In the street, little Jevan was walking beside Marco. The comfortless air, mixed with the stench of garbage, entered little Jevan’s nose. He didn’t say a word, while Marco never stopped talking.
"Did you know? Once, Yara told a story about a brave knight who fought many monsters to protect his kingdom, but that book fell into the fire and burned. Did you know? Once, I was playing cards with Valera, but a cat sohow got inside and ruined the ga. And another ti, Valera and I cooked so food, but Valeric dropped it on the floor by accident while running away from Yara..."
Marco went on like that with great enthusiasm, while little Jevan regretted the mont he asked Marco to walk with him.
He kept glancing at the ground from ti to ti, counting the pieces of trash passing in front of him. As for older Jevan, who was walking beside them, he was the complete opposite he was actually enjoying listening to those little stories.
When in the present, he would certainly never enjoy such things, but when he was in ghost form near little Jevan, these worthless stories sohow beca entertaining.
From a distance, Vensen and Jax were following them, hiding behind street corners and buildings, trying to watch little Jevan and Marco without being noticed. Jax asked as he walked behind Vensen near a building:
"Why are we following them?"
Vensen replied, his eyes fixed on the boys:
"We have to make sure that kid stays safe. Do you know what happens when you get close to the witch’s informant?"
"I know, but I an, they seem fine so far."
The mont he said that, just a few ters away, a cat was fleeing from a group of stray dogs, leaping from one wooden crate to another. It was about to dart straight toward little Jevan.
Vensen picked up a small stone from the ground and threw it in its direction. The stone bounced off the wall, startling the cat and forcing it to change course.
Jax turned to Vensen.
"I think you’re right. But why this sudden concern?"
"It’s gotten boring playing Witch’s Court with just the two of us."
Jax nodded seriously.
"Alright, I agree with you on that."
little Jevan and Marco continued walking without realizing what had just happened behind them. little Jevan was trying to find a way to silence Marco.
He lifted his eyes to the sky, which was hazy because of the factory smoke.
"I think we should head back now, it’s getting late."
"Do we really have to?"
"Yes, of course. You don’t want to make that lady angry, do you?"
Marco scratched the back of his neck as he answered.
"I guess not."
little Jevan spun around in place, looking at the tangled alleys he had no idea where he was.
"Do you know how to get back?"
"No, I’m no good at rembering directions."
Jevan turned his head around the area. The tall, leaning buildings looked as if they could collapse on them at any mont. At that instant, Jevan realized he was truly lost. He wasn’t the type who often strayed far from his ho in the Eighth District. He turned to older Jevan as if asking him for directions, but older Jevan was in the sa situation.
Vensen and Jax were still watching little Jevan and Marco from afar as the two wandered around the sa street. Vensen placed his hand on a low stone fence while Jax pressed himself against the wall.
Jax asked while observing their movents:
"What are they doing?"
Vensen replied:
"I think they’re lost."
"Should we help them?"
"Wait a little, maybe they’ll find their way back on their own."
Minutes passed, then turned into a full hour, as they watched little Jevan and Marco circle around the sa street over and over again. Finally, they managed to leave that street. But instead of returning toward the building, they headed in the opposite direction.
Vensen sighed in boredom.
"Alright, that’s enough. I’m tired of watching."
Jax turned to him and asked, pointing his head toward the boys:
"Should we help them now?"
Vensen adjusted the collar of his coat and answered:
"Yes, before they leave the city limits."
Jax and Vensen moved toward them. little Jevan noticed the sound of footsteps and turned to them.
"What are you doing here?"
Jax stamred:
"We were following yo.."
Vensen quickly elbowed him in the shoulder and interrupted, speaking with a forced calmness:
"We were just wandering, and happened to see you."
little Jevan looked at them skeptically but didn’t comnt.
"We’re lost. Do you know the way back?"
He wanted to return quickly; the sun was already disappearing behind the buildings. He didn’t want to anger that witch again. The thought of her turning him into a frog flashed through his mind, and he shivered.
Vensen answered with confidence:
"Of course. Just follow ."
little Jevan, Marco, and Jax walked behind Vensen. But instead of leading them back to the house, Vensen only made them more lost.
Jevan asked as he moved closer to him:
"Are you sure you know the way?"
Vensen replied without looking back:
"Yes, I do."
"Then why is this the tenth ti we’ve passed this place?"
"You’re just imagining things."
Jevan pointed to a sign on a wooden shop:
"No, we’ve passed this sign ten tis."
Vensen stopped and looked at the sign for a mont. Then he scratched the back of his head, turned to Jax, and pointed at him.
"This is Jax’s fault."
Jax shouted:
"My fault?! No, it’s your fault. You’re the one who suggested following that cursed boy in the first place!"
Silence fell after Jax’s words. little Jevan looked at Jax, then at Vensen. Inside, he wished they were talking about him. But when he turned to Marco, he saw the smile vanish from his face, tears glistening in his small eyes.
Jevan reached out his hand toward him to stop him, but Marco ran off quickly before his hand could reach. little Jevan stood frozen in place, his hand still hanging in the air, staring at the spot where Marco had just been. anwhile, Vensen and Jax exchanged quick glances, each trying to avoid the other.
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