Hawksnest565

The Two Sides

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.

The Two Sides

"I may 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."

The Two Sides

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.

The Two Sides

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 Two Sides

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?"

The Two Sides

"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."

The Two Sides

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.

The Two Sides

"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 Two Sides

<Snipped quote by 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."

@Fionraella

At Ambrose's insolence, The Boss pushes the edge of his cane up against Ambrose's chin so that the boy is looking right at him. "So much fire, my son! Don't hesitate to show it to me!" His eyes sparkle for a moment. "After all the beatings you took... Ah, I expected as much, you know? Young people have so much strength these days." He drops the cane and steps backwards, heading back towards Ptelea. "Or is it that teenagers have so much strength today? Little Ptelea is only nine after all." He flips around when he reaches her and taps the cane lightly on her head. "It only takes the right words, Ambrose." He squeezes Ptelea's shoulder. "Why don't you tell your little sister that you won't give them to me?" His voice is dark again. "Of course, I won't be going easy on her if you don't do as I say. You think it hurts me to torture you because you share Harvey's face? I have no delusions. My son is dead. Would you like your Ptelly to follow?"

The Two Sides

<Snipped quote by 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."

@Fionraella

"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."