Eli sat curled on a sofa in the dimly lit room. The television flickered with vibrant colors as cartoons played, but his eyes remained fixed on the floor, his mind far from the cartoon that was displayed in front of him.
Dante observed from a distance, his expression unreadable. He had introduced himself as "Uncle Dante," claiming to be Thane's brother, but Eli sensed something was amiss. He felt this Uncle's smile didn't reach his eyes, and his kindness wasn't sincere.
"When will Mommy come to see me?" Eli's voice was barely above a whisper, laced with a mix of hope and fear.
Dante approached, crouching to meet Eli's gaze. "Soon, little man. She's my friend, and she knows you're safe here." He reached out, gently patting Eli's shoulder. "But you have to be a good boy, okay?"
Eli nodde
