Tap, tap, tap.
Noise from solid heels resounded in the hallway, the quiet house made it more so audible.
A man wearing shoes made in a foreign country, pants of a famous brand. After checking his classy suit, he knocked at the oak door in front of him.
The door opened after two knocks. A blooming maid greeted him, face befitting of a princess but dress of that a servant, still her charming demeanor could easily charm a hundred hearts.
The man gave a simple thanks before going inside, he doesn''t seem to commend the beauty in front of him.
"Hum.. Here''s the man with no fancy. Seriously, won''t you give my beautiful maid a bit of a compliment?"
A young man, wearing a long gown used for sleeping greeted his guest. Leonardo Ajustus, who woke up just a minute ago with his eyes are still soggy. But even with that sleepy face he still manages to appose in a dignified fashion.
"Humor me a bit. I acknowledge your house''s servants. But i know better than to dilly-dally in a place of yours."
"Doctor Johnson, you''re too tense. I didn''t call you here for an extreme operation that includes high-profile fugitives or any criminals."
Malleri Johnson, a middle-aged surgeon who received the ''Lister Medal'' in england at a mere age of of 22 and had received ''Ambroise Paré'' Medal for three consecutive years in his time in the academy of surgery. Few could name a better surgeon than Johnson who have a 98.30% success rate and his miracles saving important names in history from certain death.
"Last time i came, that was what i did. Prison shootout, arsonists, shredded by a speedboat? What ridiculous accident does my patient had this time?"
Johnson rebuked at Leonardo. Which he replied with a chuckle, with a snap of a finger, The maid diagonally behind him came with a platter of drinks and snacks.
"Care to have some tea?"
The master of the house offered liquid of a wood-ish hue in a ceramic cup.
"Thank you."
Johnson was sipping at the tea when he saw the cookies on the platter. Leonardo took one and started munching on them.
"These cookies are good, tasty. wish i had some milk."
The maid behind him was about to move when he stopped her.
"Doctor, won''t you try some? It''s delicious."
Johnson felt out of place. He couldn''t perceive what he was seeing. Even though the tea looked lush and costly the same couldn''t be said for the cookies who looked plain, brown chips and all.
"No?"
"Huh, actually i want some too."
Then they started eating away all the cookies on the platter in a matter of seconds.
"I would like to get down to business."
In a split second, the light and carefree atmosphere turn heavy and tensed. Johnson could clearly see Leonardo''s serious eyes through the thick lashes of his golden hair.
Johnson nodded, clasping his own hands.Stolen novel; please report.
".. This time you can''t take this job carelessly. Sure those criminal are all right since they pay quite a sum, but this one''s personal. Money is not a problem but if you fail this operation the consequences would be heavy. Nothing short of death."
Johnson had never seen the man in front of him made such a scary expression. Of course he''d seen him lash out threats and what-not but never to this extent. Something inside him tells Johnson that this threat is more of a death sentence.
As anxiety consumes him, he saw a peek at the light of determination in the eyes of Leonardo. This man who has everything in the world, had compassion about something?
He cannot help but laugh inside, this ridiculous situation perplexes yet amuses him.
"I''ll get the job done."
"You have my gratitude."
Leonardo instantly returned to his carefree attitude. Like all his stern act was nothing more than a facade.
Johnson took out his phone and ringed a number on his contacts, he never thought he would use again.
"Hello, Duke. Send my whole crew."
---
It''s dark... It''s cold...
''What the fuck are you doing?! You useless piece of shit!
You''re nothing but a burden. That''s why your father died, the mother is sick because of your antics. Get up, be useful!
You can at least sell yourself for some fucking grub.''
「Are you awake, my child?」
With a gasp, the little girl aroused from her deep sleep, bouncing up the bed she makes out her surrounding .
" ... "
She felt perturbed at the continuous noise inside her mind, the voice of the bad people who takes away her mother, her weak voice as she tells Agnes that everything will be alright.
"Ma.. ma... i miss you..."
The memory of her mother is unforgettable, the painful tone of her voice is enough to make the little child weep once again.
Agnes rested her head on the soft pillow once again, wanting to shut off her mind.
Suddenly, she heard the door open. From her whole day of hearing the door open and close she can finally discern when someone comes in the room.
"So the patient is awake."
Agnes felt disappointed for a moment, the voice was not familiar. A new voice yet again. She hated hearing new voices, she felt scared.
"Looks like that man made a blunder of picking a consort... Don''t look strained child, i am not here to hurt you."
Agnes''s face crumpled in vigilance, the one in front of her was certainly not the person who made Agnes his daughter.
It''s a voice of a man. Unlike her father... Mister Leo whose voice was gentle and kind, this voice is rasped and un-energetic. Agnes can''t understand what he spoke but she felt that his words were aimed to mock her benefactor.
''No, fathe- misteh Leo deserves no of those words! Please take that back.''
Agnes wanted to rebuke but she couldn''t. She must be respectful of adults and friends of Mister Leo.
"H-hello... Can i help you?"
Agnes spoke in small voice which almost sounded like a squeal.
"Oh, your father sent me here to... Make some adjustments. And seeing your pupils it''s obvious what''s the job. I should immediately start working."
Agnes then heard a SMACK! in the background like something hitting skin, what is it?
"Misteh Leo did?"
Agnes replied in a naive tone, trying to understand the meaning of his words.
"Oh dear, i thought you''d be his... Nevermind, i''m not intrigued in any illegitimate affair. Get this started."
The man sounded like he had a companion. Agnes stayed still, percepting noises from around her.
"Okay, young miss. This will prick a bit but be at ease. The pain will disappear quickly."
A soothing tone of a woman entered Agnes'' ears. It''s a beautiful voice but not as much as Mister Leo, she thought.
The sudden sharp pain abruptly woke her up from her thoughts. Agnes felt something sharp like a needle piercing through her skin.
"W-What are yo-you doing?!"
Agnes exclaimed in shock. This sensation, her fear is coming back. How she cried and wept in hunger and the man who kept pricking her forearm regularly with needles so her hunger subsides for a whole day. She thought it was good because she wasn''t hungry anymore, but in her head was the intense pain and blurry scary visions. Nonstop and spinning.
"N-No! No! Do don''t do to me! It Hurts!! I don''t wanna!"
The hunger will fade but the unbearable pain takes its place.
"Sir, this child seems to be traumatized with needles. Are you sure you don''t want to use alternatives?"
The assistant of the famed doctor Johnson asked for the alternative pills to take instead of injecting anesthesia directly in her blood.
"We''ve got no choice, Time is limited. Ajustus is not gonna be patient. He wants it done today, and i got a load of appointments tomorrow so we''re going to need this full day to operate. Got it?"
Johnson was just checking the tools and equipment that the master of the house had prepared.
"Yes sir." His assistant replied.
Johnson nodded and hovered his eyes through the high-class, high-tech equipment around him.
"Not even the most expensive hospital gets their hands on these machines. Huh, he sure did make preparations."
As much as Johnson was surprised to see cutting edge technology in front of him, he wasn''t too surprised by Leonardo acquiring them.
That man''s connection rivals the state.