Help?

Ethan patiently waited until the two men had departed, while keeping a keen eye on his surroundings. Only when he was certain that the coast was clear did he emerge from his hiding spot.

"Brother," Elizabeth called out in a hushed voice, "Who were those men?"

Ethan furrowed his brows, unsure of what to say. Even if he had known, how could he find the right words to comfort her and alleviate her fears after everything they had experienced?

"I... don't know," he replied, rising to his feet. "I can't understand why they would want to kill our family and destroy the whole town."

Unable to tolerate the lingering smoke, Elizabeth stepped out from behind the charred remnants of wood, coughing lightly as she moved away.

"I overheard the scarred man mention that our family possessed some kind of object," she said, awaiting her brother's response.

"Yes, but even if they have found the object, they still plan to destroy the entire town. You see," Ethan picked up a stick from the ground, "That's what I saw in their eyes: wickedness and pure evil. They didn't show any remorse for their actions."

"The chubby man actually said—"

Ethan abruptly snapped the stick in his hands, his anger evident in his eyes as he groaned, "He didn't care either!"

"Huh?"

"He didn't care at all. Those greedy eyes... he was... he was even worse than the scarred man! Worse."

Elizabeth was taken aback and confused. She had never seen her brother in such a state. While her mind was shattered and her heart filled with pain, it seemed that he had taken it to an even deeper level.

"Let's talk about something else, please," Elizabeth pleaded, attempting to change the subject about the men. "I don't even know what we should do now."

Ethan paused, his thoughts interrupted by his sister's words. She was right. He didn't know what to do next, especially when everything they had was gone.

"Well, first," he began, formulating a plan, "let's focus on how we can survive, and maybe then—"

"What about our relatives?"

Ethan's frown deepened at the mention of their relatives. "Our relatives?"

"Yes! Aunt Pamela, Roseline, Uncle Mike, John, Lucas, and Robert!" Elizabeth counted them off with a wide smile. "They always visit us, and I'm sure they can help, right?"

Ethan's frown persisted as he observed her smile. He wasn't sure about going to "beg" their aunt and uncles for help. He knew that their true colors might be revealed along with their true attitudes, especially now that they were vulnerable to almost anything and without the protection they once had. However, trying couldn't hurt either.

"Alright," he whispered. "But... Aunt Pamela lives quite far—"

"Then we can seek help from our uncles. They would surely know what to do," Elizabeth interjected.

Before she could finish her sentence, the continuous rumbling of thunder indicated an approaching heavy rainstorm. Without delay, raindrops began to fall, gradually intensifying into a downpour.

"We need to find shelter quickly before the rain becomes even heavier," Ethan declared to his sister, who nodded in agreement.

"And that shelter would be Uncle John's house, right?" Elizabeth inquired, to which Ethan reluctantly nodded. He was unsure about seeking help from someone who had always displayed a selfish demeanor.

Holding his sister's hand tightly, Ethan darted away from the burning town. He knew the men responsible for their ordeal had long departed, as evident from the muddy tire tracks he noticed on the ground.

Before leaving the town behind, he cast a sorrowful glance over his shoulder, tears streaming down his face as he whispered, "Rest in peace."

Elizabeth mirrored his actions, her heart weighed down by the coldness and longing for warmth.

"Just a little longer... Just a little more time. We'll reach Uncle John's house soon. Just a little longer," Ethan reassured himself, though deep concern filled his mind as he observed his sister's condition.

Elizabeth had always been prone to allergies, particularly in cold weather. It was a known fact among everyone. Winter outings were forbidden for her, and she could only watch from the window, yearning for the freedom she couldn't experience due to her condition.

"Achoo!" Elizabeth sneezed, causing Ethan to realize that her allergy had likely progressed to a more severe stage. He immediately halted their progress.

"Take... Take my long sleeve shirt. If you don't stay warm, you might get sick and it could be life-threatening," he offered, removing his shirt despite the fact that his own trousers were soaked and the chilly breeze could potentially make him fall ill as well.

"But what about you?" she questioned, observing her brother's shirtless state and noting his damp trousers. Concern filled her eyes.

"Forget about me!" Ethan declared firmly. "I might catch a cold, but your condition could worsen and become critical. And more importantly, you could even lose your life. I don't want that to happen, especially when you're the only family I have left. So please, let's keep going. Uncle John's house is not far now. We can find refuge there, dry ourselves, eat, and rest. Then, we'll explain everything that has happened to him."

Elizabeth nodded, a sad expression on her face. Even if she tried to return his shirt, she knew he wouldn't accept it. Her brother was determined to keep her alive, even if it meant sacrificing himself. So, she tightly grasped his hand and gazed ahead, enduring the relentless rainstorm that showed no signs of relenting.

Together, they ventured forth, seeking help from the relatives they still considered family. Little did they know that this journey would not be as straightforward as they had hoped.

_____

The heavy rain continued to pour, accompanied by frequent flashes of lightning that illuminated the area.

In a narrow alleyway, the lightning intensified, revealing two siblings seeking shelter amidst a makeshift structure constructed from scattered trash cans.

"Brother, I'm hungry," the girl remarked, noticing the distant look in her brother's eyes. "Brother! Ethan!"

"Huh?" He snapped back to reality.

"I'm hungry," her stomach growled, a clear indication of her need for food.

"Oh!" He moved away cautiously, so as not to disrupt the precarious shelter they had constructed with the stacked trash cans and makeshift coverings. The cans were positioned upside down and secured together with a covering to provide some stability. "Let me find some food—"

"Please be careful!"

"I will, Elizabeth."

"Alright."

.

Ethan ventured down the street, his face downturned and a shadow of darkness clouding his eyes. For the first time, he witnessed the true colors of his uncle and aunt, their genuine attitudes revealed as soon as they heard the news of their brother's death.