Shackled Serenity

by Leon Logos

  “Let’s get lunch,” Cackle suggested, stretching his limbs lethargically.

  It was 1:24 in the afternoon. Serenity wholeheartedly agreed with Cackle; she was starving, having not eaten for over fifteen hours. Thirst wasn’t an issue anymore; she had helped herself to a large bottle of water sitting on the desk. Dealing with the empty stomach was tolerable since she had experience with being starved. The most she had went without food was a full day; these were the times spent in the Dungeon, compounded by being famished. Gunther’s doing.

  “There’s an In-n-Out a couple minutes from here, I saw it as we were driving here,” Agno said. “Desmos, can I take the van?”

  “Go ahead,” Desmos said indifferently, seated at the desk and sharpening his knife.

  Agno took the keys from the table and looked around at them.

  “Anybody coming with?” he asked. “Don’t be mad when I order you a weak burger. Extra tomatoes, pickles, and all.”

  Garen and Cackle got up immediately, putting on their shoes. Serenity didn’t feel like accompanying them; but she knew that if she didn’t, they’d probably forget to get her something (or disregard her on purpose). After all, before in the van, they refused to give her water. It wouldn’t stop there.

  She slid down from the bed and quickly put on her shoes. The brothers could easily ditch her in a blink of an eye.

  “You can tag along, but you not getting anything,” Agno stated.

  She paused halfway through lacing her shoes, looking up at him.

  “But I’m hungry!” she complained. “I haven’t eaten in like twenty hours! I can’t go on like this forever.”

  “Don’t be such a baby, you’ll live,” Agno said disparagingly.

  Serenity turned to Desmos desperately, as a last resort. He sensed her looking at him and came to her rescue, surprisingly.

  “Quit it, we have a long day of travel tomorrow,” said Desmos. “Let her eat, unless you want her whining endlessly.”

  “Whatever,” Agno shrugged.

  All it took was an order from Desmos. Just like that. She contemplated what she would do with that type of authority. What she could do. Everything would be different, like a fantasy land.

  In-N-Out was only five minutes away, as Agno had stated. They went through the drive-thru as the sixth car in line. No matter where they were in the country, burger joint drive-thrus had lines. McDonald’s was perpetually busy and In-N-Out was extremely popular in the West coast. Agno had ordered her something before she could even take a look at the menu: a basic cheeseburger. But she didn’t complain. Food was food.

  “Yo, get hella large fries,” Cackle insisted.

  “Make sure my Double-Double don’t get any tomatoes!” Garen reminded. “Extra cheese on that!”

  Agno finished placing their order in only about a minute; he didn’t waste any time in choosing something special for Kyler and Desmos. They both were stuck with simple cheeseburgers, like her.

  They didn’t eat the food until they got back to the hotel room. As soon as the bags were set on the table in the room, it was a battle. She grabbed her burger as swiftly as possible before somebody else could steal it. Agno had gotten five orders of large fries, which was superfluously excessive. She took a box of fries that were half-full and claimed it herself. After that, she began ravenously consuming her food. Slowly, her hunger satiated despite fast food not being her preference. She wasn’t a picky eater when she was starved; beggars couldn’t be choosers.

  “Screw McDonald’s, In-N-Out is that exclusive joint,” Cackle acclaimed, stuffing five french fries into his mouth at once.

  Desmos finished what he was doing, got up from his seat, and checked the bag. He grabbed the last remaining burger and opened the wrapping. It was the last cheeseburger that Agno had ordered for him. As she took a sip of soda, she watched as Desmos began scrutinizing the burger. He lifted the buns, the patty, and the lettuce one after another. Desmos always checked his food whenever they got it from outside, in case it was poisoned or even concealed razor blades. This was one of his peculiar habits.

  “We’re definitely getting more of this before we head out to the airport tomorrow,” Garen chewed.

  “Airport?” Cackle asked. “Wait, are we really moving out of the country? Like, out of the United States?”

  “Didn’t you hear Father, dumbass?” said Garen.

  “We better not be going to freakin’ Africa or something,” Agno said. “I’m not riding any camels through the desert. Hell no.”

