11. A Shocking Discovery

Manhattan proved to be exactly what he expected it to be, very bright and very loud. Two things that Alan seriously didn't need at the moment, but destiny was being a witch to decide that Renée had to be in one of the places where it was practically impossible to stay hidden for long, especially when you had the FBI and the Golden Cobra on his butt. Luckily for him that his old co-worker was located somewhere the law enforcement wouldn't think to look for him or Virgil and if they did than they were going to have hard time since where they were going was shady and a common place for prostitutes, brothels and fetish clubs.

"So tell me where exactly does your old co-worker work?" Virgil said before he stepped to the sidewalk to avoid running into one of the many drunks or high people walking around. Alan had ditched the car earlier, thinking that it was smarter to get around by foot from here since it would by him some time to avoid detection and also avoid too much unwanted attention and with that car you were practically asking for it. As for Virgil coming along to see Renee…well the argument that the young man would draw unwanted attention seemed to be weighing heavier than the argument that Virgil would be in the way. Weighting his options only proved that either way he was screwed should anyone discover either of them, but bringing Virgil along he had some control and could keep an eye on him to make sure that he didn't call the cops or draw Vinnie and his goons attention who were bound to be around to greet him. If he remembered his old boss correctly, which he unfortunately did, the man was bound to make the whole scavenger hunt a lot more difficult and complicated by adding a few obstacles along the way. Just like a twisted play master that he was and Alan hated everything that reminded him of that horrible man who gave him the painful and terrible upbringing.

"To be honest, I'm not quite sure if my description would smooth the already disturbing picture you probably have formed in your head," Alan said before he turned the street corner, dragging a handcuffed Virgil with him. "And besides its not where she works I'm worried about. Rather the fact that my old co-worker is, like the others I have met up till now, not going to greet my reunion with open arms. If I had to assume anything they would try to test my skills or eliminate me from existence."

Virgil didn't say anything, but his expressed showed how his comment disturbed him. Not that he could blame him since just the thought of it made Alan unintentionally rub his hands where his scars resided.

They walked a couple of feet before they stopped in front of red painted door with no signs or anything that could explain what kind of place it was. Though the location on the FBI database hadn't been very accurate or descriptive to the least, there was enough to track down where she resided and also which area she had been seen based on the few arrest charges that really didn't stick in the end due to lack of evidence. Either way Renée's hideout was a perfect cover to avoid the law enforcement and other potential threats coming up her door, but what amazed Alan was the fact that she or however she worked with managed to keep their business by hiding in plain sight while giving off all the clues necessary to find it in the first place. It was a genius cover front and the whole idea behind it almost screamed Renee and her cunning little mind.

After gathering his courage, he knocked hard and determined on the door before he distanced himself from the door and stood closely next to Virgil, who actually was smart enough to figure out to shut up at the moment, but Alan was certain it was more due to gain information and later on gain control what would happen next. Needless to say that the older man's plan was predictable, but the circumstances were anything except that so he really should hope much. Anyways the door opened and an Asian-looking woman dressed in very revealing clothes appeared, "What do you want? If you are here to look for a job then I have to say we don't hire. So take your girl and look somewhere else."

Both Alan and Virgil frowned by the woman's words. Apparently she thought that Virgil was a pimp and he was the girl that was looking for a gig that literally screwed up their minds by the thought of it. Either way Alan wasn't sure whether was going to punch the woman or not for thinking that he was a girl and also a prostitute.

"No-no-no," Alan denied and ran an exasperated hand through his hair. "I'm looking for Renée Belvoir, my sources told me she was here."

"Sorry, there is no one here by that name," The woman answered and didn't waste time trying to close the door and ultimately ending the conversation from prolonging any further. Unfortunately for her that he wasn't really in the mood to be playing games so he grabbed the door in one fast movement and stopped it and replied seriously annoyed, "Look, I'm seriously not in the mood for this. So let's try this again shall we? I'm looking for Renée Belvoir or you might know her as the Temptress. I'm sure she told you about me coming, but if you really need the confirmation that I am who I say I am well…fine. Here it is, 'the Ghost is back to haunt her again' so is that good enough for you?"

The woman blinked her eyes confused before she placed two fingers to her left ear, obviously wearing an earpiece courtesy to Renée and the whole organizations safety as well as their plan what to happens when he stepped into the other side of that door. He was literally about to walk into the first level of hell and the thought about what was going to happen both scared him but also drives him to continue despite the fear and the pain.

It took a few moments before the woman nodded and allowed him and Virgil inside, both totally unaware what to find and to expect once they were on the inside, but whatever was coming their way neither Alan or Virgil ran away.

