Fionraella

The Two Sides

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"You misjudge me, Ambrose." The Boss looks angrily at him. "My heart is bigger than yours will ever be. This is for Harvey! And Anna! And Leena! And everyone of my children! And their children! And every member of my family!" He squeezes the top of his cane. "But especially Harvey." He looks to the sky as he begins to recount his memories. "Harvey was a golden retriever. More than anything he loved to run around. He told me he want his brothers and sisters to run and play with him..." He thrusts his arms out skyward. "He told me nothing could ever match the feeling of shifting! He told me he felt alone! And then one day..." he takes a deep breath, "Harvey couldn't run anymore." Suddenly the Boss strikes Ambrose with the end of his cane. "Harvey could never run again! And Harvey would never be with his siblings! And he'd never see them shift!" With each exclamation he struck Ambrose and then stops, panting. "But Harvey... My little golden retriever, lay in my lap in the backyard while his breath left him and asked me if his siblings would run with him someday... I will never retract that promise." His eyes filled with a fire. "You, Ambrose, will be my vessel. You will lead them to me and I will capture them like the cattle fodder they are."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose glares coldly at the boss. "Shriveled and black, like I said." He snarls, then cries out as he's hit by the cane. He whimpers softly in pain. "I'm never going to help you. You miserable, pathetic excuse for a father." He spits blood onto the ground then lifts his head to glare at the old man, but was unable to meet his gaze, so he looks down at the ground again. "I don't care how many fucking children you have. I don't care about any promises you made. Hell, I dont' care if you and your children never get to shift again. My friends are not cattle fodder, and I'm never going to help you find them. You'll have to kill me before I'll betray the trust of every single person I've ever met." He shivers slightly, as though anticipating another smack from the cane. "You've made comments about how I look like your son. And yet you hit and torture me. I have scars that will never go away because of you. I'm missing teeth because of your selfishness." He glances at his sister sadly. "You're going to hurt my sister because of your own foolish selfishness. That's on you. Not me." He spits at the old man once again. "Go to hell. I'm never going to help you."

The Two Sides

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

"Of course, Ambrose!" The Boss cackles, delighted that the boy was smart enough to finally figure out. "Oh, it took you a while, didn't it my son?" He stops his circling and stands in front of Ambrose. "You see, true suffering can never be found in the self. It has to come from those around you. A friendly facade is the perfect trick to find the one thing a person treasures more than the world." He slams his cane down. "You think I don't have the resources to find them? Of course I do!" He face scrunches up in anger. "Two years ago, we'd cornered a group just like that... But shifting groups are smart. They work together. They all escaped. I don't need a location. I need inside knowledge." His eyes stared into Ambrose's. "And you're going to give me that."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose flinches at the cane hitting the ground, but keeps his gaze level with the old man. "I'm not stupid sir. Even inside that black and shriveled heart, you still have some...twisted, distorted version of love. And I don't think your son would be happy if you hurt a little girl with his name." He lifts his chin a it. "You know about the Broms, and you know we shift. I think with those bits of information you should be able to figure it out. And if not...well I'd think the shifters should be able to live on their own if they can outsmart you."

The Two Sides

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"Ambrose, I don't have to do anything to little Ptelly." He speaks the nickname with malcontent. "It all depends on what choice you make right here." He begins to walk around Ambrose slowly, circling him like a vulture. "Why don't you tell me all about those friends of yours? Oh, and those enemies they call the Broms..."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose glances at his sister, before looking at the Boss. He shakes his head slowly, then firmly. "I'm not telling you anything." He puts his chin up in defiance of the old man. "I told you too much already. If you were as smart as you claim, you'd already be sending your goons to find them!" He then frowns, pondering that for a moment. "Wait...how did those two scientists know where to find ptelea? No one knew about the foster home except..." He pales. "You've been using me!"

