Mermaid Effect Chapter 4

Rand has always felt that perhaps Vincent has some kind of an Anxiety Neurosis disorder even though the person with anorexia nervosa is Rand, but as far as his mental state is concerned, Vincent is more like the person who has issues.

(TN: Some disorders that would fall under Anxiety Neurosis are panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder.)

Vincent has done this before, he would wake up one night and then start to inexplicably fall into a panic. It seems that as long as Rand is not in his line of sight and such, Rand, a man who has lived independently for nearly 30 years, will be met with some kind of accident like an unattended child, and this time too, Vincent was sure to send his own people, bodyguards, or even hire the mercenaries to take Rand back to him.

"I only wanted to make sure that you were alright."

Vincent incessantly repeated this line to the wrathful Rand.

Rand thought that those people would bring him back to Vincent's large house in the capital. But the night of this return from the Blue Moon Coast is destined to be different from the past. The people sent by Vincent actually brought him straight to a place he is familiar with.

The helicopter landed in the parking lot of the cheap apartment he rented out. Rand didn't question for once as to why there was not a single car in the parking lot.

Between the two bodyguards, Rand saw one with a Marine Corps dog tag on his wrists who then delivered Rand back to his apartment building.

When he left Vincent, Rand received a large sum of money, but due to some kind of indescribable repulsion, Rand did not intend to use Vincent's money. So he only had a small amount left of savings. This apartment is in the downtown area, despite being right next to a parking lot and a subway, it, however, is already the best apartment that he can afford⁠— despite it only having one room, a kitchen (refers to a second-hand espresso machine and an alcohol stove, which he has no way to use) that is in the cupboards, close to the closet, and furthermore there is also a dreadfully narrow bathroom where even the cat couldn't turn around in.

Rand actually thought the house wasn't too bad, but when he opened the door and saw Vincent, he still unavoidably felt very poor.

Lookswise, Vincent does not resemble Rand at all.

In a sense, Vincent's appearance even has a sense of horror that transcends beyond humanity. His facial features are almost impeccable, but his skin as deathly pale as a corpse, his hair is white, his eyelashes are also white, only his iris and pupil are the same b.l.o.o.d.y red.

There is no mistake, Vincent suffers from a severe case of albinism. When this kind of abnormal appearance is combined together with his elusive personality, it takes the shape of one who makes Rand feel exceptionally uneasy... His older brother.

Rand found it difficult to define his position on Vincent.

At this time, Vincent was sitting on Rand's bed, with a bottle of a 1940-year-old Romanée-Conti red wine, there was no gla.s.s of red wine, Vincent used Rand's coffee cup, and that d.a.m.n cup even had the logo of a low-cost supermarket emblazoned on it, naturally, it was a freebie.

After hearing the noise, Vincent looked up and his red eyes fixed on the rigid Rand.

"Rand."

He called out Rand's name and stood up to approach him.

He reached out and gently stroked Rand's face in a way that one would caress a six-year-old child, examining Rand all over.

Rand sucked in a deep breath, that familiar feeling came again, a sense of nausea mixed with a feeling of terror, his back immediately erupted in tiny gooseb.u.mps.

But in his experience of interacting with Vincent in the past compelled him to have no choice but to endure Vincent's "examination."

"I'm good, Vincent, there's nothing wrong with me, I swear."

He cautiously avoided Vincent in a subtle way, but G.o.d knows how Vincent found him out, he accurately grabbed Rand's hand.

"You're hurt."

He spoke.

Rand felt his nerves tense up immediately, he quickly pulled his hand away.

"I just wasn't careful... I..."

"But you're hurt, Rand, you promised that you would take good care of yourself, but you haven't."

Vincent forcibly dragged Rand's hand over and pried open Rand's clenched fist finger by finger.

The cut was not that serious at all, only some of his epidermis was scratched, but Vincent stared at it like half of Rand's head was blown off by a bullet.

"This is just a little cut, It's all right, I-I was a little careless, but this is really nothing..."

Rand stammered in an attempt to ease Vincent's nervousness, but he was not even finished speaking his words when they came to a sudden halt.

Because Vincent caught him off guard and lowered his head, sticking his tongue out to lick at the palm of his hand.

"You f.u.c.king⁠—"

Rand jumped up uncontrollably, he shrieked and only after he recoiled back two steps did he calm down.

