He walked down the dark stone path, echoing through the trees with each step he took. Not far within the neatly paved path, the trees thinned and opened up to a small clearing, a small stone and wooden cottage nestled gently in a corner with the rest consumed by the wild garden. The cottage was new despite it's antiquated appearance and looked like something out of a fairytale, equipped with a lush fantasy-like garden which happened to be taken care of by the very man he was there to see.

  "For someone so meticulous, you really miscalculated." The tall elegant elderly man stood with his back to Darren, gloves on his hands as he worked dirt into a new pot to cover the roots of the plant he was holding. His voice was deep but soothing, something that felt close to a caress to the ears.

  "Grandfather." Darren greeted warily, as he stopped and waited for the man to acknowledge him.

  "Grandfather, indeed. You only call me that when you want something." The man puffed but kept his back to him.

  Darren sighed and rubbed his temples. He knew coming here was going to give him a headache but it was the only place he could come to that could get the quickest and surest results.

  His grandfather, Dominick Stur, took off his gloves and apron and placed them on the table he had been working at before turning towards his grandson and scanning him from head to toe before shaking his head. He turned away again and started walking towards the door waving his hand in a gesture to follow him.

  "Haaaa... Let's go inside, I suppose I can offer a cup of tea to my grandson at the very least."

  Darren frowned but followed his grandfather into the cottage and then sat at the small four person table centered in the small stone kitchen covered in hanging herbs and flowers. His grandfather walked around the kitchen, pulling out jars and filling the kettle before setting it over the stove and letting it boil. He grabbed two mugs from the cupboard above his head and then took the lid from the jars, making some kind of personal fusion of tea that he created himself and then pulled the screaming kettle from the stove to pour into the mugs.

  Darren watched his grandfather move with practiced hands and wondered how a man who rarely did anything himself had become so proficient in this small kitchen. But after retiring, he and his grandmother had their hobbies and apparently left the servants behind often. Seeing his grandfather move around, it seems that wasn't just rumors. Finally his grandfather turned around and put a mug in front of him and sat across from him at the dark wooden table.

  "Grandfath-"

  "I know why you're here, child." His grandfather took a sip from his mug and then put it down, lifting his eyes to meet Darren.

  "Then-"

  "I refuse."

  "What?" Darren yelled standing up from his chair.

  His grandfather lifted his brows at the outburst and Darren coughed and sat back down and frowned looking towards his grandfather.

  "Grandfather, I'm here to ask you for help."

  "I told you. I know and I refuse."

  Darren's face crumbled and stared at the man who picked up his mug, took another sip and stared at Darren until he picked up his own and took a sip. It was.... not as bad as he was expecting. No, it was actually pleasant. He took another sip and his grandfather's gaze softened and he sat his mug back down.

  "Leave that child be."

  "But grandfather, don't you want him to join the family? If you help me, I can get him back."

  His grandfather steepled his fingers and then looked at Darren.

  "Did you forget how you treated him? Forget all the years you pushed him away? And what now? Now that he is no longer interested in you, you want to drag him back? Why should I help you cage that child when he has finally found freedom and a way to start fresh?"

  Darren opened his mouth and then closed it, frowning and then answering, "I want to protect him."

  His grandfather sighed and shook his head, "The only thing that child needs protection from is you. You do not deserve that child."

  "Aren't I your grandson? Don't you wish for my happiness?"

  "Do not push me, Darren. You and this family, including myself, have been catering to your happiness your entire life at the expense of his. You already knew the abuse that child took within his own family and yet because you saw him through jealous eyes you went and did the same thing. We were the only safe place that child could go. But you... you tormented him then had the audacity to call him the pest. I admit, as he got older his aggressive approach to win your affection was probably annoying but he did not deserve to be treated as he did and you know it. And now that he has cut ties with his family and has no memories of us or you, you want him back? Protect him? No. You want him back because of your selfishness. Don't pretend you are doing it for him. No. I will not help you. None of us will help you hurt that child anymore. Over my cold and dead body. Leave him be."

  "He awakened."

  "I know he did, do you think me a fool? I have seen his medical records."

  "He is compatible with every Yang in the system even as a C-rank."

  "That.... is impossible."

  "So we all believed but we were wrong."

  "Then he would be assigned protection."

  Darren twitched but nodded his head slowly.

  "They have assigned him S rank Yangs to keep the B and lower ranks away but he has S ranks already after him."