The Two Sides

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"Let's see... what do I have in store for her?" Out of his pocket The Boss pulls out a small notepad. "I know I appear pretty 'high-tech' as you kids say these days with my smartphone and all, but I tell you, nothing is quite like the old pen and paper." He looks over the list he has written down and reads each out loud, painstakingly slow. "Wrists - we'll start there, no need for her to be opening any doors, you know? - and then legs, no need for her to be walking, followed by, hrmm a little cut to the tongue..." He turns his gaze back to Ambrose. "I can go on, you know? Oh, but you don't even know what I mean." He laughs a little. "Neither do I! Shall it be a knife? A bat? A hammer? I might switch it up a little..." He motions for the guard to remove Ambrose's gag to let him speak.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose glares coldly at the old man as the guard removes the gag. He leans forward and spits in the old man's face. "You don't fucking touch my sister." He snarls angrily. "Touch her and I'll kill you!" He shouts, glancing at his sister. "Ptelea, don't you worry, okay? I'm not going to let him hurt you." He promises, before looking back at the old man. "Do whatever you want to me. But don't hurt Ptelly."

Ptelea shivers as she listens to what the old man lists. She flinches and whimpers fearfully. She looks at her brother and sniffs. "I love you Rosey..." She cries, burying her face in her shoulder, sobbing.

The Two Sides

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"Now," The Boss spreads his hands out, his light tone resuming. "I want everyone here to treasure this moment, alright?" He swings the cane to point at Ptelea. "You remember seeing your dear big brother," he swings it to Ambrose, "you remember the last time seeing your sister in one piece," he puts his hand on his chest, "and I'll remember the moment that lead to me finally getting everything I ever wanted." His hand flies to his mouth. "Oh, did I let that bit about your sister slip?"

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose's eyes widen fearfully and he looks at his sister, then back at Boss. He shakes his head vigrously. No! He thinks, pulling again, trying to get away. He twists in turns in the man holding him's grasp, trying to reach his sister.

Ptelea's eyes well with tears. "W..what are you g..going to do to Rosey?" She asks, voice trembling. She looks at her big brother and begins crying. "All I wanted was a hug!" She sobs, shaking. "Please sir! I want to give Rosey a hug!"

The Two Sides

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"Oh, look at you, Ambrose!" The Boss walks over to the struggling boy and switches his voice to that of an overly happy man. "You've got that nasty little crinkle in your forehead. Harvey had that too! The similarities between the two of you never cease to amaze me." He sweeps the bottom of his cane up to Ambrose's forehead. "You must be wondering how you didn't see it, hm? Or perhaps why this is happening? Why am I doing this to you of all people? Why the experiments? The torture?" He leans to whisper into Ambrose's ear. "It's nothing personal to you, Ambrose. It's just alllllll about Harvey!" He stretches the all out and steps back, swinging his cane about happily. His stands still suddenly and drops stabs his cane into the ground. "Didn't you hear me say there's nothing I wouldn't do for my family?"

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose looks at the Boss, confused as all hell now. He flinches at the cane now at his forehead. He whimpers fearfully as the old man rambles on. I...I don't understand. He thinks, unable to speak the words out loud. His eyes burn with unshed tears as he keeps fighting against the man holding him back. He looks at his sister worriedly. Don't cry Ptelly, please don't cry. He thinks, trying to give her a small smile and failing. He looks back at the old man, feeling his heart sink. I don't...I don't understand... He thinks again, fear making its way into his heart. His heart twists and his stomach churns as he awaits whatever the old man has planned next...

The Two Sides

"Shut up, little man!" The guard holding Ambrose uses one hand to pull a gag out of his pocket and wraps it around Ambrose's mouth. "No talking to little sissie for you."

