PROLOGUE

"Do you think we're stupid?"

Daniel woke up from the sound of hushed whispers and crashing glass. He groaned, cursing at whoever dared to disturb what little sleep he got. Having three jobs in a day can surely be a lot. But having three jobs, and having to take care of two teenage boys at the same time is almost suicidal.

It was only natural, for anyone living under the same condition as them to take up at least two jobs in a day just to get by. Of course it was tiring as fuck, to the point where you could barely feel any strength left by the end of the week. But that's just how things go there. With growing kids, and growing debts, he had no other choice but to drop out of school and take up another job.

Turning around, he tried to focus more on whatever's happening outside, rather than the sharp pain on his back. Applying as a mover was apparently a bad idea after all. But what can he do? It was the only job he was qualified for, and it was only a few blocks away from their house, so really, it wasn't that bad.

If only he could just stop 'pissing off' his new boss, then he wouldn't have had to suffer this much.

He shrugged.

He could never understand how the woman thinks anyway.

"So are you gonna pay us or not?"

Daniel didn't recognize the voice. But knowing his father, it must be one of the many drug buddies he's been dealing with lately. Must be another debt to be paid off.

Man, that's just great. Maybe he should start looking for a fourth job then.

He scoffed as he cloaked down the curling hatred that is forming on his gut. He had long told himself to give up on it, for it was already a lost cause. Sighing, he closed his eyes and forced his body to sleep, knowing all too well that if he doesn't let it rest for as much as it can, he would end up getting dead sick by the end of the week.

But it only took a while until he's back up again. The paper-thin walls of their house making it literally impossible for anyone to doze off. Daniel stared blankly at the ceiling. It's not as if he could just go out and tell them to fuck off. He ain't that stupid. So they just have to endure it until they decide to leave on their own.

"We've been here for what, almost an hour, and you still couldn't think of a way to pay us? Don't fucking make me call boss, idiot," another guy says.

Ahhh here we go again. Back to the same lines. They hear this same shit every fucking week, yet for some reason, his father never learns.

If it's any other neighborhood, he's sure somebody would've already called the cops. And they might even get a 'raise your fucking hands, you're under arrest for starving a child' thing afterwards.

Daniel scoffed. His neighbors would probably just stare at them like they're some sort of cockroaches crawling in the night.

"Stop! No, no, you know he's going to kill me this time," his dad whispered.

Daniel rolled his eyes. It was obviously an empty threat, but his father was either too stupid or too high to even notice it in the first place.

He got up and started massaging his aching head.

Honestly, Daniel couldn't remember clearly how and when it started. Maybe it was forgotten, he wasn't sure. All he remembers was waking up one night, with his mother gone, and his father dragging him to a nearby alleyway to 'get a job done'. He was probably already taking drugs by then, but he was still too young to remember it. Without really understanding anything, he just did what he's told to do—deliver a package to some guy and come back afterwards.

Seems simple.

Until you find yourself being held back by a bunch of uniformed cops on your way back.

He can still remember how much it terrified him back then, when they started taking him away. I mean, who wouldn't be scared of that? Much more when the questions started barging in.

Where did you get the drugs?

How old are you?

Who are you selling it for?

So instead of answering, he just cried.

What a dumb kid.

Guess he should've just told them the truth back then.

What's even more pathetic was how he got picked up the same night by his father himself.

What a fucking joke.

He wasn't sure how he did it without getting apprehended, or at least questioned for letting his kid out in the middle of the night, but it is how he remembers it. Maybe pulled up some tricks? He wouldn't know. He never used him again afterwards.

Or at least, that's what he remembers.

After that point, he could barely trust his own memory. It's almost as if everything was magically wiped away after that, leaving him with nothing but bits and pieces of incoherent past.

It messes through his mind.

He tried asking his father once about it, back when he was still too naive to understand how much the man hates him.

It only ended up with him being beaten into a pulp.

He chuckled.

It was an eye opening to him, making him realize just how cruel the world is to the likes of them.

Despite that, it still frightens him sometimes, not being able to remember some pieces of his past. Most times, he'd find himself wondering what happened back then that made him forget things like that.

Maybe a head injury? He felt up his head and pouts. He'll never know.

