Chapter 7: The Deal with the Evil
Morning had long given way to the harsh light of midday by the time Adélard and Leon made their way back to the rickety little shack they called home. Their small flat seemed even emptier without their mother's presence, her absence like a gaping hole that no amount of sunlight streaming through the dusty window could fill.
Adélard barely spoke as they slipped inside, his mind still churning with everything that Rourke had told them. Leon watched his brother's face, trying to gauge what he was thinking, but Adélard's expression was closed off, his eyes hard as he glanced around the tiny room.
"You need to get some sleep," Adélard said quietly, finally breaking the silence. "We have to be ready by morning."
Leon frowned, hugging himself tightly as he stood in the center of the room. "But… what if something happens to her while we're here? What if we're wasting time?"
Adélard shook his head, kneeling down to be eye-level with his brother. "Nothing's going to happen, Leon. Rourke won't hurt her—he needs us to do the job first. He's not a good man, but he's not stupid."
Leon bit his lip, hesitating. "But what if—"
"No 'what ifs,'" Adélard interrupted gently, reaching out to ruffle Leon's hair. "We need to stay strong, okay? For her. And for each other. We can't afford to fall apart now."
Leon swallowed, nodding slowly. He didn't like it, but he trusted Adélard. He always had. So, if his brother said they were safe for now, he would believe it.
"Okay," he murmured. "I'll try to sleep."
Adélard smiled faintly, but there was a shadow in his eyes. "Good. I'll be right here if you need me."
Leon moved toward their small mattress in the corner, curling up as best he could. He tried to close his eyes, tried to focus on breathing slowly like his mother used to teach him when he was scared. But his mind was spinning, questions and worries tangling together until he could hardly tell one thought from the next.
What kind of delivery was Rourke expecting them to make? Why couldn't he just do it himself? And most importantly—what had their mother gotten herself into? What had made her so desperate that she would take on a job from a man like that?
He squeezed his eyes shut, biting back the fear and the uncertainty. They'd find her. They had to.
Adélard stayed up, watching over Leon as he finally drifted off. His brother's soft, even breathing filled the silence, a small comfort amidst the chaos of his thoughts. But Adélard couldn't sleep. He didn't dare.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward the narrow window, staring out at the distant glow of the city lights. His mind raced, turning over every word Rourke had said, every warning and veiled threat.
One wrong move, and they'd lose her forever.
Adélard clenched his fists, a steely resolve hardening in his chest. No matter what Rourke threw at them, no matter how dangerous this job was, they'd do it. He wouldn't let Leon get hurt. He wouldn't let his family fall apart—not like this.
Morning came too quickly, the pale light filtering through the window signaling the start of another day. Leon stirred beside him, blinking sleepily up at his brother.
"Did you sleep at all?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
Adélard shook his head. "Didn't need to," he said softly. "But you—at least you got some rest. That's what matters."
Leon frowned, worry etched across his small face. "You can't keep doing this, Adélard. You can't take it all on yourself."
Adélard smiled faintly. "I'm your big brother. It's my job, remember?"
Leon huffed, but there was no real heat behind it. "Just… don't forget I'm here too, okay? We're in this together."
Adélard's smile widened, just a fraction. "I know, Leon. I know."
They didn't have long to wait. Just as the sun crested the horizon, casting a pale glow across the rooftops, a sharp knock echoed through the door. Leon jumped, scrambling up from the mattress as Adélard stood, his posture tense and alert.
"Stay behind me," Adélard murmured, moving toward the door.
He opened it cautiously, half-expecting to find Rourke's thugs waiting to drag them away. But instead, a small boy stood on their doorstep, no older than Leon, with wild brown hair and a nervous expression.
"You Adélard?" the boy asked, his voice wavering slightly.
Adélard nodded, frowning. "Who wants to know?"
The boy swallowed, holding out a small, neatly wrapped package. It was no bigger than a book, tied with coarse string and wrapped in brown paper. "Rourke sent me. Said to give you this and the address. Said you'd know what to do."
Adélard took the package carefully, his gaze never leaving the boy's face. "What's in it?"
The boy shook his head quickly. "D-don't know. I just deliver stuff. But Rourke… he said it was important."
Adélard's frown deepened, but he nodded. "Alright. Thanks."
The boy lingered, shifting nervously. "You… you're gonna do it, right? Make the delivery?"
Adélard glanced down at the package, his expression hardening. "Yeah. We'll do it."
The boy sighed in relief, taking a step back. "Good. 'Cause if you don't… Rourke, he—"
"We'll do it," Adélard repeated firmly. "Just go. Tell him we're on our way."
The boy nodded quickly, turning and darting off down the street. Leon watched him go, then looked up at his brother, his heart pounding.
"Brother, what do you think is inside?"
Adélard stared at the package, his jaw clenched. "I don't know," he murmured. "But whatever it is… we're about to find out."
With that, he tucked the package under his arm, grabbing Leon's hand once more.
"Come on," he said quietly, determination burning in his eyes. "Let's go find out what we're dealing with."
And with that, they stepped out into the morning, ready to face whatever awaited them.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone