The End of the Littlest One [Completed]

54. But not for long

The sun was already low when the three of them arrived at the Laurier mansion. They had been seeing the house from a distance for a while. Now, they have finally arrived.

The men led the horses onto the tiled road leading to the main entrance. Trees lined both sides of the road. They were tall and intimidating and didn't carry their leaves. The snow was shoveled off the road.

Benjamin and Olivia's horse walked ahead of Dante's. Dante being Dante, he shifted in his saddle constantly. He made sure to remember the lay out of the mansion and its surroundings.

When looking behind him he noticed moving objects. It was getting dark, so his mind filled in what he couldn't see. It could be men carrying bags of flour for baking bread and pastries. It could also be two dead bodies being taken away.

He turned to look forward again. Benjamin and Olivia didn't seem to be paying attention to their surroundings. They were talking to each other. Even though the horses were walking, Olivia had her arms wrapped around Benjamin's waist.

When they reached the stairs leading to the large double doors, the men stopped their horses. One by one, they got off. Dante took the strings of both bridles and walked to a nearby tree.

Once he was done securing the horses to a branch, he walked towards Benjamin and Olivia. Together, they walked up the stairs towards the front door.

As if they had been expected to come, two men opened the door and stepped outside. Both wore the same outfit; they wore a dark uniform with what seemed to be some sort of weapon on their left hip.

'Good evening,' one said.

'Good evening,' Benjamin responded.

The men looked at each other.

'Benjamin Laurier. Is that you?'

Benjamin, Dante, and Olivia had reached the top of the stairs and stood still. The two men stood in front of them.

'It is, isn't it? Where have you been?'

'That's quite a story,' Benjamin chuckled. 'Could you please let us in? I need to find my father.'

'Of course, sir.'

The two men stepped aside and let them through. They stepped into the house, and the men followed, closing the doors behind them.

The main hall was not very warm, neither in temperature nor decoration. Light gray tiles covered the floor, and the walls were painted white. A few paintings hung here and there but didn't manage to make the hall feel comfortable.

Benjamin turned towards Dante and Olivia.

'At this hour, still before dinner, my dad is probably in his study room,' he said.

'Alright,' Olivia responded. 'Lead us to it.'

Benjamin nodded and smiled at the two. He turned and let them towards a hallway to the right and started walking.

Meanwhile, Dante as well as Olivia took in their surroundings. For both it was the first time there, and they were deeply impressed by the house.

Their steps resonated through the tall hallway and bounced off the walls.

However, not only their footsteps could be heard. Other's resonated as well, together with low murmurs. When the three turned the following corner, their origin became clear.

A group of people were walking in their direction. They walked to their right, and so did the trio. That way, they could pass each other.

Olivia walked on the outside, meaning she would be the closest to the group approaching. She slowed down a little so she could walk behind Benjamin, who walked in the middle.

The group got closer, and Olivia looked up. She observed their faces and came to a not-so-great conclusion.

Among the give or take five men, Olivia recognized two. One had a small scar by his left ear. The other had threatened her after he came back out of the woods, now with a black eye and a slightly crooked nose.

Olivia froze, and stood still. So did the two familiar men.

Dante was quick to catch on. As soon as Olivia and the two men stopped, he noticed what was happening and moved. He went from the far left to the far right. That way, he stood between Olivia and the men.

Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. Everyone observed each other. Everyone contemplated.

But not for long.

Small-scar-man made the first move. He lunged forward and took Dante's neck with both hands. Benjamin yelled out of shock and pushed Olivia back so he could reach Dante.

Olivia didn't expect to be pushed, and as a result fell to the ground. Two men were quick to go to her and hold her down before she even realized what happened.

She heard Benjamin yell, and Dante panting. The footsteps of the two remaining men from the other group were also heard now.

'What do we do with her?' One of the men holding Olivia asked.

'Keep her alive,' someone else answered. 'Keep all of them alive for Samuel.'

Olivia Benjamin getting dragged off Dante. Dante's legs gave up shortly after, and he collapsed onto the ground. Benjamin let out another yell and tried to get to him. He couldn't.

Olivia got tired from resisting and relaxed a little. For as far as the situation let her do that, of course. The men noticed and tightened their grip on her. One hit on the back of her head made her world fade to black.