Chapter Text
It was sudden. Unexpected. Terrifying.
One moment, he was standing next to the bus station, waiting for his way out of town, the next pain crashed over him like a tsunami, breaking him apart like a stick caught in a giant wave
Caught in an swirl of colors, shapes and patterns that shouldn’t exist made him feel sick to his stomach, as scenes of a far away landscapes, masses of humans, animals and creatures he couldn’t even describe burned themselves into his eyes.
A pain like no other struck him down, as it felt like he was burnt alive.
Leo was certain that he was screaming, crying out in agony. It hurt and he didn’t know what to do, his small hands clawing his face, trying to make it all stop.
But the pain only became worse
„Leo, shit-“
Someone was yelling his name, as a wave of nausea struck him down, forcing him to empty his stomach. He couldn’t stop, once the floodgates were opened, making him cough and try to catch his breath.
Big hands were grabbing him, pulling him close into a tight, nearly comforting embrace. He was terrified, as a golden light engulfed him. It was blinding, hot, painful, as he tried to escape.
Like a dog being pushed into a corner, he tried to fight, biting and scratching the warm arms that were holding him close.
It didn’t matter.
There was a prick at his shoulder, one that he barley felt due to the overstimulation he was suffering through, as everything faded into black.
—
—
When he slowly came to back to consciousness, he was in an really big, awfully dark room. There was no nightlight giving off a faint light and comfort, like the one he had inside his own room. His grandpa had reinstalled it, after his father had taken it away because he needed to act like a big boy now.
Grabbing the blanket to steady himself, Leo looked around, trying to find anything that seemed familiar.
The bed he was in was gigantic, the kind you only saw in fairy tales. It was also very soft and warm, making him wonder if he was sucked into a portal and became some sort of cursed princess.
That was one of Michellas favourite stories, one he was forced to read for her whenever she couldn’t sleep…
He didnt want to be a princess.
Footsteps echoed from the hallway, as he quickly hid his face beneath the blanket and pretended to be asleep.
The boy didn’t know where he was, nor did he recognise the steps and that terrified him.
The door opened for what felt like an eternity, as he forced himself to breathe in and out slowly. He didn’t dare to catch a glance of the person in the doorframe, out of fear of what would happen if his kidnappers realized that he was awake.
His nonno had told him stories about the mob and what they would do to their prisoners if they didn’t follow their rules…
At least he thinks that he has been kidnapped by some evil organisation, considering everything.
A click signaled the closing of the door and Leo couldn’t help the sight of relief as the he heard the footsteps distancing themselves again. He was safe again, or as safe as one could be in this situation.
Rubbing his face, the boy froze as he felt soft fabric covering his eyes. After a short inspection, he realised that a blindfold was fastened on his face, despite the fact that he could see very well.
„What is going on?“
This wasn’t normal.
The boy felt himself panic, trying desperately to get it off his face, but to no avail. It was as if it was superglued to his face, making him struggle even more.
He needed to get out, to escape this dark hell-
Swallowing hard, Leo tried to sort his thoughts and remember what had happened before he had been taken. This whole situation was weird, more than just weird.
„Michella is waiting for me.“
His little sister had been sick again, to the point that she had been barley able to leave her bed. Their parents had taken her to New York, both to help her with her illness and to look at her neurological issues and had left him behind, like they always did.
After all, he was a big boy that needed to go to school, and his grandparents farm was not too far away if he ever needed any help.
But then she had called for him, a few days after staying in the children’s hospital, so he had no other choice than to get himself an bus ticket to go see her. Even if it meant travelling for a few days through a few states alone.
His kidnappers had taken him on his second bus stop and probably administered some drugs into his body, just like in the action movies he sometimes got to watch.
Looking around, his eyes narrowed down on a window, a possible escape route. Pushing aside the blinds, the light temporarily blinded him, before he could make out a rusty fire escape hat was running down the side of the building.
It couldn’t be that easy, could it? People tended to underestimate kids, but still.
Climbing out of the window and onto the ladder, he felt nauseous as he looked down towards the alley several meters bellow him. One slip, and he would break a lot of bones in the best case.
