"Alright, the beginning..." Niklaus was chewing at his lips.
"What's wrong?" Neil was getting annoyed, Niklaus had been sitting there for the last five minutes just looking puzzled.
"I'm just trying to remember what exactly happened nine years ago."
"Wait, nine years? Damn it.." Neil seemed disappointed that Niklaus's story started nine years ago.
"Now what's wrong with you?"
"I only showed up at the Red Vine pack a couple years ago. So I was hoping that by listening to your story something might jostle my memories but the timelines don't add up if yours starts nine years ago." Neil didn't know what to do now, Atlas had tried fixing his memory before but nothing seemed to work.
"Well, at the very least.." Niklaus gave a small grin. "You might get some of your memory of me back."
(Stupid Neil!) I kicked a small rock into the grass.
(What's wrong Nik?) Shade's voice was deep and gravelly.
(Well, I want to go and check out the abandoned areas but Neil won't come with me and father said to stay together..) I was pouting just far enough away from you that I could be alone but still get to you if you needed me.
(So go on your own.) Shade was arrogant for such an old wolf spirit.
(But dad said..)
("Dad said" Who cares! You're the future Alpha..)
(I-I'm not the future alpha..) I was puzzled, I wanted to do what Shade said but was worried what father would do if I disobeyed his direct orders.
(You're really dumb. Everyone at home calls you "Master Klaus" of course you're the Ever Greens Heir) I could feel Shade rolling his eyes. (Just go explore on your own. Nobody's going to know..)
(M-maybe you're right?) I thought to myself for a moment. 'Future Heir? I guess it makes sense.. We're twins but I'm still technically older, right?'
(Of course I'm right. Anyways, it's not like anything'll happen.) Shade knew that Niklaus could do anything he wanted if he'd only break a rule once in awhile.
"Alright.." I started running towards the abandoned tunnel at the edge of the park. "Let's do it!"
As I reached closer to the tunnel I slowed down and looked behind me to where you had been. You were frantic and looking all around, you were crying.
'What a baby!' I thought. 'It's only been a couple minutes since I started over here.' I kept thinking that I should go back, I wanted to console you and for whatever reason I had gotten a bad feeling in my stomach after turning around to look back.
(Shade, I-I'm gonna go back to Neil.)
(Whatever for?) Shade wanted to go to the tunnels because if he got to the tunnels then he could talk Niklaus into letting him out for a bit.
(I don't know.) I started walking back towards you. (It's just a feeling.)
As I got closer to you, you saw me and relief filled your face. Suddenly, your features turned to terror and you started, at full speed, running towards me.
I could see you were saying something, yelling, but I couldn't make out what you were saying. You started crying again and I could finally hear what you were screaming.
"BEHIND YOU!!" You were so scared. "NIKLAUS! LOOK BEHIND YOU!!!"
*voice cracking*
"Your scream, it was horrible. I used to hear it when I slept." Niklaus could feel his eyes tearing up and wanted more than anything to hide his face. He's supposed to be the older one, the strong one, the one who never breaks, and here he was completely broken down.
"It's alright Nik, try to keep going." Neil didn't know what to do, he wasn't any good with emotions. He didn't even recognize the version of himself in Niklaus's story.
After I heard what you said I felt someone grab my arms from behind and force me to turn around. There was two of them holding me and four more slowly surrounded us.
"REAL TOUGH! Six guys for one 11 year old!?" I yelled, I didn't know what to do otherwise.
"Well, you're not an ordinary 11 year old. Are you?" The guy holding my left was speaking into my ear. I remember feeling his breathe on my neck and the smell sting lingered slightly in my nose, it made me feel sick.
The sickening feeling only got worse when they started dragging me away.
"Go grab the other brat." The guy on my right nodded his head towards you and it only made me more angry. I had to protect you, my little brother.
"NO!" I kicked the right one in his groin, he dropped to his knees holding it, letting me go. The left guy wasn't strong enough on his own to hold me and I started running towards you.
"RUN NEIL!!" I had to save you. "RU-" I was yanked back by the other four guys but you heard me and even though I got caught I couldn't help but smile knowing that you got away. They threw me in there vehicle, two of them sat up front and the others guarded me. They drove for what seemed like forever until we eventually got to their home. Where Blink was waiting.
When we first pulled into the drive I could see him grinning but it slowly faded as he realized that his goons only managed to grab one of us.
"WheRE, is the OTHER ONE!?" Blink screamed at his men.
"Well you see, this one fought us and managed to warn the other one before we got to him." It was the same guy I had managed to kick.
"A fighter?" An unsettling grin again appeared on his face. "Good, I like it when they fight. Send him to his room."
The men grabbed me again and dragged me upstairs to a room that seemed like a child's room. It was filled with toys and had a bunk bed, I assumed he thought I'd we had things than we wouldn't try to escape or fight back.
"Bathroom's throughly there." The guard pointed to the left door in the room. "Shower and get changed, Blink has dinner being prepared."
"I'm not hungry." I scowled are him, I wanted to piss them off.
"I don't think you have a choice." He was harsh with his words. He locked the door behind him as he left. I could hear his footsteps trailing away.
I decided to check the window, it was unlocked.
'Dumb-ass, he really thought we wouldn't try to escape. It's not even that high and he obviously knows what I am so it's even more stupid.' I climbed out of the window onto the roof and jumped, I landed hard and fell over. If I was a normal human it probably would've broken my ankle. I got up quickly and started running towards the road, shortly after I heard them behind me. They had all shifted.
(Come on Shade, let me shift early.)
(You know I don't have control over that.)
(Come ON, I need to shift! I need to if I'm going to get away.)
I could hear them getting closer, I knew I couldn't shift but I could hide my scent. I started running zigzagged through the trees across the road, after I felt my scent was split up enough I ran straight, away from the following pack, away from that house. I came across a mud wallow and dived into it, I covered myself in the mud and it hid my scent completely. I made sure the mud wasn't leaving footprints behind and kept running. I ran until my legs felt like jello then I kept running, I kept running until I collapsed from the exhaustion and my eyes closed. When I woke I was back in that room, the window now had bars on it, for once I felt like crying. I thought I had gotten away but they got to me again. I heard the door unlock and Blink walked in.
"You'll never be able to get away, Niklaus." Blink spoke softly, he was trying to instigate me.
'Never let them get to you. Listen to fathers words, don't give in.'