Chapter 4: Black Gate (3)

It was dark, no, black. He could see anything, but he did feel cold and wet. He was also afraid. His heart was beating rapidly in his chest and his blood pressure was raising.

He asked loudly, "Where am I!?"

He could hear the sound of groans, steps and the splashing of near by water. His eyes were covered by a wet cloak that made him unable to see anything. Also, his hands were tied to something tall and circular like a pole, and his legs felt weighted and chained.

"His awake," said a far but near by voice.

He felt someone come towards him and place their hands behind his head. Suddenly, he could see. Partially though.

It was Lloyd.

Everything was bright, then blurry, then white, but he could see two figures.

One was a slim male with long hair, blue eyes and dark clothing. He also had a long face that seemed to be in its thirties. He sat down on small, wooden chair that was set backwards and at the feet of the small chair was something that seem to be a sword in its sheath, with the sheath having an imprinted text that said "Avon."

The other was very tall and muscular male with dark clothes. He had short hair that had a hint of crimson and a young, handsome face.  His eyes were orange and somewhat of a halfway frown.

"Wher-?" Lloyd was about to inquire but was cut off.

The male on the chair said, "No need to repeat yourself. Cause we won't answer you."

The place they were in was small, but quite larger than a room. In the middle was a pool with a four large cylinder beams attached from top to bottom, quarter submerged in water. Around the tall beams were two individuals tied with one only holding one person.

"Wake the rest of them up," said the seated male.

The muscular one grumbled. "Hey, don't boss me around."

He began to walk towards the slim male intimately. But then passed him and took up a nearby bucket.

"But I am only doing it because I want to," he said.

The guy began to scope up water and toss it at the faces of the six other kids. He then unblinded them and left them. They began to wake up, either with groans, shouts or screams. Soon the room was filled with chatter.

"Hey, I remember you. You're the guy I fought."

"The fuck? Have I been kidnapped you!?

"*Sigh*"

"I what to read my Bible.."

"Uhh, where am I?"

"Yo, get me outta here!!"

They were all filled with the emotion of surprise and confusion. Suddenly, there was a gun shot. After that everyone went dead quiet.

"Nice. At least you're brains are able to tell you when you're in the danger," said an average-looking male.

He had brown eyes, black hair and a black suit with a black tie. Also, he had a Glock 17 on his right hand which had a circular mark or scar. That was also the same with his left.

"It is quite hot in here too," he said.

The man began to rip of the flesh off his head. It then came off, revealing it to be a mask and other face underneath. This one however had grey hair and blue eyes. Despite looking old, he had a well beyond defined face and proper, healthy skin.

"Morning, sir!" exclaimed both the slim and large guy, who were all on their legs.

"Morning to you too," said the man.

"It's morning?" Nigel said in a sheepishly voice.

He tossed the mask away and walked towards the slim male. The slim guy moved to the side and took his sword with him as well. The man, that seemed to be the boss, took a seat.

"You gotta stand up too," mumbled the large guy.

The slim guy grumbled. "Shut up. You still some as if you are a kid."

"Probably because you excepting the fact.. that you are getting old," said the muscular guy with a hint of glee and sadness.

"That's a fact that you'll have to eventually have to except to yourself, Davante," said the slim guy.

"But that doesn't mean that I am going to become weak like you," said Davante, taunting the guy.

The slim male grumbled. "Argh!"

The boss took a seat. "So, you all what to know why are you are here?"

The seven kids peered at him. Most with a hint of confusion, two with a hint of rage and one with a hint of fear. Natasha began to lower her gaze while Sophia began to grumble despite her circumstance.

"I guess so," said the boss.

She then whispered to Natasha who was tied to the same poll as her. "Do think his Mafia boss or just some gang leader?"

"I don't care what he is. I'm scared," cried Natasha under her breathe.

"Crybaby," said Sophia with a annoyed look on her face.

The boss then placed his gun in his suit and began to explain. "The reason you are here is to be recruited. I know that this isn't the ideal way you wanted to get a job, but it does pay well, that is if you do the right thing."

"So, what do you want us to do?" Kylee inquired.

Everyone in the pull turned their gaze towards her immediately.

"Hm, I was getting to that," the boss said as he began to lean back in his chair and place the gun on his lap. "What I want you guys to do is espionage, stuff like that."

Vinny then inquired, "What's that?"

"It is a word related to task of assassinations, murder and infiltration, idiot," said Sophia.

"Oh.. right," said Vinny. "But isn't that illegal. Like a crime."

Hearing this, the boss began to rub his chin. "Yeah.. exactly."

He then got up on his feet with a smile on his face.

"That was weird response," said Kevin and Vinny.

Nigel, the other guy, seemed to be sleeping somehow.

"The name of this organization, past organization, was called Black Gate. We use to do paid murders, secret murders. We were the best in the field. Matter of fact, we did anything that was paid good money and we were good at it," said the old man in a state of nostalgia.

Suddenly, the smile on his face faded, "But I guess the pay wasn't enough as the group eventually disbanded. The executives.. my friends left me to rot, without a word. Actually, they betrayed me."

Memories began to flood the man's head but he blocked them out. "But we don't want to hear about that dark and gory chapter, do we now?"

Lloyd then asked, "Why do you think that we'll work for you?"

The boss glared at him. He then squatted and stared at Lloyd with serious eyes. If Lloyd could sweat, he would.

"Well, I can kill you right now but that works be a waste and I don't want to kill children or adults you call yourself, ha. So I decided to hold your families at ransom."

Nigel then woke up from his sleep. He shouted, "What did you say!?" in a loud bit calm tune.

"Calm down," said the boss. "Your parents, siblings, uncles, grandmas aren't being held captive. But even through this gang lacks members, it's still enough to take out a few civilians."

"My men have been stationed were you lived at this very point. If you refuse, we kill your families and then you. If you tell the police, we kill the police, your families and then you. I think you get the point."

"Yeah, yeah," said Kevin. "My parents aren't going be taken out by some low life thugs."

"(That's weird coming from him.)" said Lloyd and Vinny inwardly.

"Hmm," pondered the boss. "You dad is still in this country right, while your mom is over seas in Korea?"

"True, I don't have men at Korea currently. But I shouldn't take too long to reach there. Matter of fact, I can go their myself."

Kevin began to grit his teeth in both rage and fear.

"So what I want you all to do is simply. After that I'll let you all have your freedom," the old man said. "If you destroy the neighboring criminal organizations and gangs.. you'll be halfway towards your freedom. After that, you are going after those traitor and kill them."

"Sounds simply, right?"

Davante began to walk out of the room. The slim looked a him as he leaved.

"Where are you going? Training?" he asked.

Davante looked at him. "What else would I be doing, Avon. I also have a student to prepare for."

"You're talking about the kid you fought?" Avon inquired.

"Of course. And it doesn't even matter. We'll have to teach those brats something," said Davante.

Avon grumbled under his breath. "*Sigh* I guess so."

To Be Continued...

Next Chapter: First Target.