Hardened

Chapt 19

This fic is taking over my life.

Len
2 years earlier

Len didn't cry. He didn't plead for mercy. He didn't beg to die. He screamed until his throat was hoarse, he yelled obscenities and taunts, but never once did he cry or ask for mercy or death. He didn't move from the spot where he lay, curled up in a small ball. His torn, bloodstained clothes were dirty, his face caked with dried blood and dirt. His hair was bloody, dirty, tangled, and unkempt. He wished he had his hair tie.

His wrists and ankles hurt from the tight metal shackles that currently held him prisoner. He didn't know, but he was sure that his wrist was either broken or sprained. He knew for a fact that there was something wrong with his ribs and right ankle, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. His wounds stung. They were probably infected by now. It didn't really matter- they'd just make sure he doesn't die so they could continue on with the horrendous torture, his punishment for deceiving them.

Len regretted nothing.

His stomach wailed loudly and his mouth felt like the driest desert on Earth only 10 times worse. He was barely being kept alive, getting only small portions of bread every two days and a small drink of water every three days. A part of him had given up hope and just wanted to die already. Another part of him was determined to find a way to escape.

The rest of him just wanted to believe that this was just an elaborate, seriously messed up, horrible nightmare that he'd wake up from soon. Of course, that was the hopeful and foolish part of the Kagamine. He heard the door creak open but he didn't look up. He kept staring at the ground, waiting for a hand to roughly pull him up and force him to sit in that dreaded chair.

However, instead of that, the person stopped in front of him and set something down. It took Len a moment to realize that it was food. With that heavenly aroma, it was probably roasted chicken or something else. Slowly, he looked up to find he was right. On a rather large plate sat a small roasted chicken, next to it a rather tall glass of water. Corn and mashed potatoes with gravy and a few bread rolls surrounded the chicken. Len's mouth watered as he stared at the plate full of food. It took all of his willpower and common sense not to dig in like a barbarian.

"Well?" The man said. It was the same man that had been joyously causing Len pain for nearly three weeks. Taito. His messy violet hair covered his right eye, where a white medical patch was present. His other eye was violet as well, seeming to glow sadistically and maliciously in the light. He had a gauze wrapped around his head and another around his neck. He wore his black and purple jacket open, exposing his bare chest, which was covered with scars and various bloodied bandages. His arms and right hand were also bandaged and the purple scarf along with the coat was bloodied with both dry and fresh blood. "Are you not going to eat? Don't worry- it's not poisoned. Master wants you alive." Len raised his eyebrow.

"How do I know that you won't go against your master?" He replied suspiciously. Taito snarled, outrage shining in his eyes as he stepped forward and raised his hand. Len flinched, but didn't shrink back. After a minute, Taito lowered his hand.

"I am loyal to my master," He growled. "I would never dare to betray him. Now, hurry and eat, you mutt, or else I'll just take it away and have it for lunch instead."

"What if I just decide to starve to death just to piss you all off?" Len challenged, glaring. Taito's lips curled into a mocking sneer.

"Well, we won't let that happen."

"What if I make it happen?" Len told him. "I have a habit of messing things up..." Taito raised his eyebrows and took out a bloodied ice pick and stared at it, poking the edge with his finger. A bead of blood swelled up then spilled over, traveling down his hand then falling to the pristine white tiles.