  “We’re going to England,” Kyler, who was sitting next to her, blurted out flatly.

  “Not confirmed, Kyler,” Desmos corrected, taking a bite out of the cheeseburger.

  He had ascertained it to be safe and edible.

  “What gives you that idea?” Serenity asked him quietly.

  “Not sure if I’m allowed to say,” Kyler replied.

  “Forget I asked,” she sighed. “It’s like you’re not allowed to tell me anything. Just me specifically.”

  “Tell me, then,” Cackle overheard, his mouth full.

  “Father mentioned England as a point of interest,” Desmos clarified. “Weeks ago, when Kyler and I were with him discussing plans.”

  “England isn’t so bad,” Agno commented.

  “That’s because it’s your homeland,” Garen guffawed.

  “Bullshit,” said Agno. “Last time we were in London, I didn’t exactly feel like a native. I’ve been Americanized too much.”

  “London was like five years ago,” said Cackle. “You were too young to even know where you were.”

  “Thirteen is old enough to be aware of your surroundings.”

  “We’re not returning to London,” Desmos affirmed. “We’ll be taking refuge somewhere rural, by the countryside.”

  Serenity finished her meal, throwing out her trash. They hadn’t traveled out of the country in five years, their last international home being in London. Before that, they had lived briefly in Sweden, Japan, France, and Germany. If they really were returning to England, she had no complaints. London was the only place they had traveled in the UK, but it served as a memorable home. She reminisced sneaking out of their suburban home in the morning when Gunther wasn’t around to see Buckingham Palace, which was only a couple of blocks away. Or the two short weeks she had attended in an all-girls private school; here, she was popular due to being the only American. Her American accent piqued every the students’ interest.

  The hotel phone rang with a shrill screech. Serenity picked it up immediately, being the nearest one. The sound was also very unpleasant.

  “Hello?” she asked, expecting another complaint.

  “Put Desmos on the phone,” Gunther’s low, distinct voice demanded.

  She nearly dropped the phone in alarm. Gunther was the last person she was expecting to be on the other side of the line. Serenity turned around to call Desmos. She didn’t even have to speak, as Desmos rose up and approached her immediately. He must’ve discerned who it was from her reaction, not even having to ask. She moved out of the way as Desmos grabbed the phone and put it to his ear. Everybody turned to him.

  They watched as Desmos barely spoke, occasionally saying “okay” in the duration of the conversation. Gunther clearly had a lot to say, most likely regarding the logistics of their move tomorrow. The call was brief, lasting only three minutes. Desmos turned around at all of them, hanging up.

  “We leave at four in the morning for the airport,” he announced. “All the weapons we currently have in our possession, whether it be guns or knives, we discard of in the dumpster. Airport security is too fortified, the TSA doesn’t play around these days.”

  Objection broke out instantly among the brothers.

  “Hell no! We just going to give up our weapons?!” Garen shouted.

  “What about my crossbow?!” Cackle groaned.

  “We spent too much time and resources gathering our arsenal,” said Agno. “It’s going to take forever to build it up a
gain.”

  “We left more than half our weapons at the house,” Desmos replied. “Now that we’re going international, we have no choice. It’s not a big deal; once we arrive at our new location, we’ll buy knives and rifles.”

  “Did Father confirm our destination?” Kyler asked inquiringly.

  “Yeah, he did,” Desmos nodded. “England after all. Manchester.”

  “Great, get ready for a twelve-hour flight,” Garen said scathingly.

  Serenity looked up Manchester on her phone. They had never been there before, obviously. From what she read on Google, it was a “major city in the northwest of England with a rich industrial heritage.” It was about a five hour drive from London. What was there that Gunther wanted?

  “One more thing,” Desmos added importantly. “After 10:00 PM tonight, nobody leaves this room. We lock the doors and stay inside.”

  “You’re giving us a curfew?” Cackle snorted.

  “Yes, and for good reason.”

  “Share with the class, then!”

  “Because Father enforced it, that’s why,” Desmos said ultimately, shutting up Cackle for good.