Shaking his head, he made sure to grab the cold metal as tightly as possible, as he slowly made his way down. It was nerve wracking, especially since the ladder made a lot of… concerning sounds, whenever he moved too fast.
Creaking and squeaking as if to show him that this was an horrible idea.
Leo wanted to kiss the ground when he finally made his way down, but he didn’t, considering that it was covered in an bad smelling, weird liquid. Puke, most likely.
Gagging as he made sure to not step into it, the boy froze as he catched an glimpse of the world outside of the alley.
„ALIENS?!“
Clapping his hands over his mouth to silence his own scream, he stared at the strange creatures walking the street in board daylight.
Monsters-, Aliens-, interacted with other humans like it was normal.
Pinching himself to make sure that he wasn’t dreaming, he tried to think of his next steps.
Was he even still on planet earth? Did he get beamed up or something?
He couldn’t stay here, so close to the people that had kidnapped him, that was sure. Taking an unsure step forward, he swallowed and kept his head low and went with the flow. If there was one thing he could do well, then it was to disappear into the background.
At least he thought so.
„It doesn’t look like this twerp has any money on him.“
Big boy’s didn’t cry, that was something his father always told him. But he couldn’t help the tears welling up in his eyes, as a creature with several legs stepped onto his back, knocking the breath out of his lungs.
He didn’t really know how this had happened. One moment, he was walking down the street, trying to not catch the attention of anyone around him, the next he was grabbed by the back of his collar and thrown into an alley.
Those people were trying to rob him, a literal 9 year old.
Blood was pouring out of his nose from when the other guy punched him, as he tried to find anything he could use to defend himself. Not that he had any chance of defeating these two monsters.
He wasn’t David going against Goliath.
Leo was a scared, terrified, kid that was all alone in a strange place.
They hurt him, made him bleed, and he didn’t know when or if they would stop. In the corner of his eyes, he saw the remains of a pipe bellow one of the trash cans. He should be able to reach it, if only the creature stepping on him would let him go.
„There you are, you little piece of shit!“
Turning his head, he saw an man standing in the entrance of the alley, pointing at them. He looked furious, his red eyes snapping from the guys that grabbed him to him.
It was scary, how they narrowed down on him, as he clicked his tongue.
„Fucking trouble Magnet, always making me work.“
In one moment, the white haired man ignated a cigar, like in those old western movies, and in the next the two creatures that attacked him went up in flames. He could only watch in horror as they ran out of the alley, screaming in agony, whilst the stranger slowly walked up to him.
That man was dangerous, that much he knew.
„You stupid Pubehead really just disappeared on uAGH!!! MY-, AHG-, JEWELS!“
Leo didn’t think as he grabbed the pipe and hit him with all his might where it hurt the most. The other let out a startled scream and a string of curses before he collapsed to his knees.
The boy knew that this was his only chance, as he took off and started running as fast as his short legs could carry him. There was no telling what that guy would do him if he catched him now.
One thing was clear for him, and that was that he needed help.
He had no idea what was going on, where he was or why he was aken. But he didnt know who or what he could trust in a place like that.
His body still hurt from the beating he had gotten previously and his legs were tired from all the running. The boy also wanted to do nothing more than to cry and laugh from the absurdity of it all, but he knew that he couldn’t. So he continued walking, doing his best to disappear in the crowd.
Leo didn’t allow his eyes to linger at the creatures surrounding him, the fear of getting hurt again making him shake whenever someone got to close too him. At the same time, he couldn’t help but wonder why no one was helping him.
Shouldn’t people get worried when they saw a beaten up kid wandering aimlessly around?
„You. What in the world happened here?!“
The brunette froze as the back of his collar was grabbed again, this time by an human wearing a trenchcoat. The man looked extremely annoyed, like he did something wrong.
It scared him, in all honesty, as he felt himself hyperventilate at the thought of being taken to an alley again.
„Oh, fuck, don’t make this face. I am not going to hurt you!“
He immediately let go of him and knelt down next to him, like he wanted to show that he wasn’t a threat and pulled out an police badge.
„My name is Daniel Law, Lieutenant of the Hellsalems Lot police department.“