Chapter 21: Ian Is Back

Watching Ian quietly eating his purple popsicle while dazed in thought, Aretta felt her heart race and her face burn up, the pulsing of her pulse thumped in her ears making her mind messy and anxious, her mouth gaped open and closed many times; she wanted to start a conversation. But she was too shy and afraid to speak to him, and trying to come up with an interesting topic was hard.

From her interaction with him, even if only for a day, she found that Ian didn't speak much. Unless he was spoken to, he hardly ever opened his mouth to initiate a conversation.

Finally, she gathered up all her courage to break the peaceful and warm silence.

"Hey, um, how did you separate from your family?" Aretta casually tried to start up a conversation, albeit still a little hesitant and shy.

"Oh, I ran away." Ian calmly replied as he finished off the last bite of the melting popsicle.

"What?!" Aretta exclaimed, clearly shocked. This was not the answer she expected at all. Then she suddenly thought of something, anxious, she hurriedly said, "But then, isn't it bad that we called your brother to come?!" Forgetting that Ian was super happy to call his brother and have the other come pick him up.

Ian shook his head. "I didn't mean to run away. It… just happened." Looking confused with regret all over his face.

Aretta in turn was also confused. He ran away, but he didn't mean to. 

???

"Ian, I—"

Right when Aretta was about to say something, the doorbell rang, cutting her off.

Ding dong~

'Ian's brother must be here.' Instant realization struck Aretta as well as a dooming sense of sadness and grievance at their incoming separation. For some reason, she couldn't stand the thought of never seeing Ian again.

What is this feeling? Just what does she feel for Ian? 

Her mother went to open the door.

She also thought it might be Ian's brother for she can think of no one else who might come to her house this late at night. Nor was she expecting anyone else.

The front door opened to reveal an astonishing, unexpected scene. In her view, countless black shiny cars filled the streets of the community housing area to the brim, mainly crowding around the front and back of the Monah house.

Out of the central-positioned lowkey black car stepped out a cold-looking man with hair appearing blue in the dark night with honey orange eyes—a color that was meant to look sweet, through his gaze, looked like burning embers in the darkness. Every step and movement he made carried tremendous dominance and power, his entire body exuded authority. His gaze commanded others' absolute submission.

Aretta's mother had a fright at this sight.

What were all these people doing here?!! In front of her house!?

Not even for a moment did she come to think or even amuse herself with the idea that this was Ian's brother coming to pick him up.

For this man and Ian looked nothing alike. Not their appearance, and especially not the aura they exude to others.

Ian was pure and like the light, clear and clean like a crystal.

Angus was inky and like the lightless and icy waters of the deep ocean, unable to be seen through. 

He obviously did not look like a good person with an average job.

Aretta's mom wanted to close the door, but the man who pressed the doorbell stopped her. She couldn't close the door no matter how hard she pushed. She was just a normal woman with a husband and children, she had no idea what to do in this kind of situation.

She was too nervous and scared to even call her husband.

Fortunately, her husband saw that she took too long to answer the door with no movement. Concerned, he went to see what was going on.

Upon seeing the front of his house, he too was shocked and stunned in place for a moment. Then he quickly reacted, pulling his wife behind him, looking warily at the men in black suits and the approaching blue-haired man with an air of power surrounding him. Upon closer inspection, he subconsciously corrected himself—deep, dark purple, the other's hair was a dark purple that appeared blue in the darkness.

Waving away the man who stopped Aretta's mom from closing the door, Angus had the majority of his men stand down and away from the front porch.

Only five men stood behind Angus, guarding him.

At last, he turned to face the wary and cautious Monah couple who did not understand what was going on and who they were.

Angus did not have the intention to frighten this couple, however, he also did not care about the effect his entrance and entourage had on them. His primary concern was to secure Ian's safety and return.

"Who, who are you, sir?" Aretta's father tentatively asked with vigilance swimming in his eyes.

"Angus Everett. I am here to pick up my little brother, Ian Everett," Angus introduced himself and personally offered up his gloved hand to shake first.

Aretta's father and mother were both shocked to hear that this dangerous man was actually the sweet and kind Ian's big brother. Aretta's father shook his hand before his wife also shook Angus's hand.

Angus took his hand back. The Monah couple were at a loss for words, still stunned in place by what was happening. They never could have anticipated that such a view would await them when they first met Ian and called his family to come get him.

Seeing the couple unable to speak yet, Angus took the initiative in their meeting. "You have my gratitude for finding and helping Ian and informing me of his location. I will be sure to send your family gifts for what it's worth." 

The Monah couple were still in the middle of processing the shock from meeting this extraordinary man called Angus who claimed to be Ian's brother. And from witnessing the train of fortified black cars parked around, front and back, of the car Angus got off of—which looked similarly and, if not, more impressive and expensive. 

All of that must've cost a fortune. Although their own family was well-off, they were not what one would call filthy rich and wealthy. 

Even if they were not told of Ian's background, it must certainly be beyond imposing for his brother to be surrounded by so many bodyguards and own countless expensive cars.

