Brent woke up drained, he was still regaining his energy. Unable to determine anything with his currently poor eyesight. His hands tried to hold something that he expected was next to him, only being able to grab thin flattened surfaces on both sides.
Confused, he wiped the blurriness away with his palms and he croaked out with a groan.
"Winchestein.." he put his hands away only to reveal someone he didn't even know. Two of them.
A man with a wide, sharp, toothy grin was sitting in front of him behind a brown desk wearing a pure white shirt, a tie, and black suspenders with sunglasses. He was expectantly staring at him.
Another was standing just beside the previously mentioned one, this guy was in a complete devilish suit with gloves, he was sporting a long hair that flowed way past his shoulders. He was gazing at the boy as if he was ready to strike anytime.
Suddenly, a flash of recollection from last night made him bolt straight up on his feet. The attackers, the disgusting scent from the cloth, him passing out. His sister was already being gone from his sight.
"Where's my sister?!" He demanded an answer.
"Stand down, boy." The man in the suit didn't even flinch at the kid's outburst.
Brent recognized that voice. To his surprise, he realized that he was the one speaking to his mother. The one bugging her about his father's debt. He eyed the long-haired one, watching. Of course, the man didn't like the look on the boy's face.
"It's quite alright, we do owe him an explanation." The one directly in front lifted up a hand. "If he's willing to cooperate."
The grin never left the man's face. Brent immediately knew to be cautious, but his sister came first in his priorities. Angered, he spoke through his gritted teeth.
"Where is she." It wasn't a question anymore.
A chuckle of amusement rumbled from the man, unfazed. In turn, he heard a grunt from the other as he was pulling on his gloves, adjusting it. The boy was now frustrated, he noticed that they were just observing him.
With still no response from the men, he sat down with a glare but only receiving a smile.
"What do you want from us?" It was clear that the boy was scared but determined.
"You see, your father owes us a little something.. To put into a better word. A debt." The man who seemed like the boss started.
"And when the payment was due.." The grinning man leaned towards Brent.
"He just disappeared!" The man chuckled.
"Then why my family? Why involve us in this?!" The boy aggressively questioned. Wanting to get an answer as to why this man was targeting them.
The man's grin widened, "Now what happens when someone that owes you.. suddenly disappears? You'd need compensation, and who do you need compensation from..?" He looks at the redhead as he speaks in a cold and low voice.
"His family."
"But what kind of compensation do you want then..?" Brent was now fearful of the man in front of him.
"Simple! You're going to work for me." The man declares in a serious tone.
"BUT WINCHESTEIN IS JUST A CHI—"
The man stopped the boy from speaking any further by placing a finger on his lips. "Ata-ta-ta!"
"The one that's only gonna work is you and your sister will live a comfortable and normal life. Don't you want that?" He tries to persuade Brent. The grin never left his face.
"I can provide for my sister myself—" The boy claims. All he heard was laughter.
"HAHAHAHA!" The man kept on laughing.
"Hah.. You sure do know how to make me laugh." He says, finding what the boy said as funny.
"Oh! How awfully rude of us, introductions should take place first! You can call me Lucien, and this lad next to me is Simon!" Lucien was smiling genuinely this time, hiding his shark-like teeth. Simon only gave a curt nod.
The boy was very hesitant about giving anything about himself.
"Please, Just give me back my sister!—"
"I don't think we will." The man was just getting under his skin, cutting off the boy once again.
He held back everything in him, he wanted to lunge at the man but he knew it could go so wrong and end swiftly in an instant. He can tell that Simon was prepared to apprehend him if he does something out of line.
The man took out his phone, playing live video footage and letting the boy see the screen. "Take a close look." He says, smiling.
It showed a round table with a young girl in front of what seemed to be a maiden, pouring an empty teapot into a little teacup. Though, it wasn't just any young girl. It was his sister, playing with the woman. The boy let out the biggest sigh of relief. Being glad that his sister was alright.
