"Oh, little Ptelly," The Boss tugs gently on one strand of her hair, "Big brother Ambrose is right, you know? I'm not going to kill you straight away." He pets her head condescendingly. "What I'm going to do is so much worse. So every time you're beaten or feel pain within the few hours of your life, I want you to remember your brother standing here and denying your right to freedom." With that, he raises his hand to address the guards. "Take the girl away to the Dark Room! Take the boy to the viewing room!"

The Boss plainly had finished listening to the both of them, because he spoke with utter disregard for Ambrose's words. "We'll try this again in a bit, yes? I'm going to have a cup of peppermint tea. Oh, or maybe I'll have some lemon sherbets!" He laughs as he walks away.

The guards begin to take the siblings in two opposite directions.

"Heart don't pay mate." Ambrose's guard grumbles and carries him away.

Ptelea's guard found the whole process much easier, like picking up a limp doll and carrying it away. He took her to a square grey room, which true to its name was quite dark, furnished only by an uncomfortable metal chair, a video camera and a weak light globe. The guard chains Ptelea's ankles and wrists to the chair before clearing his throat. "Your treatment will begin shortly."

Ambrose's guard sighs at the effort it's taking to drag him. "C'mon kid, give it up. You're gonna miss everything if you don't get to the viewing room in time. Don't you want to be there to root for your little sis or something?"

Ptelea was left alone for a few minutes before The Boss entered the room. His usual sleek cloak and small glasses had been replaced by a plastic white lab coat and thick safety goggles. "Ptelea!" He crows happily, "so glad you could make it." He ushers an assistant into the room who pushes a cart of miscellaneous tools including knives, saws and a bat. "How are you feeling today?"

Ambrose's guard doesn't reply but is grateful for his decreased struggles. He manages to take Ambrose to the viewing room. It was practically identical to the Dark Room with a single chair, grey walls and dim lightning. The only difference was that there was a small monitor. Ptelea was visible on the screen, as were her tear streaked cheeks.

"Oh, I'm sorry my dear." The Boss takes out a handkerchief and wipes the tears away from one of her cheeks, "Truly, I wanted a better outcome than this. If only your big brother had given me another choice." The Boss pulls back and admires the selection of tools he has on offer. "My, my, did you see the way he chose that group of nobodies over you? I feel for you my child, I really do." He waved at the camera. "How are you doing Ambrose? Do you feel safe and sound whilst your sister suffers?"

The guard shrugs, "Sorry mate, it's one way only. They can't hear you." He stands indifferently behind the chair.

"Don't I?" The Boss asks, smiling uncomfortably at her. "That's strange. I swear I just watched it happen exactly as I said! Trust me my dear, big brother Ambrose knew exactly what he was getting into. Now..." He gestures to the assistant who had come in with him. It was a slight man who nonetheless looked quite strong. "I'd like to introduce you to my grand-nephew Geoffrey. Say hi Geoffrey!"

Geoffrey says nothing.

"I just be a guard, but even I can tell that you being able to comfort her would be beside the point." The guard scoffs and watches the screen with disinterest.

Geoffrey still says nothing.

"Geoffrey here is all muscle and no, well, anything else." The Boss chuckles and heartily slaps him on the shoulder. "Ah, I kid Geffy. I wonder what you'll shift into, hm?" He bends down to be at eye level with Ptelea. "You see, there's somethings my old hands can't do." He holds up his shaking fingers to her eyes. "I think I'll be fine with those tool, but there's something special about starting a treatment with bare skin to bare skin." He taps her wrist. "Geoffrey, twist it, if you please."

Geoffrey grabs Ptelea's wrist and twists it until the skin is red and raw.

The Boss meanwhile takes out his list and begins pulling all manner of things out from the trolley - sharp pins, a lead pipe, salt water, pliers... The pile fills up in the full view of Ambrose.

"Geez kid, you gonna let him do that to a little girl?" Ambrose's guard says disapprovingly.

Geoffrey continues to twist until The Boss holds his hand up to tell him to stop.

The Boss suddenly pulls out a wooden board from the trolley and hands it to Geoffrey. "And... Throw it down on this."

The guard shakes his head. "That's cold, mate. I don't know if you've noticed this, but your friends aren't the ones in trouble right now. Your sister is." He stares at the screen. "There ain't anything I wouldn't do for my family."

Geoffrey grabs the red wrist and slams it down onto the wooden board with a large amount of force.

The Boss watches calmly.

The guard winces at the sound of the wrist hitting the board. "I dunno, mate. You see, The Boss has taken a few of your kind before and really pushed the limit. They survived but, well, they were older. Your sister's what, eight? Nine? I'm sure your friends would fair better."