"Ohohoh..." The Boss notices the way that Ptelea is struggling. "So, this is her hmmmm?" He walks over to her at a slow pace, cane clacking painfully on the ground with every step. The parking lot was large and echoey, so her screams and each tap of that stick echoed about. When he reaches Ptelea, he takes her face in his her hand for a moment, squeezing her chin between his fingers. "What a cute face!" His innocent facade cracks and his voice turns cold. "Oh, but she doesn't look like any of my children." He drops the chin to slap her hard on her right cheek.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose growls against the gag and tries to bite the man as he wraps it around his mouth. He lifts his foot in an attempt to hit the man.

Ptelea looks up at the man as he walks over. She whimpers, trembling as he takes her face in his hand. She smiles warily at the comment about her cute face, but it disappears as his voice changes. She then cries out as he slaps her. Her cheek burns from the slap and she begins crying, shaking fearfully. "B....but why?!" She sobs, sniffling in pain. "Rosey help!"

Ambrose's expression turns from one of anger to shock and confusion as the Boss slaps his sister. He looks at him for a split second, in absolute disbelief, before pulling against the hold of his captor. "Ptel!" He says around the gag, trying to pull away. His face turns back into an expression of rage as he begins kicking at the man holding him back. He snarls and pulls as hard as he can, trying to get away.

The Two Sides

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The man holding Ambrose covers his mouth quickly and holds him tight while the other one only holds Ptelea back. "Not going to see him today," The guard holding Ptelea whispers into her ear.

The Boss calmly walks out of the building and comes to stand in the middle the two siblings who were only about five meters from each other. "Oh, look, the little girl is here. How nice," His voice is chuffed and maintains his kind old man facade.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose's face pales at his mouth being covered. He struggles against the man's grasp, quickly growing exhausted. He then looks at the old man and back at Ptela in confusion. He pulls at the man holding him. "Sir!" He says, his voice mumbled from being covered. "Help me!" He tries to say, glaring at the man angrily, who was holding his sister.

Ptelea whimpers. "P..please!" She cries out, trying to get away. "Rosey!" She sobs, trying to grab for her brother. "Please let me see him!" She whines, then notices the Boss. She whimpers fearfully. "P..please mister! I just want my brother! I just want to see Rosey!"

The Two Sides

"Exactly!" Brianna nods then looks over at Hunter for a moment, falling silent. "I wonder if we shall return to our own divisions? I admit, I have always enjoyed your intellectual company. You have a ruthless that I do not." She sighs. "Did you see me falter at the little girl? That is the burden of family. I could take a young boy without a care, but I see a child who looks like my niece and I fall apart."

Marik nods slowly, "I wish I could point out a good place for you, but as far as I know of the territory the place is filled with many trees prone to losing branches in heavy rain and snow." He thinks for a little bit. "And a rock." He looks over the river. "Even this place will freeze over eventually, but given your form, perhaps that won't be too much trouble."

From his vantage point, The Boss could see the siblings run to each other. "Take them now." he commands. Two guards come out and grab the both of them while The Boss presses the button for the lift and begins to head downwards.

@Hawksnest565

Ptelea squeals as she's grabbed. "Rosey!" She cries out, reaching for her brother.

Ambrose gasps as he's grabbed by one of the guards. He feels overwhelming panic, being so close yet so far from his sister. "No..." He whispers and begins struggling against the guard. "Let me go!" He snaps, looking at his sister painfully. "I'm right here Ptelly, it's okay!" He looks around for Boss, surely this was a mistake...

The Two Sides

The man stops the truck and waits for them all to exit. "Time to go, little one." He says.

Hunter listens to Brianna ramble on about the science of shifters. He noticed how Brianna lit up about the topic. "Well, we'll have to see about that. More subjects from different areas, yes?"

Nadia watches Marik's reaction, a bit amused. "I'll probably find a better place for camp and hold up for the winter." She explains.

@wallaberry

Ptelea smiles warmly at him before jumping out of the van. "Rosey!" She runs for the main doors eagerly. Her eyes well up with tears at the prospect of seeing her brother.

Ambrose sighs in relief and heads for the doors, brushing himself off as he heads for his sister.