Idiot

At the luxury villa on the east coast of Bonaville. Inside a certain room on the second floor. A man stared at himself in the mirror. He wore a white waistcoat and black tail-coat and trousers. His graying hair gelled to perfection. The man's name was Henry Dickman. Owen and George's father.

After what felt like forever, he was finally able to move. Martha and Rufus found a hazy green bottle beside the typewriter. A paper was pasted on it with red letters big enough to catch anyone's attention. It said, 'FEED THIS TO MY BROTHER IF YOU FOUND HIM.'

Martha, having known Lucia for a long time, knew that despite her niece's peculiar interests, they could at least trust her antidotes. It had been like this since she was little. And so, like what it said on the paper, they fed it to Henry. And he became okay just like that.

But despite being freed from whatever that stopped him from moving, Henry was so weak he couldn't walk on his own. After all, he had to strain himself to control the bear. It didn't really help that he was starving.

While Rufus could only shake his head. He could feel a headache building up just by thinking about his niece who was nowhere to be found.

Lucia wasn't like this from the beginning. It all started when she was about to turn eight. After she returned with her father from a three-day vacation. No one knew where they went even to this day. But Lucia was never the same after that. She began locking herself in the basement. Made troubles for her family and around town. But her father said it was all for the better. And so they let her be.

"Where are you going, Henry?" Asked Martha.

He turned around to look at her. Her white hair was tied into a bun. No single strand of hair was out of place. To her questioning green eyes. And lastly, to the large black key in her hand.

Then he smiled. Not the type of smile that would make your day bright. But a type of smile a killer makes when he's about to kill someone.

"I'm gonna find that rotten sister of mine," said Henry. His eyes were bloodshot and his hands were balled so hard they were shaking.

Martha didn't say anything. She only sighed as if this was to be expected. And then she motioned him with her head and went out of the room. Henry followed her.

In the basement of their villa were three doors. The largest belonged to Lucia. The blue one led to Ignacio's office, Henry and Lucia's father. And opposite to it was the black, iron door. That was where Martha and Henry were headed.

And behind that door was the book that contained precise events of the future. And advice of what they should do in case they found themselves stuck or unable to make a decision. It was the book of prophecy Henry's late father wrote personally.

Martha inserted the key to the keyhole and twisted it. It opened with a clunk. Then Henry gently pushed the door.

*creaked!

Then they sauntered inside. A musky smell tickled their nostrils. The room has the scent of something old and profound. (If that's even possible.) Then he headed to the center while Martha remained at the entrance.

There was a vault by the center. Henry twisted its knob with precision and then it opened with a click.

He stared inside it for a while, his eyes shaking, disbelieving.

"It's… gone." He muttered. "The book isn't here," he declared. "Only a letter."

"And a page torn from the book," he added. "Page seventy."

With shaky hands, he took the letter and read it out loud. "My dear brother. Your lovely sister will be borrowing this book for a while. And I will be doing you a favor while I'm at it. I'll be telling my dear nephews of all the things you kept from them. Though you'd have to forgive me if you can't hit me at the back of my head or yell idiot at me anymore. And this might be my last letter to you."

Henry paused for a while and squinted his eyes. He didn't like what he was reading.

"You're already aware of this, aren't you? Written on page seventy. What it takes to fight against fate."

Martha gasped as she brought her hands to cover her mouth. She too was aware of the content of that book. And she was especially familiar with the last page. After all, that was the last page her older brother wrote. And what left the strongest impression to her amongst all the pages that said nothing but instructions and pessimism. The last spoke of hope and a wish.

"Brother Henry. Truth is, papa told me something in the past. He didn't write this in the book because he knew you would only stop me. But you see, I must make the first move to fighting fate. And George running away was just the catalyst. I don't know if I'll come out of this alive. Don't worry about your kids though. They're strong. Be nice to them, okay? I love you, my cowardly brother. Tell that to our silly brother too, okay? Tell him I love him too."

Henry didn't know when exactly he plopped on the floor. But tears won't stop coming out of his eyes.

"Idiot," he muttered. "You are an idiot, Lucia."