Lilith darted back into the tent, her small fra trembling with excitent.
"Brother, I’m back!" she called out cheerfully.
She eagerly pulled out one and one-third pancakes from her pouch, placing them on the ground.
The two little boys in the tent looked at the pancakes with sparkling eyes. They hadn’t eaten much all day, and hunger gnawed at their stomachs.
But their eldest brother’s expression grew stern.
"Lilith," he said sharply. "Where did these pancakes co from?"
His tone startled her, and she faltered under his intense gaze.
"I... I did so business with a big brother, and he gave them to as a reward," she stamred, looking down.
"Which big brother? What business?"
Before she could explain, he pieced it together.
"Was it the pancake seller who moved here recently?"
Lilith nodded quickly. "Yes! Big Brother said if I brought him custors, he’d give one pancake for every ten custors I brought. I helped him bring several people, so he gave these as my reward."
The boy’s stern expression softened. He sighed and knelt down, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Lilith, I’m sorry for scaring you," he said gently.
"It’s okay, Brother," Lilith replied with a small smile. "I know you’re just worried about ."
"Have you eaten anything, Lilith?"
"I have!" she declared confidently.
But a loud gurgling noise from her stomach betrayed her, and her face turned crimson with embarrassnt.
Without a word, the boy divided the pancakes into four portions.
"Let’s eat," he said.
The two younger boys didn’t wait for further encouragent—they wolfed down their portions like it was a feast.
"Brother," Lilith said between bites, "can I go back tomorrow?"
The boy hesitated. "Of course," he finally said. "But it’s too dangerous for you to go alone. Tomorrow, let your second brother go with you. The third brother and I will figure sothing out, too. Even though Mother is gone, we have to survive."
His voice fird with resolve. "From today onward, we rely on ourselves."
The next morning, Lilith and her second brother, Haji, arrived at Ron’s house.
Ron hadn’t opened his courtyard gate yet, so they sat patiently, waiting.
Half an hour later, the gate creaked open, and Ron stepped out.
"Lilith," he greeted with a nod. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Big Brother!" Lilith bead. "This is my second brother, Haji."
Ron smiled faintly. "The pancakes aren’t ready yet. If you want to bring custors, you’ll have to wait a bit longer."
"That’s fine!" Lilith chirped.
Over ti, Ron beca more familiar with the siblings. Besides Haji, he learned the third brother’s na was Hassan. Their eldest brother, Ralph, had yet to make an appearance, but Ron had heard about him—a protective and eccentric teenager who often kept his distance.
Thanks to Lilith’s efforts, the siblings managed to stave off starvation. Yet their food was limited, and on rainy days, it was almost impossible to earn pancakes.
On one such rainy afternoon, Ron sat with Dominica and Wendy under a makeshift shed. Rainwater dripped through cracks, wetting their clothes, and Wendy shifted uncomfortably.
Suddenly, faint sounds of a scuffle reached Ron’s ears. He perked up, straining to listen.
"That voice... it sounds like Ralph," Ron muttered.
He grabbed a cloak and dashed out into the rain. At the back of his courtyard wall, he peered through a gap.
Ralph was being beaten by two older boys. He was curled up on the ground, protecting his head as they kicked him rcilessly.
Ron hesitated but decided to intervene. He opened the back gate and stepped outside.
Before he could call out, a sharp noise cut through the rain.
Thud.
One of the boys collapsed, clutching his abdon.
The other boy snarled, picking up a stone to strike Ralph, but he froze mid-swing.
Ralph’s right hand had transford into a long, sharp blade that glinted nacingly. With a swift motion, the blade pierced the boy’s throat.
Both attackers fell lifeless to the ground.
Ralph slumped against the wall, panting heavily. His bloodied hand returned to its normal form as he spotted Ron.
"Ron," Ralph said hoarsely, "can you keep this a secret? Pretend you didn’t see anything. Please."
Ron nodded solemnly.
"But," Ron said after a mont, "you’re hurt. If you don’t get treated, you might end up like them. I know a place nearby where you can rest."
Ralph hesitated, then nodded.
"Alright. I’ll trust you," he said.
Ron helped him up and led him to an abandoned site with a small, dry cave.
"Stay here," Ron said. "I’ll bring you food."
When Ron returned with pancakes, Ralph was hiding. Only after seeing Ron was alone did he erge.
"Here," Ron said, handing him the food.
Ralph devoured it eagerly.
"Ralph," Ron began hesitantly, "what happened to your hand earlier?"
Ralph fell silent for a long mont.
Finally, he sighed. "Ron, you’re a good guy. I really wish you hadn’t seen that. But now that you have, I’ll tell you... if you promise to keep this secret."
"I promise," Ron said earnestly.
Ralph raised his right hand. Before Ron’s eyes, it transford again. This ti, an eye and a mouth appeared on the blade-like appendage.
"et Minibus," Ralph said dryly.
Ron’s stomach churned as he recognized the nature of the mutation.
"A parasite," he murmured.
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