An Attack to Mr. Gab

What the heck? I tried calling him out again and again but he's not responding. Ha! It hasn't been two days since I became a peculiar. Don't tell me somebody noticed already?

I pulled a sheet of parchment from the drawer and began writing a response letter to Oliver.

"Hello, Oliver! I received your letter just a while ago. Thanks! I'm doing good and look forward to meeting you and your pet. I wonder what kind of game you're gonna show me. And by the way, if it's not too much of me asking. Can you ask Nero who was the bad guy?

"Jack"

I folded it twice and put it under my pillow. He said his pet, Nero, will come to get it. And on the next day, the letter was gone. I didn't even notice.

"G'morning, Mr. Gab." I greeted him when I saw him by the curb in front of the apartment, a newspaper tucked in his armpit.

"Hmph!" He shot me a look from head to toe. "Where are you headin' again, kid?" he asked with a heavy tone.

"To work?" Where else would I go this early?

He seemed to be dubious of my answer but didn't say anything else and went back to the apartment. I just shook my head and headed to the agency. A grumpy landlord is a daily sight for me.

"G'morning, Mr. Jack!" Adrian greeted. "You're early today but I regret to tell you that we're closing today. Mr. Alec isn't here either."

"Why? Why all of a sudden? What about the others?"

"They already left. It has something to do with that thing at the arena yesterday. I don't really know the details but it wasn't just us. Most of the shops are closing today too."

That thing, huh. I almost forgot about it.

"I see. What about tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure yet. It all depends on Mr. Alec. But I suggest you stay in your place today. The police are doing a widespread investigation. We don't want you getting suspicions now, do we?"

"You're right! Thanks, Adrian. You too, be careful." And with that, I left the agency.

Let's see. What should I do now? Ethan's not here and I don't have anything to do. Should I practice? Well, that's better than doing nothing. And like I decided, I headed back.

The whole place seemed to have turned into a ghost town. Before that incident yesterday, the plaza square would be filled with bustling people of all ages. Kids carrying small baskets filled to the brim with candies that they sell to the people passing by. Musicians playing their instruments in exchange for a few dimi. Business people half-running to their jobs. But now, you cannot see any of that. You'll be lucky to see a person or two.

"Morgiana! Mathias! How many times do I have to tell you not to go outside? Which part of it is hard to understand? What? What did you just say? Don't you dare talk back to me, Mathias. I'm your mother!"

"But mom! We were just checking our cactus. We're not even three meter away from the doorstep—"

"No buts, Morgiana! I told you not to go outside of the house. And a no is a no. Get inside! Now!"

It was Madam Helen. She's scolding her two kids. And yes, she's a mother. I sometimes forget that she's actually a mother of eight because she seemed to have a lot of time to spare for gossiping. She shot me an angry look, raising her brow. "You! What're you lookin' at?"

"N—No. Nothing, Madam Helen," I told her in the most awkward way possible and walked away going to the apartment.

And at that moment, exactly as soon as I turned my back on her, Mr. Gab fell to the ground. He was clutching his face, blood dripping from his forehead to the slits of his fingers and into the ground. He was writhing in pain like a worm soaked in salt — screaming like a pig about to be slaughtered.

"Mr. Gab!"

He pointed his index finger in one direction. No, more like he was pointing to the three teenage males running away. There were glass shards not far away from where he was standing earlier. It's a broken rum bottle. Did they hit him?

I kneeled to his side and pressed my handkerchief to his wound.

"It hurts! It hurts! Stop it. It hurts! Ahhh!"

"Bear with it! I'm tryn'na help."