Reborn Tycoon; Ethan Wayne’s Rise

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

He leaped, trying his best to run as fast as he could. He caught some sand and threw it in their direction, delaying them a little. As he detoured into a bushy path, his legs got caught up in a twig and he fell.

“Arghh!”, He groaned, his already injured foot knocked once again against a stone.

“You asshole! Thought you could run from us huh?”, one of them grabbed him up. The next thing he felt was a heavy punch to his jaw. Another one landed on his cheekbone and Ethan felt the blood gush up through his throat. He sputtered out.

“C’mon boy. Control yourself Pickle Boy. We haven't even got started yet“

They dragged him along the ground, pulling his body with the dirt, through the thorny, bushy path. The sharp thorns cut through his clothes and he was well tattered before they even threw him into the abandoned plant house.

“Urghh!”, He groaned, holding his side cut by the thorns from the naked bushes they'd dragged him to.

“We are just getting started, Pickle Boy”, the biggest amongst them said with a laugh , raising him by the collar of his jacket.

“Stop”, Lucas said, walking in. He had his hand up in a halt sign. He walked towards Ethan, leaping a little from his side that still hurt.

“Hmm… think you are so tough huh?”

All he could do was spit out from his bloody mouth. The big boy adjusted his hold on him and another of Lucas' minions assisted him, holding the other end of the collar.

“We haven't even started yet. We are gonna make you regret Pickle Boy. Or should I say Ethan Wayne”, he said, leaning closer in his last sentence.

“What’s your name, tell me?”

Ethan looked up with dead eyes.

“Huh? Pickleboy?”

Ethan's breathing was heavy but he said nothing. Lucas stepped closer and then punched him in his guts.

Blood spurted out of Ethan's mouth.

“Urghh”, he groaned.

“What's your name, boy?”, Lucas asked, louder this time.

“Huh? You can't talk?”, Lucas gave another hard punch to Ethan's abdomen.

“Cat got your tongue Pickleboy?!”

Another punch.

“Say Pickle Boy!”

Blood spurted all over the ground.

“Say Pickle Boy son!”

More blood.

“Pickle…”, blood spurted all over the remains of the words. Ethan couldn't even describe in words the pain he was feeling let alone call out the name.

“Louder asshole!”

This time it was kicks and punches and Ethan knew he was most certainly going to have that concussion.

They were shouting louder at him but the words seemed to come from farther and farther until they faded out and all he could hear were sounds like mumbles, like someone beckoning on the door of a sound proof room.

It was the last thing he'd remember before zoning out.

Minutes he'd woken up to a battered and swollen body in wee hours of the morning.

***************

Ethan sat up on the hospital bed, his body still brutally sore. The doctors had given him some pain reliefs but his body had been brutally beaten, funny though he hadn't broken any bones. The doctors had been surprised as well considering how bad he was when he'd staggered into the hospital.

He glanced at the circular standing mirror. His face had been bashed badly but still luckily, no teeth and his jaw wasn't as bad as he'd thought he'd be. He had bad bruises though but the more he seemed to look into the mirror, the more they seemed to …

“Ethan Wayne?”, The doctor asked as he came through the curtain. The nurse was behind him and Ethan thought he'd seen her scurry away. She was pale and white like she'd seen a ghost or something.

Perhaps him.

“How're you feeling today Ethan?”

“I’m .. I feel sore kinda”, Ethan said, wondering if he'd just lied as he didn't feel as sore as when he'd first woke up. He sat up, stretching his aching back a little.

“You… you're healing quite fast, Ethan. It's… surprising”

“Uhhh.. I guess It wasn't that bad after all..?”

The doctor nodded slowly.

“Nurse, check his vitals please”

The nurse hesitated, like he was some kind of monster that could snap.

“They are … stable sir”, she said, picking her words as she stepped back from him. The doctor was silent for a moment.

“Excuse us Sandra please.”

She nodded, making her way out.

“And take a break. Forty five minutes. Stress is the first cause of hallucination”

The nurse scurried out just as Ethan had thought he saw her do before. The air seemed unusually tense and Ethan couldn't decide if he should be nervous or chill.

The doctor took a seat and pulled off his glasses.

Okay …

“Ethan when you came, you were in a very, very critical state. We were in a rush to stabilize you in the theater and… “

The doctor hesitated. “You were … we had doubts we would be able to sustain your life”

The doctor paused again.

“But .. for some reason.. you started reading. Your heart rate started reading. “

“Was it supposed to not read?”

“It's… it's a … it's a rare case. It doesn't usually happen, especially with a case like yours.”

“Oh”, Ethan said, looking down at his feet. When he raised his head, the doctor just stared at him

“Are you on drugs.. Ethan?”

Ethan didn't think heard well.

“Dru..”

“Ethan!”