Chapter 23

Xander and Cole were staring at each other without paying attention to the rants that the other three were speaking of.

Ajax saw that they were looking at each other intensely like they would start a fight with each other any moment.

"Umm.. Do you know each other? " Ajax asked this question making Amelia and Ember stop talking among themselves and pay attention.

"Yes," Said Cole and Xander said "No". Both said this at the same time.

"Ohh.. Ahh.. Now I understand. You mean that you were strangers to each other but now you have met so you know each other, right? My question was wrong, right? " Asked Ajax and Amelia and Ember were confused about what was going on.

"No," Said Cole and Xander said "Yes". Again at the same time.

"What are you two saying? Speak clearly" Said Amelia getting angry.

"Nothing, let it be " Said Xander and went to prepare the cakes and other bakery products as it was time to open the bakery. Ajax was confused but still followed behind Xander. Amelia and Ember thought of eating breakfast and then taking leave for their inn. Cole sat there on the table thinking of what to do next.

In the kitchen,

Ajax was preparing dough for cakes and Xander was trying doughnuts.

"Brother, what is your relationship with Cole brother? " Asked Ajax.

"Br..brother, did you just call him brother? " Asked Xander while looking at Ajax frowning in anger.

"Yeah, why won't I? He helped me save you and fought by our side against the lionfish gang" Said Ajax confused as to why his brother was angry.

"You... You are so partial, I saved you and helped you since you entered Celadon city but still, it took 2 days,11 hours, and 25 minutes for you to call me brother. How can you call him brother just within one night? " Asked Xander.

"You... You calculated the TIME!! " Ajax said with a shocked face. Xander was even angry and asked "WHY? "

"Ummm... That.... That is because he saved my brother and a savior should be respected. He is elder than me so I called him brother. But only you are my dear, real brother, and no one can change that remember, okay? " Said Ajax pouting and making big doe eyes. Xander knew these were all the faces Ajax would make to ease him and escape from his wrath.

"Alright, alright don't make such faces. Go knead the dough properly" Said Xander while giving a smile. Ajax returned the smile and went to do his work.

"By the way, brother isn't Cole brother in danger due to the black whip? Can we tell him to stay here with us? " Asked Ajax excitedly.

"Is my bakery a shelter for every human in danger? No, he is not a child for us to take care of. " Said Xander.

"But... But what if he is in danger and is all alone by himself and is unable to protect himself? " Said Ajax making a shocked, scared face.

"First of don't make a face like that. You are not a girl to react that much. And about what you told me... Then he should hire people to protect him" Said Xander

"But how many and what he will tell them, to protect him from a whip, only few will believe him. So they won't be hundred percent sincere in protecting him." Defended Ajax. Xander was somewhat convinced but still, he did not say anything and told Ajax to fasten his speed as people can start coming.

Amelia and Ember were exercising in the backyard of the bakery which was their daily routine. Cole was still thinking of how to take care of himself and maybe just maybe his past memories made him stay in the bakery.

"How to talk to him about that? How should I? He is so stubborn. He won't listen to me. " Said Cole to himself. When he was thinking about a particular person a girl ran inside the bakery and by her looks, she definitely was not there to buy something.

"What do you want? Why in a rush, girl? " Asked Cole calmly while standing up and coming a little close to her.

The girl's face was filled with fear and her body was shaking a little.

"Pl-ease he-lp..help me... Some bad people are chasing... me. Please save me. They want to sell me" Said the girl.

" Who wants to do such things when I am here? Don't worry, I will protect you" said Cole while showing the girl's chair to sit in and handing her a glass of water.

"Don't be a hero. This is not your place. You have no right to take any decision in my place" Said Xander while coming out of the kitchen.

"You... A girl needs help. You have a problem with me, take it on me afterward, not now" Said Cole being a little irritated.

"You are in no position to tell me what to do Or what not to do. I never said that I won't help a needy person. But I did not give you the rights to take decision on behalf of me" Said Xander.

Amelia and Ember also came inside and saw a new person who was shaking with fear and her face screamed HELP!

"What is going in here? Who is she? " Asked Amelia.

"She says that a few people are here following her. They want to sell her off. She came asking for help" Said Ajax.

"How dare they do that! Let me see who has got the guts to trouble a girl in daylight" Said Amelia while taking big steps to go outside the bakery but Ember held her back.

"I also know how you are feeling but you can't just go and fight them, remember your identity" Said Ember in a low voice which was heard by Amelia only.

"Amelia, Ember you two take the girl inside, if anyone enters my bakery then I will handle them. Don't worry" Said Xander while giving an assuring smile to the girl. The girl said 'Thank you 'repeatedly and went with Amelia and Ember.