Though unbeknownst to the Monah couple, the men they thought to be their hired bodyguards were truly their subordinates. And they were not even the majority of them. Only a small team had followed Angus to take back Ian, to ensure Ian's follow up safety, while the rest of the huge group waited outside the community to group up. Angus was considerate enough to not startle the entire community with streets filled with his men's cars. With the added purpose of preventing unnecessary alarm for his operation.

Snapped out of his stupor after hearing Angus's words, Aretta's dad took charge and immediately rejected it firmly.

Even Angus was slightly surprised by how firm the man acted.

"No, sir, we appreciate your thoughts, however, we do not need any reward for what we did. Most importantly, my wife and I did not do much. Our daughter was the one who found him and brought him here."

"Then I will specially prepare generous gifts for her."

"No no! I do not mean that! Just your sincere thoughts are enough."

And his wife nodded her head in mutual agreement with her husband.

Angus could not understand why this middle-aged man was so insistent on not accepting his thanks. If it was anyone else, they would've rushed up to grab the chance.

Angus felt intrigued by this ordinary, kind couple who showed no greed for his wealth and power. In fact, one of his calculations in letting them see his trained men and the many black cars was to see their reactions and through that, their nature.

Angus has seen countless greedy and selfish people in his career as the head of the Everett Touch, Inc. and the leader of the Everett Mafia Group. Too many to count. They all wanted to either make connections with powerful people or get their hands on more wealth and increase their influence. Blinded by their insatiable greed and ambitions. Angus has long been ingrained with the habit of testing out the people who approach him and his close ones.

Angus was pleasantly surprised to find that these two people were unlike the many he had seen before. Now, what about their daughter?

Inside the house, Ian was equally aware of the arrival of his brother. He was saying his goodbyes to Aretta who was reluctant to part.

Her eyes unconsciously shone with reluctance and sadness that Ian, the recipient, could not even start to understand.

His heart was calm and waveless, his insides at peace.

Aretta was the opposite. She could feel her stomach constantly tumbling and turning, twisting and tingling. Tumultuous waves crashed against her heart and shook her mind.

Unable to understand, Ian was about to leave when Aretta suddenly grabbed his wrist. Ian turned his head back to look at her, confused.

"…What is it, Aretta?" Ian asked, puzzled as to why Aretta stopped him. Does she have anything left to say to him that she hasn't said?

Words wanted to come out of her mouth, but she didn't know what to say. Rather, she was afraid of what the words could possibly be once she gave them free rein.

She looked into Ian's eyes and knew he did not feel anything towards her. 

She let go.

"…it's nothing. I hope you won't be separated from your brother again." She forced a smile.

"Yeah!" Ian beamed a smile back. Pure and untainted.

Aretta felt uncomfortable at how clueless he was. Gearing herself up with nonexistent bravery, Aretta confidently looked into Ian's dark purple eye. She was afraid she would never be able to look into it again once she missed this chance.

For some reason, staring into that dark purple orb soothed her nerves and calmed her despairing feelings. 

Their locked gaze told her of something she could not understand yet. It called out to her and her attraction to it grew.

Ian blinked. He looked at a loss at the immobile Aretta.

Their connected gaze broke off for a second and that was enough for Aretta to snap out of her mesmerized daze.

She had a wondrous feeling that something magical had happened to her just now. But that feeling was quickly fading away and disappearing from her memories, waiting for the day she would uncover them again.

Blinking her eyes, still somewhat out of her senses, it took a while for Aretta to think of something to say. "…You should get going. Hopefully we'll see each other again in the future." Her previous reluctance mysteriously gone from her tone and actions.

Ian thought nothing of it and nodded.

Getting closer to the front door, Ian was delighted to hear the voice of his brother. He had a feeling that he hadn't seen or heard the voice of his brother for many years. Weird. Ian immediately rushed out of the house and pounced onto Angus.

"Big brother!" Ian shouted as he hugged onto Angus like a koala.

Shocked and surprised, Angus instinctively held onto him to prevent him from falling and hurting himself. Shocked, because of Ian's sudden action. Surprised, because Ian hadn't done anything like this since the kidnapping incident when he was nine. Before then, Ian had always acted intimately and clingy to him like a grownup baby. It was also Angus's fault for spoiling him.

However, after that severe incident, Ian's entire personality changed. He no longer acted so intimate with Angus, though he was still a little clingy, but he matured a lot overnight and a permanent mask seemed to have settled onto his green face.

It perplexed Angus a lot back then. Eventually he came to terms with it. His little Ian was no longer pure and innocent as an ignorant child of the world. This cruel and merciless world killed off all the innocence of its children.

At times, Angus hoped Ian lived like a flower rather than a weed. For weeds grow tenaciously and strongly despite their adversities and sufferings in order to survive and live long. Yet flowers grow beautifully and peacefully, needing not to suffer much before they soon wilt. He would rather Ian suffer no harm and pass than for him to learn of suffering and live painfully.