  His grandfather rubbed his temples and then looked to his grandchild. He shook his head, "Are you including yourself? I already know you're on his black list. Do you think Jack will listen to me? Or are you hoping that I can guilt trip the child?"

  Darren clenched his fist and rubbed his head, he knew this was going to be difficult but he never expected to outright refused. His grandfather had long favored Grey so he assumed he would help. The fact that nothing had been going his way recently was really starting to get on his nerves.

  Dominick stared at his grandson in frustration. Dominick Stur was a retired Yang himself, inherited a company from his father's friend after helping make it into a success despite the dangerous world they currently lived in. He didn't pass the company down to his children, as they weren't interested, but Darren worked his way through the company from the bottom up and could not deny his right to succeed it, not when everyone else supported it within the company. He was intelligent, determined, and firm in his ways so Dominick had felt relieved to leave the business to him. That is, until recently.

  Dominick had married his imprinted guide and his son, Damien, too had done the same, both finding happiness with their partners. When his best friend, Greyson Acero had introduced him to his adorable grandson, Grey, Dominick pushed for their families to unite. He had found the stunning child so lovable and could not believe the horror he had been living within his own family, enough for Greyson to step in and take him from the house to raise himself.

  But Greyson left this world too soon and left behind Grey who he had left everything to. Dominick found himself fighting tooth and claw against Grey's family, adding business deals to barely keep him away from those people. He was able to keep Grey in his grandfather's home with a caretaker but he had fought the Acero family for years to make sure he would be safe until he finally joined his family. They needed Grey to get all his grandfather's assets. But then the accident happened and they finally had the means to take everything from Grey. And they did.

  Grey awakened but lost all his memories. He cut ties with his family and didn't seem to care that he had nothing. Dominick began to believe that perhaps, this was the universe's way of protecting that child and finally setting him free. Letting him start over and find what truly made him happy without someone telling him where to find it.

  Dominick sighed as he watched Darren clench his fist in anger. He truly was an exceptional child but when it came to Grey he could never get past his jealousy that it soon developed into such a hate that he went and broke the engagement with him. But now that Grey didn't want anything to do with him, here he was trying to get his attention back. The same attention he scorned only moments before. He sighed, what a fickle child.

  "Darren, be honest. You're just throwing a tantrum. The one you had monopoly over has finally broken free of you and you can't handle the fact that it will never be yours again. You didn't want him but now that he no longer begs for your affection, you feel the loss. There is nothing noble about your intentions, it is merely your selfishness to keep him begging at your side, as if he hasn't already suffered enough. It's time for you to grow up. Leave him be. I meant it."

  When Darren didn't say anything Dominick frowned and commanded he leave. Darren stood from his seat, his fists clenched and his face contorted as he stared down at the ground. He turned on his heel and walked back down the path and through the forest back to the main mansion when he made his way to the front of the house, his Secretary waiting in front of the car.

  When he saw Darren, he ran to move and quickly opened the door for Darren to enter. "Where is he?" Darren asked as he entered the car. He flinched and stood up straight as he looked to Darren in concern. Seeing his reaction Darren frowned.

  "Spit it out."

  "Grey is currently... in a gate."

  Darren stared at the man for a moment as if not understanding.

  "Repeat what you just said."

  He swallowed hard and spoke slowly. "Grey was at a Gate when a Temporary Gate appeared and sucked him inside. But there are currently two S-ranks within the Gate with him so I do not believe he is in any immediate danger as he was in a container Yang Talen had purchased for him."

  "Who are the Yangs?" Darren asked, his face unwillingly contorting.

  "Yang Meric and Kraven."

  "What?!" Darren screamed at the man who took a step back in fear as Darren's energy burst out with his anger.

  "They sent that psychopath? And he's in the gate WITH Grey? Has Jack lost his fucking mind?!" Darren slammed his fist into the seat in front of him as it crumpled beneath the pressure. He had done his best to hold back but his anger was still difficult to control.

  "We're going to the Association. Now!"

  "Y-yes sir!"

  -----------------------

  Talen was smirking as he headed toward the Yin dorms. He was a little early but he couldn't sit still. He took a seat on the bench in a small courtyard in front of the building and leaned back. The sky was a clear blue but Talen's eyes weren't seeing that, instead his head was filled with all the ways he would eat Grey for... dinner. Every thought led to another and then another until the sky turned dark and there was no sign of Grey.

