AN: The old ch "11" was posted on 3/1/2026. This is part 2.
Just be warned, this chapter is a bit too intense.
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All of us stared at Kid Brian. I silently pleaded for him to just accept. How hard was it to say, yes?
"If you don't want to learn, then I have to reject Arwin as well. I mean I can't take your precious friend, if he goes away then who would play with you?" said Antonio, laughing.
Both me and kid Brian looked at each other, I could see the nervousness in his eyes. At hearing that he would be the reason I got rejected. But also his hesitation about agreeing to learn under someone he didn't knew.
'What! What kind of option are these? Its like asking a kid whether he wants to eat chocolate or broccoli. Choose the chocolate!'
We still wait for him to respond. As time seemed to move slower than usual.
'What does he fear so much? His home? His mom? Look at me kid, I don't give rat's ass about Ambra, be like me. Be Arwin.'
Kid Brian opened his mouth only for him to be interrupted, by Noose. "What the hell Antonio? Is this how you ask a kid?"
"Oh come on, I am giving the kid options."
"Options? You are giving him an Ultimatum. Either he chooses to learn so he can stay with Arwin, or, say no and be the reason Arwin gets..." Noose stopped himself from continuing, taking a deep breath, he continued. "You are not giving him options, Antonio."
"Bri—uh Goddamnit! Noose, people don't have options, we are trying to do whatever we can to survive 'Today', we didn't have thoughts about 'Tomorrow'. You remember what it was like in orphanage, didn't you?"
"Living? We were surviving day by day on scraps, and only those who dared to look ahead, survived."
"We! survived! Brian!"
His anger leaving him breathing heavily. He continued. "The kid needs to know that he doesn't have an option, there is no option. Either he takes my hand today or die someday in future. Starving, or worse stabbed by crooks when he gets kicked out."
He turned to kid Brian, his features tightened. "Look kid, life is shit in this part of city and you know it, at least understand that it is. If you don't take risks when you are young then you become a coward for the rest of your life. And its not like everything magically fixes itself, it just depends on which side of die it lands on."
"I-I, wha-what if I cou-couldn't learn anything. Ar-Arwin is smarter than m-me, so he wou-would leave me behind any-anyway." he asks, his eyes misting up.
"Then at least you tried goddamnit!"
Sigh
"Look, Brian. Arwin didn't learn everything just by being born, he worked hard for it. He pushed his natural talents to survive and now he is here. And its not because he is a genius, but because he met Brian Noose, who—took a liking to him."
"If it weren't for him you two wouldn't even have met each other, forget about me. And now you have once in a lifetime opportunity, to take your ownfate in your own hands, and we are here to teach you how. Even if you fail, at least you have a knowledge that is something worth. Anything."
Kid Brian, looked at old man Brian, then at me, and nodded firmly.
"Brian, everything in this world has a price, and how you can sell or buy it depends on you. Remember that."
"S-so, I have a ch-choice to cho-choose something priceless?" he asked.
To which Antonio gave a solemn nod.
"I-I also wan-want to learn with Arwin. Si-sir Anto-Ant-"
"Its Antonio, good choice kid. You won't regret it. And be more confident in yourself."
"Well that's it I guess, Arwin you can come visit me anytime for a game with Brian, Noose will take responsibility for being your personal chauffeur. And Brian, I understand the problems you have going on, so you can come here and learn. I will give you a tablet, and if you don't understand something you can just ask me, okay?"
He nodded, as I asked accusingly, "That's it? Uh... No more test? You would have taught him regardless of what he chose—right?"
Antonio looked at me, contemplating and replies. "Yes, but its good that Brian himself agreed. Even if he didn't agree, that old man of yours would bring him here everyday and bug me off on teaching him."
"Better the kid agrees to be taught rather than be forced. And also quite keen Arwin, I hope you continue to second guess any conversation you had with me. That is an important skill you have, develop it and it may take you far in life."
"Yeah, yeah. Come on kids, let me drop you guys off. It is getting late, but we can still get to Brian's home if you guys get in." Said Noose.
Kid Brian bowed his head towards Antonio, seeing that I mimic him. As he gestures us 'no worries', we get inside Brian's car as he speeds up.
We barely make it in time, as kid Brian exits. He bows again and shouts 'Thank you'. Waving us goodbye, smilingly. As he turns around and walked up to his home, a decrepit looking building.
'Well that's the first time I have seen him go home smiling. Good choice kid, you won't regret it.'
'Choose your own fate. I couldn't help but think about what Antonio said, yeah I am keen but that is only for a child. That is common sense, I am not an amazing observer but I think he knows something regarding that topic. Well I can ask him to teach me, when I show I am capable enough.'
Feeling the car stop, I turn towards Brian and give a nod, but before saying, "Thank you, Brian. I don't exactly know why you care for me, but thank you for everything you have done. I will not disappoint you-"
"Hah kid, you could never disappoint me." he rubbed my head caringly and pats me on the back, "Go kid I believe in you, learn and live a good life."
I nodded at him, starting to feel a lump in my throat. I had only ever heard those words twice in my entire life. I gave him an awkward hug and exited while whispering, "Thank you."
***
Ambra
Ambra rummages through her purse, searching for her medicine. Her hands barely able to move properly as the items in vision constantly shift and blur. But she eventually finds the package.
She immediately shook its content out. Using a card to create small line of white powder, before inhaling it.
For a few moments, she sits perfectly still.
Waiting.
Then the sensation hits.