"Where did you take her?" He averted his attention from the screen and to Lucien's eyes.
"Now that I can't tell you." Lucien says in a mischievous voice.
"But I have to—" Brent tried to explain.
"You have to what? Take her and bring her back to the situation you two were in?"
"You seriously want you and your sister to live in utter poverty?" Lucien laughs out loud. "Oh please."
"If it were the medieval times, you'd be a popular jester by now!" He cackled. "I can't believe how many jokes you can pull off!"
"Well.."
"You want her to be happy don't you? Right now she's safer than she will ever be and it can stay that way." The man's grin disappeared.
"Though, that will only be possible if you work for me." Lucien was serious again this time. It was frightening. His whole demeanor changed.
"I can protect her! I know I can!" The boy nervously protested.
"Oh? Then prove it." Lucien looked at his assistant and Simon immediately nodded.
The suited man had walked to the front of the desk and stood still for a moment, waiting for any movement. Brent stood up with caution, not letting himself divert his attention to anything else. It was a stare off.. which only lasted a few seconds when the redhead had to blink.
He felt a gust of wind blowing on the side of his face, he noticed a swift movement but he only caught Simon's hand lifted up and showing the back of his palm, being completely still.
Warmth had first spread on his right cheek, with the strange feeling of liquid running down his chin. Then the sudden sting that shot throughout the right side of his face.
Simon was staring down at the wounded boy, he had thrusted his hand in such a swift motion and managed to leave a gash on his target's face. He was about to walk away when Brent had suddenly lunged towards him for an attack, the man quickly evaded it and knocked out the boy in an instant by hitting the side of his neck hard enough to not inflict any damage to the teen.
Immediately catching the boy before his head could hit the ground, Simon processed what happened for a moment. He thought that Brent wouldn't do anything after that, very likely to remain stunned.
"Feisty, eh? I like him. Hope we could keep him." Lucien spoke up, enjoying the entertainment. "Put him on the couch, I'll call for some refreshments. Patch him up will ya?"
Lucien picked up the phone on his desk and made his requests while the assistant had carried the boy and placed him on the sofa. Simon took a note that this one doesn't give up that easily. He grabbed the nearby first aid kit and cleaned the kid's wound before covering it up.
Once the redhead had been aided, a knock on the door immediately took the man's attention. Making him stand up and open it himself, revealing a woman with a tray of cold drinks.
"Goodmorning, Simon. I have brought the requested beverages." She said in a calm and composed manner.
He stepped back from the doorway and let her in, so she could properly deliver it to Lucien. Watching her as she put down the tray, bowed to their boss, then walked back over to where Simon was, just slipping past him.
Confirming that she was indeed finished with her task, he closed the door to return by Lucien's side. The laid-back man had offered him one of the drinks.
"Oi, sit down and relax would ya?" Lucien spun around slowly on his swivel chair, drink on hand. He took a long sip of his whiskey
"So! Tell me, did it go smoothly earlier?" He put down his glass of alcohol and leaned into the desk as Simon sat down in one of the seats in front.
"Well sir, the young girl was fairly easy but I have been told that the boy fought back in the process of knocking him out." Simon spoke blunty. Earning a cackle from Lucien.
"Good! Give me more details." Picking up the glass again, this time he leaned back onto his chair, enjoying Simon's report.
"I did not experience it first-hand nor see it, sir. Shall I call in the man who did the job?" The assistant suggested but was met with a wave of the hand.
"Just let him tell me by the line." Lucien pushed the phone towards his assistant, drinking all of the alcohol in the cup.
After a few taps onto the olden device, he was immediately met by a "Yes sir?"
There were a few exchanges of words before the phone was handed over. The man stayed silent, listening intently and nodding along. But as the call ended, he bursted into laughter from amusement.
"That boy's surely something huh?" His wide grin had returned. "I can't wait for his father to see who his children belong to now."
Lucien looks at the unconscious boy.
"I wonder how destructive you will be."