Ace sat at the laptop in his home, looking at the keys on the board but not really typing. Sure, he was supposed to be doing homework and a couple other things, but he just couldn't focus. He kept getting the oddest feeling that someone was watching him, but he knew for a fact that there weren't any cameras hidden anywhere - due to his slight paranoia he would always check thoroughly, at least once a month or more though no one noticed enough to count.

He knew that none of his family members were watching him either. The two middle-eldest were in one of their rooms together, while Raven kept insisting that Simon listen to some music with him and tried to teach him the lyrics. Why he bothered trying no one understood, since Simon had no interest in using his voice in any way rhythmical. He was pretty monotone compared to most people, not showing an emotion either unless it was something that actually called for it.

The smallest of the family - Alex - Ace's greatest treasure, was laying on his stomach on the floor of the living room, playing with the stuffed rabbit that Ace had gotten him who knows how long ago. The poor thing had more patches than fur on it now, and one button-eye missing, but Ace refused to take it away from the little one if he still wanted to keep it.

...

It was just him being paranoid again, he decided, returning to typing away on the key-board and focusing on that instead. He could swear there were eyes on the back of his head, but let it go for now, just getting his essay summed up nicely before distracting himself with a video or two on Youtube.


Ace let out a small yawn, arms stretching high above his head and his back arching as a cat's would, signalling that morning had just began. His day stared at 5 AM, so it was officially the beginning of the day, the end of their night, and time for him to take over his position as house-keeping little brother. He was about to get up when his phone suddenly vibrated on the table next to his and Alex's bed. He grunted softly from still being tired, and flipped it open, seeing the simple message.

[Good morning.]

That was all it read, and Ace was subtly confused. How would someone know exactly when he woke up? It said that the message was sent to him only seconds ago, so he knew it wasn't delayed or anything of that sort.

It must be a coincidence. I've never seen this number in my life, and it has an area code all the way from Belarus! There are tons of people with insomnia, maybe someone over there is suffering and typed the number wrong.

Ace took a deep breath as he nodded to himself, then yawned once more and turned off his phone. Why bother to keep it on when no one was going to message him anyway? It was his day off from work, official work at least, and he would relax indefinitely until tomorrow.


Today Ace was at the market, him having made a meal that was much bigger than he had first intended and using a lot of ingredients. It wasn't a mystery why their fridge was now almost completely empty, besides some junk food that he refused to touch.

He grabbed a few things; fruits, vegetables, some spices that he could use for their dinner tonight if his family didn't insist on eating the left-overs that caused him to be there in the first place. Everything was peaceful, children scurrying around, worrying their parents by going out of sight for a second too long and having them wonder where they were before they reappeared and promised to hold their guardian's hand. Ace smiled, feeling pleased that Alex was obedient and didn't scurry from his side like that at all, knowing that Ace would be more worried than any other time in their lives.

The teen continued his shopping, faintly feeling a buzz emerge in his pocket from the hand-held device seated there. The ravened-brunette pulled it out, flipping it open to see he'd gotten a text.

[Don't forget your coffee.]

Ace pondered the message, wondering if someone he knew sent this. When he looked at the number, it didn't have a contact name like usual, and it didn't look frighteningly familiar. Wait, it's that Belarusian number again.. Maybe they programmed it into their phone wrong? Oh well, better set this straight.

[Excuse me, but I think you have the wrong number. If someone gave this number to you, then they tricked you. Sorry.]

It wasn't in his nature to be considerate, but he didn't want to be a jerk to anyone either. He shoved the phone back into his pocket, and then kept passing stands he saw, noticing that one was selling caffeine packets. Now that I think about it, didn't we use the last scoop of coffee grounds yesterday..? The ravened-brunette got what he needed and left the market, casting a slightly uneasy glance at his phone before returning home.


Ace was once again on his laptop, scrolling through some fan-art of an anime that Parker had suggested he should watch, and decided to dabble a bit to see if any of the characters were hot. As he was on, he glanced to the side of the screen where ads are and noticed that it depicted a very beautiful woman model in a white gown, holding a bouquet to simply display a wedding theme without looking at any of the words on it. He hummed slightly, wondering why people put so much thought into something that was really only meant for the two people to truly experience.

He got distracted from his phone buzzing, and grabbed it to see the message. Oh for fuck's sake, it's that number again.

[You would make a most beautiful bride. Don't you think?]

Ace was officially stunned. He couldn't comprehend who would know such a little thing as what ad he'd just happened to glance at on his laptop, and was completely frozen in place. His shining mint eyes glanced around uneasily, looking straight out of the sliding doors that lead to the outside balcony of his family's apartment. There was a building across from them obviously, but he couldn't pin-point where someone was looking at him from. He finally got over his shell-shock and looked back down at his cell-phone.

[Who are you?]

It was a simple question, but Ace wanted to know. Now. Who could have the skill to track an underground assassin without their knowledge? Did they know that about him too? Had they followed him on missions, or seen him in the shower, or watched him and his precious little angel, Alex, while they slept? Ace shuddered at the last thought in particular. He could handle being in danger alone, but not if it got his family into serious trouble.

The ravened-brunette nearly jumped out of his skin when his phone buzzed once more, letting him know that he'd gotten a reply.

[Just an admirer of profound beauty. Would you like to admire it with me? I could get you a lovely full length mirror.]

The teen almost wretched, thinking of himself as anything but beautiful, or even modestly good-looking. He was typing something into his phone when it buzzed again, making him exit to check the newest message.

[Won't you please look outside? I would love to admire the clouds with you, I already know how much you love the rain and all that.]

Ace stopped instantly, his eyes locked onto the screen. No.. No, they're not there. There was no one there a second ago, there can't be anyone now. They probably mean just from wherever their hiding, right? We all live under the same sky and all that, right? Ace could tell he was slightly shaking, but he tried to gulp down the apprehension and chance a look outside. His pupils narrowed when they were met with a new, yet unwelcome, sight.

A tall male, who looked well built, well, from what he'd been able to tell. It was hard to see from the long trench-coat that was covering him, edged with black fur on the neck and wrists. The man was topped with silvery hair, and purple-ish blue eyes that pierced through him, making him feel almost vulnerable just from them being turned in his direction.

Have to get away. That was the first thing to come to his head, and he bolted up, sprinting for the room that his family could never enter because he sealed it with a spell, and only he could get in or out without permission. If he got there, then he could close the door so it instantly locked, and then call his family from there to tell them not to come home, and to call the police. He didn't get the chance though; the second he got his hand wrapped around the door-knob to enter his and Alex's room, there were arms wrapped around him tightly and a rag over his mouth and nose that had an odd scent, almost indescribable. No..

"Time for rest. Just relax and all be better soon." came a baritone voice that would haunt him for who knows how long, as the edges of his vision darkened and he soon lost consciousness.