  Dinner that night was consumed in a nearby fancy Chinese restaurant. Thankfully, not at any fast-food place. This time, Gunther dined with them. He was seated at the end of the table in between both rows of them. The family head/patriarch image was easily distinguishable. They occupied a full rectangular table of seven. He had cooled off considerably, calmly conversing with his sons. Serenity’s right cheek tickled in uneasiness upon his presence. The waiter took each of their orders, communicating in broken English. The restaurant was colorful and adorned with cultural Chinese ornaments and decor; the walls were plastered with Chinese characters, and the ambiance was purely Asian.

  She sat next to Kyler, in the very last seat before the table’s edge. He was absent-mindedly pinching himself with a fork. Cackle was arguing with Agno about the restaurant’s cuisine; they debated whether “dog” was secretly hidden among the selections on the menu. Meanwhile, both Garen and Desmos were intimately in conversation with Gunther. Serenity knew these two were his favorite sons. Desmos was the eldest and first son, and Garen was the bulkiest and second-in-command, his physique likewise to Gunther’s.

  “Quit it,” Serenity whispered to Kyler as he drew blood with the fork.

  “The edges are blunt, it doesn’t hurt,” Kyler replied dully.

  “That’s not the point, it’s silverware,” Serenity said exasperatedly. “You use it to eat, not cut yourself.”

  “If I wanted to cut myself, I’d use my pocket-knife, not an eating utensil.”

  “You’re not implying that you do cut yourself, are you…?”

  “Sounds like the sort of thing you would do,” Kyler said evasively.

  Serenity didn’t answer.

  The food arrived about thirty minutes after being ordered. The table was filled with a variety of dishes: Fried Rice, Lamb, Sweet & Sour Prawns, Chow Mein (fried noodles), Kung Pao Chicken, Stir-fried Chicken, Ginger Beef and Sweet & Sour Pork. It was frequently a banquet whenever Gunther was in attendance while dining. She hadn’t seen the monstrous side of Gunther in quite a while, but rather the civilized side. For the last couple of years, he had been away from home way more than usual. She had no complaints, of course.

  Garen was the first to dig in, as usual. It was like a bear had come into feast. One couldn’t tell the difference since Garen uncannily resembled such a beast. Not only physically but through his voracious, insatiable appetite. She got started on her fried rice, munching on the prawns simultaneously. Eating high-class cuisine was perhaps the only upside of Gunther’s presence.

  The waiter came around their table to give them all fortune cookies. Nobody cared, not even bothering to open it or even consume it. She was different. She tore off the plastic covering, broke apart the cookie, and unfolded the rectangular piece of paper inside. The message was strangely portentous: “When life seems challenging, beware that challenge has not yet reached its apex.”

  An hour later, they were back at the hotel. As Serenity and the brothers entered their room, she quickly darted into the bathroom and closed it.

  “You better not be taking a bath in there!” Agno knocked loudly. “I swear, you girls take hours for everything!”

  “Of course, you’d know that,” she muttered disdainfully.

  Cackle was the last person to get exit the bathroom after brushing his teeth. Normally, the brothers stayed up extremely late. But they all came to a consensus to get to sleep early, considering 4:00 AM was when it would be time to get up and head to the airport.

  They had called room service to deliver extra blankets and pillows. To her dismay, she shared a bed with Cackle of all brothers. Ever since Cackle had dropped tarantulas on her while she was asleep years ago, she felt paranoid whenever he was in the vicinity when she slept. Sharing a bed with him was the worst-case scenario. Rock-paper-scissors was played to determine who would get a bed. (She didn’t play, as she had already claimed a bed and nobody had argued with her.) Desmos was on the couch, Garen and Agno were on the bed, and Kyler was on the floor. When all was settled, the lights switched off, and they were in semi-total darkness.

  About twenty minutes later, her eyes were still wide-open, and the others were fast asleep. Garen was snoring noisily from the next bed. Cackle was hogging the blanket the entire time and would kick her painfully when she attempted to pull some of it back to her side. She only did fall asleep after another hour, when the snoring had died down, and the city ambiance outside had reduced significantly in noise level. The feeling was pleasurable every time. Her mind went blank; her muscles relaxed, her eyelids drooped, and then the warmth provided by the blanket enveloped her. She dreamt randomly and briefly about a dog chasing her across a strip mall, but the dream was interrupted, and she awoke abruptly.