He was brought back from his musings when he heard the faint sound of his father's laugh. Raising his head, he wondered what the man's up to now. Maybe he had finally lost his mind? After all, no one in their right mind would provoke these dumbasses at this point in time.

"How can I forget," he clicked his tongue.

"I...I can give you a nice deal. A really nice deal, really," he added, his voice sounding so desperate, Daniel could barely stop himself from cringing too hard. It was so far from how it was just moments ago.

He clenched his fist. Just look how drugs can mess you up.

He was also confused at first, not sure what the old man was getting at.

Until he heard light footsteps coming through their door.

Blood drained from his face as realization slowly kicked in. Gripping his sheets tight, he tried to calm himself down, thinking of the many possibilities that could happen next; only to freak out when the thought of losing his brothers came up to his mind.

He cursed. Of course, of all the things that that man could think of, he really has to think of whoring them out.

Partly, he wanted to scream at the man for dragging them into his shit. But at the same time, he also wanted to scream at himself for not trying enough.

He laughed when he felt panic rising up. Just the right time to be like this when his brothers needed him the most. How fucking pathetic.

Balling his hands into fists, he forced himself to calm down. If his father sees him like this, it would only urge him to hurt them more.

He only hopes, that he wasn't planning on taking either Dean or Dylan.

He...wouldn't know what he'll do if he does that.

Almost instantly, he felt like it was a losing battle. It's pathetic, how they can only wait for anything to happen. Like they're some mere rats just waiting to be chopped off.

Yet at the same time, he thought—what can he really do?

Nothing.

It's not like he could save them if his father decides to sell them off.

Fight?

As if he'd ever get a chance.

He laughed again as he felt his throat closing up, furiously rubbing off the tears that're threatening to drop down from his eyes.

When that happens, all he'd be able to do is watch, as they get taken away from him.

A bitter smile ghosted his lips when he finally heard the soft click of his lock. It's almost funny how he felt so much relief just by hearing that little sound. Ridiculously funny, for someone who would only be sold off in a while.

From above his knees, he felt his fingernails digging painfully on his palm. Is he scared? Fuck shit he is.

He has always been...scared.

He let out a shaky laugh as he watched his father walk in.

But it's fine if it's like this.

No one else has to know that.

William paused in his steps, taking in his son's appearance. He knew he was awake. Almost sure he knows what will happen next. He was a clever boy after all, ever since he was young.

But he never would've expected him to look like this.

Eyes rimmed with tears, Daniel looked so vulnerable yet so dangerous at the same time, that it almost stopped him from going further inside.

Almost.

Until he caught sight of his trembling hands.

Smirking, he closed the door, and turned back around.

He's still a child after all.

"Don't look at me like that"

Daniel didn't even bat an eye.

"Don't touch them," he heard him say.

"Don't drag them into this, or you'll lose me," he added, before standing up and walking over to where his closet is.

Fishing out a crumpled note from his pocket, Daniel put it on a small pouch. It has all his personal details—contacts, passwords, pins, everything that is needed to access his account. 'Course it can only be accessed by Dylan and Dean, he made sure of that. If he was going to be whored up anyway, he might as well leave them something until they're legal enough to get a job.

Daniel was about to turn around when he felt his father's presence behind his back. He immediately tried moving away, sensing how the man was trying to corner him up. But it was not even a second later before he felt himself being shoved down face-first on the ground, with one arm twisted behind his back.

He yelped at the sudden pain.

"I just told you not to look at me like that," William leered, twisting his son's arm a little harder this time.

Daniel felt tears prickling his eyes as he bit back a sob.

Then just when he thought he couldn't hate him any further, he felt the man rub something behind his back.

Shocked from disgust, he gained all his strength, and shoved him away from him as hard as he can.

"You're fucking disgusting," he spat.

"Don't you fucking touch them, or I swear to God, I'll kill you."

William just scoffed at him. Stepping closer, he grabbed Daniel's jaw and made him look up at him in the eyes. William likes him like this, just like how much he likes his wife.

"You're the only one I ever wanted to touch."

A/N: Heya! Right, first of all, don't get things wrong guys this is not a father x son thing so calm your tits hahaha I ain't that dark. I just had to say that before anyone gets the wrong idea.