Regeneration

Why, Anything Could Have Happened To You!

After capture, the boys had been placed in a car and driven through the darkened streets to a big building that bore signs showing it was a department of the World Government. They were both carried into the building by the men who had detained them in the park and, even though they struggled against their hold, it was useless. Both boys were very tiny for their age and lacked the physical strength to even make it a struggle for their captors to hold them. They were taken into large but comfortable looking office and placed on two chairs facing an imposing desk. An enormous man walked in and sat down at the desk and introduced himself as Alberto Alvarez, Chief Officer Paediatrician for the World Government.Despite his massive size, he had a kind face and smiled gently at the two lads who were shaking in terror.

"Well, you boys have been very naughty" He scolded gently. "Do you have any notion of the worry you have both caused your parents? They have been desperate to find you.They have been called and now know you are safe. You'll be collected shortly and taken home."

"Home? We're going home? You aren't taking us away?" Louis asked nervously. " I thought....." his voice trailed away as the man shook his head, smiling indulgently at the boys.

"Yes, home little man" Alberto confirmed. " Young children like you should be home in bed, not running around so late at night. Why, anything could have happened to you.!"

"We're not children" Louis muttered under his breath, resenting how the man was talking to them. They were both sixteen years old, nearly adults. He hated being talked to like he was a little baby. Alberto Alvarez gave no sign of having heard him although his smile did get a little wider.

There was a tap on the door and one of the men who had caught them came into the room, a small box in his hand. "Mr Horan is here, Sir"  he said as he placed the box on the desk. "And here are the tags you asked for." He smiled gently at the boys but both shivered slightly with unease.

"Ah, yes, thank you Basil. Would you care to fit them for me whilst I explain their purpose to these two boys?" Alberto said as he stood up and went around his desk so he was immediately in front of Niall and Louis. "Basil is going to put tracer tags onto each of your ankles. We don't want you running off. We want you to be safe. Now I will leave you with Basil. Behave or there will be consequences. I believe your parents are here so I shall just have a quick word with them before they take you home." He left the room. Both boys had been so wrapped up in listening to him that they barely registered Basil fixing the tags on their ankles. Task completed he straightened up and then went and across the room stood by the door. Both boys looked at each other then at the man before moving closer together. Tagged and being sent home? This seemed at odds with everything Louis had read.

After what seemed like hours but was, in reality, just a few minutes, the door opened again and Alberto Alvarez entered again, This time he was accompanied by Bobby Horan who looked both stressed and exhausted. "Come on boys" He said quietly. "Lou, you are coming home with us. Your mom could not leave the girls and Lottie is  staying with your stepdad."  Both boys hurried to obey. They could hardly wait to get out of this building.

Bobby remained silent as he led the two boys out to his car. Once they had settled into their seats and fastened their seatbelts, he started the car then rested his head on the steering wheel, making no effort to drive off.

"Da?" Niall said quietly "I'm sorry. We just got scared, we don't want to be taken away." Bobby straightened up and then pulled out of the parking space and smiled weakly at his son. " Does this mean we won't be taken? I mean, they let us come home."

"We'll talk in the morning, boys. You both need to get some sleep, you have school in the morning" Bobby spoke quietly." You both  have to  go. Mr Alvarez made it perfectly plain that you have  to attend.