~

It had roughly been a week since Aunt Day had showed up. She came over to the house almost every day. She was very sweet to them, giving Savannah many sweet things to munch on as well.

However, Zeke, or Cass as the woman often called him, was starting to get bolder. He was listening to them less again, but he wasn't mean to them or abusive.

Even still, the twins didn't like that. So, one day, Ace had enough and slammed Zeke into the wall, before proceeding to kick his uncle.

Once the boy was done, he then stripped the old man and dragged him outside by his collar and chained him up.

Zeke had whimpered and whined, scared. He didn't struggle, only moving to hide in his little shelter once Ace tied him up.

A few hours passed before Nadia came in. Savannah and Ace greeted her, one more happily than the other.

She smiled at the pair and gave the girl her sweets before looking to the boy.

Gently, she showed him a small hunting knife, the handle was painted a pure black with soft slashes of blood red.

"I heard you liked knives, so I thought I'd get you this one." She said sweetly.

Ace looked at the knife, looking at all of the sharp edges and even the rather beautifully decorated handle.

Quickly, he grabbed it from her hands and started to examine it.

"Just don't hurt anyone with it, okay?" Her smile faded with concern, not for the people he could hurt, but for himself.

The tall boy just nodded silently while his sister giggled. Savannah knew her brother wouldn't keep his promise.

Quietly, the woman looked around the living room, a bit confused. Usually their Uncle would be there, waiting for them.

"Umm... Where's C- Zeke?" Nadia's smile softened at her mistake. She had quickly noticed how Cass barely recognized his own name, and the twins didn't even respond to it when she said it.

Savannah nodded and pointed to the long hallway.

"Wis owswide." She managed to say through a mouth full of candy.

The sweet Aunt nodded and chuckled. However, she was a bit confused on why the old man was outside. She had seen their back yard the first weekend. It was perfectly healthy; and honestly the only thing back there was a wooden pole half of the height of the fence and some dog house.

Still though, she went outside to see what he was doing. Maybe he was getting things prepared for the small garden that Savannah had talked about a couple days earlier.

Nadia quickly looked around the place before her eyes settled on the man. Her eyes widened some as a deep blush formed on her cheeks. He was naked and chained to the pole.

Swiftly she went to him, worried, but he had quickly ran out of the large dog house and attempted to run from her. However, the chain wasn't long enough for him to get away, so it yanked him back. He fell onto his side, a sharp stick cutting onto his ribs.

It wasn't a deep cut, but it would need to be cleaned and such.

"Cassius!" The woman softly cried out, dropping to her knees in front of him.

The male whimpered and scurried from her, shivering some in fear. He then saw the twins as they rushed out. He quickly hurried back into his little house, curling as far into it as he could.

Ace was the one who reached the two adults first. He didn't look happy.

"What is going on here!?" He growled out to her.

A wince fell from the older woman. He looked so deadly, and he was still holding the knife. She was honestly regretting giving it to him.

"I was just seeing why he was out here." She told him. "He's hurt and dirty, he needs a bath and some disinfectant."

The auburn haired boy was about to speak, but his sister beat him to it.

"Zekey is hurt!" Her eyes were wide, worry festering in them.

Gently, the carmel haired woman nodded. This got the auburn haired girl on board. It was now up to Ace. The boy grunted, but with a short whistle.

Zeke didn't respond well to the whistle, whining and softly whimpering out how sorry he was. This made Nadia frown. Had Ace hurt his uncle so badly that the once proud man was reduced to basically rubble?

The woman looked to the young boy, watching as his body tensed. His jaw became tight, gritting his teeth as he breathed heavily. He rolled his shoulder's back, in the process straightening his back.

He was pissed. Very pissed.

Quickly, Nadia got in front of the boy, making him glare at her. She didn't smile, she held a frown.

"Ace, it's alright. He's just scared. It'll be alright." She whispered rather soothingly.

Ace took a small, but deep breath. Her voice did calm him down some.

Once he had calmed down, Nadia moved out of the way. She then leaned close to him, giving him a small thing of candy.

She softly whispered into his ear. "Be slow and gentle with him, keep a calm and quiet voice. It'll help him out more than yelling or being angry would."

Ace quietly rolled his eyes, but he did as she advised. He slowly knelt before the house and slowly brought his hand out with the treat.

"Zeke, it's time to come out." He whispered in as soothing as a voice he could muster.

Said man peaked out a bit, but stayed close inside the house.

The tall boy glanced up to his 'Aunt', questioning her on what next he should do.

Quietly, she mouthed, 'Offer him the treat if he comes out.'

Sighing through his nose, the tween did as she recommended.

"It's alright, Zeke... I'm not going to hurt you." He whispered. "I'm just going to give you a treat if you come out."

The ginger haired man slowly inched his way out at the thought of a reward.

"That's it, come on." The boy naturally encouraged, giving a small smile.

Nadia smiled at the boy, happy to see him doing that without having to be told!

Once Zeke was out, she gently helped him to his feet and with the twins' help, guided him into the house.

There, it was the twins who drew the man his bath and sat with him. It was also them who had helped bandage his wounds so naturally and rather good too.

The woman frowned as she went into her car near the end of the day. The more she was learning about this side of the family, the more concerned and worried she was becoming.

Taking a deep breath, the woman came up with a game plan. She was going to help them. It was her job as both a family member and as a therapist.

~

-SamSam