Kidnapping children is, in fact, the easiest yet hardest thing Thomas had ever done.
It wasn't because of their age, far from it, it was more of how difficult it was to keep them in place. You can tie them up with so many knots, beat them to a standstill, and even threaten them to no end.
But they will still resist.
Thomas entered the home with a smile plastered on his face, hidden behind his mask of course. But if you looked closely you can see the indents of his smile with how tight the mask was tied around his head.
The front door had been broken down, rather brutally than he’d like to admit. He saw how the door had been carelessly thrown to the side where the wall was its unfortunate victim. The dent showed itself clearly as the cheap paint was torn off without much of a hitch.
He took so long to observe the damage he failed to realize the entire home in general. The other damage had made this entire place look like a break-in, a rather pathetic one at that.
Nothing was really stolen apart from broken picture frames, memorabilia, and even the occasional vase or two. Nothing too important, not that Thomas or his crew would care, honestly Ms. Sender wasn't always the best at keeping things tidy.
Thomas hummed to himself as he made his way to the kitchen, nearly skipping on his two feet. He felt his smile widen as the sounds of struggling escalated the more he came close. His hands held together he watched as a teenage boy (no older than thirteen) cursed one of his subordinates as they held his arms behind his back.
His clothing choice was atrocious, the youth of today dress in clothes too big that they hung on them like racks. Cheap mascara was bought from the local convenient store to make up a look that was laughable at best. And what was that? Lipstick? Black lipstick???
Lord, give Thomas strength, he can't believe how sad this child’s life must have been to make him the way he is now.
“Venchek, calm yourself, you might break the poor thing’s arms the farther you twist those frail arms of his!”
“Well, if he’d stop struggling then maybe I wouldn't have to be so damn rough!” The hunter huffed, still trying his best to keep the teenager down to his knees.
Ben spat out another crude comment, moving as much as he can to get himself free. Thomas had to admit, his commitment was favorable, too bad his body would fall apart just by one paper cut alone.
The true aspiration of a young adult!
Way before his ‘retirement’, Thomas and his crew had made themselves known within The Project. Had it to take care of or bring in new patients for the entire company then it was done without a second wasted. Daniel Lamb, before his madness, had a reasonable part in The Project’s plans for a better future. (or whatever the Hell Pickman said was the case)
He had his own little office, and coworkers to talk to, and even got himself to understand the unsettling environment he got himself into. Much of which was how much his family knew what he was up to instead of helping the poor people who were sick inside and out. So, the married man of two would like to keep his family thinking he was a graceful man to all.
And Thomas knew how much trouble his crew would get getting too much into Mr. Lamb’s files for their entertainment.
The very man who had Stacy Lamb into a headlock and ‘politely’ thrown her against the wall. Getting too close to comfort, not only getting to experience meeting the young woman for the first time but not by some file with a picture clipped onto the side.
And with how close this man was getting, it was very obvious what his true intentions were.
“Grimmins, stand down, you’re suffocating the poor girl.”
The man laughed in response, twisting Stacy’s hands at her back one more time to see her squirm before he calmed down. The young woman gasped at the sudden ease on her arms yet that didn't stop her from glaring daggers at him.
Thomas took this as a moment to properly introduce himself.
“What a pleasure it is to finally meet you both face to face! I’ll have to admit, I’d rather have this be done in better circumstances, but this will have to do!”
Venchek kicked the back of Ben’s knees, the teenager yelped in pain as he finally fell to his knees. Stacy turned her attention to her little brother, she moved over to try to help him but was still held back.
“I know you both have your questions, most of which will be answered while the rest will be up to you to answer yourselves! I’ll be the one to answer them for you, so I might as well get the easy ones out of the way!”
But Stacy had beat him to it much to Thomas’s dismay.
“Well, do you mean as in me or as my group in general? You have to be more specific, my dear, if not then this won't be fun for any of us!”
“You know what she meant, “Ben called out, “stop being a dumbass and answer it!”
Venchek made a move to punch the young teen but Thomas raised his hand to stop him from going through.
They needed these two conscious after all...
“We are The Watchdogs, a group of highly educated and trained killers of The Project. Whenever we’re paid (handsomely of course) to personally take care of someone or a group in general we do as we’re told! It’s not only in our contracts to do so but in our nature as well!”