He knew immediately something was wrong when the Boss came back into the room and decided to show him something on one of the big monitors. Fermat had no clue what it was, but based on the reaction he saw on Blaze he knew that it was nothing good. Blaze argued and demanded the older man to stop, but the Boss just shrugged his shoulder like he had no care in the world and said, "Come on, Blaze. Be a good sport here. I'm sure Fermat is curious over whom or to be exact what Alan is and everything he did before he left. And besides you are in no position to ask or demand anything."

The last sentence was delivered with so much terrifying power that it made Fermat shiver. And it didn't go away either when he tried to rub his arms over and over again. In honest opinion, he was terrified of this man and wasn't completely sure if he was more terrified when he was calm and easy-going or when he was showing his true colors. And it seemed like it was the same for Blaze since he stayed quiet and allowed the man to do what he wanted with no further argument. They all waited for a moment before all the attention went to the previous black screen that was now exchanged with a video feed that looked like it was a couple of years old. Still the minute the video started Fermat regretted it and regretted it even more that he continued to watch with huge shocking eyes.

The video first showed what seemed like a training session of some kind, though he recognized the movements they did were both from military and martial arts training mixed together. However it wasn't the moves he was focused on, no it was the three young children instead. Two of the three kids looked to be on the brick of puberty while the last one looked to be around eight or ten years old, but their age didn't really matter since there was men who were both older and a lot stronger beating them up. Each time the kids continued to fight on and tried to win the match, though they failed most of the time, but the youngest was both the most reluctant to fight back and also the one who was seemingly the best of them. The boy was also the one that was being beaten the hardest. Later on the video changed into a sparring match between the young kids fighting each other, but the other difference between this one and the last on was that those kids were armed with lethal weapons and were attacking each other and they were fighting in a way that they were just on the brick of one of them actually killing the other. There was so much blood and pain going on and yet the young boy continued to fight, but never attacked his opponent once he realized how close that person was to be dead. And he continued to watch in silence, catching Blaze flinch a couple of times from the corner of his eyes, and when the video showed the young boy barely dodging a surprise attack Fermat began to notice the similarities and realized the young boy was actually his best friend. The Boss must have noticed his realization too because he commented, "Looks like Mr. Hackenbacker have finally caught on, then its time to show you how different you and Alan really are and how you two can never live in the same world as you have done up till now."

Before he had the chance to ask the video changed once again and now Alan, and what he guessed was probably Blaze based how the older teen reacted, and the last unknown person in the video was older and now was doing cons and theft like they were professionally trained for the CIA or something. It was insane how efficient and fast everything was happening. The video continued on showing harsh and brutal training sessions done with expectation of perfection before it moved on to sequences to show what the hard training was supposed to be used for. High-security thefts and cons were mainly what three kids or rather teenagers did and could do with much damage and still got away with it every single time. However the one thing that probably took his breath away was the empty look on Alan's face. His best friend looked lost and lifeless compared to the teen he first met and yet when you looked into the younger Alan's eyes you could still see there was a human and someone desperate to survive despite the horrible situation he was in. The Boss was right; he and Alan indeed was very different and came from totally different worlds, but he was wrong about the last part regarding that they could never live in the same world. Fermat realized and finally understood what kind of nightmare Alan had lived through for years before he got away and came to live with the Cassidys. All the fear and pain he lived through and how he was willing to sacrifice everything for him really showed him that Alan was better and worth more than what the Boss and everyone else believed. It was and still is really an honor to be Alan's friend and nothing they showed or did to him would ever change that. So once the video finished both the Boss and Blaze turned to look at him, waiting to see his reaction to everything he had just seen and they were surprised that with heart-breaking smile he said, "I-If you t-thought I c-c-could turn a-away and c-change my m-mind about Alan after s-seeing this, then you are g-greatly m-mistaken. I'm p-proud of h-him and I-I know that h-he is a b-better man t-than you c-can ever be."

Probably not a good thing to piss of the man, but oddly enough he wasn't afraid how the older man would react because he didn't regret his words and spoke the truth, something he was honestly not ashamed off.

The Boss stared at him for a moment, practically staring at him like he had a second-grown head or something, before he left the room in an angry haste. Leaving him once again in the silent company of Blaze, who honestly looked just shocked and refused to look at him, which was fine by him because now regained something he at first hadn't thought that he had lost during his captivity and only regained it after watching the video. It was hope. Hope for a new tomorrow and a better future.

