Turn Back the Pendulum
Chapter Eighty-Five: Punishment
Note: If I'm not too lazy, expect this chapter to be released fully by sometime tonight. However, if I am lazy, as I normally am, then this chapter should be finished either late late tonight, or tomorrow afternoon. Just a heads-up, folks. On a side-note, for people who hasn't realized it yet, Pat is Patty. Seriously, I had questions about who in the world Pat is. Anyways...!
"I knew that it was you...!" the old woman murmured to herself pleasantly, also known as Kat gazed down at the young Pat, who remained silent, seemingly glaring at her. Meanwhile, Ms.Kat's grin was broad, as if she was pleased to find Pat and Hari in trouble. As for Hari, he too remained silent, but he was fuming angrily silently. His half of Pat's fried chicken leg had been confiscated as well; however, he had managed to devour over than half of it before it was taken by the old woman.
"What do you have to say, brat?" Kat asked amusingly, her smile now disappeared although remnants remained. Pat in return shrugged. "I think...that you're a fat old lady who had no life besides for messing with adorable orphans. Also, a skunk smells better than you." As he said so, Hari, who was behind Ms.Kat, broke into a case of snicker. However, before the old woman could notice, Hari quickly stopped altogether, and then continued to steadily glare at Ms.Kat, who seemed oblivious to this fact.
Ms.Kat however, had clearly heard Pat's comment. As an expression of anger appeared on her face, Ms.Kat's hand almost immediately lashed towards at Pat. Immediately, her hand latched onto Pat's neck collar shirt, as a strange gleam glowed in her eyes. Managing to suppress a portion of her large anger, Ms.Kat gazed at Pat, who said nothing.
Ms.Kat then slowly whispered to Pat, "Listen here, you damn brat. You should be happy to have a roof over your head and foods to eat. If you were living in those damn streets down there--" The old woman then made a sharp gesture towards the unseen streets below. "--This will happen to you."
Pat then said nothing, as Ms.Kat's grip on the young boy tightened. With a sharp pull, Pat was pulled towards the old woman, whom's face was unveiling her unleashed anger. As Ms.Kat said nothing, she immediately pulled out a small knife from her pocket.
Pat's eyes widened, as his eyes glanced at the small knife in Ms.Kat's scaly-like hands. Hari meanwhile had too noticed the strange gleam of the object that Ms.Kat was holding, which bounced off from the dim light-bulb above. Now alert, he said nothing, as Hari crouched on his bed, prepared. Pat meanwhile, was paralyzed in fear. As Ms.Kat's expression abruptly changed into a broad smile for some dark reason, the knife she was grasping slowly began to move towards Pat.
Hari meanwhile was ready to pounce. However, both actions were dispelled by one single action. Now, there were four persons in the room. The fourth person had somehow appeared in the center of the scene from nowhere. Wearing a sleek black raincoat which reached down to his lower knees with the hood pulled back, along with black boots, the figure was somewhat tall. Standing with his back facing the surprised Hari, the figure's left gloved hand was steadily grasping on Kat's hand, which held the small kitchen knife. As Ms.Kat seemingly tried to shake the figure's hand off hers, her experession drastically converted into one of caution.
Reluctantly, her grip on the kitchen knife loosened, as the knife dropped, plummeting to the wooden floor below. It landed perfectly, burying itself. Meanwhile, Ms.Kat's expression quickly changed again, as she slowly turned around to face the figure holding her steadily. "Now, now, Ms.Kat." the figure then said within earshot of Ms.Kat and Pat. He had fair skin, along with somewhat spiky long red hair which reached past shoulder length. Calm azure mist eyes glanced at both Pat and Ms.Kat.
"The higher-ups, or more precisely, 'HE', wouldn't like it if you somehow injured one of our many
experiments-- I mean adorable children, would 'HE'?" the man in the raincoat then said again, as it suggesting a subtle warning as well as putting a heavy emphasis on the word "He".
Pat said nothing, still paralyzed from the shock of almost getting stabbed by the old lady; meanwhile, Ms.Kat's expression was one of a mixture of caution and horror at the man's words. "I
apologize, Mr.Jonathan. But these
'adorable' brats--I mean children, had defied rules." she replied after a brief moment of silent. Meanwhile, the man in the raincoat, referred to as Mr.Jonathan attempted a weak smile. "I see," he murmured, his eyes watching the silent Pat.
"I suggest you leave the punishments to me, Ms.Kat." Mr.Jonathan said with a hint of coldness in his voice. Meanwhile, Ms.Kat said nothing, her face suddenly having been drained of all its color. Now pale, she simply nodded and then left the room. As she did, the clanks of her shoes echoed across the hall, as Mr.Jonathan's eyes steadily scanned her leaving.
Meanwhile, Hari had sighed in relief. Now in a resting position, his stomach continued to growl. Mr.Jonathan then glanced at Hari sharply and then began to unzip his raincoat. Fully unzipping it, he then took out a slice of freshly baked bread and tossed it to Hari, who's expression quickly turned positive at the sight of food. Meanwhile, Pat remained silent, his face somewhat pale.
"Here, have a bite," Mr.Jonathan then suggested, holding another slice of warm, freshly-baked bread under Pat's face. Pat could smell the warm aroma of the bread, as the smell of butter slowly penetrated him. "It'll help you. Mr.Jonathan then further suggested, as the buttery aroma overwhelmed Pat. Quickly, he took the slice of bread from Mr.Jonathan's hands and began to devour it. As he did, a burp emerged behind him, signalling of Hari's slumber beginning to start.
"Uhh...thank you, Mr.Jona.." Pat mumbled as he took bites from the slice of fresh bread.
"Allen Dante Jonathan, at your service." Mr.Jonathan then replied, a smile on his face.
To be Continued..