The ringing in his ears hadn't stopped as he was set back into his original position but this time right next to his older brother that was still in the room with him. 

Two was still sitting in front of them. That gun that was too comfortable in his grasp still making itself known. 

Chris could feel his heartbeat throbbing through his jaw. The rhythm was making his skin crawl. His own existence shouldn't be so painful. 

As if their assailant could hear his thoughts that was probably spilling out with his drying blood, he began to speak, "how's that face feeling, kiddo?"

The youngest triplet couldn't help but slightly flinch at the mention of his wounds. 

The fists landing on him while he stood completely helpless, naked of both most of his clothes and emotions. 

The memory had him squeezing his eyes shut. 

"You aren't much of a talker, are you?"

Chris didn't dare speak up. 

Although the ringing was still clashing into his skull, the sound of footsteps began to trickle into his ears. 

A whoosh of air made it impossible to not look forward. Two was right in his face, a smug smile written across it. 

It was a kind of smile that wasn't contagious. Those were foreign to the lighthearted triplet. 

Matt didn't suspect what his brother's were about endure as he watched Three and One tear up his room. He stood with his back to the wall, his eyes wandering with their movements. 

Stuffed animals flew across the room and electronics were being pulled one by one. He had already pointed out the obvious ones, but now it was a free for all. 

"AirPods, jewelry, headphones, where is it at?"

"All in my bedside drawer. All of it. Some may be in my brother Nick's bathroom. We share jewelry sometimes," Matt muttered. 

"I don't need a god damn story, kid. Jus directions. I'll be sure to pop him the question. He answers incorrectly, I'll kill you." 

The threat flashed an unwanted image of himself through his mind. Panic clawing its way through him. 

Suddenly, Three snatched a signed photograph from their first tour together off the bedside table. He slammed the photo down, glass crunching underneath it and ripped the photo out and stuffed it into a duffel bag. 

"Hey!"

Three instantly turned to face him, wasting no time in pushing forward and grabbing him by his throat. 

"Don't fucking talk to me that way. We will take what we want!" 

Matt felt gravity betray him as he fell to the floor, fists landing heavily onto him. 

"Name me some of the stuff that you've got up in your room," Two demanded. 

The request was ridiculous. There was no need for that. No use. Chris would eventually have to lead them into his room and watch them tear it apart gathering his stuff. Just like Matt was having to go through right now.

 He hoped his older brother was okay. 

Fear snuck up on the triplet like it hadn't been lingering with him ever since he was awoken by strangers. 

A hand snatched his bruised, aching jaw.

"Ngh," Chris grunted out as his head was pulled forward slightly and his assailant's hot breath was too close to him. Uncaring, glowering eyes met ones that were once carefree. 

"I suggest you start fucking talking. Did you not hear what One said? We. Know. You." The threat didn't go unnoticed to Nick who was doing his best to bite at his lip to keep from speaking up for his baby brother. 

The oldest watched, eyes and morals wavering.

Two smiled before he leaned in a little more, Chris didn't think that was possible, "and I know that one of you are gay. Let's not get to different forms of abuse rather than just physical, although I know getting over this isn't exactly healing outside wounds that the naked eye could see."

Nick felt his mouth go dry at the hint written between the lines. 

"Though, I don't really care if my bitch is exactly gay."

Chris grimaced and squeezed his eyes shut at the thought. 

"Don't worry, I know it's Nicolas over here. I told you that we've been learning about you three for a while." Two assured as he pushed the youngest's jaw as if he was disgusted. 

"D-Don't. Please. Don't do that to him," the sound of his croaking voice surprised not only the other two in the room, but himself. 

Nick allowed himself to look at Chris with tears threatening to fall. As long as nothing else happened to Chris, he didn't care if that's what it took. He just wouldn't want his brother to see something so wrong. So wretched and horrible. Too cruel for their young, innocent minds. 

Two glared, "don't speak to me. And don't beg. Not like we can risk something so stupid anyway. DNA is traceable, don't you know?"

The youngest thought about how normal people didn't think that way. 

A loud noise disposed of their conversation. 

"We will take what we want!" That was Three. 

A loud crash followed by a few smaller thuds echoed through the dimly lit home. Nick and Chris felt their hairs prickle at the sounds. 

"No! Get off! It hurt-!" 

The sound of Matt screaming and pleading was enough to make Chris' chest burn. 

"Matt! Matt, just give them what they want!" Nick screamed, not caring about the consequences that followed. He needed to reassure his younger brother. To assure him that no matter the cost, they needed to make it out alive. He couldn't live without them, and he didn't want to leave them behind. 

Chris felt all the air leave his body at the sound of his oldest triplet brother yell for Matt. Two was quick to stand and grab Nick in an instant by his hair. In one, unsuspected motion, the pistol was slammed into Nick's face. 

A yelp escaped him before he slumped forward, blood immediately beginning to drip onto the floor. 

Two huffed and pushed Nick over to where he began falling limply towards Chris. With sudden fast thinking, the youngest caught his brother's head with his thigh, allowing it to have somewhat of a cushion before it the floor. 

