The Bound Collision

Chapter 49

AUTHOR'S POV:-

Virote smirked, his vile pleasure evident as he glanced at Sarocha, who stood silently by, a smug glint in her eyes. "You did well bringing Atlas here," he said, voice dripping with malice. "The kid should see and learn how this world works."

Ace, held tightly in the grip of one of Virote's men, squirmed desperately, trying to break free. His small body twisted and turned, frustration and fear mixing in his young face. When his efforts seemed futile, he did what he could—he bit down, hard, on the man's arm.

"Argh!" The man yelped, releasing Ace as pain shot through his arm. The boy didn't hesitate, bolting toward Fourth with all his might. But before he could make it, Virote lunged forward, grabbing Ace by the arm and yanking him roughly. Ace whimpered, his small frame helpless in the grip of the larger man.

Virote turned the child to face him, his expression dark and cruel. "What do you think you're doing, huh?" His voice was sharp, venomous. Fourth, bound and frantic, screamed again.
"Leave him alone!" Fourth's voice cracked, desperate. "Don't touch him, Virote, please! He's just a child!"

But Virote merely chuckled darkly, ignoring Fourth's pleas. "The boy should learn to obey his father." His grip on Ace tightened as he spat the words with cruel delight.

Ace froze, confusion washing over his innocent features. "My father's dead," he managed to say, his small voice trembling.

The world seemed to stop for a moment, and a wave of cold, suffocating dread hit Fourth.

No. Not like this. Ace isn't supposed to know. Not now. Not like this. 

"He is right in front of you, Atlas", Virote said as his lips twitched into a devilish smile, "I am your father."

Fourth's stomach twisted painfully as he realized the truth was creeping out, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Ace squirmed again, pulling against Virote's hold. "You're lying!" he shouted, defiant as ever. But Virote's hand gripped tighter, his patience thinning.

"Lying, am I?" Virote sneered, his face twisting into something monstrous. "The man who raised you was a fool. A weak, stupid man who couldn't protect what was his. And Gemini? He's not even your brother-But me? I am your blood, Ace. You're going to come with me, where you belong."

Ace's face crumpled with confusion, his lips trembling as the world around him crumbled. "No! Let me go!" Ace shouted, his voice trembling, his small hands fighting against Virote's iron grip. The boy's gaze darted between Fourth, tied and desperate, and Gemini, bleeding and unmoving on the floor.

Virote's eyes gleamed with wicked amusement. "Where will you go, huh? You want to run to your brother? Fine. Let me show you what's left of him."

With that, Virote dragged Ace, who was thrashing in his hold, toward Gemini's limp, bloodied form. Fourth's heart dropped as Ace's eyes fell on his brother, his face going pale, the boy going completely stiff with shock.

His mouth opened, but no sound came out. The boy's gaze was locked on the broken, lifeless sight of Gemini lying there, barely breathing. His small hands trembled violently as reality shattered his innocence.

And then Ace screamed. A piercing, heartbreaking scream. "Gemini!"

The boy tried to break free again, this time with everything he had, but Virote yanked him back, twisting him around roughly. "You see? Once I kill both your brother and this worthless piece of shit over there," he gestured to Fourth with a cruel laugh, "you'll come with your actual father."

"No!" Fourth's scream tore through the room, his agony raw, overwhelming. "Virote, please, stop this! Let them go! Let Ace and Gemini go!" Tears streamed down his face as he struggled harder against the ropes. His wrists were raw, the rope digging into his skin, but the pain didn't matter anymore. Nothing did.

Virote sneered, stepping closer. "I've worked too hard to get here. For years, I've been waiting for this moment—getting into the Jirochtikul clan, taking over. I even had to kill the boss himself to get to where I am now." His voice was filled with bitter satisfaction. "And now, when I'm so close, I'm not about to let it all slip away."