Chapter Three

Okay, this was getting concerning.

It didn't even take him a week to find the girl again and Luke could spot a another bruise on her hand, which wasn't the only thing that was different. There used to be a sleeve there that would have covered the bruse...

Right now, she was trying to hide another load of bread as she walked down the street, most likely to avoid any trouble that would come if the other kids were to see that she had food. Since that and fruit were the easiest to steal, he could see why she would not risk going for money straight away.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, the red-eyed boy sighed out a long-suffering sigh.

"I got this bleeding heart from you, mom, now I have to deal with this..."

Muttering under his breath, Luke stood up and stretched out his hands. It was time to stick his nose where it didn't belong.

So, naturally, instead of acting like a normal human being, going to her and saying hello, Luke just followed her over the rooftops... Yeah, he was not normal.

The chase lasted for a while, he could not tell the time since he did not have a watch, felt like hours compared to the time he usually took to travel this far.

And the building that she went into was even more run down than his own... and it was quite far away from the place he stayed at.

But hey, at least she was in the same district, right?

Sighing at the fact that she was out of his sight, Luke closed his eyes and focused, he felt a tug on his gut and he opened his eyes to look at his hand, which wasn't there anymore.

Stepping off the edge and letting gravity take over, Luke landed soundlessly on the ground and walked over to the building. Looking inside the doorframe, since there was no door at all.

Must have been hell to sleep in the night.

Before he could fully look inside, a sudden series of coughs. Frowning, he looked into the building to spot another girl who was lying on a broken-down bed with dirty covers. The girl was sitting up as her doubleganger was standing next to the bed, breaking the bread that she managed to get...

Ah, that hit him right in the feels.

He watched silently as the twin he saved once rubbed the back of the other, who was too busy coughing. She was even skinnier than the other, basically only bones, and the fact that she was coughing so badly, she could not eat solid food.

Scowling at himself, Luke went back out of the door. Now, he felt bad for taking that apple. God, he felt like an asshole.

It would not do if he just waltzed in and said that he was here to relocate them into better conditions, that would only make them more concerned.

Running a hand through his hair, he started thinking. He could not help them directly right now, but that did not mean that he could not help them at all.

But he would need to wait for them to fall asleep... and he sounded like a creep now, great.

Sighing inwardly, he looked up at the rooftops, searching for a vantage point that would get him a good view of the building they were staying in.

Finding a place that would suffice, he jumped toward the location silently.

So, he waited, sitting on the edge and watching the place he decided to guard without a word. Slowly, the sun set and neither of the sisters came out of the house, one since she couldn't and the other, he did not know.

Frowning, he wondered if they kept a stash of food so that they could eat, but he doubted it. Sighing, he remained still, dismissing the urge to do something.

Finally, after what seemed like hours the sun finally set and he still waited. Finally, he saw movement. The one he helped walked out of the house and sat on the ground, looking up at the stars.

The silence was deafening as the breeze washed over both of them. The girl shivered but remained sitting. Luke looked at her for a moment before resuming his observation of the surroundings.

Finally, she stood up and walked inside, probably to sleep. Luke didn't move, even after that.

He waited in place, instead of taking the time to rob the druk civilians blind, he took the opportunity to remember the correct rune placement.

Finally, after some time, he jumped down to the street and walked back into the house. He spotted his target immediately, sleeping and hugging the covers like it was her lifeline while shivering.

Her sister was crouching and hugging her legs closely at the foot of the bed.

Walking to the one that needed his attention slightly more than the other, Luke crouched and extended his finger. He felt a tugging on his gut again, but this time, it didn't disappear as soon as it came, it persisted as he drew three runes in the air "Laguz" the rune of water, "Eihwaz" the rune of defense, and "Algiz" the rune of protection.

The uncomfortable feeling disappeared and the blue Runes disappeared into the little girl's back.

The ragged breathing of the girl evened out and he took the opportunity to do the same with the other sister.

As the bruises on her disappeared, he took the opportunity to leave the house.

He would see her tomorrow, but for now, he needed to make plans.