From Nothing to Norton

Chapter 4 The Two Dragons

The next morning, Newton awoke with a renewed sense of energy and optimism. The previous day's practice session with Drax at the shooting range had done wonders for his well-being.

He was provided with a bedroom that befitted his new status as Norton II. As he lifted the bedspread, he noticed the label "hi-fashion." Thoughts of luxury filled his mind as he admired the exquisite surroundings.

His father greeted him at the stairs with a warm "Good morning, son."

Struggling with the notion of having a father, Newton mustered a reply, "Good morning, Father."

Mr. Norton inquired, "Are you satisfied with everything?"

Radiating a warm smile, Newton responded, "Yes, I've had the most restful sleep in a long time. However, I must leave now. There are a few matters I need to attend to."

Nodding in understanding, Mr. Norton said, "Alright, son. Make sure to return as soon as you're finished. Also, be cautious of the Lees, our sworn enemies who can be identified by their red attire. Additionally, there are the Beanies and the Bagwells, harmless but toothless individuals. Remember to maintain a low profile, as you're vulnerable to their schemes. However, if you insist on going, exercise caution and always be prepared."

Newton nodded as his father imparted a list of commandments before taking his leave.

Mr. Norton called out, "I love you, son. Remember, you are a Norton!"

As Newton approached the grand gate, Drax called out to him, "Hey, aren't you forgetting something? Where's your vehicle, man? Are you planning to leave your home on foot? Don't forget who you are!"

Smiling, Newton turned to face Drax, explaining, "Drax, I have important matters to attend to, and it's essential for me to maintain a low profile. Cruising around Bayfield in a flashy Koenigsegg doesn't align with that."

Understanding Newton's perspective, Drax nodded and said, "You're right, brotha. You shouldn't be out there unless it's truly significant. Just be vigilant and watch out for the troublesome individuals dressed in red. They can be quite a nuisance!"

"I'll keep that in mind," Newton replied gratefully as he walked away.

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Newton arrived at his former residence after hailing a taxi. He inserted the old-fashioned key into the wooden door and turned it to unlock it.

Pushing the door open, the sight of his old room immediately dampened his mood, transforming his smile into a frown. The place served as a painful reminder of his past life.

The sight of two stools positioned across the table instantly triggered memories of his mother's passing, causing his shoulders to sag. Although he longed for tears to flow, they eluded him.

Suddenly, a loud commotion outside caught his attention. Someone was cursing and violently banging objects on the ground.

Peering through the window, Newton witnessed three men brandishing sticks and ruthlessly destroying everything outside his room. Upon hearing his landlord's profane tirade in the background, he instantly realized the purpose of their presence: eviction.

The door swung open as the three thugs barged in, with the landlord barking orders. "Take that table!" he commanded, directing one of the men.

Addressing the others, he instructed, "You, search for anything else that might be of value!"

Newton stood in shock as the thugs rampaged through the place, paying no heed to his presence.

Suddenly, one of the thugs spotted a necklace and exclaimed, "This must be worth something!" He waved it triumphantly in the air.

Reacting swiftly, Newton rushed toward him, desperately pleading, "Don't take it! It belonged to my mother!" He grabbed hold of the necklace in the thug's hand, fiercely defending its sentimental value.

In response, he was forcefully pushed aside, and the other two thugs commenced their attack, relentlessly striking him with their sticks. The assault persisted until the landlord finally intervened, remarking, "That's enough. The boy must have learned his lesson."

Approaching the sprawled Newton, the landlord grasped his hair, pulling his face closer. "This is mine now. You and your mother owe me two years' rent, and this insignificant trinket doesn't even cover a fraction of your debt," he sneered, scanning the room. "Where is your wretched mother anyway? I haven't seen her since she last made excuses instead of paying what she owed."

Gasping for breath, Newton met the landlord's gaze and defiantly uttered, "She passed away two days ago."

A chilling smile crept across the landlord's face as he callously shoved Newton. "Good to know. One less debtor. At least something positive has occurred on my property since you pests moved in," he remarked callously, striding away.

Infuriated, Newton mustered all his anger and shouted at the departing landlord, "Respect my mother, you bastard! She possessed ten times the integrity you'll ever have!"

Taken aback by Newton's boldness, the landlord motioned for the thugs to continue their assault while he absconded with the necklace.

Unyielding, Newton refused to succumb. He swiftly delivered a powerful kick to the stomach of one of the thugs, causing him to stumble backward and collide with a stool, striking his head.

Dodging the menacing swing of the second thug's cane, Newton swiftly retaliated by elbowing the third thug in the face.

The assailants writhed in agony, preparing to regroup and retaliate against Newton when he swiftly drew one of his golden pistols, pointing it menacingly at the thug closest to him.

As Newton aimed his golden pistol at the landlord, the thug closest to him retreated in fear, raising his hands in surrender. Witnessing this, the other two thugs followed suit, dropping their canes.

With his focus now on the landlord, Newton sternly shouted, "Return that necklace right now or face the consequences. I hope the devil doesn't consider you too vile to share the same roof."

Slowly turning around, the landlord raised his hands, still clutching the necklace tightly. He taunted Newton, "You think you can intimidate me with your toys?" Gradually lowering his hands, he began walking towards Newton.

The thugs, filled with both fear and admiration, looked at their employer in astonishment. They exclaimed, "Don't you know who that is, sir? He's a Nort man, a bloody Nort, you fool!"

Recognizing the dragon-marked weapon in Newton's hand as a symbol of a high-ranking member of the notorious Nort gang, the thugs cowered in the corner, overwhelmed by fear.

Observing the fear in the eyes of these lawless men, the landlord himself began to feel afraid. Locking eyes with Newton and sensing the anger and bitterness reflected in them, he realized that pushing him any further could endanger his own life.

"Newton, my boy, come here," the landlord called out, his voice tinged with apprehension. "There's no need for us to fight like this. I said some harsh words about your mother, so what? Everyone makes mistakes, even you, and you know that." Attempting a smile that came across as disingenuous, he continued, "Alright, here. Take the necklace. I don't want it anyway."

Newton's anger surged even further. Was he receiving an apology for the assault, the insult, or the theft?

Shaking his head in disbelief, Newton reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. Without hesitation, he transferred three thousand dollars to his landlord's account. "There, I've paid you double what I owe. Now I want you and your bunch of goons to leave this place immediately!"

Realizing the gravity of the situation and fearing the repercussions of further provocation, the landlord and his employees hastily scrambled out of Newton's room, obeying his command.