Ajax was standing alert for any mob or group that might enter their bakery. Eddie and Zane were also on standby while Xander and Cole were having an eye battle. They were able to understand what the other was saying without the need for words.

"Brother, BROTHER!! What are you two doing? I have been calling you for two minutes. " Said Ajax a little irritated.

"Uh... Ahh, nothing I was thinking about something " Said Xander and gave a glare while looking towards Cole upon which he angrily turned his face away from Xander. Xander was angry due to Cole's behavior and was about to say something when he saw that a group of people entered the bakery. They started searching with their eyes for a particular one. Xander knew that these are the people following the girl.

"Welcome, sir. How may I help you? " Asked Xander politely.

A person came in front and gave a smile which showed his two gold teeth and he said" Sorry to disturb you, but have you seen a tall, girl with the hair color of black with strips of green and has blue-green eyes?

"No, we have not. My bakery has not opened yet so no one came here" Said Xander.

The man gave a glance at Ajax and then at Cole and then finally looked at Xander and again smiled.

"Sorry, she is my daughter and we had a family issue and she is hot-headed, so she ran away. If you see her this is the place, you can leave a message here. Thank you and again sorry for disturbing you" Said the man and gave Xander a piece of paper on which the name of the place was written.

Then the whole group went away and Ajax took a deep breath of relief and then called the girls.

"What is your name? And can you tell me all the details of what is going on? He was saying something else and you are saying something else. I am not doubting you just wanna know the whole story " Said Xander and all other nodded.

"My name is Harlow Jones. I was an orphan until the age of six when a Barton family adopted me. But adoption was just an excuse what they wanted was a free service servant who can do all their chores. Later when I was of suitable age they tried many times to sell me off to old men or bad people. I was very afraid so I ran away. I thought once I go from their life they would leave me alone but they are following me like a bad nightmare. "Said Harlow and her eyes moistened upon thinking about how they treated her like trash and they do as they please like an object.

" Don't worry. It's all in the past. I promise I won't let anything happen to you. I will take care of you. "Said Amelia while patting Harlow's shoulder and Harlow gave a smile in return.

Ember was shocked by the sudden decision. She took Amelia to a corner and whispered

"What are you doing? We can't keep her with us. We barely know her and your identity forbids me to allow any stranger to being with you. " Said Ember quietly.

"But... But I can't leave her alone. She had no one to rely on from the start. If we also leave her alone she won't believe anyone in the future. I want her to live a normal life. " Said Amelia concern evident on her face. Ember was also eager to help but as Amelia was a princess she can't let her stay with a stranger. But as a girl, she wanted to help Harlow.

"Okay, we can give her some work nearby with which she can earn money and live on her own. " Said Ember. Amelia thought about it and nodded.

Ajax and Xander were also discussing something. Cole was without asking for permission giving a pancake and some noodles to Harlow. Harlow thanked him and started eating as it was days when she had a proper meal. Harlow is a skinny, tall girl with green, sharp eyes and dark black hair with green streaks of hair. She was wearing a very dirty rag dress.

"Umm... What are your names? I would be glad to know! " Said Harlow in a low voice.

"Ahh... Sorry, how silly of us. You told us about yourself but we did not give you an introduction. The two boys discussing there from them the tall one who has a sharp face, with dark black hair upto neck is Xander Lee. The other who is slightly short than the other with black hair covering his forehead and reaching up to his big doe eyes is Ajax... Umm, I don't know his surname. He never told. Among the two girls, the one who has a pigtail with a round face and big eyes is Ember Kostas. But don't get affected by her innocent, cute face she gets very angry, and that I learned within a day. The other one is a very daring girl. She is Amelia Dukas with long hair tied in a messy bun with slender fingers and heart-shaped face with almond-shaped eyes. "Said Cole while eyeing at each person when he described them.

Harlow looked at each of them keenly like studying them.

" Thank you and you are... "

"Oh.. Myself Cole Smith " Said Cole while caressing his long hair which was left open reaching up to his shoulders.

"Nice meeting you all. Once again thank you but I should be leaving now. It's getting late and I need to find a place to stay" Said Harlow while getting up.

When she was about to step out a voice stopped her.

"Stop right there. I know what you want from us.!!

Harlow was shocked and her eyes got big in fear.

" How did they find out who am I? Can they read minds? How do they know what I want? Thought Harlow while getting sweaty and thinking of excuses she can make.

Who is actually Harlow Jones and who knows what she wanted? Is Harlow a friend or foe?