  Frowning, Talen looked up to the building and walked around until he could see the balcony and window of Grey's room. The rooms around it were bright leaving the stark contrast of the darkness stand out even more in Talen's eyes and he cursed. Something must have happened at the Gate so without waiting further, Talen made his way to the Association.

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Once there he headed to the Gate Management that was in charge of all matters related to the gates which included the teams that were assigned to them.

  "Ah, Yang Talen. What brings you here?" The admin was a cute small woman with pink hair and green eyes that stared at Talen with hearts in her eyes. He frowned slightly at the greeting but continued on with his question.

  "I'm looking for Team Leader Falcon."

  "Falcon, oh, he isn't back yet! There was a temporary gate that appeared and a bunch of Yins and Yangs were caught and sucked inside."

  "They what?"

  "Yea, it was really shocking! The gate was extremely large and the entire area was sucked inside. But luckily there were two S-ranks on the scene and also sucked in so they should be finished soon and brought back in no time."

  "What about Grey Acero?"

  "Grey? Ah! That unique C-rank, yes he is inside the gate from what we know but I heard he was in a container so we believe him to be safe. I'm not sure about the other Yins though as they were in the tents."

  Talen sighed in relief and then froze.

  "Who were the S-ranks?"

  The admin paused and then grabbed a paper, "Oh! That was Yang Hunter Meric and Yang Hunter Jin."

  Talen's face dropped and he nearly yelled, "Kraven?! You're telling me Kraven is there?"

  The admin felt the energy flow from Talen and shivered, stepping back and shrinking down in fear. "Ah he was sent to deal with the poison quickly since we sensed the appearance of another gate in that area, we needed the Yangs healed quickly since we weren't able to send reinforcements other than Yang Hunter Jin."

  "Fuck!" Talen slammed his hand down on the desk and the temperature in the room dropped sharply, causing ice to creep from his feet.

  "Talen, keep it down. I can feel your energy all the way down the hall." Jack grumbled as he stepped into the room and slid in front of the secretary who was on the verge of fainting. "You're scaring the staff that are just doing their jobs. So calm yourself."

  "Grey was fucking sucked into a Gate. How do you expect me to calm down? Didn't he have a bodyguard? Isn't that the whole reason you guys kept me away from him? What the fuck are you all doing?"

  Jack sighed and rubbed between his eyes, "He will be fine. Both Meric and Jin are with him. Didn't you buy him a container? He should be more than safe."

  "That's just it! You sent fucking Kraven there with Grey! Are you out of your fucking mind?" This time Talen lost control and ice froze the floor and the walls, making everyone in the room run. Jack sighed, releasing his energy in a quick blast that dissipated his ice into mist.

  "That's enough." Jack commanded in a low and steady voice.

  Talen sucked in a breath and covered his eyes, "Give me permission to go to the site."

  "You know I can't do that."

  Jack crossed his arms across his chest, tilting his head and smirked at Talen. Never in all his years would he believe that Talen could act like this over another person. It was honestly a miracle that selfish bastard could feel anything for anyone other than himself. And Grey, Grey didn't have any interest in him which made the whole situation amusing.

  Well, Grey would have to come to accept him eventually. Talen was an S rank and they were obsessive and would do anything to get what he wanted so it was just a matter of whether he would stay obsessed or grow tired. He almost chuckled out loud, he didn't believe for a second that it would be temporary. No, he could see it in Talen's eyes. He was already serious, he just didn't seem to notice it himself.

  "Grey had a date with me tonight, so I should have permission to go to the gate." Talen argued, he truly looked like he was about to lose it.

  Jack covered his mouth and stared at Talen. "Even if that is the truth, until Grey tells me himself, I can't give you permission. So just sit tight. They'll be back soon."

  Just then Darren came storming through the door and paused when he saw Jack and then made his way over "Are you out of your fucking mind?! You sent Kraven of all people to where Grey was?"

  Jack looked at Darren and then looked towards Talen who was scowling and then burst out laughing. "So it's true that both of you are after Grey. I didn't fully believe it but my word, just looking at both of you it seems I have seen everything this world has to offer."

  Darren frowned and then saw Talen standing behind Jack and growled, "Why are you here?"

  "I could say the same. Grey isn't your fiancé anymore so stop haunting him like some ghost."

  "What happens between Grey and I is none of your business, you are just an outsider."

  "I'm the one who had a date planned with him today, who is the true outsider here?" Talen moved around Jack to get up in Darren's face.

