What about Ralph, is he okay? Why didn’t we meet up with him and why did we come here? I thought he would be here by now.” Natalya blurted out on the verge of tears, “He could be in real danger because of what happened, his whole house is ruined because of us!”

John Tom paused for a moment before speaking “ Listen kid, Ralph had asked me to take care of you guys in the event he was unable to, given the current circumstances this was the best thing I could do to keep you guys safe. I am sure that Ralph is fine, if he went back to the apartment he would realize the situation and be that as it may, he also knows about this place, I had told him. Don’t worry your head I am sure you will see him soon enough.”

Natalya held a long stare at John Tom before marching off, “I’m not in the mood to train,” she said, as she went back into the warehouse leaving both Cindy and Sheldon with John Tom.
Sheldon felt John Tom’s eye gazing him over and he gave him a nod, to let him know he was still doing the training. He had to do it, he had to get strong and he couldn’t deny that John Tom knew how to defend himself.
Sheldon glanced at Cindy, who also nodded as well and with that, the day for them began. It was brutal from start to finish. He pushed them to their limits. It started with warm-ups. Then he taught them basic self-defense moves which they practiced until he felt they were at an acceptable level. He made them run and run until they were tired. He made them come back to practice said moves.

When he left to get them food, he left them with many exercises to do. Sheldon could barely catch his breath and Cindy was struggling behind him.

Sheldon had seen Natalya watching them the whole time. She even came out when John Tom was gone and they used that time of his absence to rest a bit.

Cindy was lying on her back covered in dirt and sweat and didn’t seem to be bothered by it while Sheldon sat up, he was sweating heavily as well. Natalya brought them water from what she had in the bag.

“Thanks,” they both said as they drank as though they were fresh out of a dessert.

“No problem,” Natalya responded, “You guys looked like you really needed it.”

“Are you okay Natalya?”  Cindy asked as she sat herself up from the ground.

“I am worried about Mr. Ralph, something just seems off to me. Do you see anything Cindy? Is this right and is everything going to be okay?” Natalya questioned her anxiously, as Sheldon looked at them both.

“It’s hard for me to say, as there is no real right answer but believe me when I say that I will do my best for both you and Sheldon,” Cindy replied.

Natalya smiled and patted her head before looking over and placing her hand on Sheldon’s head as well. Sheldon couldn’t help but smile as he turned his face away.

“There you are, I thought I gave you many exercises to do. How comes you have time to rest? Well then?” Asked John Tom as he came walking in with a bag filled with food.

“We are both exhausted, and we needed a break,” Sheldon responded, as he stood up. “We have been going since early morning it’s now probably afternoon.”

“I see,” John Tom said, “Well we will start fresh again tomorrow.”
“I thought you would be going to teach us how to use those guns?” Sheldon asked, surprised that the training was over already.

“Another time, you’re not ready yet.”
“Good to see you outside Natalya, guess you will be coming to training tomorrow?” John Tom asked as he walked away without waiting for a response.

It was night now the children had long since eaten and had gone to sleep, John Tom stepped outside in to the moonlight as he read over his new orders, that were given to him when he had stepped out.

It read: “A member of the family Doyle has been killed in a heinous act on the way to conduct an investigation of a special person, we found next to him Blackrell. This mission now falls to you, attached is the photo of the person you are to find and return”.

“ Those orders are for me, aren’t they?” The voice asked, as he turned in the direction to see that it was Cindy.

“You don’t have to say anything, I know. I played this scene over twenty-three times already in my head.”

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter all I care about is that both Natalya and Sheldon are safe. I want you to train them and have them join you.”

“You want to make a deal with me?”
“I know where you have to go, what sort of person you are. You see John-Tom, I am making you a great offer the last 23 times don’t end well for you.”