Blood dripped onto the cold hard stone beneath him, running from the various lacerations and incisions on his body. Killua's head lulled, his breath heaving from the adrenaline that had long since stopped coursing through his veins. His wrists shackled to thick chains attached to the ceiling, holding him aloft and rendering his arms numb. The sharp claws of pain stabbed through his body, every inch of him felt like it was on fire. The spindly man standing in front of him was cleaning the tools he'd used to inflict such pain on Killua, humming a soft tune under his breath. "You managed to last eight and a half hours kid, gotta say I'm impressed." Killua stared blankly at the blood spattered stone floor below him. "I've experienced more excruciating pain before..."

The man brushed the dark hair out of his eyes, peering curiously at Killua's face. "Hm? I sincerely doubt that, I'm the most talented person I know in my craft. In Japan, at least. No need to act tough youngin." A soft chuckle escaped the white haired boy's lips. "Amature...a professional would've had tears streaming down my face in six..." He felt a tangy viscosity on his tongue and spat out the blood pooling in his mouth. The man stiffened, obviously growing irritated. He made a show of sharpening a large cleaver on his rack of torture instruments, in a sort of threat. "I'd watch your words if I were you, boy. Your older brother made it clear I could go as harsh as I wanted on you." he cracked a smile, the chipped and yellowed teeth sharply protruding from his crooked jaw. "You're lucky really, I went easy on you because you were a mere boy."

Boy? Killua wasn't a mere boy, he was nearly fifteen. Although, he supposed he'd never really been a little boy. Boys got to play in the dirt, and climb trees. Instead he'd spent his entire childhood working, doing his parent's bidding. He was an assassin from birth, and always would be. No matter how hard he tried... "That's enough, Sachiko." A cold, monotone voice said. Soft footsteps echoed in the room as a tall lithe figure walked in. Long flowing hair, a silky black canopy strongly contrasting to his pale face. Killua's head slowly lifted at his older brother's voice, meeting his empty black eyes with his own dull sapphires. "I hate to see you like this, little brother. That boy altered the way you think, quite a problem indeed. You mustn't let the words of an unimportant stranger alter your values."

Illumi was obviously speaking of Gon, the boy Killua had grown very attached to since running away from home around three years prior. The one he'd been captivated by since the moment they'd met, the boy who'd been the first ever person to show Killua true compassion instead of the twisted sense of love that he'd gotten far too used to. Killua didn't answer his brother, he couldn't muster a response that wouldn't result in longer time in this dark room that never ceased to smell of blood and toxins. Illumi removed him from the shackles, and beckoned for him to follow. Killua obliged, refusing to even look in his older brother's direction. It was the only passive resistance he really could do.

His father may have allowed him to walk his own path, however that only lasted for around a year and a half before he decided Killua's independent phase was over. He was ordered back home, and torn away from the light he'd tried so hard to cling onto. His freedom was ripped away, and so was the potential of him ever living even a somewhat normal life. Illumi's hand gripped his jaw, forcing his head sharply towards the taller male. "Kil, why won't you look me in the eye?" Killua still refused to look at him. "Until the day you allow me to live my own life without hovering over my shoulder, I refuse." Illumi's grip tightened like a vice, and he immediately regretted speaking. "Then you've given me no choice." he spat, the weight of those words made his veins run cold. Shit, I think I just made it worse for myself... Illumi drew a long, thin needle out of his clothing, resting the cold sharp point against his neck. "You will take your rightful place in this family."

"Even if I have to make you."

804 words

To be continued...

Hey shippers! i decided to do something different haha! instead of a teaser yall get a whole ass prologue! the book wont come out until i have at least 5 backup chapters, which could be a few days, or could be a few weeks. really just depends on timing and motivation. feel free to comment your thoughts and questions down below!