10 Compromised

His eyes scrolled through the space outside the house he had been resting and being nursed.

Having Tiffany tend to him really helped, because he was now able to get curious about his surroundings.

The man took the initiative to get closer with him, using his daughter because both have started conversing with each other.

The man would intentionally butt in when they are so deep in their conversation, which was mostly about the place they are.

Smart boy. He wanted to know where he was after seeing that his cries about wishing to go home weren't working.

The man guessed right, because Nathan was thinking if it's possible to run away. Hopefully the person that would see him won't try to keep him like this people wanted.

With this goal and the comfort of having a kid like himself around, he was now taking in the structure of the base.

All hopes to run vanished.

The base was huge with different buildings sitting on its surface. It was like a mini city.

So many people were walking around in groups, all armed and seemed to be heading somewhere with a single person at the front, who wasn't armed like they were.

Different types of rifle and so many faces. Both male and female, looking all serious, yet not giving off a weary vibe.

Nathan was amazed. As a little boy who had watched cartoons and even got a similar toy gun to play with, his eyes twinkled at the sight of real guns.

"Are those real guns?" He asked and then it hit him.

He remembered he held one himself and shot someone. His shoulders suddenly raised and the man beside him placed his hand on his hair, ruffling his blonde and despite his dilemma a few seconds ago, he reached up his hand and pulled the man's hand away.

He didn't like his hair being tampered with. It's precious. The only thing that differentiate him from his brother.

The man chuckled.

He was the leader of the organization. The same man that gave him a gun to shoot one of his kidnappers.

"Those are real guns and those people cannot be kidnapped and make their parents sad." The man said.

Nathan looked up at him and then back at the men and women who had made a turn to the side of one of the buildings at a very far distance from where they stood.

The place looks like it has no ending.

If you look into the distance, it seems like the sky is just a few inches from touching the earth. That's how vast and far it was.

A helicopter could be seen afar.

In short, it looked like the middle of nowhere.

He doesn't seem to get what the man meant, but hearing parents, instead of tearing up like the urge came, he boldly stopped walking and the man halted his steps as well.

They stared into each other's eyes and he smiled softly, before squatting to match his height. 

"Seems like you have something to say to me, boy." He said and he nodded his head.

"Do you want to say it now? Or we should keep taking a look around while you young man could pour out your mind?" He asked and he shook his head.

"Now." He said.

"Okay. Tell me." He urged.

"I want to see my family. They would be sad if they did not see me." He said and despite telling himself not to cry, his lips started to tremble.

He really wanted to leave this place, not because he was scared, but because he was worried for his family.

The man smiled. "My name is Tyler. You can call me that. So, listen to me." He said and placed his hand to the left side of his face.

"You know, I had a son, cute just like you." He said and Nathan's eyes seem to regain its hope.

That further means he would feel that his family would want him.

"Where is he? I only see Tiffany. All others are big." Nathan said and he tried to pat his head, but he moved his neck to avoid it.

He chuckled. 

"He was taken away from me." He said.

Nathan's expression sank immediately. "Who took him?" He asked.

"Some bad guys. Same as those that took you." He said and Nathan frowned.

"You know, I would have preferred to know he's alive somewhere and might one day return to me, than having to swallow the pills of his death. He died. He was killed.

My son didn't get the chance you got, boy." He said and Nathan reached up his hand to pat his head, but the man also ducked.

"Allow me and I will allow you." He said and Nathan shook his head, instead he patted the man's shoulder.

"I also wanted you to leave, but if you go to your parents, those bad guys will come again. They will try to take you away and might succeed in killing you." He said and Nathan shook his head.

"My daddy will protect me." He said.

"You have him, yet you were still kidnapped, boy. My son had me and was still killed. Your brother might end up being taken with you next time.

The truth is, they thought you're dead, so they will leave your family alone. If you go back, they will come again.

Why not grow up here and be strong? You can go back to them and those bad guys won't be able to kidnap a big guy.

You can even protect your brother from similar fate. Your parents will have the hope of seeing you again, instead of how my situation turned out." He said and Nathan looked so scared now.

He seemed to have nothing to retort with and the thought of Ethan facing this similar situation, he didn't want that.

"They won't know that I'm alive. They will still be crying." He said in a low tone as tears began dropping from his eyes.

"We can tell them. They will put their mind at rest if they hear from you that you're fine here and wish to stay. Let's tell them hun?" He said and he slowly nodded his head.

"Don't worry, you will meet them again. You just have to grow strong to face anything, boy."