Her eyes regain focused. Her mind speeding through one thought, to another. Her eyes focus on different parts of the apartment. Her heart pounds as warmth spreading outward through her body, with every breath she feels as if she could smell colors and taste every particle of air.
A strange confidence washes over her, drowning out the exhaustion from the night.
The men in clubs had no taste in woman. She was naturally beautiful unlike those fugly women who have to cake their faces with makeup, just to look pretty. They should be honored that she even gave them her time.
But flies like them only know about trash, unable to appreciate true beauty.
Distracting herself from the worst night she had. She continued to enjoy the trip. Sometimes giggling to herself, sometimes touching herself. Heightening the pleasure.
Grabbing the blanket to cover herself so her warmth and beauty wouldn't escape from her body.
Before long she slowly succumbs to sleep.
Peaceful sleep had increasing became rare, as she constantly abused her body. Drinking and enjoying her youth. She had visited every club and had become a celebrity, with the best customer service readily available just for her.
But her lifestyle was slowly taking it's toll.
As the dark skies started to lighten up. Slowly brightening up until the strong sunlight wash over her window, brightening the room. Causing her to shield her head with the blanket.
Ring
The doorbell rings, as Axel who was waiting in the living room, reaches for the door.
Click
Creakkk
As if by instinct hearing a familiar sound, Ambra springs up immediately. Turning towards to door.
She didn't wanna deal with cops so early.
Only to notice a kid entering.
It's hers.
Her face twists in annoyance and anger, as she reaches for her purse and hurls it at the boy.
Hitting him directly in the chest, knocking him down.
She shouts. "Couldn't you knocked numbskull?! Bastard, won't sleep and won't let others sleep."
Irritated she continues. "If you make even a peep, I am throwing you out. You get that numbskull?"
Observing that he was still down, not able to get back up. She went back to sleep. Satisfied.
***
5:37pm
Ambra groggily wakes up. Her eyes lids unusually wet, sticky, and wouldn't open properly. Rubbing her hand over them, she felt a sting reaching back to her brain.
"Ugh!"
Taking deep breaths, she stood up from the bed. Her balance was off. As she immediately grabs the nearest thing to her for support.
Finding purchase on the drawer cabinet next to her bed. It was not the sensation of solid wood, but leathery. Turning to look, it was her purse.
'Huh! Did I put this her—'
Sting
A crashing wave of dizziness and migraines overwhelms her. She lurches forward, only to empty the contents of her stomach.
Axel immediately appears to help her. Taking staggering steps towards the bathroom.
Taking a relaxing hot bath is hard when a hammer was pounding against your brain. But this was nothing for a strong woman like her. She had dealt with worst migraine when she was with him.
Taking her sweet time until her fingers started to look wrinkled.
Exiting the bathroom, she reaches for her closet. Only for her attention fall on the boy in the corner, but she ignores him and looks at the cleaned floor.
"Tin, make me some food. Preferably some sour soup."
She changes into new clothes. Reaching for her purse, only to find the plastic package had burst open. It's content spilled.
The purse's inside was now caked with white powder.
She immediately turns to look at the boy. Grabbing her purse as she walks towards the child. Her face twisted into a scowl.
He looks up at her in confusion, only for her to bash his head with her purse. Hitting him repeatedly.
"Goddamn bastard. YOU can't even do one thing right!!"
The child holds up his arms, in an attempt to defend himself. But she bashes him with the purse even harder in response.
Only for someone or rather something to interrupt her.
"Miss Ambra. Please stop hitting Arwin, or I may have to contact the Child Protection Authorities." Axel said.
Ambra looks up at Axel, breathing heavily. Then turns towards the boy, in irritation she responds.
"CODE CODE CODE. You will not... not call the Child Protection Authorities on me."
"Miss Ambra. Please step away from the child." Axel ignores her response.
Ambra winces as her migraine returns, she says, "CODE CODE CODE. You will not protect this child."
"Miss Ambra. Please step awa—"
"CODE CODE CODE. Ugh. You will... you will not call ANY authorities to this house." Her hand reaches for temple, massaging them.
"Affirmative. Miss Ambra. Your sour soup will be prepared in 13 minutes." Axel steps back in kitchen. Its attention now fully on preparing evening meal for Ambra.
Ambra winces from the migraine, as she throws her purse on the couch. Looking at the beaten up boy with annoyance. But favors to ignore its existence.
"Trash." She mutters.
Sitting on the couch, she waits for her food while surfing through different channels. Massaging her temple. Her attention on the TV, which gets interrupted by Axel, carrying her meal.
She enjoys the warm soup, slurping it. Feeling her migraine slowly lessen, while at the same time warmth fills her stomach.
She gets up from the couch, leaving the dishes for Axel to pick up. Walking to the kitchen to wash her hands and face. And enjoy a cold beer.
Only to then notice.
The food in the fridge was overcrowded. Her eyebrow tenses as she asks, "Tin! Why is there so much food left in the fridge."
"Miss Ambra rarely asks for a meal. While Arwin's request for meal has decreased."
She turns to look at Arwin. Observing him hide the tablet behind his back, she is reminded of the recent days when Brian would take Arwin somewhere for hours.
"Tch! Tin, you are no longer allowed to make food for that trash."
Axel responds. "Miss Ambra I can not follo—"
"CODE CODE CODE. Tin you are not allowed to cook food for anyone else other than me. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Miss Ambra."
Grabbing a cold beer, she mutters to herself. "Fucking parasite. He won't even look at me, but take the parasite with him everywhere."
Taking a sip, she walks towards the couch grabbing her purse. On her way to the door, she spits at the boy.
Slam
The door slams shut behind her.