"Nick! Holy fuck, Nick! M-Matt! No, no, no, no, please, please, he's just a kid. We're just kids, please," he didn't know what consumed his mind to start pleading with the man that just pistol whipped his brother into unconsciousness, but it seemed to be the only instinct to take over. 

His hot, wet tears were beginning to sting his open wounds. 

"I don't think you're in any position to start pleading with me, brat."

Three set's of footsteps came into earshot, Chris frantically looked for his brother's familiar face. Similar to his. Now, way too similar as he appeared with fresh bruises. 

Matt was shoved forward to his knees, the sound of them connecting with the hardwood made him grimace. 

The middle triplet found his only younger brother's eyes. The red-rimmed blue orbs were filled with fear. He knew his face reflected the same. Next, he saw Nick who was out could, slumped to the side, his head grazing Chris' leg. 

"N-Nick?" his voice was barely above a whisper, as he probably wouldn't be able to get out his brother's name without his voice cracking like his entire world was. 

"N-Nick, wake up. Please, come on. N-Nick!" One rolled his eyes as he finished putting everything the middle brother had gotten him into the one of many duffle bags they had brought in for their heist. 

"Two, what the fuck. I have to take him upstairs next," complained One as he ignored the sobbing young men. 

Chris watched as Matt began to lose the ability to draw in breathes. They began to come in short and rapidly. His eyes were being squeezed shut and he was starting to gasp. 

"M-Matt, listen to me. He's alive. We're alive. We are going to get through this, do you hear me? Count. Breathe. Look at me!" 

The dark headed triplet who was gasping for the oxygen that was teasing his lungs locked eyes with his little brother's naked chest, watched as it rose and fell evenly. 

The intruder's continued to argue in the background while Matt finally began to calm, although the situation had not taken any turn for the better. 

Nick's eyes fluttered, his head pounding to limits unknown to him. He had migraines before, but this was incomparable. 

"H-Hey, Nicky. I-I-It's okay," Matt was still trying to breathe when he noticed his older brother's eyes begin to open. 

Chris noticed as well and began to help him up with his shoulder. Nick blinked slowly to clear his vision, the word concussion never meant so much to him until right now. He knew one was evident. 

"Finally, our sleepy boy is awake. Up and at em' boys," One clapped, excitement bubbling as the next hour was here. 

Two tossed his gun to Three, "you watch them. I can't stand it."

Three huffed but took his place. 

Chris shook his head, the motion making him slightly dizzy. 

"H-He's not ready to be moved. Please, I'll-I'll show you where all my stuff is," Chris tried, but to no avail.

Nick grunted and groaned as he was forced to his feet. As they began to pass the mirror, he noticed blood splattered along his white t-shirt. 

Going back up the stairs to his room was more difficult than he thought. He could hear the commotion of his younger brother's calling for him. 

"Stop!" 

They had stopped, though. Nick couldn't see it, but for the first time in their lives, his younger brother's were still as a gun aimed pointed their direction. 

The sight of his room made his skin crawl. 

His blanket that had been discarded on his floor reminded him of his struggle. The reminder made his breath pick up. 

One shoved him forward and stepped in front of him, "alright. You've got twenty minutes."

He threw three duffel bags on his cold bed. 

"I know you edit videos and keep the most equipment. So let's see it," the leader wasn't wasting no time. 

"Computer and both cameras are. . . um-" Nick was having trouble thinking. He could practically feel his thoughts drag by in his mind. He blinked away the blurriness that threatened to consume him. 

"Today, junior," grunted Three from behind him. His arms were crossed, waiting to begin grabbing his items. 

"Desk. J-Jewelry is in my top left drawer in my bathroom, b-behind that door." 

Three moved past him. One stood in place. 

"You do know that there is a chance we all get what we want and nobody dies, right?"

The eldest didn't know how to reply to something so barbaric. 

One made his way to Nick's desk, cameras in hand, "It's happened before. Many times. It's part of the reason we have yet to be caught. It's hard to link crimes to us. We follow different patterns. If we don't kill someone, it's usually a case handled by mediocre cops. Nothing will ever get done. So, if you want there to be a dusty old-file in a cop's cabinet labeled 'Stunriolos', I suggest you not only get completely on board with this operation, but also your brothers. However, if you want this to be something the FBI and top Bureaus's to handle, which includes going to coroner's offices and other things, keep acting out." 

The warning didn't go over Nick's head. These guys knew how to handle this. They weren't new. Even if Nick and his brother's survived this, they wouldn't be able to prove who it was and past cases aren't entirely able to be linked to each other. They used different motives. They would need cold, hard proof. 

As the lightbulb in his head popped up, hope sparked with it. 

One dropped a camera and it tumbled to Nick's feet. 

"Shit, go ahead and struggle to grab that while I dig through these drawers. You're not very fucking helpful," grunted One as he turned his back. 

Nick wasted no time in stepping over the camera and squatting down to pick the camera up with his bound hands. They flailed around the lens and edges. 

His right ring finger finally made contact with the power button he had been so greedily searching for. 

A spark of small triumph snuck its way up Nick's spine and shoulders. He quickly shuffled forward and placed it in the back, upside down so the blinking red light would go unnoticed. 

He was going to get justice for him and his brother's. Whether it was dead or alive.