Sometimes, he thought so. Others, he did not. For sometimes, living could be beautiful as well. Pass the trials and tribulations laid sweetness and light.

Angus hoped Ian would live long and taste that sweetness that most could not reach in their life, whether long or short.

Ignorant of his brother's deep thoughts and concerns for him, Ian happily reunited with his brother. Though feeling a bit awkward in his teenage body, he was more used to his 9 year-old body. 

This made the innocent and thoughtless—thoughtless in that he doesn't think deeply into most things because of his pure and simple mind—Ian remembered that he was different now. He might think he was still 9 mentally, but his body reminded him he was a lot older now than he thinks.

Ian thought to ask his brother about it later and noted it down in his mental notepad.

Again, the Monah couple felt shocked and as if their world view was shattered and pieced together again. And at the same time, they felt relieved and pleasantly surprised to see Angus's eyes warm up and softened at the sight of Ian.

They could feel the familial warmth and affection between the two siblings who look nothing alike.

This, surprisingly, settled down their floating hearts that had gone through countless shocks this evening.

Aretta's mom smiled. Her tone betrayed her relief and happy mood.

'What a lovely pair of siblings.' She thought to herself.

"It's great you two were able to reunite." She happily congratulated them from the bottom of her heart. Her husband nodded to her words.

"Yes, again, I am very grateful." Angus nodded to them. He completely disregarded what the man had said prior, not acknowledging it, and planned on gracing them with generous gifts in addition to using his powers to make life easier for them. Such good people deserve it after helping Ian selflessly. He did not inform them of his decision as he had decided and will not be changing his mind, so there was no need to tell them to incite more objections. Then he bade them farewell. "As it's getting late, we'll be taking our leave now."

The man and his wife knew nothing about it, they only thought that since they already refused, the other party must have accepted since he did not push them. 

"Yes, of course. Have a good night, sir."

They never would've guessed the surprises that awaited them. 

"Good night, Mr. and Mrs. Monah."

The two families bid their farewells to each other and went their separate ways.

The Monah couple with their daughter, who came only when seeing them off, watched on as Angus and Ian got into the car Angus came in on and the fleet of black cars as dark as night took off into the distance in an orderly formation.

"Darling, are you sad?"

"No, mom. I'm sure I'll meet him again, someday." Aretta sounded very sure.

Her mom only smiled.

What a family whose child her daughter has taken a liking to.

*****

Inside the lowkey black car with tinted windows surrounded in the center by a group of similar-looking black cars seating men in black. 

Angus confronted Ian. He can obviously feel something different about this Ian.

Like he was back to the way he was before he was nine.

Ian was also very confused. 

"Brother, do you know what happened to me? Why is my body so much bigger? Is there something wrong with me? Why are my eyes different colors? Did I fall into a deep sleep after I was rescued from those bad guys?" Ian anxiously asked one question after another rapidly, all these doubts had accumulated silently in his stomach and now they were finally let out.

Angus tried to calm Ian down. "Ian, Ian, calm down." However, he was unable to answer the questions Ian was bubbling with. He also did not know how this happened. To the current Ian, it might seem that his body grew while his mental state stayed young. But to Angus, it was Ian's mental age that regressed rather than his body belying his age. 

Ian listened to his brother's advice and attempted to calm himself down. 

Suddenly, Ian noticed a distinct, metallic tang in the air. He sniffed and tried to think of what it could be. 

A flash of red crossed Ian's sight. 

Ian's eyes widened as his blood started pumping faster and faster inside his veins. His heart rate sped up and his head mysteriously started throbbing.

Clutching his shirt where his heart was, he shook his head in an attempt to assuage the pain and extreme discomfort he felt that was incomparable to what he felt at the time he was watching the TV. Yet nothing worked. The pain continued to intensify. The light in his heart was weakening rapidly and losing to the darkness attacking en masse. No longer just sparks of darkness, they had by some means grown from tiny sparks to huge, raging flames.

It felt like an eternity to Ian, trapped in the lake of agonizing pain that seemed to rip him apart into two.

Eventually, the pain ceased and he felt a sense of sleepiness come over him.

In reality, all this took less than 10 seconds to take place.

Ian blinked. With that closing and opening of his eyelids over his eyes, something switched. 

The dark purple orb changed back to their usual, natural light purple color.

His whole demeanor adjusted. The light and warmth Aretta had felt from Ian before dissipated, replaced by pitch black darkness and a sinister, twisted nature hidden under a gentle and polite mask.

Darkness enveloped his entire heart as light retreated and became dormant once again.

"Ian? Ian! Are you okay?!" An anxious Angus called out repeatedly to Ian. He had once again seen Ian be in pain mysteriously. Luckily, this time, it did not seem to last long as soon enough before Angus could panic, Ian's crumpled expression returned to normal.

Ian slowly looked at Angus and their surroundings, his unique light purple eyes showing confusion and bewilderment.

"Brother, why are we in a car? Weren't we in your office?"