Chapter 17 Ch 15: The Orphanage [Pt1]

“I did what I could for the kid so I hope you are happy Jack. but despite my best wishes, I don’t think the kid will survive for long if you keep dragging him around like this. His body is too torn up for a kid his age.”

Never before had Doctor Heals seen a worse case of mental and physical exhaustion in someone who was not trained to take it.

Not only had the kid broken bones and bruised ribs, but he had also taken a pain-numbing potion and made his condition worse. It was a miracle that the kid made it back alive and sane.

“You worry too much Old man. This kid may look fragile but he’s a tough cookie to crack. He’ll be up and running before you know it.”

“Only because I patched the kid up.” sigh “I can see that nothing I will say can convince you otherwise so I will save my breath. Now get your butt out of my office before you are tracked down.”

Old man Rancher was interested in the kid. But his curiosity did not outweigh his instinct to survive and live a free life.

It was dangerous to interact with a man like Jack Hollow but the old doctor also knew he had no other choice. It was impossible to hide from Jack Hollow’s eyes.

“Well, thanks for the help, old man. Oh, can you also give a mild pain-numbing potion to the kid? I cannot have him showing an uncomfortable expression today.”

A normal doctor would have preached about ethics and refused to give this kid another numbing potion.

Not only were they bad for mental health but they also stunned physical development. It would not be the best option available for this kid to get a potion in his current condition.

That was what the old doctor thought in his mind even as he prepared a small bottle and emptied it into the kid’s unconscious mouth.

“Thanks, old man. I will make sure to keep your secret and protect this little place of yours. Although, it would be nice if a talented doctor like you returned as well.”

“I’ve heard enough of you, Jack Hollow. You got what you wanted so scam now. Never let me see your face again.”

Jack picked up Horas’s body and left the small establishment. He knew that Horas would heal in a few hours and that was just enough time for them to reach their final destination - the facility he had left Howard Spencer in.

…………………

Horas felt his body ache when he woke up but it was a dull ache. His limbs did not feel a part of his body and it was easy to move around.

“Don’t push your luck kid. I had the good doctor give you painkillers but it’ll take some time for you to heal. But man, you created a mess for yourself. You ended up disappearing on me and then even got hurt. You don’t know how disappointed I am in you.”

Horas wanted to give Jack the middle finger but he held himself back.

“Are we there yet? I don’t think I can move my body.”

Horas complained as he tried and failed to move his arm around. The numbness was a gift since Horas could not move around a lot right now. It reduced the pain he felt.

What was worse? Jack Hollow was currently trying to emotionally manipulate Horas into accepting him as a reliable guardian. The ‘I’m so disappointed’ card would have worked on a normal child.

‘Then again, I have no one to tell all this to. People will start looking into my business if I complain too much.”

“Kid, we are finally here. You should be able to move around in a few minutes as well. Now, remember what we talked about before and everything will be alright. You just need to believe in me.”

‘Yeah right. I have no intention of believing you in my life. Why did I write you to be like this?’

After nearly four hours of struggle, Yohan was finally able to move around a little bit. The pain was non-existing as well which meant that the potion had finally started kicking in.

Jack noticed Horas relax and then he pounced on the kid.

“Alright, looks like you have recovered enough to get out of the car and finally meet your brother. But make sure to be mindful of your injuries.”

Jack Hollow opened the side door and Horas hurried out. He did not feel safe being in the same space as Jack Hollow and his cunning ass.

The elder man went up to the modest-looking house and knocked on the door. They waited a while before a gentle-looking woman opened the door.

“Hello, who is there? O-Oh, Mr. Hollow, you are back so soon? Are you here to check up on your charge?”

The kind and gentle woman held the door open in an inviting manner which Jack seemed to be used to. And then her eyes moved over to Horas and the woman flinched. She looked uncomfortable to see Horas there.

“Don’t worry Julie, I am not here to dump another kid on your orphanage when I know you are struggling financially. This is Horas here, Howard’s elder brother. He’s just here for a visit.”

Juile still looked uncomfortable standing in front of Jack but her manner eased just a little bit once she learned that Yohan was not here to stay.

The orphanage looked nice and clean from the outside but Horas had written it as a somewhat horrible place for kids. There was a lack of funding for this place most of the time and children were in and out all the time.

Howard had gotten somewhat lucky to be adopted by this gentle Julie but she had not lasted long. That had been the second tragedy of little Howard’s life.

“O-Oh, Howard’s brother? Then, are you here to take the kid away?”

Juile sounded disappointed. It seems that she had already gotten attached to the kid she had been caring for.

“Sorry Julie, but that won’t be possible right now. I’m afraid that you are stuck with the kid for some time more.”

Julie looked relieved and then embarrassed to be relieved. She quickly turned her back to not show her reaction but Horas had noticed her panic.

“I-I will go and bring Howard here. You all can wait around here for a bit?”

Julie hurriedly made her way out to not embarrass herself further. Her flushed face was turning paler as she considered what she had almost done and how she had behaved.

“She’s a charming woman, right? Looks like Juile had been charmed by your younger brother.”

Horas looked at Jack with a deadpan expression. He did not like the implications of Jack’s words, even if they were beyond innocent right now. Anything could sound dirty if you put your mind to it.

‘No, don’t think about it. I do not need those images in my mind.’

Well, Horas might have made it seem like Howard had a little crush on Julie in the original book but Julie had also been killed off pretty early. Now seeing the same person in front of him rushing around was surreal.

“...”

“What’s wrong Horas? Did you have a little crush on Lady Julie as well? But you should not because Julie is too old for you.”

Jack tried to invoke more emotions from Horas but he remained calm. He did not show it on his face that he was getting annoyed with Jack Hollow.

And just when Jack decided to annoy Horas by touching his cheek, Julie came back with Spencer in her hands and Jack rightened himself.

“You are lucky that Howard is awake right now. I am glad you are here because Howard seemed to have missed you a lot.”

Julie presented Howard to Horas and he hesitated in reaching out. He did not know how to handle children and Horas was also small right now. There was a real chance that he might drop the baby.

Julie understood Horas’s hesitation and patted the seat at her side for Horas to sit. Horas hesitated before he took the seat and Howard was placed in his arms.

“You know, I was so surprised when I saw Howard for the first time. He’s a well-behaved kid but he never fusses and behaved like a kid. Look, even now he recognized his brother’s face.”

Julie pointed out and Horas looked down as well. It did seem like Howard was reaching out toward his face. The eyes on Howard’s lovely face looked as if he recognized Howard.

‘No, I am reading too much into it. No matter how brilliant Howard is, I should not think too much about a kid’s actions. Howard is one year old.’

Horas reminded himself but his instincts were telling him that he was wrong. Howard was reaching out to him all this while.

“B…ro…dhe…r”

“O-Oh my! Howard spoke another word. He’s brilliant, don’t you think so?”

Horas wanted to pull his hand back but there was frozen solid. Howard’s eyes glared at him in recognition. Recognition no one-year-old should have had. Was this some kind of cheat that was at work here? What should Horas do now?