That Fateful Day

Chapter 1

"Long Night..."

The loud rumbling, the clanging of metal against rock. That alone was difficult to hear over the motor of the large vehicle.

Not that it would do much good, by now it had been hours since Leon Bronev was kidnapped by strange men in uniform and he hadn't a clue where they were now.

The truck he was in was dark, he could tell from the small holes in the bottom of his blindfold, which his kidnappers hap-hazardly threw on as if it didn't matter. The knots around his wrists that had been pulled behind his back were, however, much tighter.

Loen tried messing with them earlier, but that earned him a painful smack against the back of his head. These people had guns and were reserving themselves from using them.

What they wanted with him, he wasn't clear on. He was just a small town archaeologist, he had no money, nothing to his name nor any outside family related to him or his wife.

Leon wasn't sure who else they had taken, though he guessed they grabbed his wife for that was the last thing he saw before the blindfold. He cursed himself for not fighting harder, but they had weapons pointing towards his two sons and he felt anymore struggle would have gotten them killed.

Leon would rather not test if these people were willing to actually shoot any of them.

Before he could think much further about his situation, the vehicle came to a halt.

"Move it." grunted a gruff voice from in front of Leon.

Leon felt something jab him in the side, probably the gun handle, and his arms being grabbed to force him to his feet. He could hear the door opening and could see some light coming through the lose ends of the blindfold. When he stepped out, he heard his shoes hit what sounded like concrete, dust, and pebbles.

"Hey! Kid, stop it!"

"Don't touch my mum! She wasn't doing anything!"

"Hershel, it's okay."

"Shut it, kid. Get moving."

"Mum..."

"Shhh... Theodore, just stay close, sweetheart. It's going to be okay."

Leon's heart sank hearing this. His fear was confirmed, his children and wife were taken along with him. They sounded together and he wondered why he had been separated from them.

"Come on, we told everyone to keep in line, just do what you're told."

"I told you it was a bad idea to take their gags off."

"Well the little one wouldn't stop his sniffling, I figured if he heard his mother, he'd stop. Ehh, why did Boss want the whole family anyway? I didn't...I didn't know Bronev had kids. This makes this complicated."

"Well plans changed really fast today. We didn't get much on them before we had to go in."

Leon realized the voices were getting further away. Where were they taking his family? Was he being separated again? What were these men talking about?

"Come on."

"Wait." Leon stopped dead in his tracks. "Where are you taking my family?"

Leon felt a rough shove to his shoulder, nearly knocking him over.

"You'll find out after talking to The Boss. Get moving."

Leon was pushed forward. If he was going too slow they would push him again. From how he was being moved along, he guess there was at least two of these men with guns behind him. He could feel the cold metal hit his arms when they jabbed him sharply in impatience.

"Stop. Watch yourself, there's a step there."

That voice was different and was coming from in front of him. A young feminine voice that sounded firm and full of authority. Was she their 'boss'? She also seemed to have an accent that he couldn't quite place, never hearing it before.

Leon felt a hand touch his shoulder and move him forward, slowly stepping up onto the new platform.

"Now boys, don't be so rough with Mister Bronev. He's had a long night."

Leon tensed up when the owner of a new voice chuckled at his own words. He sounded like he was probably next to the women. The voice most likely belonged to an older man. Very old in fact, however his voice was a high pitch, with a bit of a wheeze. He also seemed to have a thick Scottish accent.

"Come along."

Leon found the terrain changing and the sound of his steps becoming different. He was walking on a metal platform of some kind and was being lead upward.

"We're behind schedule, sir." the women said with a bit of annoyance in her voice. "They took far too long to secure them."

"Heh, Ji dear, don't be hard on the men. They had more than one man to bring along. You know how family is, it takes forever to get anywhere. Am I right, Mister Bronev?"

Leon wasn't sure he was suppose to answer that, so he decided to remain quiet. It didn't take long before Leon was forced off the platform onto another metal surface, no longer heading upward.

"Let's discuss your future in a more comfortable atmosphere, eh?"

Leon was pushed along again, however it didn't take long before he was forced to stop once more.

"Take the blinds off him, they are unnecessary." the old man's voice strained to carry over, having moved away.

Leon eyes forced closed when the sudden wave of light hit them, the guards removing the blindfold.

