In the living room of the Kidnapper's Hideout Zander stood, pacing back and forth in front of his brothers.
"Auggie can't be trusted. He is too invested with that girl. I mean look how quickly he's ready to betray us just because of her. When she says jump he jumps. We can't have someone like that hanging around, it's going to ruin all of our plans," Zander ranted.
"I think you need to calm down a bit," Vincent reasoned, "I mean Auggie is our brother and he's always been there for us, even getting a job to take care of us."
"Yeah and now he has other priorities," Zander snapped back, stopping in his tracks to look at his brothers, "Auggie is too close to that girl. Mark my words, he's going to ruin us."
"Tell us what's this really about," Brucer snarked, shooting a sharp glance at Zander.
"What are you talking about," Zander growled, walking up to Brucer.
"I'm talking about the fact that you've been talking about hurting that girl since she's got here and every time Auggie has protected her. So tell the truth! It's not really about the girl, you're just angry that you can't touch her," Brucer challenged.
"My concerns have nothing to do with wanting the girl," Zander shouted, refuting Brucer's claims, "Auggie wants her freedom more than he wants the money. He's not on the same page as us which is going to cause conflict if we don't nip it in the bud right now and in any sense he can't control whether I touch her or not. She's ours to do as we please."
"Enough," Vincent shouted, "We're brothers and we aren't going to fight or make plans to take each other out. If we want this plan to work we need to all work together. I don't want to hear anymore fighting amongst us. Do I make myself clear?"
"You're weak," Zander scoffed, piercing into Vincent's eyes with a dark gaze, "You have no strength, no mindset to lead this group."
"I asked you a question," Vincent growled, firmly standing in front of Zander, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Whatever," Zander stormed, "Don't blame me when the group falls apart because that lug doesn't know where his priorities are."
FUWHAM
The front door swung open and Auggie entered the house, closing the door behind him.
"Hey you're back," Dom greeted, attempting to shift the mood, "So how much did you get for the ring?"
"Nothing," Auggie answered, walking further into the room, "I couldn't sell the ring."
"See I told you," Zander ranted, "Couldn't or didn't Auggie?"
"Are you challenging me," Auggie fumed, his eyes darkened with cold frustration.
"Stop you two," Vincent interjected, "I've had enough fighting… Now Auggie, why couldn't you sell the ring."
"His Majesty was standing outside the Trade Shop with a group of guards… He knew about the ring and he also heard about a group of men following her out. At this point we're unidentified but I think it would be in our best interest to let the girl go. The way he talked about her… The pure concern and rage in his voice… The fact that he shut down Central Town City… He's not playing… He'll rip the kingdom to shreds just to find her," Auggie informed.
"Do you guys see," Zander shouted, warning the rest of his brothers, "He's doing this on purpose! This has been his plan all the time. He rather the girl be released then we get money. He's not on the same page! He's going to ruin us, ruin our plans because he's in love with that girl. There is no army, there's no shut down. He just wants to set our prize free. He's a liar and he can't be trusted."
"Now everyone stop," Vincent reasoned, looking at Auggie, "Your claims are suspicious Auggie… I know you want to protect the girl but we need the money."
"I'm telling you the truth," Auggie insisted, "His Majesty is coming with an army to find his love. We need to let her go before he finds her here and has us killed."
"You'll say anything just to protect her," Zander sneered, "Well we don't believe you and we aren't going to let her go just because you say so."
"I'm trying to protect us," Auggie bellowed, "Why are you fighting me on this?"
"Alright," Vincent grumbled, "I'm going to go to town and sell the ring. While I'm gone I want no fighting between you guys. Now hand it over."
"You won't be able to," Auggie huffed, gritting his teeth as he handed the ring over, "Central Town City is completely shut down."
"Yeah well I'll see for myself," Vincent challenged, snatching the ring, "I want the bear too."
"I dropped it on my way back here," Auggie informed, "And I'm telling you it's not a good idea to go into town. Just let the girl go now before you cause trouble."
"I'll be back," Vincent stated, leaving the house, shutting the door behind him.
"You think you're so smart Auggie but you aren't… We see right through your schemes and I know you're a liar who's trying to take us down," Zander jeered.
"You heard what Vincent said," Dom interrupted, "No fighting."
"Yeah just side with Auggie like you always do… But when we lose everything you'll have only yourselves to blame," Zander snarled, storming out of the room.
Auggie rolled his eyes and left the room, going into Gabrielle's.
He looked at her, seeing her laying on the cold, dirty wood floors, her back facing him.
"Lady Gabrielle," He called out.
She sat up, turning around to look at him.
"What did you say," She questioned, tears pooling in her eyes.
"I said Lady Gabrielle," He answered, walking closer to her, "That's your name isn't it."
"It is," She answered, looking down at the floor, "But I thought you didn't know my name."
"I didn't," Auggie muttered, making his way over to her, "But when I heard His Majesty say your name… I knew it belonged to you."
"His Majesty," Gabrielle sniffled, tears rolling down her cheeks, "Why would His Majesty worry so much about me… I'm not his love."
"But you are," Auggie remarked, looking into her eyes, "And he's worried sick about you."
"There's no reason for him to," She cried, looking away, "He has Hattie… I'm nothing to him."
"You still think that? Well it's not true," Auggie soothed, untying the rope around her wrists, revealing the bright red rope burns, "I wish you could've heard the way he spoke about you… The pure worry in his voice… The love he uses to utter your name even in his worry you can hear it… He's in love with you, and it's time for you to go home."
He grabbed her hands, helping her to her feet.
"Let's get you out of here," Auggie soothed once more, patting the top of her head.
"I always knew you were going to betray us," Zander interrupted.
They looked towards the doorway, seeing Zander standing there, waving a knife in the air.
"What are you doing," Auggies growled, putting Gabrielle behind himself, "Put the knife away."
"Why," Zander laughed, stepping closer to them, "So you can run off with her and become some type of hero? No! I won't let her go."
"So what are you going to do? Stab her? I won't let you," Auggie barked, standing his ground.
"Stab her? Why would I do that? She's much too valuable," Zander smirked, walking up to them.
"Stop Zander," Auggie commanded, "I don't want to fight my brother."
"Relax, I would never stab her, Auggie," Zander smiled, stabbing the knife into Auggie's stomach, "Just you."
Auggie dropped to the ground, his blood dampening his shirt.
"Auggie," Gabrielle shericked, dropping to her knees beside him.
"I guess your strength doesn't protect against a knife…" Zander mocked, pleasure wrapped his voice, "How will you protect her now?"