Several minutes passed before Seven grew the courage to stand from his seat. The tears were dried, but his puffy eyelids remained. He walked to the door before pressing on it alongside a turn of the brass knob, cold to the touch. The shaded hallway revealed itself upon Seven’s vision, a single candle lit near the far end from himself. It was odd, but perhaps Three had been too lazy to light any others, which wasn’t odd.

Upon passing a corner, an unfamiliar creek of the wood met his ears. Seven peered down to his side, where the sound had come from, to see a pair of black boots. Before his eyes pulled up, Seven’s cape was pulled over his head to block his vision. He wailed out in urgency, but his mouth was quickly covered.

Legs and arms quickly bound, Seven was helplessly being carried away. “All clear, back the way we came,” an unfamiliar voice spoke. Seven strained his voice through muffled screams out of confusion and fear. “Oh, shut up, already,” another voice spoke, with an odd accent.

Seven quieted down as he began to think as quickly as he could for any chance of escape. He listened closely. Click. The sound of furniture sliding across the ground resonated against the walls, must be the dining room or the library, Seven figured based on the type of echo.

It wasn’t long before a bright light was shining from beyond the shield of his cloak. More sliding of furniture happened before Seven was descended what sounded like a staircase, which confused him greatly as he wasn’t familiar with any staircases descending from where he was.

After a few moments, the descent halted and the man set Seven down. The sounds of knuckles cracking and one of them pissing ensued. Seven mumbled again, in a calmer tone. The feeling of a hand pressed against Seven’s face through the cape and pulled out what was stuffing his mouth. “I’ve not got any money . . . I’m worthless,” Seven spoke desperate. “What a sad shit you are,” one of the voices spoke before both of the strangers laughed. Seven’s mouth was stuffed again as he sighed through his nose.

With Seven being lifted again after the brief break, it seemed hopeless to try anything else at this point. Distressed and tired, the child fell asleep not long after.