CHAPTER 8-THE DEVIL'S PET

LENSHAW MANSION

8:40 pm

They had arrived! And for a long while the magnificence of the Mansion took Allison's breath as well as her fears away. She was lost in admiration. The decors and interiors were themed in rich black and gold. Every single thing sparkled and glittered.

Boss, she's here!

Hades could be seen walking down the stairs of mulberry black and calf golden. By the time they were both face to face, the look of astonishment was more than evident in both their eyes. Like what was before them wasn't exactly what they expected to see.

If for anything, Hades wasn't expecting to see the Director of Doreen Corp. looking so disrupted, wearing oversized jammies, and her hair wasn't attended to, she looked like something from a doll market and the glasses she was wearing were simply the icing on the cake. For a moment she looked too young, How old was she again? The picture in his head a few hours ago was supposed to be a corporately dressed businesswoman or something close, anything but this.

Allison on the other hand was expecting to see...well what was she even expecting? Oh right, a certain bald man with scars not a creditworthy seemingly gentleman in black sleeves with the height of a tree trunk. He was towering over her, sapping away every bit of confidence left in her guts. All she wanted to do now was run...run out the door...run far away...run back into her father's arms. Any place but here.

Allison Doreen? His baritone voice made her flinch.

(Y...yes?) She only nodded.

Do You Know Why You're Here?

She moved her head sideways.

Of course, You Don't.

She could notice the rigid stiffness in his facial expression as He spoke and she couldn't make out what it was.

Apparently, Your Dear Father Is In A Very Huge Debt And Sadly You Were Signed Off As Collateral.

(WHAT?! That wasn't possible)

There was a stunned expression on her face.

You're Awfully Quiet....He noticed. A revelation like that should have made her react verbally, something wasn't right.

Speak Miss Doreen, After Now Your Opinion Wouldn't Matter. He said but Allison only kept her head down, clasping her fingers together, scared for the unknown.  For a moment, Hades was confused, and then it suddenly hit him, his eyes flashed in surprise.

You...You Can't Speak? He blinked rapidly, further surprised. There was something creeping up his veins, like a stagnant stream of water flowing through a pipe. What was this? - Compassion.

Look Up! He ordered. Is It True? You're Actually Mute.

Allison nodded, which was rather pathetic in his point of view.

Great! Her very first lie. What would happen if Her captor were to someday find out she was actually lying? She hoped before that day ever came, she would have found a way to escape. Escape?! That sounded like a big joke in her head, not with a building as heavily guarded as the White House.

For How Long Now? He asked.

She brought out her fingers and made a small sign with them before making a cradling gesture, hoping he'd understand.

Since You Were A Baby? Hades found this mute surprisingly....adorable. Her big doe blue eyes behind those circular glasses were everything.

She nodded in return.

Hades glanced at his guards before leaning down holding onto her jaw and examining her face, suspiciously. His eyes- she suddenly realized, they were so light brown that it was almost golden and a strange necklace hung around his neck with a tiny tube tied to its base which glistened of grey and silvery powder. "Strange"

Well Well Well, What Have We Here? He stared at her, amused.

Allison on the other hand didn't find it funny that she was being observed like a piece of embroidery, only that was far better than what Hades thought of her. He stood taller once again, but this time there was a small smirk curving up the side of his lips.

As Much As I Hate To Admit This, Maybe There Won't Be Any Need For Bloodshed This Time Around.

(Bloodshed? What kind of lunatic is He?)

Seems I've Found Me A Pet. Afterall...You Can't Speak, Can You?

Allison only stared in bewilderment.

Good Girl....He smirked.....Just Until Your Father Pays What He Owes. He said this time the smirk had disappeared and it was back to his normal state of rigidness. He turned to the guards beside Allison.

Get Her Settled In...

Four words, and He was gone, disappearing upstairs through the stairs.

THE NEXT MORNING.

It was quiet when she woke up, dead-still quiet. No chirping of birds, no music absolutely nothing. She sat up on the king-sized bed she was made to sleep in. Where am I? she thought, sitting up and then it finally dawned on her how much drama had happened the day before. (Just Until Your Father Pays What He Owes.)

But there was no way her father would ever be able to pay up his debt in a coma and he knew that. This man was impossible and it's obvious He only wanted them to suffer. Oh how much she hated him right now. He was the reason her father was in this state, He was the reason her company was almost going bankrupt.

Now with the director held prisoner, there was no way anyone would be able to pay off what they owed. What a smart move! Allison thought bitterly. Now she clearly understood why her Father referred to him as the Devil. What was she going to do now? Escaping was impossible. However, getting revenge for her Father was still burning in her mind. Kill Him?

The idea struck her like lightning. Of course, she had no such guts but then again had her father not said that this was a war the cops couldn't win? Maybe this was a time to take laws into one's hands. Only one problem - how the hell was she supposed to do that?

(Seems I've Found Me A Pet. After all...You Can't Speak, Can You?) She remembered His words from yesterday. How dare him?

She wasn't an animal but to use this to her advantage, wouldn't it be better to get on his good side? And then find out his weakness and kill him? After all, everyone does and this Man was no exception! That was it, keep playing the adorable mute pet, win him over, and stab him in the back later on.

She was sure her father wasn't the only one this Man had victimized. How cruel! He would help them only to take back tenfolds in return. What a Devil! Well, not for long. Someone had to put a stop to his terror. With a firm resolution, she got out of bed.

