The morning light trickled through the broken slats of the boarded-up windows, casting fractured patterns on the dusty floor. Jahnny woke to the sound of heavy footsteps, still groggy from the restless night on the cold, hard ground. His father’s arm had been draped over him, heavy and protective, but now that weight was ripped away in an instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The commotion was startling. Jahnny scrambled upright, blinking in confusion. His father, Garth, was yanked to his feet by two massive men. They were built like walls, their faces hard and devoid of mercy. One had a scar slashing down his cheek, the other wore a gold chain so thick it seemed like armor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWha\u2014what the hell?\u201d Garth spluttered, struggling against their iron grip. \u201cGet your hands off me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But his protests were ignored. Jahnny\u2019s heart pounded in his chest as he shrank back against the wall, his small frame trembling. Then, a voice cut through the tension, calm but cold enough to chill the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, well, look who we have here,\u201d the man drawled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Big Ray stepped into the dim light, his hulking figure commanding attention. He was older, with gray creeping into his neatly trimmed beard, but there was nothing soft about him. His eyes gleamed with cruelty, and his tailored coat hung off his broad shoulders like a king\u2019s robe. Ray\u2019s presence swallowed the room whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRay,\u201d Garth stammered, his bravado crumbling. \u201cListen, man, I was gonna\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou were gonna what, Garth?\u201d Ray interrupted, his voice smooth as silk. He stepped closer, his polished shoes clicking against the concrete floor. \u201cGonna finally pay me what you owe? Because that\u2019d be a first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI just need more time,\u201d Garth pleaded, his voice cracking. \u201cI\u2019ve got a plan\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before he could finish, the scar-faced man landed a punch to Garth\u2019s stomach, doubling him over. Jahnny cried out, instinctively lurching forward, but froze when Ray turned his gaze on him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStay put, kid,\u201d Ray said, his tone a warning and a promise. Jahnny sank back to the ground, his small hands gripping the edges of his tattered coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been owing me for months, Garth,\u201d Ray continued, pacing slowly. \u201cMonths of excuses, months of bullshit. I\u2019ve been patient, haven\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cY-yeah,\u201d Garth wheezed, clutching his stomach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut patience doesn\u2019t pay my bills, and it sure as hell doesn\u2019t keep my boys fed.\u201d Ray gestured to the two men flanking him, and they cracked their knuckles in unison. \u201cSo, now I\u2019m done waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, no, no, please!\u201d Garth begged as the beating began. The punches came heavy and relentless, each one echoing through the empty building. Jahnny could only watch, his eyes wide with terror, as his father was reduced to a whimpering heap on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStop!\u201d Jahnny\u2019s voice cracked as he finally found the courage to speak. \u201cPlease, stop! You\u2019re hurting him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ray turned to look at Jahnny, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face. \u201cHurting him, huh? Kid, your old man\u2019s been hurting himself for years. This is just catching up to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d Garth croaked, spitting blood onto the floor. \u201cDon\u2019t touch the boy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ray crouched down to Jahnny\u2019s level, his large frame towering even as he lowered himself. \u201cI ain\u2019t gonna hurt you, kid,\u201d he said, his voice almost gentle. \u201cYou\u2019re worth too much to me for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny recoiled, pressing himself tighter against the wall. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ray leaned closer, his breath warm and sour, his breath a mix of mint and whiskey. \u201cA kid like you? Small, scrappy, kinda cute when you\u2019re not cryin\u2019? You\u2019re a goldmine. People\u2019ll pay a lot for a kid like you to run errands, do odd jobs… whatever they need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Jahnny whispered, shaking his head. \u201cNo, I\u2019m not gonna\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t get a choice, boy,\u201d Ray said, his voice hardening. \u201cYour daddy here owes me, and you\u2019re how I\u2019m gonna collect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLeave him alone,\u201d Garth rasped from the floor, struggling to sit up. \u201cI\u2019ll get you the money, Ray. I swear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been swearing that for months,\u201d Ray shot back, standing to his full height. \u201cAnd I\u2019m done believing you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a sharp nod, he signaled his men to grab Jahnny. The boy kicked and squirmed as their rough hands dragged him to his feet, but it was like fighting a brick wall. Tears streamed down his face as he was forced toward the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet him go!\u201d Garth shouted, his voice desperate. He clawed at the floor, trying to pull himself up, but another kick to his ribs sent him sprawling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t make this harder than it needs to be,\u201d Ray warned. \u201cYou\u2019ve got forty-eight hours to pay up. After that, the boy starts earning your keep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny\u2019s chest heaved as he was shoved outside, the cold bite of the morning burned the tear streaks that continued to run. He twisted in their grip, his wide eyes locking onto his father\u2019s battered form through the broken doorway. \u201cDad! Don\u2019t let them take me! Dad!