Vincent stood there shakily swaying, biting his lips nervously.

"I'm really sorry, Rand, I'm really sorry. I just saw that you were hurt."

He repeated this, he then drew back, sat down on the bed, and lifted the bottle and poured the wine into his mouth.

He looked to be a bit calmer.

Rand opened his mouth and he wanted to say something but in the end, he found himself unable to say anything.

That's right, here we go again.

He heard a voice in his head saying.

This would not be the first time... Rand's anorexia nervosa also has a major connection to this kind of thing.

Vincent's mental state has always been worrying (of course, the entire Sievers family has always suffered from the torment of mental illness), he will occasionally break out into unmanageable behaviors when agitated. For example, licking the blood off of Rand, biting his fingers...

Rand almost went crazy because of him until the Sievers Family's doctor, that kindly old man had told him that Vincent had suffered a psychological shock in his childhood and later developed a few dysfunctional behaviors. Soon after, he would come to barely tolerate Vincent's loss of control.

After all, Vincent always turns back to normal and apologizes rather quickly, and this time is the only time Rand can negotiate with him⁠— Using Vincent's loss of self-control as a bargaining chip.

"So, why are you here?"

Rand chose a corner farthest from Vincent, forcing himself to seem as if he hasn't noticed the other side's loss of control beforehand, trying his best to use a calm tone to ask questions.

"Come pick you up."

Vincent said.

"Vincent, I thought we had already talked about this..." Rand knitted his brows together and spoke, he felt that Vincent is having another panic episode, and he wanted to bring him back before he did.

"I acquired 'American National Information'," Vincent interrupted him. He raised his head and his motionless b.l.o.o.d.y eyes fell on Rand's body, "They are more suitable for you than Denny's Investigative, more specialized..."

"Wait, what are you saying?"

Rand stared at Vincent in a dumbstruck manner, an intensely foreboding premonition now floated in his thoughts.

"I acquired 'American National Information.'" Vincent spoke as if it was no big deal to buy a newspaper ranked within the top three circulations, "Their general headquarters are based in Kansas, I've prepared an apartment for you there. So long as you live it in it'll be fine. I know that you don't like to attract attention. I didn't disclose the relations.h.i.+p between us. You can go in as the vice-editor in chief. No one will order you around again, I promise."

He looked around at Rand's apartment and continue to open his mouth: "The furniture in the apartment is already in place. I originally wanted to ask if you wanted to pack the furniture you already had but... I don't think you need to."

Rand's complexion went ashen as he glared at him: "What made you think that I would want this? I just got here, settled down, I haven't even started anything... Moreover, why do you always decide on everything for me without any consultation?"

It's a routine quarrel. Rand looked at Vincent, being so entirely fed up nearly left him with no control over his emotions.

Vincent listened to all of his words in silence, then lifted his wrist and looked at his watch.

"The plane is about to take off. Do you need any Chinese-styled snacks for your airplane meal? It will take a while to get to Kansas."

"Vincent Sievers! I am not going, I've had enough of this! My G.o.d, why can't you let me live my own life? I am not your toy!"

"I never thought of you as my toy, Rand. You are my little brother, my only desire is to ensure that you will be alright."

" What do you mean by 'ensure I will be alright'? Just because I cut my hand at the beach, you're going to take me to Kansas?"

"I'm saying that I just want to make sure you are in an absolutely safe environment."

Vincent faced Rand with an unyielding tone.

"And here is no longer a suitable place."

He switched on his portable computer and opened to the news.

Only the distinct "dangerous and sealed off" yellow caution tape and the various lights flickering from a distance can be seen on the swaying image.

The young female reporter was bewildered in front of the camera and questioned on the premise, even she did not know why the Blue Moon Coast had suddenly been sealed off... After a few minutes, the camera screen intensely rocked, accompanied by the reporter's shriek.

Personnel of an unidentifiable division of the government s.n.a.t.c.hed the camera away and ultimately shut it off.

......

......

......

Rand grew silent.

He looked at from the news that ended its broadcast and looked up at Vincent.

"So... What happened?"

"Raw chemical materials leaked."

Vincent spoke in a sincere manner as if the answer he gave wasn't completely false in the slightest.

(TN: Yandere bro-con is back at it again Jesus. I wonder how our gong is being forgotten in a water bottle?)