E7 - When Darkness Found Them
1330 Words
"I'm lost," the little boy said, his voice trembling.
Julia immediately knelt beside him.
"What happened?" she asked gently.
The boy rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand.
"I-I was with my mom a little while ago..."
He sniffled.
"It was really crowded, and we got separated."
Andrew gently ruffled the boy's hair.
"Don't worry," he said with a reassuring smile.
"We'll help you find her."
The boy looked up at him, his eyes still watery.
"Really?"
He lowered his head.
"Everyone else I asked... just ignored me."
Julia's expression softened.
She carefully lifted him onto the bench.
"We're not going to ignore you," she said warmly.
"We'll help you."
For the first time since the boy arrived, Mina looked up from her sketchbook.
Mina quietly closed her sketchbook and gave the little boy her full attention.
"What's your name?" she asked gently.
The boy wiped his eyes.
"Tyler."
Mina gave a small nod.
"Do you know your mother's name?"
"Rosary," Tyler replied.
"And she's wearing a yellow shirt."
Mina looked at Andrew and Julia.
"That's enough for us to start searching."
The two nodded.
Just as they were about to leave, Kevin finally returned.
"Hey, what's up, guys?" he asked cheerfully.
Then he noticed Tyler sitting on the bench, his eyes red from crying.
Kevin's playful smile disappeared.
He immediately walked over and sat beside him.
"What happened, kiddo?" he asked softly, gently ruffling Tyler's hair.
Andrew quickly explained the situation.
Kevin listened quietly before smiling at Tyler.
"Don't worry."
He gave the boy a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"I'll stay here with you while they look for your mom."
Tyler nodded weakly.
Kevin reached into his pocket and pulled out a lollipop.
He held it out with a grin.
"Emergency anti-sadness equipment."
Tyler hesitated for a moment before accepting it.
"...Thank you."
Kevin smiled.
"You're welcome."
With that, Andrew, Julia, and Mina split up to search the park.
They checked the playground.
The food stalls.
The walking paths.
Even the crowded area near the entrance.
Minutes passed.
But there was still no sign of Rosary.
Julia scratched her head in frustration.
"This park is huge! How are we supposed to find her?"
Mina looked around thoughtfully.
"Maybe we should search outside the park."
Andrew smile widened "Good idea."
They headed outside while Kevin stayed behind with Tyler.
Back at the bench, Kevin sat beside the boy.
"So... you like dinosaurs?"
Tyler nodded immediately.
"They're the best."
Kevin rubbed his chin. "You're not wrong."
Meanwhile, Andrew searched nearly every corner of the park.
As he turned down another path, he accidentally bumped into Mina.
"Oh... sorry."
Mina shook her head.
"It's getting late," she said quietly.
"We're running out of time."
Andrew glanced around the park.
"You're right."
He sighed.
"Let's head back and ask for more help."
The moment they turned around—
They stopped abruptly. A broad-shouldered man dressed entirely in black stood directly in their path.
He wore dark sunglasses despite the fading sunlight.
Andrew and Mina stopped in their tracks.
The man looked down at them.
A faint smile spread across his face, but it never reached his eyes.
"What are you kids doing wandering around so late?" he asked in a cold, even voice.
Before either of them could answer—
"Andrew! Mina!"
Julia hurried toward them, waving.
"There you are!"
She reached them without giving the man a second glance.
"I already reported Tyler's mother's disappearance. Come on."
She gently tugged Andrew and Mina along.
Andrew looked back one last time.
The man was still standing there...
Watching them.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"You won't be finding her now," he muttered under his breath.
Andrew, Mina, and Julia hurried to the nearby police station.
The moment they stepped inside, they noticed something was wrong.
The officers weren't talking.
The usually busy station had fallen eerily silent.
Andrew looked around, confused.
"...What's going on?"
A police officer in his thirties approached them.
His expression was grim.
"You're here about Rosary?"
"Come with me."
The three exchanged uneasy glances before following him outside.
An ambulance was parked in front of the station.
Paramedics carefully loaded an injured woman onto a stretcher.
Her clothes were stained with blood.
Andrew froze.
"So that's..."
The officer nodded.
"Her name is Rosary."
Before anyone could say another word, Julia's eyes widened.
"Tyler."
She immediately turned and ran back toward the park to bring him and Kevin.
A short while later...
Kevin arrived, carrying Tyler in his arms.
The moment Tyler saw the woman on the stretcher, his eyes filled with tears.
"Mom!"
He rushed to her side.
"What happened to you?"
His small voice trembled as tears streamed down his face.
The paramedics gently guided him back so they could continue treating Rosary before loading her into the ambulance.
At the hospital...
Andrew and his friends waited quietly outside Rosary's room with Tyler.
The hallway was unusually silent.
After several minutes, Andrew broke the silence.
He looked at Tyler.
"Do you know what your mom does for work?"
Tyler shook his head.
"Not really."
He thought for a moment.
"She just tells me she works the night shift."
Andrew rubbed his chin.
"Maybe she's a police officer..."
Kevin nodded.
"That would explain why she was brought to the station first."
Julia frowned.
"But... who could've hurt her like that?"
Mina slowly stood up.
"Look at her neck."
Everyone quietly looked through the small window in the hospital room door.
On Rosary's neck...
Were two small puncture wounds.
Julia covered her mouth.
"No..."
Before she could say anything else, Andrew gently guided the others farther down the hallway.
"Keep your voices down," he whispered.
"I don't want Tyler hearing this."
Kevin swallowed nervously.
"...Do you know what those marks look like?"
Julia folded her arms, trying to stay optimistic.
"Maybe... she was stabbed with something."
Mina calmly shook her head.
"What kind of weapon leaves two perfectly round wounds?"
Silence.
No one answered.
Andrew slowly crossed his arms.
"...You're not saying..."
"...Those wounds..."
"They almost look like..."
Kevin swallowed. Oh naah.
"...A vampire bite?"
The hallway fell silent.
"There are no such things as vampires," Julia said, trying to reassure everyone.
"Besides, Tyler's mom is recovering now."
Kevin glanced at the clock hanging on the hospital wall.
"I think it's time to head home, guys."
He let out a small sigh.
"It's getting pretty late, and our parents are probably worried."
Andrew nodded.
"Yeah... you're right."
His eyes drifted toward Mina.
"And Mina still has to take the bus home."
Julia frowned.
"That doesn't sound very safe, Mina."
Mina remained calm.
"I'll be fine."
The four of them returned to Rosary's room one last time.
"Take care, Tyler," Andrew said with a smile.
"We hope your mom gets better soon," Julia added.
Tyler gave them a small nod.
"Thank you."
After saying their goodbyes, the group split up.
Andrew walked with Mina to the nearby bus stop.
The streets had grown much quieter.
Streetlights cast long shadows across the sidewalks as a cool night breeze drifted through the city.
Andrew glanced at the road before looking at Mina.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?"
He hesitated.
"It's already nine o'clock."
Mina nodded.
"I'll be fine."
She looked at him briefly.
"Stop worrying."
Andrew smiled sheepishly.
"I guess I worry too much."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well... good night, Mina."
Mina was quiet for a moment.
Then she turned to face him.
"...Good night, Andrew."
Andrew blinked.
For a second, he simply stood there.
It was the first time she had called him by his name so naturally.
A genuine smile spread across his face.
Just then, the bus pulled up to the stop.
The doors folded open.
Mina stepped aboard before turning back.
She gave Andrew a small wave.
Andrew waved back.
The bus pulled away, disappearing into the night.
Only then did Andrew turn and quietly begin the walk home.
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