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Garth didn\u2019t respond. He lay there, beaten and broken, as Ray and his men hauled Jahnny down the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In that moment, the illusion shattered. The protective, larger-than-life figure Jahnny had always seen in his father crumbled to nothing. All he could hear was the pounding of his own heart, the scrape of his shoes against the pavement, and Ray\u2019s chilling laughter echoing in his ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStop squirming, kid,\u201d Scar-Face growled, his voice low and menacing. \u201cYou\u2019re only making it worse for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny\u2019s lip quivered, but he refused to cry out again. He didn\u2019t want to give them the satisfaction. His eyes darted around the deserted street, searching for anyone who might help, but the early morning kept most people inside. The few that were out\u2014a woman hurrying to her car, an old man sweeping his stoop\u2014turned their gazes away. Nobody wanted to get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ray followed behind them, his hands tucked casually into his coat pockets. He strolled as if they were taking a morning walk, his polished shoes tapping against the pavement. \u201cYou\u2019re a lucky kid,\u201d he said, his voice carrying over the sound of Jahnny\u2019s shuffling feet. \u201cMost folks your age don\u2019t get to learn how the world really works until they\u2019re much older.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny turned his head, glaring at Ray through tear-filled eyes. \u201cYou\u2019re a bad man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ray laughed, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down Jahnny\u2019s spine. \u201cBad? Maybe. But your old man? He\u2019s the one who brought you into this mess. Don\u2019t blame me for cleaning it up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny\u2019s fists clenched at his sides. His father\u2019s bloodied face flashed in his mind, but so did the anger in his mother\u2019s voice last night. He wasn\u2019t sure who to be mad at anymore. It all felt like a terrible dream he couldn\u2019t wake up from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They turned a corner into a narrow alley, the dim light barely reaching the cracked walls and overflowing dumpsters. Scar-Face shoved Jahnny forward, forcing him to stumble to his knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHere\u2019s fine,\u201d Ray said, stepping forward. He crouched down in front of Jahnny, his sharp eyes boring into the boy\u2019s. \u201cListen up, kid. I don\u2019t wanna hurt you. You\u2019re valuable to me alive and kickin\u2019. But I need to make sure you understand something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny glared up at him, his chest heaving. \u201cI hate you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ray chuckled again, shaking his head. \u201cThat\u2019s fine. You\u2019ll get over it. What you need to know is this: your old man\u2019s a loser. Always has been, always will be. He\u2019s got nothing left to give me but you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re lying,\u201d Jahnny spat, the fire in his voice surprising even himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ray smirked. \u201cAm I? You think he\u2019s gonna come up with my money in the next two days? He can\u2019t even keep the lights on in that dump you call home. If he cared about you, he wouldn\u2019t have put you in this position.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny didn\u2019t answer. He stared at the ground, his small hands clutching the fabric of his pants. Deep down, he knew Ray wasn\u2019t lying. But he didn\u2019t want to believe it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHere\u2019s how this is gonna work,\u201d Ray continued, straightening up. \u201cYou\u2019re gonna stay with me for a while. Do some odd jobs, run some errands. Nothing too hard for a smart kid like you. And if your dad pays up? You go home. If not\u2026\u201d He trailed off, the unspoken threat lingering in the air like smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t do this,\u201d Jahnny said, his voice trembling. \u201cIt\u2019s not fair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFair?\u201d Ray repeated, his smile fading. \u201cKid, fair doesn\u2019t exist in Blenc. The sooner you learn that, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He gestured to the men. \u201cPut him in the van.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny\u2019s heart sank as Scar-Face and Gold-Chain grabbed him again, lifting him off the ground. He thrashed and kicked, his cries echoing off the walls of the alley, but their strength was unyielding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The van was parked just around the corner, its dark paint blending into the shadows. The back doors swung open, revealing a dingy interior littered with empty bottles and fast-food wrappers. Jahnny was thrown inside like a sack of potatoes, his body hitting the cold metal floor with a thud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The doors slammed shut behind him, plunging him into darkness. He scrambled to sit up, his small hands feeling for an escape, but the sound of the locks clicking into place dashed his hopes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the engine roared to life, Jahnny hugged his knees to his chest, his breaths coming in short, panicked gasps. His mind raced with thoughts of his family, of his home, of the little bottle of pills still tucked in his pocket. His whole world had been turned upside down in a matter of hours, and he had no idea how to fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the front seat, Ray lit a cigar, the glow of the embers briefly illuminating his face. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, kid,\u201d he called back, his voice dripping with false reassurance. \u201cYou\u2019ll get used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Jahnny didn\u2019t believe him. As the van rumbled down the broken streets of Blenc, he could only stare at the small square of light coming through the rear window, wondering if he\u2019d ever see his family again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Time to Pay The morning light trickled through the broken slats of the boarded-up windows, casting fractured patterns on the dusty floor. Jahnny woke to the sound of heavy footsteps, still groggy from the restless night on the cold, hard ground. His father’s arm had been draped over him, heavy and protective, but now that … Continue reading “Garth\u2019s Actions \u2013 Chapter 6”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=665"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":666,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665\/revisions\/666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}