only stared at it with mixed emotions.

He finally looked up, Shin looked outside of the window, the sun rising from beyond the mountains. Shin once again looked down at the piece of bread again before lifting it towards his mouth.

“Ugh”

Shin groaned weakly as he tried to eat the bread.

Without him knowing, his dark eyes turned red. Inside of Shin’s body, his bones and ruptured blood vessels were mending at a quick pace.

Shin felt his pain lessen as he ate the bread while looking out the window.

He could only mumble weakly to himself as tears appeared and ran down his face.

“W-Why, why was I abandoned?…”