How it When to This?

A lost girl

Chapter 3

The hooded man stared at the two kids.

"...Damn."

"I'm actually surprised."

"None of this scares you."

---

Three hours later...

Rhone stretched his arms and yawned.

"Okay, sir."

"I gotta go home."

"I'm hungry."

"Bye."

"Yeah, yeah..." the hooded man waved him off without looking away from the screen.

Meanwhile...

Scalia simply stood up and walked away without saying a single word.

---

As soon as she stepped outside the computer shop...

SLAP!

"AH!"

Scalia grabbed her burning cheek.

"W-Why would you—"

"You nasty little cunt!"

"How dare you bully my son?!"

"Weren't you taught any manners?!"

Scalia froze, tears slowly forming in her eyes.

The woman scoffed.

"...Oh."

"I almost forgot."

"You don't even have parents."

"No wonder you've got such a bitchy attitude."

SLAP!

Another slap landed across Scalia's face.

"You adopted little cunt."

"Never call me fat again."

"And don't you ever bully my son."

The kid stood behind his mom and stuck his tongue out.

"Bleeeh."

Scalia didn't say a word.

She just stared at the woman while tears silently rolled down her cheeks.

"C'mon, son."

"Let's go home."

The two walked away.

Scalia wiped her tears...

...and slowly made her way home.

---

Before opening the door, she quickly wiped her face.

She forced herself to smile.

"...Uhmm Why..."

"...Why is it so quiet in here?"

She looked around.

Amber's eyes were swollen.

It looked like she'd been crying for hours.

Amber sniffled.

"Sob... sob..."

Amber's mom smiled.

"Go on."

"Start eating."

"Just leave some food for your uncle, okay?"

3 of them are in the Table Eating.

She looked at Scalia.

"So..."

"How was school today?"

"I heard you did a great job again."

Scalia's heart sank.

...Crap.

I forgot to throw away my medal.

"U-Um..."

"It was great, Auntie."

"That's nice."

"I also heard you got first place in the spelling bee."

She laughed.

"Tsk, tsk."

"Amber, you really need to study harder."

"You should be smart like Scalia and—"

"STOP!"

Amber suddenly screamed.

"I HATE IT!"

"It's always Scalia!"

"Scalia!"

"Scalia!"

"I HATE BOTH OF YOU!"

She grabbed her plate and smashed it against Scalia's head.

CRACK!

"I HATE YOU!"

"I WISH MOM NEVER ADOPTED YOU!"

Amber ran straight into her father's room, slamming the door behind her.

Scalia stayed where she was.

Silent.

A tear rolled down her face.

Blood slowly trickled from her forehead.

Amber's mom rushed over.

"Oh no!"

"Scalia, you're bleeding!"

She grabbed the first aid kit and carefully cleaned the wound.

"There..."

"That should stop the bleeding."

She sighed.

"I'm so sorry about Amber."

"She's just being silly."

"I hope you won't be mad at her."

Scalia looked down.

"Sob..."

"Auntie..."

"You and Amber..."

"...are my only family left."

Amber's mom smiled and gently patted her head.

"Aww..."

"Just keep doing your best at school, okay?"

"Bring home lots of medals."

"Lots of achievements."

Scalia nodded.

"Yes, Auntie."

---

The Next Day

Rhone walked into the same computer shop.

The hooded man glanced at him.

"You came back."

Rhone grinned.

"Of course."

The hooded man smirked.

"Good."

"Come here."

"Let's continue."

---

Meanwhile...

In another city...

The hooded man looked up as Scalia walked into the computer shop.

"Hmph."

"I thought you'd puss out after what happened yesterday."

Scalia frowned.

"All I did yesterday was watch."

The hooded man noticed the bandage on her forehead.

"...What happened to your head?"

"I accidentally bumped into something."

"...You're a terrible liar."

Scalia rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

"You're the one who looks dumb here."

"Heh."

"You stubborn little brat."

The hooded man finally turned his monitor toward her.

"Alright then..."

"Let's start with..."

'Hello, World.'

End.