Beyond us

1995, 28th of Decemebr

Antonio sat on his mattress in his room, fingernails in his mouth, tapping his foot with anxiety. Any second now, E-labs will come knocking down his door to take him away. Who knows what the lab or his parents will do to him. Even more cuts and bruises appeared on his face after his father had seen the aftermath of his and Leo's fight. Why couldn't Leo keep his mouth shut and hands to himself? Why'd he have to go and be an idiot for?

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK! The sudden sound caused Antonio to jump up with shock. Oh no, oh no. It's happening and there's nothing he could do about it.

"Go answer the door, boy." A loud roar erupted from the living room.

Antonio, without a second thought, jumped up and ran out of his nearly empty room. He sped walked pass the living room where smoke came out of his fathers mouth. It took everything in Antonio not to cough or gag at it. Once Antonio reached the door he lifted his hand for the door knob, but stopped just as he was about to touch it. Was there time to runaway out the back door? Would anyone notice? But was then interrupted by another knock. Antonio took a deep breath and turned the knob and pulled open the door.

In front of him stood three tall men. The man at the front had a light blue button up shirt, who's collar was neat and big and it was tucked into black suit pants. On his light blue top, a badge was placed.

Zachary Eliot, E-labs

At the sight of it, Antonio swallowed whatever spit he had in his house, his hands were shaking so he placed them behind his back. His large brown eyes, which had some of his messy brown hair hanging over it, stared at the man who's black hair was greying. The two other men were not as intimidating as Zachary. By a long shot, they stood behind him wearing similar outfits to him but different colours, their hands behind their back like Antonio. Zachary's piercing blue eyes looked Antonio up and down.

"Who is it!? If it's the Girl Scouts again tell them I'll take their fucking scout cat and-" Antonio's dad was interrupted by Antonio.

"Er- dad! It's E-labs." He shouted back, wanting him to shut up and not embarrass and get himself into trouble.

"Are you Antonio Romano?" Zachary spoke, his deep voice sending shivers down Antonio's spine. He took a few deep breaths before he could make himself open his mouth and speak.

"Yes." He spat out, finally,"Sir." He added in. Zachary smirked at Antonio, for some weird reason.

"And you must be the one that won against Leo Whitley." He spoke again, observing the bruises and cuts on Antonios face, little did he know that most of them were from the man on the couch. Antonio nodded.

"Well, Antonio, we have your friends Aria and Ace Dalton, Penelope Evans and of course, your not so friend, Leo Whitley." He had pulled out a list that had all their names on it. "They're at our lab, with their parents." At the last word of that sentence, Antonio looked behind himself at his father who was sitting up and watching the conversation go down. He had a look of anger Antonio had never seen before.

"But..." Zachary leaned his head in through the door way and observed the house from where he was standing,"It seems that your parents will be unable to make it. Illegal drug use and possession." He whispered the last bit to the two men behind him. Antonio was confused, why would they be unable to make it? Zachary put his arm on Antonios shoulder and started leading him outside.

"Now, now Antonio. Let's go for a little ride, shall we." Zachary said, guiding him to a black car parked in his driveway. Antonio wanted to object but as he looked behind him, the two men had entered his house and yelling erupted. He gulped in fear, everything was about to change.

•

The building was tall and wide, windows are placed in nearly all of the rooms. The gates and fences surrounding the property stood tall, scaring off any explorers who dare cross it. Zachary and Antonio arrived in the black car with no hint of what happened with Antonios parents. The Italian boy sat in the passenger seat fidgeting with his black top that had holes at the bottom.