Chapter 33 - Flashback 11

Ethan was looking pale and a little bit weak, the doctor that looked over him through the night just left, after assuring the family that he's fine now.

He was arguing with Nathan, who claim he won't be leaving for school since Ethan is not going. We promised Chris to play with him today, you should go; so he won't be left waiting." Ethan said, but Nathan refused to leave, not until Ethan said he will force himself to go to school with him; if he didn't stop being persistent on staying at home because of him.

Mel came in and saw them still busy with their arguments, "what's your decision, your driver is waiting." She asked them.

Nathan finally gave in, Ethan is stubborn and never backs down easily. "Fine! you should be fine before i return okay?"

Ethan smiled, "okay, I will," he assured.

Nathan left half hearted, he didn't want to leave him looking like that, he wanted to stay by his side, they played happily before going to sleep the previous night and woke up learning how they nursed him through the night.

Ethan wave at him, as he kept looking back, and gesture for him to look forward. Mel watch them lovingly, the family respected their wishes and took joy in watching them act like one.

Seeing him left, Ethan walk weakly to the couch and lay down, the arguments exhaust him a little, but he didn't want to see his brother crying like his mom did all through the night; which is one of the important reasons why he insisted that he leave for school.

Mel returns after sending Nathan off and took him in her arms, "how do you feel now?" She asked worriedly, all her happy facade was to trick Nathan into not worrying. Why won't she worry when her son is looking so weak.

Her worst nightmare came to pass after Tony called to inform that that Nathan got kidnapped and his driver and bodyguard were killed.

Mel nearly went crazy after the news, but the main purpose for the call is to keep it from Ethan, who is still a bit weak, the doctor said he only needed to rest more, and he will be back on his feet.

They searched everywhere for him, and made reports, as well as dispatching their guards to aid in the search. They knew they haven't gotten on anyone bad side, to the point of getting their child kidnapped.

To make matters worse, Ethan and Nathan best friend Chris, who didn't see them in school and play like they promised each other, called Nathan cell phone, since it didn't went through; he called Ethan who was locked in his room to avoid raising his suspicion about his missing brother.

Ethan woke up from his sleep as his ipad ringtone brought him out of his dream land. He picked up the call and Chris whining voice came through, "you two lied to me, why didn't you come to school?" Chris asked.

"Play with Nathan, we will play together tomorrow." Ethan replied.

"How can i play with him when he didn't come?" Chris replied, with disappointed expression.

"He went to school this morning." Ethan replied calmly, he didn't suspect anything.

"I didn't see him," Chris, who was waiting for his driver saw his parents rushing toward him, and was shocked that they came instead of sending his driver. Everything seemed weird as the school close earlier than usual, and most students are getting picked up by their parents, he had no idea he will be getting picked up by his, as well.

"Are you okay?" His mother asked, pulling him into her embrace, her entire being all tensed up. "I heard one of the twins got kidnapped this morning, where is the other boy? has he left?" She asked and got scolded by her husband immediately, for saying such words to a kid.

Ethan, who was already trying to open the door and find out from his mom; the reason why Nathan didn't show up in school, heard the conversation on the other side of the cell and throw his phone away, and started banging his hand on the door.

His grandpa opened the door after a few minutes and tried to act natural, but his facade broke when Ethan ask if it's true that Nathan got kidnapped.

Seeing the fluctuation in his expression, Ethan lost consciousness immediately, 'Nathan didn't want to leave, he forced him to.' he blamed himself, which is too much for a boy who just turned 7 and still a bit weak.

It's already 6 month after Stella left, and Shane look completely messed up. He had the ring Stella drop in the hotel room on the day of the engagement with him, as he stared into space with a painted expression, inside his office.

His cell phone rang. He picked it up, putting away the ring and returned to his former expressionless self. "How did it go?" he asked the caller.

"We just got into town, we couldn't get the two boys, only one left the house." The caller said.

"Get rid of him, and don't let his body be found." Shane said and ended the call. He wanted Mel and Tony to feel the pain of searching for their beloved, with the fear of not sure if he is alive or dead. He couldn't believe his ears when he found out that Stella was really carrying a child. He sent some of his well trained men after Alex and tried to reach Maris; that was when he found out he got made a fool of.

The thought of another man child growing inside of his woman, while he kept searching like an idiot is driving him crazy, it didn't make him hate Stella, but the people who aid her. He believed, if they didn't support her, they might be together by now.

A car was parked by the roadside, close to a bush. Four black suited men came down with Nathan, who was shaking and muttering his family's names to himself. Mom, Dad, Ethan, Grandpa, as well as his nanny name.