"The ties too."

"You sure?" the women quickly jumped in, causing the guards to pause from undoing Leon's bounds.

"Of course. He won't run and he'll have no where to go. We're leaving port, now."

"Yes sir."

Now that Leon could see, what he saw wasn't what he was expecting. He was in a well-lit room with furnishing, lovely blue décor dressed the room up and mostly hid the metal plating of the walls and floor. There were large windows in the back room showing the outside that was nothing but ocean, which made Leon realize where he was.

They had him on a boat.

"Now, now, have a seat, Mister Bronev."

Leon finally then noticed his captors. The old man had taken a seat in a large arm chair. He looked even older than Leon had imagined, having a crinkled face to the point his eyes seemed to have disappeared behind them and his huge bushy eyes brows.

The young woman was standing next to the elder man, a hard look on her face. She was also wearing a uniform, however her's was modified into a more business suit style. Her black hair was slicked back and she had small glasses on her face. The young woman's appearance was very foreign to Leon, definitely not from England.

Leon looked behind him to see the uniformed men untie his bonds. After doing so, they push Leon over to the couch in the center of the room, where the old man was sitting.

The old man smiled at Leon as he was forced to sit down. He then leaned on his cane, bending over and craning himself forward.

"Welcome aboard Targent's finest ship, the Isolde. My name is Tomas Gearald and this is my lovely assistant Ji."

"What have you done with my wife and sons?" Leon had hoped to sound more stern, but found he could barely get the words out. He was terrified.

"See, Ji?" Gearald motioned to Leon. "This man has his priorities straight. Your family is safe, Mister Bronev." Gearald patted something in his lap, which had escape Leon's notice earlier. "As I said, we need to discuss your future here with us."

Leon tensed up when he realized what Gearald was holding. It was a large folder containing all the notes and writings Leon had done on an ancient dead civilization known as The Azran, as well as some very important documents that a friend of his from London had sent him.

Professor Haris Stanwood, an old colleague of his from London had suddenly contacted him months earlier, asking if he would like to help Stanwood with some work on the Azran. Leon always had a fascination with them before, but never was able to get far with the subject until then.

Stanwood had started giving him new material to work with, mostly notes, pictures, and other small details, even inviting him to a site that Standwood was sure had old ruins. For a few months, Leon had been very busy with this until a week ago. That was the last time Leon heard from Standwood, who had sent Leon something they had found together.

"You see, this is what we are all about." Gearald lifted up the folder, handing it to Ji. "We are all about The Azran. We are Targent. Anyone and everyone who are studying The Azran come to Targent. Or, as in your case, are brought to Targent."

Ji flipped through Leon's notes. "You were brought into a project by a man named Standwood." She eyed Leon. Clearly this was a problem. "And the two of you found some artifacts in a ruins that Targent hadn't found yet. By the time our team got them out of..." Ji paused, trying to find the right words. "...incompetent hands, Professor Stanwood had sent an important artifact to you for safe keeping. A rather important one for those ruins, in fact."

Gearald chuckled. "Ji dear, you really should relax."

Ji was more put off than before. "Well, sir, this could have been avoided if we had been more aggressive from the beginning. He had time to try and hide the key to the underground of those ruins. Now we have more than one mess to clean up."

"I was hoping to give the good professor a chance, I thought maybe he would understand our purpose and would come willingly. However..." Gearald frowned. "Well, best not to speak about someone who isn't with us anymore."

"Quite." mumbled Ji who started to walk away from them. "I'll have Corrin look at this, sir."

"Good, good." Gearald turned to Leon. "Yes, we had to decide how to handle this delicate situation." Gearald laid back in his chair. "For instance, what to do with you."

Leon glanced at Ji, who was still flipping through his notes as she left the room, before looking back at Gearald.

"You weren't an issue before, a small town archaeologist, no real name to yourself. Now we need to decide if we deal with you the same way we dealt with Professor Stanwood. Maybe you will see reason where he did not."

Leon hadn't noticed how long he had stopped breathing until just now. He let out a deep breath, shaky and long. He was terrified and horrified by the news of his friend. Leon had felt at the time that something was odd in the letter Standwood had sent him with the artifact, or the fact that he sent him an artifact piece at all. Leon had no idea it was sent to him to hide it.

