Seeing Eduardo cook in the kitchen with a knife in his hand, cutting tofu and slicing vegetables. Caleb looks at his supposed little sister and mother humming beside her. 'Goddamn, she sleeps like a log.'
Caleb walks past the two of them and looks at Eduardo's broad shoulders. He knew that this kind of physique could exert terrifying strength. After all, Eduardo worked heavy labor type of jobs all his life, such as farming.
In front of Caleb, near a worn-out yet functioning chimney, there's a mirror etched on just on top of the mouth where one was supposed to place coals. As for why there's a chimney when the family didn't look well off to afford one, it can only be said a matter of priority. In this damned freezing place, he found himself in, the importance of the chimney in every house was evident.
Even the poor have their own ways to build one for themselves. It's not a matter of wants but of necessity.
Caleb shifted his gaze from the mirror to the fiery flame just below it. The warmth of the flame caressed his young face. Then Caleb curiously looked at his reflection in the mirror.
'Not bad. So this is the face that I will grow up with. Seems promising.' In the mirror, a young boy with thick eyelashes, brown eyes that faintly reflect the orange hue of flame, somewhat chubby cheeks, black hair, a small pointed nose, and good facial harmony.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
A sudden forceful knock at the door echoed three times, which made Caleb flinched a little. With a frown on his face, Caleb faced the direction of the thick door.
"Bastard! Open the fucking door!!"
"Eduardo, it's time to pay. The boss won't tolerate a deserter like you!" A second voice followed with a threatening intent behind the words. "We have scoured the entire kingdom for years just to search for you!"
"If you don't open it, I'll kill you and your family, slowly and painfully, hahaha!" The threat was followed by a weird laugh that would make any listeners cold.
"T-this..." A trace of hesitation appeared on Caleb's face. 'It doesn't seem to be something good. Did their past come to hunt them? Me and my damned luck!'
As someone who took the beating of society and read a lot of dramas, it didn't take a genius to guess that shit was about to go bad.
"Not good!" Erica immediately carried Patricia and went beside Caleb. "Take care of your sister."
'What am I supposed to do with my meager strength?' Caleb cursed.
"My boy, I didn't know you had it in you." Eduardo suddenly appeared behind Caleb. "You would certainly grow into a wise man in the future."
Eduardo's eyes were fixed on the chimney and the traces of ashes inside. "Now hide, don't come out, no matter what happens. No matter what sounds you hear. Take care of Patricia for me, okay?"
"I will..." Caleb eyed Eduardo, his eyes brimming with confidence. Yet inwardly, 'Fuck all this!'
Caleb pulled Patricia beside him. "Listen to me, okay?"
"Brotha, w- wh..."
"Don't ask questions!" Caleb gestured to his sister to follow him. His small body easily passed through the mouth of the chimney. The lingering smell of burnt wood assaulted his nose as his left foot stepped inside the chimney.
Behind Caleb, Patricia followed obediently, her hands trembling slightly. No matter how stupid a child is, one would still realize when something is wrong. Patricia turns around once more and looks hesitantly at her mother.
"Go, sweetie, everything is gonna be alright." Erica gave Patricia the last smile she could give to assure her. She tried her best to hold back the tears that threatened to burst out from her eyes.
Just like that, Patricia proceeded, her small body perfectly fitted inside, and took the space on her brother's left side. Caleb didn't say anything or even try to offer a word of assurance to Patricia. He was in his zone. He just wants to survive the whole ordeal, no matter how small it might seem.
After all, he had just experienced death. 'Damn! I don't want to die again! Who knew if I would be lucky enough to reincarnate again? Or at least I need to do one last good deed to increase my chances of getting a ticket to heaven.' Caleb glanced at Patricia as he thought of this.
With that, Caleb pulled the empty bucket to cover the mouth of the chimney.