Kirie gripped Kai's hand tightly. Although he had been warned not to touch his older brother even slightly, he ignored it. It felt as though no one cared about him anymore. He was terrified, but he knew he couldn't afford to let fear take over.
Ever since he took hold of Kai's hand, his older brother had stopped groaning. Though faint, Kirie could still feel Kai's heartbeat. The young boy was certain that his brother was still alive, contrary to what everyone was saying.
"Kai, I'm here! So, don't be afraid!" he whispered. He hoped for a nod, or at the very least, a reciprocal squeeze, but there was nothing.
The door to the room where Kai was secluded had been left slightly ajar—a deliberate choice so that someone could monitor Kirie from the outside, just in case something terrible happened to either him or his brother.
