Hawksnest565

The Two Sides

Hidden from Ambrose's face was a grin of victory as The Boss embraced the young boy. "Being old is hard. I can't do a lot of things... But I can protect you, Ambrose." He ruffles the boy's hair. "You don't have to be afraid. I'll take care of you. I won't let you be sad anymore."

The Two Sides

The Boss sighs and sits down on the floor. It was a little uncomfortable, given his age. "I did say that, didn't I?" He chuckles sadly. "I am the person who's always trying to affect things they can't control. Keep promises they can't keep..." He stares at Ambrose's face. "I promised Harvey his siblings would be able to shift one day just like him. I promised him that as he died in my arms." He pats Ambrose's shoulder. "There. Now we've both had to think about sad things."

The Two Sides

From his pocket The Boss pulls out a small silver flask filled with water. "Those bees are nasty," he murmurs quietly to the boy, not leaving his side, "but I promise they'll go away, my son." He offers the flask to Ambrose. "Those bad people made you remember sad things, didn't they? I promise you I won't make you remember those things anymore. You can rest now. I will never let anybody harm you again."

The Two Sides

Brianna follows Hunter out the door, not making a sound. The two guards also exit.

"Make sure they don't get away this time!" The Boss called angrily after the guards and then goes to Ambrose's side. "My boy... My boy... Oh, Harvey..." He pretends to let the wrong name slip out. He pulls out a handkerchief and carefully takes one of Ambrose's hands in his own, about to wipe the blood away.

The Two Sides

"Guards!" The Boss demands, paying little heed to Ambrose's accusations. "I don't know how these traitors came to sneak back into the facility, but I shall have them removed at once!" He gives a sly wink to both Brianna and Hunter to infer his request for their cooperation as well as ensuring they knew this was still part of the plan.

The Two Sides

Brianna sighs and pulls out her phone for a third time. "Boss needs to do the whole hero act... I'll call him in." She dials the number and speaks quietly as to not have Ambrose hear. A few minutes pass before the door is broken down by two beefy security guards followed by The Boss.

The Two Sides

Brianna looks cross for a moment at Hunter but finds her anger fading. She could hardly hold her rage for a fellow scientist. After all, she had asked for the interrogation technique. She pulls out her phone again. "Fine... Let me text this to the search crew... The Boss is great at finding leads... We now know the mother was injured in a car crash and suffered amnesia. Drunk father... Surely this information can only match one family." She slid the phone back into her pocket. "We'll be able to come up with something."

The Two Sides

"For goodness sake!" Brianna grabs Hunter's shoulder, tired of this him humouring this manic. "The boy is decently insane, Hunter! Just shut him up already! The last thing we need to do is hear the tragic backstory of the child we're torturing!" Despite her harsh exterior, Ambrose's delusional words were worming their way into her heart.

The Two Sides

Brianna twirled the pen between her fingers. "Hunter, do you really find this melodrama so satisfying? Letting the subject touch you in a way that you do not allow should surely be a violation of your role as a scientist." She ignored the cold trickle Ambrose's words gave her in the back of her neck.

The Two Sides

Brianna notes down Ambrose's words without a speck of emotion. "A mother dead by illness... Not to mention such unusual names like Ambrose and Ptelea." She pulls out her phone and begins writing a text. "Information like this should be able to find the girl in a moment, given the broadness of resources. Not to mention, it sounds like a pathetic father is involved. Nobody will miss the girl." She finishes up what she's writing and then stands over the quivering bloody mess that was Ambrose. "Any notes to add to the report, Hunter?"