THE DINING ROOM

When Allison came downstairs that morning, she could already see her Captor seated for breakfast with a few of his men keeping guard beside him. By the time she got close to the table, they had obstructed her from going any forward.

It's Alright, Let Her Come To Me.

The guards gave way to Allison, who walked to the dining table and took a seat.

I Trust You Slept Well? He asked.

Allison nodded with a brief smile before she started eating, she hadn't had anything since yesterday's afternoon and she was famished. However, she couldn't stop stealing glances at him from across the table until their eyes met and she looked away in a flash. Oh, snap!

Is There Something You'd Like To Say? He asked, noticing she was uncomfortable.

Allison moved her head, sideways.

It's Okay, We Can Still Communicate.

She stared at him in "How?"

I Can Understand Sign Language So You Can Talk To Me. I Would Hate For My Pet To Feel Ignored.

Great! Great was the fact that she didn't know how to communicate using sign language because this was a lie, and she could talk. Could this day get any worse?

Well?

Allison bit the side of her lower lip and looked down nervously.

What? Hades quirked an eyebrow In surprise, she was only further fascinating him. You Can't?

She moved her head sideways.

You Never Learned?

She once again repeated the same gesture.

Then How Do You Handle Such A Company Without Communicating With Your Employees?

Allison only shrugged before making a scribbling gesture with her hand.

You Write To Them?

Allison nodded.

Intriguing.

Just then a guard interrupted, whispering something to Hades and she couldn't help but stare in curiosity. Immediately Hades stood up, agitated and ready to leave. She on the other hand also got to her feet with a "You're leaving?" kind of look.

Hades sighed, patting her red hair which took her by surprise.

Two Rules Darling...You Can Go Anywhere You Want Within This Mansion But Stay Clear From The Basement.

Her eyes looked up at him Why? they seemed to ask.

It's Where I Have My Leisure. Let's Say I'm An Artist And I Paint There Sometimes Okay? It's Off Limits Pet, Even For You.

She nodded, pretentiously.

And Second...I Certainly Hope You Make Sure You're Mute Allison...

She was frightened by the dark look in his eyes as He spelled the second rule plain.

....Because If You Aren't. He smirked in pure sadism. There Is More Than One Way To Shut You Up Permanently. He said, voice void of every emotion as He casually waved a table knife at her.

Allison put her hands over her mouth in shock. He meant cutting off her tongue!

You're The First Person Who Knows The Route To This Mansion And Is Still Alive To See The Sun Rise Again. Just Imagine How Bad It Would Be For Me If You're Lying And If You Could Actually Speak Of What You Saw.

She immediately nodded in the negative.

Good...Good Girl...He smiled, patting her hair once more before leaving through the door a few men trailing behind him.

Dear Lord!

Allison held her chest, letting out a relieved sigh. Only this relief would be temporary.

Anywhere But The Basement

Why? Why the basement? What was in the basement? And to hell with that leisure crap, she didn't buy it one bit. Could it be a certain dark secret? The thought was crawling on her insides, torturing her. She was alone at home why not go see what was in there? No! Maybe she shouldn't.

After all, she wouldn't want to get on this lunatic's bad side but then again, they had been gone for two hours and God knows when they'll be back. Yes, that's it, just a quick peep into the basement and back up. She wouldn't be noticed. He wouldn't know. With that last thought, Allison crept down the basement, it was rather spacious and rather well tended to but with very little illumination. The interior was of a very high Italian Renaissance. Why give a mere basement such an amount of detailing?

There was a big plain whiteboard hanging on the wall. A long wooden board with metal handcuffs attached to the top and bottom, a few stools, certain tools-knives, chisels, pistols, and other equipment she couldn't tell what they were but the message they passed was very clear. Was this a torture chamber of some sort? She gasped to herself, turning around to leave she could hear footsteps. He was back...HE WAS BACK?!!! Frightened, she ran and hid in a very dark corner.

Hades came in along with two of his men holding onto the arms of a certain rebellious man and dragging him into the basement. Another debtor perhaps? Or an enemy? She couldn't tell as she watched on anxiously. The man was made to lie on the bench-board and his hands and legs were spread open and the handcuffs were fastened on each limb.

"You May Go" Hades sent his guards away.

You won't get away with this Hades!

The captured man yelled bitterly.

Ofcourse...Hades replied, absentmindedly as He set a tray containing certain surgical instruments before setting an IV drip on the man's arm which was retracting his blood into the plastic sack He went further and placed a large bowl underneath the bench-board.

W...what the hell do you think you're doing? The latter asked, heart pounding in fright.

Aren't You Curious How My Previous Adversaries Ended Up?

What?! You son of a bitch! I knew it! I knew you were mentally unstable I've always known there was something wrong about you...I warned Henry, that stubborn bastard! I warned him to take you b...

ENOUGH!!! Since You Miss My Father So Much, I Won't Hesitate A Minute Longer, Sending You To Him.

What are you gonna do to me?

Hades smirked like the maniac that He was. Time To Say Goodbye Charles, And Every time I Say Goodbye, You Die A Little.

No no no please, we can settle our differences some other way. I beg of you Hades.

It's A Little Too Late For That Don't You Think So. He smiled, bringing out a marker, tearing out the man's shirt, and drawing certain specific lines on his abdomen.

What are you doing? The latter asked in horror.

Your Gallbladder, Upper Right Abdomen Right Underneath The Liver, About Two Point Seven To Three Point Nine Inches Long And Up To Five Centimeters Across It's Widest Point. Not To Bore You With The Details, Let's Get Started.