One of the men had his hand held tightly. "He said to kill him and not let his body be found." One of them informed the others, and they made their way inside the bush, dragging Nathan along.

Nathan, after hearing the word kill him, felt horrified, the thought of not seeing his family ever again scares him. He decided to try and fight for his life, he didn't want to die. Ethan will be sad, his family will cry, he didn't want any of that.

"I-i want to use the toilet." He stammered.

They pretend as if they didn't hear him and kept dragging him along. One of them noticed Nathan jean trousers getting wet and stopped the rest, "what are you doing boy?" He asked.

"I-i said I wanted to use the toilet." Nathan stammered again, with tears filled eyes.

"Let's just kill him and get this over with." One of them said.

"We can't just do that," another raised his opinion, "he said to make his body never get found, but you know how he is; he might request for it himself in the future when he finds a use for it." He added.

Nathan shivered as they discussed his death in his present. He summon the courage and repeat that he needs to use the toilet.

The one holding him push him forward by his head. Nathan felt the back of his head hurt, but felt hope that they are letting him proceed with his plan.

"Do it there," one of them pointed to a certain area in the bush to Nathan, while the others got impatient.

Nathan walked sluggishly toward the pointed area and kept staring at them, while they look back at him. "Are you doing it or not?" One of them asked.

"You-you are looking at me." Nathan stammered, cleaning his tears with the back of his palm.

The four men rolled their eyes at his statement, small boy about to die, requesting for privacy seems hilarious to them. But they underestimate him and shook their head before looking away from him, thinking he's spoilt silly by his family.

The shaking Nathan regain his composure immediately and ran, he didn't go far before hearing their voices and footsteps, as they kept shouting, "boy! boy!"

He kept falling down and getting to his feet, running for his life, hoping someone will save him.

"Boy, stop there!" He heard and look back to see them coming for him from afar, they found him now, they are looking at their target and getting closer.

He increases his speed and found himself in the midst of some men, most of them are only putting on boxers and fighting each other. He wanted to run again but spotted a little girl about two years of age, wrapped lovingly in a man embrace, while she suck on a lollipop and watch the training guys with interest.

He stared at them, as they stared at him, he was sure about what to do at the moment, but immediately he heard 'boy!' again, from his abductors, he ran toward the man holding his daughter, with the calm looking man who was sitting beside them, and begged them to save him, crying that he didn't want to die.

Within a blink of an eye, the men that were training were nowhere to be found. The four men appeared at the scene and saw a man sitting down on a bench, with another man beside him; holding a little girl, as well as the boy that made a fool out of them.

Before they could react, the man holding the little girl only raised his finger and the four men remain in the same spot, not able to move, as a needle Pierce into their skin.

The man beside him, which is the boss, look down at Nathan and was amused that he was able to escape the grasp of this men. He could already tell they are Shane's men.

He squatted beside Nathan, "they want to kill you?" he asked, pointing at the men who kept shaking at the same spot.

"Yes, and hide my body." Nathan replied, as to what he heard from the men.

"You don't want to die?"

"Yes."

"Are you brave enough to kill before you get killed?"

Nathan remain silent after the question.

Seeing him silent, the man stood and sat back on the bench, "I don't have any reason to save you then, I don't want the weak beside me."

"I want my mummy." He replied.

"If you can't be brave enough to fight for your life, you won't live to see the next sunlight, not to talk of seeing your mommy." The man said looking emotionless and turned to face the calm man beside him and the little girl who kept staring at Nathan. "Release them and give him to them, and let the boys resume their training". he said.

Immediately Nathan heard that he will be handed over to the men, "I can do it, I will whatever you want me to do." He said, holding onto the man's leg.

"Hmm really?" The man asked, bringing out a gun and shot two out of the men, straight in the head. Nathan gasp and look at the men and the little girl who seem unmoved by what just happened.

"Here," the man said and gave the gun to him, "if you wanna live to see the next day and be able to reach out to your family, pull the trigger." He added.

With a shaky hand, Nathan took the gun, it fell off his hand, it's not as light as the toy guns he and Ethan played with at home. But he really wants to live, he left Ethan in an unhealthy shape in the morning, he didn't want to not be able to see them again.

He picked it up. A smile spread across the man's face as Nathan face look grim at once, he pulled the trigger, just as he usually did with his toy guns, but this time, it didn't release water, it didn't lit up and started playing funny music, it didn't repeat the recorded words. It ends a person's life. He crashed onto the floor and passed out as he saw blood gushed out of the face of the man he shot.

The man remained calm, took the gun from him and shot the last man, before snapping his finger and the boys who had left the scene in a flash returned.

One of them picked up Nathan and followed after the man with the little girl in his arm, while the rest resumed with their training as if the dead men didn't exist.