  Jack's laughter got louder as he watched the two men and slapped both of them on the back.

  "Neither of you can get near him anyway, so I don't know what you're arguing about. Go sit down and cool your heads. They'll be back soon."

  Jack chuckled as he watched both of them stomp from the room, arguing as they left. It was seriously a scene he never thought would happen. Both men were arrogant, self-centered and selfish but here they were causing trouble over another person. It was truly a miracle but that also made him frown. It was one thing for Talen to be obsessed but for Darren to be as well... Grey was going to be in for it.

  Mmm... if he was unlucky he would end up with both of them. Jack scratched the back of his neck and then shook his head, wasn't his problem. All he had to do was protect the kid and let him sort his own drama out but a smile still made it's way across his face. It was truly amusing. He wanted to go tell Julie right away, she would find it just as funny.

  --------------

  Meric walked in, "Alright. We're back outside. I'm going to step out to let Jack know."

  Grey walked towards the door and nodded, watching Meric walk back outside to make a call. He turned towards the people that were gathered at the table and sofa.

  "Meric said we are back. Do you guys want to head out or do you need to do anything?"

  "Ah, thank god! We need to just wait until the Team leader lets us go. Falcon will come to us now that we are back. "

  Speaking of - Falcon called out.

  "Is everyone ok? Is there anyone missing or badly injured?" The Team leader Falcon walked in and looked around.

  "Team Leader!" They all called and gathered around.

  "Looks like all are accounted for, are you guys ready to head back to the Association? Grey, you don't have to stay since the only Yangs that need purification are high rank. You and Meric are free to return now."

  "Nice. I'm so ready."

  "I bet. You've already been through a lot for your first deployment. I heard that Yang Kall is on your blacklist but it is a good thing you were given this container, you could have been in real danger. The temporary gate this time was only B-rank and we happened to have two S-ranks on site but that almost never happens. We were all very lucky no one died."

  Grey frowned and sighed, seems like he was going to have to thank that stalker again once he met him. Speaking of which, he was supposed to meet him when he got back but.. Grey glanced down at his phone and realized two days had passed since he had arrived.

  "How much time has passed since we were gone?" Grey asked Falcon.

  "It's been a little under 24 hours today. How many hours were you in the gate?"

  Grey thought about it. "Not quite 12 hours."

  "That sounds about right. Time can sometimes be faster or slower than here in reality. Luckily it wasn't too long."

  Grey sighed and nodded, there was just so much about this reality that just didn't feel right and left him constantly feeling as if he were in a dream and would wake up any second. But the fact that he could feel pain no matter how many times he pinched himself told him this was definitely his reality no matter how much he wished it otherwise. It was hard. It was really hard to accept and all of this mess just made it even harder to digest. He shook his thoughts and tried not to think about it. It was just better not to think about it all or he would lose his sanity.

  "Grey!" Grey turned when someone called out to him and found Meric standing at the door with a smiling Liz who was waving. "Let's go."

  Grey practically ran to the door and Liz jumped him. "I was so so worried. I'm so glad you're ok. Oh man, Ally was losing her mind and threatening to come here to get you, not like she could have done anything."

  Grey smiled and hugged Liz back before pulling her back, "Thanks for worrying about me. I'll make sure to thank Alice too."

  They all walked toward the group that was gathered around the Team Leader and everyone waited for the Yangs to teleport them back to the Association. Meric grabbed his shoulder as a Yang stepped up towards them and he teleported them back inside the lobby.

  Grey felt his knees almost give out when they finally returned and he grabbed Meric's arm who smirked and pulled him by the waist against him.

  "I got you, little one." He swept up his legs and then held him against his chest, bridal style, and carried him towards the conference room.

  "Put me down, please." Grey covered his face in embarrassment as everyone stared at them as they passed by.

  "Now, now. I can't have you collapsing on the floor because your strength gave out. I'm your bodyguard so just leave your body to me."

  "Haaaaaa... no thanks. I'm ok now. I was just so relieved..."

  Meric smirked down at him and kept walking, they made it into the conference room and he placed Grey in the chair. Grey just shook his head and turned towards everyone who was filling in. Liz made her way over with Kit and Faust walked over with Well and Angelina, all of them pulling up chairs and sitting around him. He smiled gently, it had been a while since he had people he considered friends and now he was surrounded by them.

  At least there was something about this shitty world that he found enjoyable. Once the team leader came in, everyone gave their reports and the Gate management was able to record their statements and announced that everyone was finally free to go.