It was as clear as day that finding Virgil and Fermat was a difficult mission, especially since there was no clear leads where or who exactly the kidnappers were other than Alan. Still everyone in the room that wasn't the FBI or Lady Penelope were anxious and simply wanted to leave the building and go and look for them themselves, but seeing as no one had any idea where Virgil and Alan or even where they should start looking. So their odds were pretty much against them at this point, however that didn't mean they were losing hope.

Not at all if there was someone in the room that continued to remain strong and hopeful that the three individuals were still alive and well were surprisingly the Cassidy siblings. Though they were also the only ones in the room that firmly believed Alan was an unfortunate part in all this.

"Come on, think Jem. Where would Alan take Virgil?" Scott threw his arms in the air and once again tried to get Jem and Haley to talk into given up the information they were keeping regarding Alan. Unfortunately neither of them budged the slightest and after an hour with the hovering from Scott the older Cassidy siblings exclaimed annoyed, "Will you please just shut up! I don't know where Alan is or where the hell he would take Virgil and if I did I wouldn't be sitting here listening to everyone badmouthing and threating him like he is the worst human being in the world."

Jeff rubbed his forehead like he was seriously having a major headache, which ironically he was starting to have due to all the shouting and angry tension that was lingering in the air. And if that was not enough he couldn't stop shaking the feelings he had when he came face to face with the sixteen-year-old who ultimately kidnapped his son. There was something about him, something he couldn't put his finger on what it was exactly, but it was some kind of connection he felt. What kind of connection he had no clue, but he really shouldn't be thinking about his son's kidnapper and instead be focusing on getting everyone back. However no one was of any use at moment since everyone was exhausted and tired after everything that has happened and hasn't taken the chance to eat and rest despite the free time on their hands, which is why Jeff said despite his own reluctance to follow through with his own suggestion, "All right, we all are too tense and tired at the moment and seriously no help for the FBI or Penny at the moment. So I suggest everyone, and I mean everyone, take a few hours to eat and rest giving the professionals the time and space to their jobs without any of us hovering and disturbing them by taking their attention away."

Just as expected no one, including the Cassidy siblings, wanted to do as he suggested. The loudest one to disagree was without surprise Scott, but in honest opinion Jeff didn't care what anyone wanted or thought about the matter because his tone changed and basically ordered them all to do as he said or else he would personally make sure they were asleep in a manner of seconds. Luckily everyone took his suggestion and threat seriously, though very begrudgingly and it didn't take long before they all one by one fell asleep including him. However his sleep were still plagued by the lingering thoughts about Fermat, Virgil and the strange yet familiar teen who was the center of everything.

His kidnapper proved to be one hell of a stubborn pig-head. Once he and Alan came inside what he would call a fine establishment for horny men, the kid actually suggested leaving him behind to wait in the hallway while he spoke to this Renée person. Just the thought to have to endure and listen to everything that was going on in the not-so-soundproof rooms made him want to kill himself just to spare him from the shame and embarrassment. Luckily for him that he was and could be just as stubborn as Alan and wouldn't give in unless he did as he demanded, which after exchanging some heated words the kid finally did and they walked down a barely-lit hallway that was far from the main house and its events before they entered the only door at the end of the hallway. Once they entered the huge spacy room the door was closed immediately behind them, surprising them both as they watched the door slam behind them. Only seconds later they heard the clacking sound of high heels walking on the hard floor and stepped out of the shadows and said with a void in her tone, "So it really was true. You're back after four years."

The young woman was incredibly beautiful and had the charm to lure a hundred men even without dressing up for the part, which she didn't at the moment, and he guessed that she was around his or Gordon's age but he couldn't really be certain by just looking at her. Besides her age really didn't matter because he could barely take his eyes of her, and not due to him finding her attractive, but because he couldn't really see the connection between her and Alan. They weren't siblings or lovers and certainly not just co-workers as Alan explained to him. Her body language showed that she cared about him immensely but felt conflicted what to feel about him. So what was the thing that connected these two individuals together?

She didn't look at him at all instead had her full attention on Alan, who sighed heavily before he said, "Yeah, I have involuntary been pulled out of my retirement and now is forced to deal with this crap again because they took something important to me and I want it back."

It wasn't hard to guess that Alan was talking about Fermat, after all he had seen and heard many times now that the thing that motivated Alan to do this whole mess was to get Fermat back and honestly didn't seem to care the slightest that the path he was taking was literally destroying his future, but then again he would have probably done the same had it been one of his brothers too.

