It was at the darkest part of dusk; not a single person could be seen, neither child nor adult. Footsteps were the only sounds that could be heard besides the wind. Those footsteps belonged to two men that both went by the name McCarter, who had immoral plans intended for the infamous brigand, Oliver. They did not want to directly hurt the boy, for their reputations meant everything to them, so, like any person with money would do, they looked around to find any ruthless thug willing to harm for a fair price. The 'market' for this kind of 'merchandise' could not be found in the town that Oliver nor Dylan resided in. However, Heinrick's experiences after being fired made him much more aware of the corrupted parts in several cities. For the sake of their lacking time and best convenience, they went to the ghettos of the neighboring, and quite overpopulated, city.

"You sure that this is the place where we'll find your man?" asked an impatient Dylan.

"I been in this place only once, and that lad has kept it burnin' in my memory"

"Why is it so cold here? Our town isn't that far and it's much warmer…"

"These ghettos don't have fireplaces you twit! Deal with it like a man!" Heinrick walked faster after saying this, as if Dylan's question had made him aware of the temperature. "I can practically see my own breath in here…" noted Dylan as he fell a few feet behind. Shivering, the market owner forced himself to catch up with his cousin.

Dylan knew for himself that ghettos weren't the best place to live, but even his worst image from imagination couldn't compare to the state of some parts: wallpaper completely torn, broken glass, unstable doors, and a concrete floor that made the place seem like prison. The horrible circumstances one must have gone through, only to end up in aloathsome place such as this!Dylan pitied the residents that he did not even know living here. Crimes appear to happen often here, but why haven't I seen even one person, let alone one that would try to jump us? Maybe my cousin has a reputation here as well…

"Quit yer dreamin'! We're almost there!" Heinrick half shouted as if he would prefer not to be heard. The two took one turn to the right, and went down the stairs to the basement of the place, which felt at least ten degrees colder than the floor they were originally on. How people lived in these conditions was out of the average person's understanding, especially Dylan's. There stood the first decent quality door Dylan recognized. Heinrick knocked on the door without hesitation shouting: "Andrew! I need some business with ya'! C'mon Andy! I've got cash this time!"

After the completion of the last statement, the door was opened, very casually. A man with a red hat and buttoned shirt to match greeted him amazingly kind for one who lives in such a dump. Heinrick cut off the potential conversation, for he was always more about business.

"Fine, then what did you come for?" he asked miffed.

"I would like to use any 'resources' you have to deal with this pest"

"What does the 'pest' look like?" Andy said it rather plainly with no regard that this person could possibly be innocent. He held up a finger. "Wait, don't describe it yet. I have to get my artist out…Danielle! You're needed!" A purple-haired girl rose from the corner, letting out a cough. Her clothes were old, but the black hat she wore was still in good condition. Andy had handed her a piece of paper and a pen before gesturing her towards Heinrick. "Listen carefully…" her boss had told her.

"Umm…" Her buzz-like voice had started. "Okay, I'm ready, please start describing…" she said after sitting down on an old wooden desk. "Well…" started Heinrick.

"He's a young lad, around the pre-adolescent age. His eyes are a yellowish-brown shade; he normally has a type of mischief behind his smile. The hair on him is fairly messy and blonde…and his skin is partially on the pale side. He typically wears a cap and jacket, and he has a pet bird that is yellow and black."

She had the outline of Oliver's face drawn pretty quickly, but the approximation and details from the way he was described took a little while. Danielle had signaled the finish of her sketch with a sigh. "Is this what he looks like?" She asked, looking glad to have that over with. A feeling of guilt always went over her once she finished a sketch, for she knew this person's days would now be numbered. This girl, who was practically a rejected orphan, could do nothing that would salvage the poor boy's 'happy' life.

"I'd say it looks pretty accurate! Ya' should've been one of those picture sellers on the streets! You would make plenty to get by!" Dylan complimented the purple-haired preteen.

"Ahem! Heinrick, I need the sketch now." Andy had said with a cruel tone so sudden, it sent chills down the backs of the young artist and market owner. Heinrick had taken the sketch from Danielle's position before she was even aware it, and then he handed it over to Andy. The blonde man pushed his hat up with his finger and stared at the picture blankly. He blinked a few times, and then got up from his chair. Still looking at the picture, he headed towards a small shelf. Andy had kicked the shelf to the side a few times, revealing a hidden door. The door was very short; Danielle would have to bend down just get it, let alone Andrew. He bent down to the point his hands were only inches from the floor, and then entered the dark room. The three had waited outside for several minutes. "Hey! Why is this guy taking his sweet time? I've got kids to feed and a wife to please." Dylan had said, more impatient than ever.

"Ahh-!" an adolescent voice had yelped, showing that the sweet time had been taken. In a matter of seconds after the short cry, a young, blonde, and somewhat scrawny boy ran out of the dark space, followed 'casually' by Andy. "This look close enough?" The man in red held the sketch next to the boy's face. After a few instances of examination, Heinrick confirmed that 'this' looked very similar to Oliver (without mentioning his name), and Dylan asked what was the purpose of pulling out this look-alike.