  Jack chuckled as he walked into the room and towards Grey. "It has been quite eventful here while you were gone."

  Grey looked at Jack in confusion and Jack nodded, knowing "I had two very upset Yangs here threatening to go to the Gate site to bring you back. I bet you can take a wild guess at who I mean?"

  Grey frowned and touched his forehead. "I don't even want to ask what they did. Haaaa... so annoying."

  Jack smirked and nodded, "Yes, they caused quite the scene so be on the lookout. I'm sure they are around here waiting for you."

  Grey nodded and Meric checked his watch and then looked at Grey. "Stay here where Jack is. Alice will be here soon to swap out. I have to head to my assigned Gate now. Later."

  "Ah, right. Thanks for everything, Meric. Later!"

  Meric walked out grumbling about stingy Yins and Grey smirked at him. He looked at Jack, "I'm going to the bathroom, real quick."

  Jack nodded and pointed a little down the hall. "It's right down the hall. Yell if you need me."

  Grey nodded and then headed towards the door. He walked down the hall stopping when he saw Well walk around the corner a little further down. He shrugged and made his way into the bathroom. After he was finished he walked back into the room and Faust called out to him as he was working on paperwork trying to get it done quickly.

  "Have you seen Well? I need him to sign this paper." He asked, not looking up from his papers.

  "Ah, I did."

  "Would you mind telling him to come here? Sorry I'm in a rush to get back home to my husband."

  Grey chuckled and agreed, heading back out towards the bathroom and then walking down the hall he had seen Well disappear down. Grey paused, the hallway was longer than he thought and there were more than just a few split offs. He frowned about to turn around when he froze.

  He waited, tilting his head and walking a bit and stopping again.

  Nothing.

  Just as he was about to move, he heard it again. It was faint barely the level of a whisper but he heard it. He walked down the hall and stopped at the first split off and didn't hear it in that direction so he turned back and walked further down and then he heard it again. It was like a high pitched cry.

  He paused and waited trying to see where the sound was coming from but it was so faint and the hallway... the hallway was fucking long as shit for the building. He could only assume there was some type of expansive enchantment on this fucking building too. He walked forward again and waited and this time he heard it slightly louder and down a corridor that was dark as if some of the lights were broken.

  Grey frowned and stared at the hallway.

  Isn't this like some kind of introduction to horror movies and that person always died? What the fuck was he doing?

  He shook his thoughts and walked down the hall and the sounds suddenly started to get louder. It was clearly someone crying.

  Was it Well?

  Grey picked up his pace and walked until he felt energy and froze. The door was a solid black metal door, something common you would see in an office. It wasn't unusual and other than being barely cracked, the place just seemed normal in the dim lighting. He stared at the door, the crying whispering through the thin crack. He assumed the only reason he had been able to hear anything in the first place was because the door was cracked, as if they didn't shut it completely when they walked in.

  Grey opened the door slowly, it slid open without a sound and peeked in his body still out in the hallway. It was some kind of storage area, filled with shelves that stood to the ceiling that were also completely filled with boxes. And as he looked around, he could hear the sounds much clearer now and it was so much worse than what he thought. He walked slowly into the room, holding the door until it touched the frame but kept that small crack without fully closing. He quietly sucked in a breath as slow as he could so as not to make a sound and lifted his feet, step by step so his shoes would not cause friction as he made his way to the end row of the tall shelves filled with boxes.

  He tried to calm his breathing and move as slowly as possible but he was scared and it felt like his heart was trying to beat through his ribs. He wiped his hands on his pants as they were continually gathering sweat and he swallowed hard as the sounds kept getting louder. Honeslty, even though he could feel the energy of two people, he had no idea what to expect. His mind just knew that something very wrong was happening and his body was responding in kind.

  Once he finally made it to the edge of one of the rows, he kept his body still and slowly moved his head to peer around the shelving and froze. What he saw were two men, and from the look of it, they were getting busy.. He clutched his hand to his chest and then let out a quiet sigh of relief and began to turn away when he heard it.

  "Puu-pueszzz stttawwwp.. sabbbbbeee meee."

  The voice was all too familiar and his blood froze within his veins. When he whipped his head back around to look, he could see Well hanging upside down, his face bloodied and swollen and his arms and legs covered in cuts. He watched in horror as the man standing in front of him smirked.

  That man was Kraven.