Lost and Found

Three days had passed since the fight, and the cottage still looked damaged. Logan and Rufus worked hard to fix the broken ceiling and patch up the walls. The sounds of their repairs mixed with the gentle rustling of leaves outside, creating a strange calm after the recent chaos. Logan couldn't stop thinking about what had happened.

___

After they had treated Rufus's injuries, Harris had quietly walked outside and sat on a bench, a little distance away from the house. He seemed deep in thought, worry etched into his face.

Harris pulled out a fancy-looking cigarette from his pocket and lit it. He took a few puffs, the smoke swirling around him as he stared into the distance.

After a few minutes, Logan walked out of the house as he made his way to the bench and sat next to Harris. Harris glanced at him, his eyes tired but sharp. Without speaking, he offered Logan a cigarette.

Logan shook his head, raising his hand. "No thanks. I quit smoking a long time ago."

Harris nodded and put the cigarette back into his pocket. They sat in silence, the only sound the faint crackle of Harris's burning cigarette and the distant chirping of crickets as the evening settled in.

Finally, Harris broke the silence. He blew out a thick cloud of smoke and said, "Based on what Rufus told me when I was treating him, it seems you can see the Abductor."

Logan frowned, confused. "The Abductor? What's that?"

Harris turned to look at him, his expression serious. "The monster you fought... it's called the Abductor. It's one of many creatures that have been causing trouble for a long time. They all aim to steal souls and corrupt them for their own purposes."

Logan's tried to process this new information. The term "Abductor" sounded menacing, and knowing it had a purpose made it even more frightening. Before Logan could ask more questions, Harris continued.

"I'll tell you more details after I report what happened here to the capital," Harris said, his tone firm. "When I return, I might be able to take you with me. There are people there who can explain things better than I can."

With that, Harris stood up and headed back towards the house. Just before he reached the door, he turned back to Logan and asked, "By the way, I never quite got your name."

Logan offered a slight smile, trying to lighten the heavy mood. "It's Logan. Logan Sullivan."

Harris smiled back, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Logan, huh? I used to work with a partner named Logan. But he died on one of our missions."

Without another word, Harris went back inside the house. Logan stayed outside a bit longer, gazing up at the weird stars that dotted the night sky. They seemed closer than usual, almost as if they were trying to communicate something to him. After a few minutes of pondering, Logan got up and went inside as well.

___

In the morning, the sun cast a warm, golden glow over the cottage. Logan and Rufus resumed their repairs, the sounds of their work filling the quiet air. As Logan hammered away at a stubborn nail, Rufus sighed and straightened up, rubbing his lower back.

"I think I need a break," Rufus said, wincing slightly. "My back is aching like crazy."

Logan looked over, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Rest up, Rufus. Fixing this place won't be much harder for me alone."

Rufus chuckled and slowly made his way to a nearby tree, easing himself down onto the grass. He took a few deep breaths, savoring the cool shade. "You know, getting old is like a bad prank, your mind says you can do it, but your body's already on vacation."

Logan laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, I hear you. It's like the muscles are in denial about their retirement."

Rufus leaned back against the tree trunk, watching Logan continue with the repairs. "You look like you've been doing labor all your life. You don't seem tired at all."

Logan paused, wiping sweat from his brow. "Well, actually, I have. I started doing labor work when I was just 19. It's pretty much stuck in my blood."

Rufus nodded, impressed. "That explains it. I guess some of us are just built for hard work."

From behind them, a voice called out, "You need help with that?"

Logan turned to see Harris walking toward them. He was dressed in simple, loose-fitting clothes—a shirt made from soft linen and pants crafted from sturdy deerskin. The outfit gave him a relaxed yet capable look.

Logan shook his head and replied with a smile, "No need, Harris. I'm finished with this part."

Harris nodded and then turned his attention to Rufus, who was resting by the tree. He bowed his head slightly in a respectful greeting to the older man.

"Morning, Rufus," Harris said warmly. "How are you holding up?"

Rufus gave a tired but genuine smile. "Morning, Harris. Just taking a breather. Old bones don't heal like they used to."

Harris chuckled, "Take it easy. We need you in one piece."

Rufus shifted slightly, his eyes thoughtful. "So what brings you here, Harris? I know you don't come around often."

Harris looked down for a moment before meeting Rufus's gaze. "I would like both of you to come to the capital with me."

Rufus paused for a second before replying, "I won't be going with you."

Harris asked gently, "May I ask why?"

Rufus got up and looked at the old Quercus suber tree nearby. "Because I made a promise to Mary that I will never leave her."

When he said that, he glanced at the tree, where there was a small, dug-up patch of soil. Harris didn't press further but nodded in understanding. "I understand. I won't ask you any further."

He then turned to Logan, who had just finished working on the ceiling. "Logan, I want you to come with me to the capital. There's something I must show you."

Logan hesitated and said, "But what about Rufus? He's alone, and his wounds aren't even healed yet."

Rufus waved his hand dismissively. "No, no. You go ahead. Besides I'm too old to go gallivanting around. I've got my own battles to fight here."

Logan smiled at Rufus's humor and then nodded to Harris. "Okay, I will go."

After an hour, the three of them shared a meal that Rufus had prepared. They chatted and talked, sharing stories and laughter. Once they finished, Logan and Harris got into the carriage and headed towards the capital. Rufus watched them go, a thoughtful look on his face.

After they were out of sight, Rufus let out a loud sigh and headed to the old Quercus suber tree. He picked up a carnation flower from the left side of the tree and placed it gently on the soil. Kneeling down, he whispered, "Looks like it's you and me again, Mary." The words were soft, filled with a deep, lingering sorrow as he gazed at his late wife's grave.