ROWLAND (From Ruin to Rule)

Chapter 4: The Journey Back

“You animal, get off the road!” A driver nearly brought Rowland down while traveling at a high speed.

As Rowland walked on the wet sidewalk, the last words of Mr. Jones continued to echo in his mind. He had been thrown back into the streets, just as Grandpa Jones had discovered him years before, abandoned, hopeless, and with nowhere to turn. 

The city drenched in rain appeared to ridicule his suffering, with the lights illuminating the tall buildings above him like icy, heartless eyes.

"I am sorry, I did not see your car approaching." Rowland responded.

However, the driver was less concerned with his explanation. "If you want to die, go somewhere else."

With hopelessness weighing every step he took, his mind raced. Now, where could he go? The moment his luck changed, the people he had once considered friends abandoned him.

In an attempt to track down an old friend, he went up to a small corner store, but the owner just gave him a scowl and shook his head.

"Rowland, we do not wish for trouble here. Just leave."

Rowland swallowed hard, attempting to push back the wave of shame. He tried two more locations, including a run-down motel, and received the same cold reception. "Please go, you have no place here. Please leave."

An old tenement building that had provided him with refuge in the past. However, it appeared that kindness had run out for him even in the streets. He stumbled toward the bridge, wet, exhausted, and with nowhere else to go.

The city's noise died down to a low rumble beneath the bridge. Rowland discovered a dry spot near one of the support columns, which was hidden from view. The wind was sharp and chilly, and his clothes felt like an unwanted second skin. 

He huddled down, drawing his knees close to his chest in an attempt to conserve what little warmth he still had.

He tried to ignore the sound of cars passing overhead by closing his eyes. Every now and then a pedestrian would shout or a horn would blare, breaking the din of engines. The city itself seemed to be mocking him and bringing all of his losses back to mind.

Suddenly, he saw Lisa, Amaya’s cousin. 

"Is that not Lisa?" In a quiet voice, he asked himself. She was staring across the street at a sleek black sports car with longing eyes. The polished surface of the car reflected the streetlights, making it shine even in the low light.

Lisa came to a halt and observed the vehicle from a distance. 

"Amaya could have this car if she would just accept Mr. Clinton and get over that poor Rowland." She smiled wistfully to herself and murmured. After giving the car one last look, she turned and drove away.

Rowland watched her go, her words still resonating in his thoughts. He knew Mr. Clinton, a wealthy businessman with a track record of getting what he wanted. Rowland had a twinge of fear and jealousy. Was that what Amaya had been dealing with behind his back?

The sound of the car's engine roared through his thoughts. It accelerated, moving slowly in his direction. Uncomfortably, Rowland moved away from the light and into the shadows. He had no desire for additional trouble.

But the car decelerated, and it halted as it approached the underpass. With caution, Rowland observed as the doors opened and three men emerged. Their expressions were respectful but serious, and they were wearing sharp, spotless suits. They moved with quiet confidence, as if they knew they were in command.

The men approached Rowland directly and stopped a few feet away, much to his surprise. Then, one by one, they bowed low to his complete confusion.

"Master," the first man replied, his voice calm and clear. "We have been looking for you."

Rowland blinked, his thoughts whirling. That word again, "Master." It was something he had heard on the hospital card before. 

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The other man, a little older and with graying temples, moved up. "We are representing the House of Fence. Those are my colleagues, Daniel and Marcus, and my name is Edward. We have orders to get you home, Master."

"Home?" With a look of bewilderment, Rowland repeated. "I do not get it. I am homeless."

Edward straightened, his face firm but respectful. "Master Rowland, there is a lot you need to know. We have been keeping an eye on you and your place for a considerable amount of time. We are here to carry out the orders of your parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fence."

"My Parents?" Rowland's heartbeat quickened. He had no idea who his real family was. Grandpa Jones discovered him wandering the streets as a child and took him in. He had long since buried the thought that there was more to his past.

"Yes," Edward answered, "we also came to the hospital to give the doctor a card so you can call us whenever you are ready and willing for us to come get you at home. But your call never came through.”

Attempting to comprehend the magnitude of Edward's words, Rowland shook his head. "So, you were also the ones who paid the bills?"

"Yes, Master."

At that moment, Rowland's expression changed, showing that he was angry with the men.

"Why now?" he questioned, his voice tense with shock. "Why did it not happen earlier?"

Edward glanced at Daniel and Marcus and then started talking. "The situation is not simple. You can only receive an explanation from your mother and father."

Rowland's gaze grew strained. "What if I am not interested in going with you?"

Daniel moved forward, his face genuine. "Master Rowland, we recognize your reluctance, but we need your confidence. If you join us, you will discover everything about your true heritage and why you were abandoned on the streets. There is far more at stake than you realize."

Rowland said nothing, his thoughts racing with different feelings. He took another look at the three men. Instead of coming across as intimidating, they seemed sincere. And that word, Master, it pulled at a memory that was just out of reach, something deep inside of him.

At last, he reluctantly nodded. "Okay, I will come with you. But if this is some kind of trick…”

Edward gave a weak smile. "Master Rowland, no tricks. Just the facts. And I guarantee, once you hear them, your life will never be the same."