"But first we must rate your work." Gearald grinned. "We weren't looking to take you in before, so I'm not sure how much is your own doing compared to Standwood. Once we rate it and if it's good enough, you and your family will be accepted into the Targent family, to immediately begin work on research into the Azran. We will offer room and board for you and your family, as well as a good education for the little ones. It would be very regrettable if you were to refuse this offer. I would hate to lose two great minds in just a short amount of time. Now what are your thoughts on this offer, Mister Bronev?"

Leon wasn't sure how to respond. He wasn't sure he could. What was Gearald offering him? Correction, forcing upon him. He made it sound like it was a choice, as if this was a career offer. But after what Leon could only guess what happened to Standwood...

Leon found his gaze lowering, his body shaking.

Oh God... Is Rachel safe? The boys are probably confused and she has to keep them calm all alone...

"This may seem overwhelming." Gearald waved his hand to the two uniformed men behind Leon, motioning for them to the back door. "After all, we just pulled you here out of nowhere, while we gave Professor Standwood more time to think about this life changing moment. I understand if you need a moment to collect your thoughts. Maybe seeing your family safe and sound might help you make up your mind."

Leon looked back up at Gearald. The idea that he could confirm that they were safe caught his attention.

"Much better." said Gearald. "I knew I was right about you. Priorities. Family. I have a feeling you'll go far. As long as your work is just as good. Now..."

Gearald snapped his fingers and the uniformed guards opened the door. "Follow these gentlemen and they will take you to your loved ones. You can spend sometime with them and talk over everything. After all, it's best to make sure your better-half understands."

Despite feeling so numb, Leon found himself slowly standing up and making his way out of the room. Now that he could see where he was going, he noticed how large the ship was, filled with lots of others like his captors in just about every hall and room they walked through. Most ignored them, or shot a glance at Leon before going back to whatever it was they were doing.

This isn't new to them, is it?... Are they that use to kidnapping people?

The men lead him down a stairway, that took them into a cargo room. Inside the room were a few more Targent men standing around, checking the many creates and items around the room, or just standing guard.

In the large room were a few guards standing around a young woman was kneeling down, holding a small boy in her right arm, while patting another boy's head, talking to him softly.

"Rachel!" Leon darted past his escorts, having forgotten them completely.

Rachel looked up to see Leon coming towards her. She stood up, still holding the youngest of her boys in her arm and the other she pulled close with her free arm, as Leon ran up to her.

"Leon, I'm so glad you're safe." Rachel said softy, trying to keep herself from panicking for the sake of the little ones. "Why is this happening? What is going on?"

Leon hugged Rachel, so relieved to see her and the boys weren't hurt. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. This is all about my work, I'm sorry."

Rachel pulls back to look Leon in the face. "No, Leon, whatever this is, it is not your fault. Just... explain to me what is happening."

Leon took a deep breath. "These people... I believe these people came because of my work on The Azran. They want me to work for them. I think...I think they-" Leon stopped himself when he was saw his children, listening. He wasn't sure how much he should really say in front of them, but at the same time, he couldn't hide what was happening. "They did something to Haris and I'm not sure what they would do to us if I refuse them."

Leon's face fell, feeling completely defeated. He couldn't protect his family, he felt he failed them. If they had just taken him, being forced into this wouldn't be so hard if he knew they were far from harm. However, they were here in this dangerous situation with him.

"Leon..." Rachel slowly set down the four year old next to his brother before turning back to Leon. She placed her hands on Leon's face, forcing him to look at her. "We will get through this, together. Don't forget that I'm here for you and that you do not have to deal with this alone. Understand?"

Leon smiled sadly at Rachel, taking one of her hands into his own. "You are right. Thank you." He then turned to the boys, the younger one having moved closer to his older brother, who had wrap his small arm around him as best as he could.

The youngest sniffled, gripping tightly onto a small teddy bear that he somehow was able to keep, using it to find some comfort. He looked like he had been crying earlier, his face puffy and red.

The older boy was scanning the room, eying all the guards around them. He would rub his little brother's shoulder every time he heard him sniffle, trying to keep him calm.

"How are they doing?" whispered Leon to Rachel, concerned for their mental state.