"Well…I guess I just have to decline what you are really trying to ask me and instead remind you what exactly we have been trained to do," The woman didn't waste time before ran in quick strides towards Alan and lifted her leg and swung it in order to kick him in the head so he would lose his balance. Almost automatically Alan dodged the attack and immediately attacked back. Then the whole fight began and continued on so quick that it was hard to keep track of everything that was happening because they were fighting each other with insanely quick and powerful movements. Figuring that it was best that he didn't get involved in it, he stood by the sidelines and watching with both awe and concern. For about an hour they continued fighting, which resulted in blood and bruises on both on them, and things remained like this until the woman stopped in a middle of an attack and pulled out a hidden knife from the inner pocket of her jacket and then in one single movement stabbed Alan in the stomach. Alan flinched from the pain and almost immediately went down on the floor, holding a hand over the wound.

"Oh my…are you okay?" Virgil acted without thinking and dove into his kidnapper's rescue. Alan just groaned in pain, ignoring his medic expertise and instead just glared at the woman with anger and sneered, "What the hell is your problem? It was an honest fight and in the middle of it you decide to cheat and stab me. Seriously, Renée, I get that you are pissed at me for what I don't know, but I need your information where they are keeping my friend."

"You left us and didn't even bother to look back," Renée broke down, clenching the grip on the knife tighter. "Four years and nothing. Both Blaze and I were your family for nine years, but you left us like we didn't matter and were left with trying to fill your place afterwards."

Putting pressure on the wound, Virgil was mainly focusing on making sure he didn't bleed out and die since he really didn't want a sixteen-year-olds death on his conscience despite the fact he was actually trying to save his kidnapper, but somehow he managed to listen in on their broken conversation and intrigued what exactly happened and more importantly what was going on in the first place.

"How was I supposed to return and bring you with me when my escape resulted in me receiving a head injury and amnesia, so I forgot everything about life other than my name and my age?" Alan exclaimed at her. That took Virgil completely by surprise. Was what Alan had just admitted true? Did this kid not know his true identity?

Apparently Renée was just as surprised and shocked about the admittance as he was since she dropped the knife and the loud sound of the weapon hitting the hard floor resonated through out the entire room and stuttered, "W-what? You d-d-didn't remember? Still don't remember anything? Oh Mon Dieu."

She placed both of her hands over her face, covering her distraught and heartbroken facial expression even though both he and Alan was well aware was still there. Alan looked just as distraught and regretful about everything that was going on between them and said wearily, "Look, I have only recently gotten my memory back, and not everything explains the holes that has yet to be fulfilled, but right now that is the least of my problems seeing as my friend is being dragged into my old life and might end up being in danger because of me so I'm asking you again Renée tell me where he is."

Renée didn't say anything at first; though once she uncovered her face you could see that she was thinking and weighting her options what to do about the matter before she answered, "All right…I'll help you."

Then she went down to his side and leaned into his ear and whisper quietly so that Virgil wouldn't be able to hear what she was saying. When she pulled away and she responded more quiet and seriously, "You need to leave now. They are watching every entrance around this facility and are determined to make sure you wouldn't be able to reach your destination. So take your…friend and get out of here before it is too late."

Virgil wanted to argue seeing as Alan was injured and really shouldn't be up and moving around since it might worsen his condition, but Alan ignored all reason and thanked her for her help, gave her a hug while murmuring some soft words into her ear that he couldn't hear before he carefully began walking away. Virgil saw that the kid was struggling to move fast enough at the same time make sure he wouldn't bleed out and die, so once again he swore to himself for being an idiot for helping him out before he came up to his side and together walked out of the room. Even though their exit weren't at all smooth and peaceful as he wanted it to be.

Alan had trouble remembering how he and Virgil got out of that place and found a cheap motel to stay for the night, but he could remember the pain and the adrenaline from when the two of them were stopped from leaving the facility. Vinnie had obviously made sure to put some of his goons on them to make sure that they didn't escape. Why exactly he had no idea, but despite his injury and Virgil's desperate words to stop him he fought them off while creating a huge scene, which resulted capturing the cops attention. So to avoid detection they blended into the crowd and in the end ended up in a cheap and dark motel room. His conscious slipped back and forth for a while, not completely sure how long he was out, but when he finally woke up again and this time didn't feel the same slippery feeling as he had done since Renée stabbed him, he found himself on the not-so-comfortable bed and Virgil sleeping silently in the armchair next to him.

Embarrassed, he sat up in the bed while in the process of doing so felt a pain coming from his abdomen. Though not necessary concerned about his injury, he looked down and saw it was neatly bandaged and no blood seeping through the white fabric indicating that his wound and the blood had been taken care off. Alan suspected that Virgil had a hand to do with this, and his suspicion only proved to be more right when he saw that the older man didn't have his hands cuffed anymore most likely due to him snagging the keys from his jacket while he was unconscious, which left him with the question why Virgil hadn't taken his chance and escaped while he was still out and bleeding out?

