The Last Favor

Chapter 14

When Bryce woke up, Tristan was still holding him and Bryce felt guilty about ever doubting him.

How could he doubt the man who saved his life, who taught him how to read and write, who’s done so much for him? He should have never listened to Adelaide.

When Tristan finally woke up, there was something terribly different about the aura around him. What Bryce hadn’t known was that Tristan happened to pass by when Adelaide was talking to him last night. The girl was right. The kid was better off with her than he’ll ever be with him but that shouldn’t concern him. If it was up to Tristan, he wouldn’t have that brat around at all. But Bryce was stubborn; if he were to leave, it would have to be his decision not someone else’s.

However, there was one more fact the hunter was ignoring; he was someone who committed the taboo. He should not have any companions at all. He made a decision to kill himself when he uses all the coins so that he’d be dead before it was too late.

Tristan reached for his pocket and flipped a coin. “Cursed.”

Five.

Bryce stared at the coin as it disappeared and sighed. He knew what that meant.

Hours later, they were both still in that room. Every attempt at a conversation Bryce had failed miserably. He couldn’t get a single word out of Tristan. It felt like they were starting all over again, as if all they’ve been through was to waste. Tristan was as silent and cold as the first time they met Bryce was terrified. Was it because he cried last night? He was too old to cry. But Tristan held him all night long. Why would he do that?

A few hours after noon, Tristan left the room to buy himself some lunch and Bryce followed him like he always does. But things were different this time. Both were feeling guilty and out of place for very different reasons.

“I have a job for you, Lezterp,” declared a man wearing a hood. “I need you to hunt me some Atsaps and skin them. I’ll pay you 500 gold.”

“No.”

“Maybe, we should take it.” Bryce suggested. “I know what the coin said but you’re… you’re You! Come on! Plus, the coin doesn’t affect me. We’ve spent too much time here anyway.”

“No.”

“Come on, Tristan!” nagged the kid, “it’s just a stupid coin! This is good money. It’ll be fun.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” he snapped, “last time I took a job on a cursed day, I was stuck with you.”

“You… you don’t mean that” with a shaky voice, the kid wondered.

After a long silence, Bryce nodded.

“So, that’s how it is? FINE! You’re stupid! You and your stupid coins!”

He then stormed off to his room.

It was a painfully long day to both of them. Not a word was shared; no apologies nor regrets were exclaimed. Bryce didn’t cry this time. But he was boiling mad. He refused to share a room with Tristan that night. He was so pissed when the hunter walked into the room that he chose to sleep in the hallway. The walls seemed like better company at this point.

Unbeknownst to Bryce, the man was more persistent than he thought and refused to leave until Tristan heard him out.

“I need you to kill my mother.” Declared the stranger.

“I don’t care about your family issues.” Tristan got up ready to leave.

“No wait! She’s committed the taboo,” he exclaimed broken, “you out of all people should understand. That’s why I came to you. The same curse haunts your veins.”

Tristan took a deep breath and sat down to hear the rest of the story. The stranger was right. He does understand better than anyone else.

“It happened this afternoon,” his story began, “we all knew it was a question of time. And today when I came home from the market, something was off; her smile was different, crooked. She was hiding a kitchen knife behind her back. I know I should have killed her then and there and save us both the pain. But, she’s my mother. She’s all I have. Had. I couldn’t do it.”

“So, you let her go?” he throwed him a judgmental look. This must be the woman Bryce met the other, Tristan thought to himself. After all, not many people commit the taboo.

“No. she’s tied up and locked up at home. All you have to do is give her the final blow.”

“500 gold for just that?”

“You have a son who will soon stand in my shoes.”

“Not my son.”

“What?” he was weirded out, “never mind then. My offer still stands as it is. Will you do it?”

Tristan nodded and the agreement was set. He then left for the room for some peace and quiet.

As soon as he walked in, the kid stomped out angrily. He shook his head and took a two-hour nap then walked out of the room to accomplish his task. He stepped out to see Bryce asleep in the hallway so he carried him to his bed inside and left once and for all, with no intention of coming back.

Bryce, however, was woken up by this and decided to follow Tristan out of curiosity. Them sneaking around each other constantly has grown into a toxic habit of theirs.

While Tristan stepped into the house for the first time, Bryce, who had already been there before, immediately recognized the kind woman’s house, the same one Tristan forbade him from ever visiting again. Could it be Tristan was feeling guilty and chose to meet this woman as Bryce had suggested?

The dim hoping growing in his heart faded just as quickly as it came to life when he saw Tristan grab his sword as he walked inside. What was he going to do? It couldn’t possibly be a mission on a cursed day, he repeated to himself while he stood frozen in place.

However, as he heard screeching and hissing, he ran inside without even thinking only to find the woman who has been so sweet and kind to him, who he grew attached and gave up for that shell of a man standing a few feet ahead, dead. When his eyes locked with Tristan’s red soulless ones, tears flew out uncontrollably as he screamed in pain.

“Tell me there’s an explanation for this!” Bryce shouted, “tell me it’s not what it looks like. Tristan, tell me you didn’t kill her!”

Tristan stood in place without uttering a word.

“YOU’RE HORRIBLE! YOU’RE WORSE THAN THE MONSTERS IN THE WOOD! I HATE YOU, TRISTAN! I HATE YOU”

Bryce ran away to god knows where with tears streaming down his face and thoughts devouring his mind. Adelaide was right!