The elder seemed to pride himself on the fact he was informing the two siblings of what his group was. Although, that didn't seem to ease their fears the more the man seemed to glance over the fact that he was an assassin.
“I am Thomas Chapman The Third, the chosen leader of The Watchdogs. I would go out of my way to introduce the rest of my team but why bother, you both met them already.”
Thomas laughed to himself yet the siblings kept themselves silent overall.
“But what does that have to do with us?” Stacy found herself asking, cursing only when she felt the hunter behind her pinch at her side.
“Wonderful question, Ms. Lamb, “Thomas cheered, coming close to the young woman.
Stacy stood back, moving her head back as gloved hands made their way over to her face. It took but two tries before gloved hands gripped her face harshly, squishing her cheeks together like clay. Despite the pain, the young woman kept her rage on tenfold, refusing to give these sick men the pleasure of her tears.
Nonetheless, Thomas grew hungry for more, tracing his thumbs over the girl’s lips softly.
“It has everything to do with you, “the elder whispered, watching the young woman contemplating whether to spit at him or not.
God, he loved the ones who didn't give up too easily. It excites him so.
“Of course, I don't want to give you the entire story, but I’ll give you a snippet. Two of them if I’m feeling generous tonight, honestly, it depends on my mood.”
The same gloved thumbs traced over Stacy’s cheeks, brushing away the dried tears that coated them.
“And I’m in a good mood, a great one even, so I’ll make this brief for both of you.”
Thomas looked over at Ben, the teenager sharing the same anger his sister had from before. But he had that idea in him that Thomas knew all too well. The idea is to keep his mouth shut and listen closely for more answers.
“My men and I have been hired to capture you both to be taken safely into The Project’s open arms. Unfortunately, due to how easy it was to capture you both, I find your part in playing this game to be lacking! And it's not fair for one side to play harder l while the other doesn't bother to do anything at all! It's not fun, no fun at all, it makes me disappointed that I even bothered to get out of retirement for any of this!”
Ben and Stacy kept their silence, not one of them chose to speak out or bother to in the first place. Thomas smiled nonetheless, maybe this generation had some manners after all!
“So, despite my better judgment, I’m choosing to let the both of you go.”
As soon as the elder had ended his sentence, the siblings were let go. The both of them gasped in relief as the pressure on their arms was finally gone. Ben hissed as the impact of his knees hindered him from getting up correctly. While Stacy ignored her pain and immediately got herself to grab at her little brother and drag him to a distance away from the men that surrounded them.
Thomas didn't mind, still keeping himself where he stood with that same smile he wore since the start.
“Now children, listen very closely to what I'm about to say next because it is crucial to the future decisions you’ll make from then on!”
He clapped his hands together, loud enough that it made both siblings jump from the sudden sound.
“My men and I will hunt you down, day and night, no amount of your blood or tears will make us reconsider. The Project is a very lucrative company, I can assure you both that the loss of your lives would be inconsistent to them as a rock in my shoe. I suggest that you both comply and try all you can to survive in this cruel and unforgiving world filled with perverts and maniacs alike.”
Thomas reached into his suit, taking out his gun.
Ben and Stacy yelped at the sight of the weapon, both siblings covering each other in fear that they may be in line with the fire.
“Oh, calm down, I’m just proving a point!”
The man pulled back the barrel with ease, muttering as the click was overhead.
“Overreacting like all the others, honestly, you both act like you haven't seen a gun up close before.”
Making a quick show of displaying the gun before quickly shooting up in the air. The siblings screamed at the sound as the bullet pierced through the walls of their home.
“As I said before, perverts and maniacs alike, I happen to be one of those two. Pick and chose what I am, it doesn't matter, I have the will to inflict harm on any and/or both of you with the confidential knowledge I know. So, now that you know that, you know that my men and I aren't to be messed with.”
“No shit,” Ben muttered, Stacy, shushing him as she pushed him to hide behind her.
Thomas didn't take that to heart.
“Now, before I allow you both to make your attempt to run away, I will set down a few rules. I know, annoying, I’m sure, but it's important I say them now so that this game doesn't end quickly as possible.”
The elder raised his free hand, one finger up in the air.
“Rule number one: There is to be no attempt to contact law enforcement. They will do you both no good as I will bathe you both with their insides once they are altered.”
