What could be worse for a brother than watching his younger sister swing between life and death right before his eyes, while he stands helpless, unable to ease her pain?
In one of the wards of Auka Hospital, a girl named Liya lay in a coma, oblivious to everything happening around her.
The lights in the ward were dim, and moonlight streamed in through the window. Beside the bed stood a boy, his eyes red, veins bulging with anger as if they might burst any moment.
Tears streamed down his face. The anguish and fury Dane felt upon seeing Liya in that condition were clearly reflected in his eyes.
After all, Liya was the only family Dane had left in this entire world. A few years ago, their parents had committed suicide due to overwhelming debt, leaving all the burdens on Dane and his younger sister.
Dane had no money, his savings were depleting, and every day, loan sharks' thugs knocked on their door. This pushed Dane to quit his studies and start working.
The contractor at his labor site suggested he move to the city for better-paying jobs. Left with no choice, Dane entrusted his younger sister to a neighbor and moved to the city, taking on any work he could find to send money to the loan sharks and cover Liya's expenses.
For three years, Dane had worked tirelessly in the city without a single day off. He couldn't visit home even once.
But that morning, a call came out of the blue: Liya was in the hospital, in a coma. Without hesitation, Dane dropped everything and rushed back.
"What happened to you? Wake up and tell your brother," Dane whispered, sitting on the bed, clutching his sister's feet.
"This is all my fault. I couldn't keep you safe. If I hadn't gone to the city to work, none of this would have happened."
He began blaming himself, consumed by guilt. He didn't know how Liya had ended up in this condition. Even the doctors couldn't provide any answers.
While Dane was lost in his guilt and sorrow, the ward's door suddenly slammed open, startling him. The sound echoed in the room, intensifying the night's eerie silence.
Dane turned around to see three or four men barging into the room.
They looked like gangsters, with thick silver chains around their necks, dyed hair, and weapons like baseball bats and knives in their hands. It was clear they weren't there with good intentions.
"W–Who are you? And how did you get in here?" Dane stepped away from the bed, fear gripping him as he faced the men.
"Aw, the kid's scared. But who are you? Are you this bitch's boyfriend or something?" one of the men sneered, laughing as he turned to his companions.
"Don't call her that! She's my sister!" Dane stammered, too frightened to make eye contact. He had always been a timid boy, bullied throughout school.
"Look at him; he can't even meet our eyes. That's the kind of fear we like to see," the leader mocked, stepping closer to Dane and flicking his forehead hard. "So, brother, tell me—where's she hidden it?"
Confused, Dane stammered, "W-What are you talking about? I don't understand." His response only enraged the men further. The leader raised his hand and slapped Dane hard across the face, the sound reverberating through the room.
Dane clutched his cheek, standing silently with his head bowed, which only seemed to frustrate the men more.
"What are you all standing around for? Search this bitch and see if she's hidden it on her body!" the leader barked, motioning toward Liya. At his command, the other men approached the unconscious girl.
"She's quite the looker, isn't she?" one of them commented, reaching for the sheet covering Liya. Just as he was about to pull it off, Dane grabbed his hand and pushed him away.
"Stay away from my sister! Don't even think about touching her, or I'll kill you!" Dane yelled, trembling with anger.
The leader responded by kicking Dane hard, sending him sprawling to the floor. Blood trickled from Dane's mouth, but he staggered to his feet, positioning himself protectively in front of his sister.
This act of defiance only enraged the men further. They grabbed Dane by the hair, dragged him out of the room, and left Liya alone. Dane didn't resist; he had no strength left.
The men dragged Dane to a secluded hilltop and beat him mercilessly, leaving him on the verge of death. Afterward, they lit cigarettes, casually discussing their next move.
"Puff… That coward dared to stand up to us. Let's bury him here and head back to that bitch," the leader said, exhaling smoke as he glanced toward Dane.
But as he looked, he froze. Dane, who had been lying motionless just moments ago, was now standing. Cracking his neck, he seemed completely unscathed.
The boy says, "This bastard has so much guts that he's standing even after taking such a beating. Maybe now it's time to end his game." He walks towards Dane.
As the boy is about to punch Dane, Dane grabs his hand tightly.