"Can't you use that brain of yours like you do fer business?" His cousin asked rudely. "It's called 'frame' me cousin"

"…Jeez"

"So, cough up the cash if you want to use this kid." Andrew had held out his hands expectantly. What price would the man want for a boy who appeared starving?Dylan wondered as he took out a random amount of cash, about to count it. Before he could do so, Andrew had snatched it without showing any care for his rude act. After counting the money, he had put it in his pocket. Dylan stared at the man purely dumbfounded. How could he have the nerve to just take his money? Is that how things work in the ghetto?The man had thought still stunned. Even though he worked in business, the town where he sold in didn't have people so… criminal-like. "Well, why are you still standing there? The kid's yours now."

"What? We bought a child?" Dylan asked.

"No, not 'bought', you rented the kid, who should have introduced himself."

The boy flinched hearing his mention. "Uh…! My name's Henry Lou…Sir!" he appeared a little shy and timid. "How is this timid, little jitter box gonna do the job?" Heinrick asked, frustrated.

"Oh, don't worry. Once he's a good distance away from me, he's like a different person, and he gets his job done!" Andy had rested himself on a chair before insisting that they leave the premises. The three were now on the cold street outside the ghetto, heading back to Dylan's home town. "What benefit was this? I lost nearly all my cash for this stick?"

"Revenge, when at its most efficient, takes time…" Heinrick grinned; the boy shivered in the early spring temperature, which was cold at night.

"So…Hen, Lou, or whatever yer name is…are ya' really good at yer job the way Andy said?" The boy looked at him with sudden dagger-like eyes which immediately softened. "My name's Henry Lou. If I wasn't good at my assignments, then I would be found on the cold streets, dead or barely alive. By the way, do you have any food? That tyrant doesn't feed me enough." He held his growling stomach. "I figured. Your belly's been at it like a dyin' walrus… I know just the place for you to get grub for free…"

After an hour's worth of walking, the three males had made it in front of Ms. Greene's door. Heinrick knocked on it, very loudly, to wake up the young woman. The faint stomps towards the door grew louder right before she swung the door open. "What do you want? Can't you see I'm getting my beauty sleep?" Vienna seemed cranky, very cranky. "Well…" Heinrick feigned a pitiful, sad-type look. "I found this poor, starvin' lad out in the cold streets shivering like a wet dog. Could you spare him some food and a warm place?" Before he had finished his act, the woman had long looked at the child and brought him in going: "Oh, you poor thing! I'll see what I can get for you."

The boy, Dylan, and Heinrick had sat in the kitchen, waiting for her to finish cooking. In the end, all that was given to Henry Lou was the staple: stew, scones, and tea. Not one table manner was shown as he ate. After finishing, his clothes were in an even bigger mess than before, if that were actually possible. "My goodness! You're getting changed; don't even think of rebelling against this. Wait here" The woman walked upstairs to find a change of clothes, and the three waited patiently. Heinrick decided to talk a little bit to the boy about his duty. "'Kay 'Henry Lou' … do you know the reason why you're being 'rented'?"

"It better not be for acting like a sex toy" he whispered, getting disgusted at the thought. "Of course not! Aren't I more decent than that?"

"How should I know that? You're the one that purchased me."

"With MY money…" Dylan added, still peeved.

"Your goal for now is to make yourself look like the person that was in the sketch…did you get a glimpse of it?"

"Yes, I did, while you were comparing our face-"

"Okay, I'm back! Hey kid! Change in these, I hope they fit!" Vienna handed over the boy an overall white (and noticeably oversized) shirt, with some red in it, and then some light blue shorts. Henry Lou nodded and left to change upstairs. Vienna turned to Heinrick as if wanting to ask something, but the 'poor child' had already finished changing, and was tugging on her night gown. She faced down to see his face.

"Miss…" he started sweetly "May I use some items to fix my hair?" This question made everyone realize the yellow jungle that rested atop his head.

"Oh sure! The brush, comb, and the scissors can be found in the bathroom. My weed whacker can be found on the last door to the left" she joked.

"Thank You!" he ran up the stairs to get his objective done. Ms. Greene now looked at the two men with a skeptical expression. Why did these two, especially Heinrick, develop this ability to be kind? Something must not be right… but I can't worry about it now. The earlier I go to sleep the better! She kindly asked the two men to leave. They left knowing that traumatic events would take place otherwise.

Several knots and split ends from the purchased lad's hair had fallen down to the bathroom floor. He combed through the remaining hair that was not cut, taking out several knots, and brushed what was left. He used the comb to part his hair and set it going in different directions. Looking at the mirror made him feel confident in his abilities of imitation. Ms. Greene told him to retire in the room next door to the left, for she had set up a bed. He did not deny this order after having to walk in cold weather for over an hour.

Once he was in the bed, completely covered in blankets (something he never had before), he went into serious thought of how he would carry out his job. He trusts Danielle with her sketching ability, but Heinrick looks too dumb for his details to be trusted. Now that I have someone to take advantage of, I need to figure out who this person is, for the sake of accuracy, but how will I find him? Where are places that people around our age group congregate? I don't even know this local area. I could feign being a child that wants a mother, so she can show me those places, then I will look for my target, who remains nameless…Those two have better paid a lot. To leave me this much in the dark, then expect me to aim at a person who I barely have a clue about? Whatever, I can worry more about this in the morning. For now…I should just focus on sleep…okay, sleep. Like…right now.

After several minutes, he finally managed to force himself to sleep, mentally prepared for much work in the morning.
_

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