The weed grows

Fifteen minutes turned into an hour and an hour turned into two. William have been waiting for his current henchman for that long. His queried his poking anger by pacing about and going over his plans. His plans on how to stomp through the head of those who think themselves better than him. On how to bite the hands that fed him. In that major corporation, his fellow directors who has witnessed his steady rise to his current position, had helped him reach said place. It came at a price—him being a doormat to their every whimp and carrying out their will. Now, they consider him a threat.

He was a threat alright. Carrying out their plans to their erroneously money gapple made him privy to their splurges and secrets. Companies like theirs don't just rise by honest work, a lot are done in the dark to ensure it's supremacy over their competition. William has seen both the good and bad image of the Corporation.

To make them enemies of themselves will be much better. It will come through with few incentives. This is why Kaito was needed.

To put his plan plainly, the Chief Director's beloved two kids will be kidnapped and no ransom will be issued out. In the children's captivity, all the children will hear will be how the managing director, Teni, has sanctioned their kidnap and assurances that no harm whatsoever will come to them.

It has to be carried out with no holes. Emphasized on timely precision.

The kids will escape after a week in captivity, then all hell will let loose.

The Chief director aware that his children were kidnapped will surely be devastated. In his turmoil and grief, everyone will be regarded as a suspect in his eyes. He will feel like if the World was plotting his downfall; with no information on his children's health.

A week later, his kids ''escapes'', all they will do will be to narrate their horrid experience to any caring ear. How Teni, their fathers friend, the managing director of Crumas, staged the whole affair. "Ohh, the vile evil ways of his mind." They are still children, his children, they are innocent in every way; so they say nothing but the truth.

War will be inevitable. An esteem office war of the higher-ups. Employees; who are like children seeking approval will definitely choose sides maybe after Teni has claimed it was a setup and confusedly pledged his innocence and an equally honest and confused apology.

William was sure this won't be forgiven by Clyde Tate, their Chief Director. The man always acted like a hard man. He was hard alright; his face looked like it was craved from concrete and if it descends on you, his jaw looks sharp enough to cut out huge chucks of flesh. His short frame didn't hinder that air of superiority he carried on his broad shoulders when he walked around the offices. It sort of amplified his arrogance in a weird way. With his arms positioned in the fighters walk up to the ring, his legs stretched out in different direction– demanding your respect without question.

His type will never forgive easily, his pride is on the line here. So pleas will all fall on deaf ears. It has all probability of becoming a public affair, police might get involved, bases might be taken to court. All eyes on them as they tastes their blades on each others adams apple.

All this won't be good for the Corporations image–stocks will start to drop, investors may begin to pull out as none will like to put their money in a disorganized Corporation. At this point, one of them must then surely leave the Corporation.

Or, both might be asked to resign. If that is the case, it opens more doors to grab power. Whatever the outcome, he, William, will come out unscathed.

William lifted his head to the night sky. The clouds today were absent of stars. Not even a single one of them peaked its shinning light to looked down on earth. Today, they were resting. While they rest, he will work and strive for his desires. He will shine his own light to his path, the stars light were never bright enough to illuminate his path.

His henchman not showing face tonight crossed his mind. ''Tomorrow, I will give him an earful,'' he said to himself. The he heard it.

The pants of a dying person. The pants became heavier as it approached the clearing. William looked carefully towards the sound direction. He could only make out a person running disorderly towards his spot. As the person drew nearer, William could make out the features: Roguish face that different little scars embellished, lithe body covered by a large black industrial jacket with heavy combat boots. It was certainly the bastard of a human, his henchmen, Kaito.

Being extremely late wasn't enough, he had had to be running round the forest panting like a dog that has not eaten for weeks.

William raised his hand which held a small torch and flashed twice.

''You will never guessed what I saw!" Kaito bellowed from his distance.

Kaito lacked tact. William always knew that and hated him on a higher scale for this. To shout at night, in the middle of the forest and draw all the attention on them. The forest has ears especially at night.

Panting heavily, Kaito met up with him. William briefly giving him the stink eye before schooling his expression to that of indifference.

''You will never guess what I saw," Kaito repeated. Raking his hair violently with his hands, he looked at William wide-eyed. ''It was like my nightmare... all over again. An evil right here. Right under our nose." He put his hand between his teeth. "I couldn't... do a thing, I have no weapons on me.''

William perked up an interest. The man before him was acting frantic, sweats covering every visible part of his body as he tried to bring his breathing to normal. Kaito was as intelligent as he was skilled in his area of expertise. His yellowed eyes has probably seen all forms of the unknown.

For him to be all mumbo-jumbo, all shell-shocked, then he must have really seen what was beyond him. As a toad does not run in the daytime for nothing.

''What did you see?" William asked.

"A wi-ch by the other clearing."

"A what?"

"A witch."

William eyes gleamed, part in shock and excitement. For he has never met one before, but who doesn't hear the rumors. Those terrifying rumors about what their kind were capable of doing. How they had successfully hidden in human society since the beginning of time. And finally, one was here. Near them. One was here, in this very forest, under this starless canopy of a sky.

William schooled himself. But the excitement was too much to contain. "Show me," he told the panic-stricken man.