"Wish I should send them message," Ruby whispered, the words slipping out before she could choke them back.
But they didn’t have a phone.
"Ugh... we really need phones," she thought.
In her mind, she made a note, buy proper communication devices soon.
She stood up again, brushing back a strand of her white hair, her eyes falling on Karl, his cheeks slightly flushed, his fingers picking slowly at the food.
And Jett... eating quietly, carefully, as if he hadn’t had a meal without fear in weeks.
Ruby didn’t say much more.
The morning air was cool as Ruby guided the car through the sky that led back to their village. The sun had only just risen, casting a soft golden hue over the land, and the world felt calmer like it, too, was taking a breath after everything.
Karl sat in the front seat, arms folded but relaxed, his cheek resting against the window as he stared out, still a little sore but much better after a night of rest.
Jett sat quietly in the back, his posture polite and still, hands folded neatly in his lap, green eyes watching the sky roll by through the window.
Ruby was focused on the road, one hand lightly tapping the steering wheel. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable—it was gentle, but eventually she glanced at the mirror and spoke.
"...Where are you from?" she asked, her voice even.
Jett blinked once, then lifted his eyes to meet her gaze in the mirror.
"Kolzz Village," he replied, softly.
Ruby’s fingers stilled for a second.
Of course. That made sense.
The same place where Karl had been taken. The same place she’d stormed into with the officers. A village where beauty could be dangerous, and kindness was often mistaken for weakness.
"Do you want to go back there?"
Jett paused. His hands tightened in his lap.
"...There’s nothing left for me there." He didn’t say it with sadness—just finality.
"Then you’ll stay with us for now," Ruby said simply, eyes still on the road.
Karl peeked sideways at her with a frown. "Wait, wait. Us?"
She just kept driving, her red eyes fixed ahead as the village slowly came into view over the horizon.
As the car stopped near the house, it was as if everyone had been waiting because almost instantly, they all came rushing out.
Julian came running out first, his face pale, his eyes red-rimmed and heavy with dark circles. His hair was a little messy, and his clothes looked like he hadn’t changed since yesterday.
Milo followed quickly, rubbing his eyes, looking equally exhausted. The ghost who loved to sleep clearly hadn’t slept a wink.
Adrian was there too, standing quietly behind them, still wearing the same clothes from the day before. He didn’t go to work. He had been here, waiting. Watching the door. Ready.
Ruby stepped out of the car slowly, but she didn’t have to say anything.
Their eyes were locked on one person, the ghost who had made their hearts ache for days.
Before Karl could even reach for the door, Julian yanked it open and pulled him out in a tight embrace.
His voice cracked as he hugged him fiercely, arms trembling, chest rising and falling with panic that hadn’t yet left his body.
Karl’s lips trembled, and then like a dam breaking, he began to sob loudly, clinging to Julian. He cried into his shoulder, holding him like a lifeline.
"I’m sorry... I’m sorry... I was stupid... I’m sorry..." he kept saying again and again between gasps.
Milo ran over too, wrapping his arms around Karl’s waist and burying his face into his back, holding on tightly as if scared he’d vanish again.
Adrian stood quietly nearby. His arms were crossed, but his usual cool expression had softened.
And though he didn’t speak, his eyes sharp and unreadable were just a little too wet.
Ruby stood to the side, watching them with a tired look in her eyes. She didn’t interrupt.
Karl’s voice cracked as he lifted his head slightly from Julian’s shoulder, tears still streaking down his face.
"Come here too..." he called, his blue eyes glistening as he looked toward Adrian.
"Brother Adi... please..."
Adrian stood there for a heartbeat, unmoving.
But then he exhaled deeply, walked over slowly, and without a word, he joined them.
The four of them held each other tightly.
No words, no explanations.
Just tears, trembling shoulders, and the raw weight of fear and relief finally being shared.
Not far from them, Angeline and her husbands stepped out, drawn by the voices.
A few of the neighbors paused outside their own homes, peeking from doorways and gates, whispering among themselves.
One of them finally asked Ruby gently, "Is he alright now? What happened to him?"
Ruby nodded, arms folded loosely, her eyes still on her husbands.
"He’s safe now," she said simply. "There were... people who tried to take advantage of him. But we stopped them in time."
That was all she said, and that was all anyone needed to know for now.
But then her eyes shifted to the car.
The back door hadn’t opened.
He was still inside, sitting quietly with his hands folded in his lap, head bowed low.
Not daring to step out.
Ruby sighed and walked slowly back to the car.
She opened the door gently and leaned down a little.
"It’s alright now," she said calmly.
"You can come out. No one here will hurt you."
Jett blinked up at her, startled by her voice, his green eyes wide and uncertain. But after a moment, he nodded and slowly, silently stepped out of the car.
The moment Jett stepped out of the car, the air shifted.
He looked even more delicate in daylight, his pale skin glowing softly under the morning sun, his dark hair tousled gently by the breeze, and those wide green eyes filled with quiet uncertainty. He stood a little behind Ruby, not sure where to look or what to do, his hands folded together as if still trying to disappear into the background.
"Ruby... is that your new husband?"
—To be continued...🪄