  Serenity opened her eyes, the dark ceiling welcoming them. Hushed voices and whispers were audible. The brothers seemed to be arguing, their voices low. She sat upright and looked at the digital clock next to the bed. It was still only 2:00 AM, not yet time to get up. She squinted, looking around at the brothers, who were alert and attentive. Cackle was no longer next to her, but on his feet by the door. She saw Desmos gesture him violently to get back. Kyler was still on the floor, but his gun was drawn. As was Desmos’s.

  “What are you guys—?” she asked perplexedly.

  “Shhh!” they all hissed in unison. It was only now when Serenity heard it. Slow, heavy footsteps could be heard coming from the hall outside, tramping close and closer. Each step was accompanied by a distinct clanking sound, like dragging metal; it was as if the person’s feet were chained and hindering their gait. The sound gave her chills and rendered her breathing silent. At awareness of the severity of the situation, fear started to set in. Seldom did the brothers, Desmos, in particular, get this alarmed. The stamping grew closer and closer until it passed directly by their room. Then, it stopped. It was clear that the person producing these footsteps was right by their door. Eyes wide, she looked at Desmos for confirmation, awaiting any type of command. But he was still as a statue, frozen like the rest of them. Cackle stood by the foot of her bed, hands raised, head facing the direction of the door. His eyes were tilted downward, fixed on the crack between the bottom of the door and the floor. There must’ve been a shadow underneath there, cast in the brightly lit hallway by its owner. Whoever that person was.

  To her relief, the footsteps abated and receded as the person began moving again. They waited in silence for at least forty seconds, confirming that the footsteps were gone. It was safe to speak again. For now.

  “Holy shit,” Cackle whistled, collapsing back-first onto her (their) bed.

  “What was that?” Serenity whispered, afraid to speak any louder.

  Kyler put his handgun back behind his pillow. Desmos did the same.

  “Who’s to say they won’t return?” Agno said, unnerved. “I’m not going back to sleep; we go
t only two hours left anyway.”

  “I am, so kill yourself,” said Garen groggily, beating his pillow and lying back down. He fell back asleep instantly.

  “That’s your choice,” said Desmos, regaining his cool. “You can be the lookout, then. I doubt you’ll have to wake us, though.”

  “Could somebody please answer me!?” she shrieked, annoyed at being ignored. There was no way she could return to sleep without answers.

  “Quit being such a coward,” Cackle snapped.

  “You looked like you were about to piss yourself, looks who’s talking,” Agno remarked, reloading his Desert Eagle.

  “All of you guys looked scared,” Serenity attested. “That’s when I panic! Who or WHAT was that, and why should we be scared?”

  “You don’t want to know,” Kyler said, from down below. “Just go back to sleep and forget about it.”

  Before she could give an outraged response, Desmos interceded.

  “An Aurelian hitman,” he explained. “We encountered one of them a long time ago. You were young, so you probably don’t remember. Honestly, only Garen and I remember it. These aren’t just some hired guns; they’re the real deal. We don’t run from anyone, but these guys are different.”

  “T-they found us, then?” she stammered. “Shouldn’t we run?”

  “No, they haven’t found us yet. I suspect the Aurelians have got one in every damn hotel in a hundred-mile radius. They’re sentries now. When we leave soon, we have to be stealthy.”

  “What do they look like…?”

  “Baby-faced midgets,” Agno said wittily. “Stupid ass question…”

  “They hide their faces, I have no clue,” Desmos shrugged. “They wear hoods, but they probably have masks under there too. Now go to sleep.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  After that encounter, Serenity found it impossible to get back to sleep. Her eyes stayed wide open, and her senses were constantly on alert. The only other person awake was Agno, who did not speak to her. He kept repeatedly unloading and reloading the magazine on his handgun, perhaps as a way to pass the time. He had dozed off, eyes averted from his weapon. She expected the “hitman” to come pacing down the hall again with their massive strides, shaking the ceiling and awakening the entire building.