Stacy opened her mouth to speak but Thomas intervened.
“Rule number two: The Watchdogs are not the only group who The Project has hired to hunt you both down. As we speak, there is a close-minded group hot in pursuit to capture you both, I suggest you both be grateful we got to you ahead of time.”
Stacy shut her mouth, carefully making her way back to where the doorway was free to go through. Ben caught up to her plan, stepping back with her, careful not to miss a single step that could trip them both.
“Rule number three: Remember we are always watching! No matter where you go or who you call, we are always there to make sure you don't go out of line! But I know you two are smart enough to pick up on that fact, so I suspect you both are capable of living on your own.”
“Then again, survival is key, I would love to see how everything goes down.”
The gun was pointed over at the two, the siblings freezing up as they were near the open doorway, hearts at their throats.
“Now, children, I’m going to count down from ten to one. During that time, I want you both to run as fast as you can and collect what you want, my men and I won't do much. However, after one, we will do everything in our power to put you both down on the ground like animals.”
Stacy and Ben stayed silent, only a few seconds lingered before everything went into chaos.
Stacy was the first to run, grabbing Ben, she zipped through the open doorway toward the living room. She yelped in surprise when she saw another man stand by, gun in hand.
She ran up the stairs, ignoring the other man who stood back and watched as the two ran.
“Eight...!” Thomas called out, stepping forward to where the two can hear him clearly.
Stacy ran into her room, Ben shutting the door behind them and locked up. He rushed to push up his sister’s study chair to use as a blockage.
Stacy threw open her closet, rummaging through her things to get the two most important things that were hidden. She opened the lone shoebox buried behind her old shoes and opened it to gather what was inside.
Stacy gathered all of her savings including the spare flip phone she hid away from everyone else.
“You have another flip phone?!” Ben asked, shocked.
“Not the time!” Stacy spat, grabbing her purse.
“Four...!” Thomas was right outside the room, Ben felt himself fly as he jumped over towards the window, grabbing at the hinges.
Stacy shoved him aside, unlocking the locks from above, she opened the window. She grabbed at her little brother and pushed him through, ignoring his pained grunts as she quickly followed suit.
Ben nearly fell over, grabbing the tiles of the home as he quickly corrected himself. Stacy was halfway through, nearly dropping her belongings in the process.
“Jump!” She called out, Ben struggling to follow through as he slid down at the very edge. Stacy jumped from inside to the outside, accidentally pushing her and Ben off the edge and onto the ground below.
The door was kicked down, a force like the one used before by the front door emitting with each hit. Stacy and Ben groaned as they hit the grass below, getting up on their two feet, they rushed to make sure they had what they needed.
From inside, Stacy’s door was broken down, and Thomas and his men ran inside to do their bidding.
The siblings ran off, never minding the calls from the men above nor did they mind the sounds of gunshots that echoed throughout the night. They merely ducked, crying out as they felt something whiz past them as they passed through the walls of the streets of their neighborhood.
Thomas threw out his hand, commanding his men in the process.
The men did as they were told, rushing to get the two siblings as quickly and efficiently as they could.
Being left alone in the girlish room, Thomas felt his phone ring from his pocket. The old man reached in and received the call, recognizing the familiar voice from the other line.
“Chapman, did you get them?”
Thomas forced a dreadful sigh from his lips.
“No, Doctor Pickman, I, unfortunately, did not. It seemed that the two children ran out quickly and evaded my men’s grasp.” He walked over towards the window, noticing something glittering from beside the window still.
“Well, what are you waiting for, man, get them! Daniel has already escaped, we can't let him ruin my life’s work!”
Thomas crouched down, grabbing the small golden amulet shaped like a heart. He opened it, showcasing two pictures from within. One of the late Mrs. Lamb holding what was a crude drawing of her on it. The other was that of Ben but before he secluded himself to dress as a discounted black crayon left at the bottom of a trash bin.
“Are you listening to me, Chapman, did you hear what I said?!”
“I did, Mr. Pickman, don't you worry.” Thomas closed the amulet, pocketing it as he smiled wider than before.
“They will be detained, I guarantee it.”
“Guarantee, I’ll make sure those two will be detained in no time...”
“Guarantee, I’ll make sure those two will be detained in no time...”