09-11-2026, 01:21 PM
The tension was thick. The kid’s eyes gave away his fear, but also that the kid didn’t want to attack Olivier. He was on edge. Whatever had taken a wall out of the house had spooked him quite a bit. A sound grabbed both of their attentions. ”Is it gone? Are mama and papa back.” a boy, several years younger than the one with the staff. Two more kids, a boy and a girl followed. The girl was the youngest - maybe five or six, one boy looked a little older - maybe eight - and the one who had led them up was about twelve.
”Go back downstairs - it’s not safe here.” the eldest said.
”Who’s he?” the girl said, looking at him curiously. ”Where’s mama?”
The kid with the staff sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, but Olivier also noticed that his breathing quickened. Scared and stressed. Olivier looked around the room, seeing signs that helped him put a picture together. There were holes in the wall. A semi-automatic pistol lay on the ground, the slide locked open showing it was empty. The broken stock of a rifle also lay on the ground. And blood. There was blood.
“Is it gone” and “are mama and papa back” made more sense now. Someone - or something - had taken the children’s parents and they weren’t coming back. These kids couldn’t stay here. The house was falling apart and it was going to snow - hard. It was already starting.
”You can’t stay here,” Olivier said to the young man. ”this place is going to collapse, it’s cold. I can take you all to the city - we can get help for you there.”
”How do I know I can trust you?” his eyes turned to Olivier.
It was Olivier’s turn to pinch the bridge of his nose. ”You don’t, but you also don’t have a choice.”
He grimaced, but saw that it was true and turned to his siblings. ”Get some bags - pack up necessities. We’re leaving.”
”but what about mama and papa?” the little girl said.
”Later - Alicia - well talk about it later.”
The girl’s lip quivered a bit but she let the matter drop as the kids began to pack food and other items into bags. Olivier looked outside. The snowfall was increasing. Time was short.
”Go back downstairs - it’s not safe here.” the eldest said.
”Who’s he?” the girl said, looking at him curiously. ”Where’s mama?”
The kid with the staff sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, but Olivier also noticed that his breathing quickened. Scared and stressed. Olivier looked around the room, seeing signs that helped him put a picture together. There were holes in the wall. A semi-automatic pistol lay on the ground, the slide locked open showing it was empty. The broken stock of a rifle also lay on the ground. And blood. There was blood.
“Is it gone” and “are mama and papa back” made more sense now. Someone - or something - had taken the children’s parents and they weren’t coming back. These kids couldn’t stay here. The house was falling apart and it was going to snow - hard. It was already starting.
”You can’t stay here,” Olivier said to the young man. ”this place is going to collapse, it’s cold. I can take you all to the city - we can get help for you there.”
”How do I know I can trust you?” his eyes turned to Olivier.
It was Olivier’s turn to pinch the bridge of his nose. ”You don’t, but you also don’t have a choice.”
He grimaced, but saw that it was true and turned to his siblings. ”Get some bags - pack up necessities. We’re leaving.”
”but what about mama and papa?” the little girl said.
”Later - Alicia - well talk about it later.”
The girl’s lip quivered a bit but she let the matter drop as the kids began to pack food and other items into bags. Olivier looked outside. The snowfall was increasing. Time was short.