As he thought this, he missed to notice Virgil waking up from his slumber before he said sort of relieved, "Good you're awake. I was worried that you had lost too much blood on our way here and when I left to buy bandages and such I wasn't sure even if I tried to do anything you would make it through, but I guess you did."

Alan blinked his eyes a couple of times, seriously confused, "Yeah, I'm sort of difficult to kill if you haven't noticed. And thank you…for saving my life even though you probably didn't want especially after I kidnapped you."

Virgil looked conflicted about that last part, almost like he was just now remembering whom he had just saved, but then he replied quietly, "That's what we do. My family and I help people, even those who don't serve it. Now you better get back to sleep, you are still not completely healed and I don't want you to drop dead since I really don't want your death on my conscience."

Oddly enough Alan felt tired and ultimately agreed with Virgil's notion until the man began humming a strange yet a familiar tune, which somehow activated a memory flash. Pain coursing through his brain, he grabbed his head and shook it in order to make the pain stop, which it didn't and instead allowed the memory to play out in his mind.

(Flashback)

He was around three or four years old at the time, just woken up from one of his nightmares and were too scared to fall back asleep alone. So he snuck out of his room and with his short legs he stumbled into the empty hallway and entered the room just two doors away from him. The door opened with a loud noise, loud enough to wake up the two brothers residing in the room.

"Sprout?" The oldest yet youthful brother asked half-awake. He rubbed his eyes to shake off the sleepiness. "What are you doing up? You're supposed to be asleep. Did you have one of your nightmares again?"

He nodded and he could feel the tears building up in his eyes, "Scotty, Virgie. Please sing me my lullaby."

The other brother, Virgie, chuckled lightly and gestured him to approach him and come to sleep in his bed. He didn't argue and literally jump into his brother's bed and waited in excitement. Scotty began humming a soft and gently tone before Virgie started singing his lullaby. Slowly his eyes dropped and soon enough he was fast asleep again, but just before he was completely in dreamland he murmured out loud, "My brothers are the best in the whole wide world."

Then the sound of lightly chuckling was the last thing he remembered before darkness and silence followed after.

His eyes were wide and in shock over the flashback he just had. Before he only remembered the past that involved working for the organization, but this was a memory that was from his life before it began crappy and things turned out the way they did. He had a family in this world, even older brothers, and he didn't know or remember them. The realization was practically shaking him with so many emotions that he honestly didn't know which way to turn. And he didn't snap out of it until he felt Virgil's warm hand on his shoulder and almost exclaimed in concern, "Hey. Are you all right?"

Hearing his voice and actually looking at him Alan became more shocked that his words were lost in his throat. The feeling he had before about Virgil and how he felt this odd kinship towards him came crashing down like an airplane. It was insane how he didn't recognize him before now, even more so how crazy it all seemed. The person who he had kidnapped and the person who had just saved his life wasn't some strange kid he met only a few hours ago. No, the man in front of him was in fact his older brother.

Jem had been sleeping soundly in the most uncomfortable he has ever slept in when his phone started to vibrate. He had turned off the sound so it wouldn't disturb and wake up anyone else, even though he should have just turned the phone off in the first place to spare the trouble. So he reached for his phone to see who was calling, only to get an unknown number. Without really thinking about the potential consequences to answer the call, he answered the call and said, "Hello, Cassidy here."

"Jem…"

It took a moment to recognize the voice, especially due to the disturbance on the other side of the line, but there was no mistaken who exactly he was talking to on the phone. Stunned, he managed to say, "Alan?"

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Thanks again for the response I have been receiving, hope you guys like this chapter.

So since school has already started I can't promise when or how often I will be updating on this story, but I will continue it and write on it during the few moments I have time to spare and write.

And as for those of you who reads my other TB story, Whispers In The Dark, I will be trying to weekly update the story on Mondays, but again I can't promise I will always be on time since I will be busy.

Sorry by the way that this chapter was sort of written fast, but I needed to get on with the story. And seeing as people have been asking about the revealing of Alan's identity, I'm happy to inform you that it will happen in one of the next chapters. So please, please, please continue reading and express what you think of my work because otherwise I might be dejected and more reluctant to continue and finish this story, which I really do want to finish.

With that said, please please please continue giving me reviews, favorite and/or followings, and the next chapter will be out as soon as its done.

xXrebelgirl07Xx