Rachel bit her lower lip, stressed from the whole ordeal. "Hershel seems to be fine. Though... you know how he is." Leon nodded in acknowledgment before Rachel continued. "Theodore is just confused and upset. I'm just glad those men didn't do anything. It took a while for him to calm down and I was scared his crying would set one of them off. I'm not sure how much the boys understand what's going on and now I don't know what to tell them. I'm sorry, I was hoping... you would know what to tell them."

"I'll try to...explain." Leon walked over to the boys and knelt down. As soon as he did, the younger boy, Theodore, rushed to him and gripped onto his father tightly, sobbing. Leon wrapped his arms around the small boy, placing a hand on the back of Theodore's head to pat him. "Hey, hey..."

"I wanna go home." muttered Theodore, clutching his stuffed bear in one hand, the other grabbing and tugging at his father's shirt. "Please, dad..."

Leon winced, feeling completely powerless. He was struggling to find words that the young ones would comprehend without scaring them, but he was coming up with nothing.

"They aren't going to let us go home, are they?"

Leon looked past Theodore, at Hershel. He had a blank expression on his face, as if he was trying to detach himself from the whole situation. Hershel had always been smart for his age, which made some matters much easier to teach to him. But as a result also made hiding adult issues from him much, much harder for the parents.

Hershel glanced at his mother, who had the same grim look on her face as his father. His blank expression fell, looking dejected. He had long figured that this was bad, but even with being so intelligent, he was still a child. He couldn't think of what this all could mean, but his parents were upset so it was probably...

Yes, the only word that came to the six year old's mind was bad. "Ah... We're never going home... are we?"

"What?" Theodore mumbled, terrified. He then buried his face into his father's shirt, shaking his head. He didn't want to hear that, that was the last thing he wanted to hear.

Hershel stared at his father, hoping he would have an answer to that. Maybe Hershel was wrong, maybe his father had a plan. However, the look on his father's face told him otherwise and as much as Hershel was trying to keep a strong front, it was beginning to crumble with the uncertainty of their future.

"Come here, Hershel." Leon motioned to Hershel to come towards him, reaching an arm out to him. The boy quickly walked over to his father and hugged him, along with his little brother, finally breaking into sobs himself.

"No matter what happens, please believe me when I tell you two this." whispered Leon, trying to comfort them both and trying to keep his own composure. "Your mother and I love you both so much. I will do everything in my power to make this right. I may not be able to do anything now, but... I promise to make this right."

Leon felt another pair of arms wrap around him, realizing Rachel had come up from behind him, hugging him and their two boys.

The four family members remained quiet, only the sound of the boat's engine and the occasional footsteps of the Targent members. They seemed to be ignoring them for the most part, Leon took note. Not surprising, it's not as if they could go anywhere. That did spring to mind a question Leon was a bit surprised he hadn't thought about, though concerning the circumstances, could see why.

'Where are we going?'

Leon wondered how far from home they were being taken, considering they were traveling by sea. They could be taken anywhere and be stuck on this boat for any length of time.

Whoever these Targent people were, they seemed to be well funded and organized. Leon wondered if anyone would even notice that they were missing, if they would be looked for. They had a few friends back home, but Leon and his family had been known to go on trips out. Not hearing from them for a while wasn't unusual.

Hours had passed by now, having been kidnapped in the middle of the night and been dragged to the boat until the early morning. The total amount of time was a mystery, due to his watch being taken anyway when the guards searched him before loading him and his family into the trucks.

Everything about this seemed hopeless.

"Oh..." Rachel flinched, sounding out of breath. Leon noticed her breathing was becoming heavy, her loosening her grip on him and placing a hand on her chest. Was she in pain?

"Are you alright, Rachel?"

Rachel nodded. "Yes, yes." She smiled at Leon, though her breathing hadn't changed. "I'm fine."

Leon wasn't entirely convinced, however he decided to drop it for now. He looked down at his two sons, who had fallen asleep despite all the noise in the ship. They were far too exhausted, haven't gotten any sleep for hours.

It wasn't until now that Leon realized how tired he was. His legs were numbing from kneeling for so long and while he was sleepy, the anxiety and anger building up in him was keeping him wide awake.

At the moment, Leon decided the best way to handle this Targent group would be to play along and not give them any reason to use force or harm his family.

Yes, Leon would swallow his pride and work for these people.

For now.