Fox Class?

Chapter 19

WRITER'S NOTE: hello! sorry for a late upload, i've been busy prepping to exams and it completely slipped my mind that it was friday the day i was supposed to publish the next part. i hope everyone stays healthy and safe!

TW: towards there end there's a bit of blood mentioned.

- cehilmot

"Sweetie what are you doing?" A parental voice asks kindly.

"I'm cooking like mummy. I'm boiling rice and water to make porridge. Mummy's porridge. Mummy's favourite porridge." A small voice smiles and laughs.

"You are –"

"Alluro? Are you okay? I came down to see what happened? Is everything alright?" Vincent asks quietly holding my arm.

I nod. He nods in the awkward silence and stands next to me. He opens his mouth to speak but the twins walk in...chatting about who knows what.

"Hey, hey Alluro! Tell us what you think," Dominic says clearing his throat for some big speech, "There are two paths one can take. One path leads into the forest. The other leads to the ocean. There is a door in the forest and a door in at the ocean. The door in the forests opens to a world full of fire. The one at the ocean is full of ice. Which do you take? The easier path to the water or the harder path to the fire? To be set ablaze or to be frozen in ice – that is the question."

"Very funny, Nic. To be or not to be – that is the question. Quote Hamlet." Greg laughs.

To be set ablaze or put to sleep forever trapped? To be free or caged? Which to choose? Freedom with no bounds or ties to keep you safe. A world of red or a place where you can see out but not be part of. Would it be worth being put in a cage only to have freedom rubbed in your face? Or to never see the world again? I don't know. the only thing I can feel is...hellfire. I don't feel cold or hot or anything.

"That's a weird question to ask. If I had to choose, I guess the path to the ice. Even though it's the easier path, at least I would see the world still and if not, well someone can thaw me out and I'll walk Rayloss again." Vincent answers furrowing his eyebrows.

Ice, huh?

Dominic and Greg nod in unison agreeing with Vincent's answer, "What say you, Alluro?"

I stare at the bench for a little while longer, "I don't know."

There's a moment of silence among the four of us. The porridge pot starts boiling. I move to stir it when Vincent turns around to lean on the bench next to me. Greg and Dominic leave to their room on the second floor.

"So, you know how to cook?" Vincent asks breaking the silence.

I shake my head.

"No? Are you serious? So then, what are you doing at the stove top like this if you can't cook?" He sounds surprised and concerned.

"Why? If you know how then take over." I mumble.

"Gladly," He says proudly taking over, "you need to add seasoning to it, otherwise it won't be edible."

I pause. Seasoning? What's the point. I can't taste anything, no matter how much salt or pepper or anything I add to it.

I continue to take out a bowl and a tray along with cutlery. As I pick up the bowl it shatters in my hands cutting through my bandages and reopening them. Vincent looks over to see what happened.

"Are you alright?" He asks concerned.

I nod moving to wash my hands in the sink. The cuts aren't all that deep but there is a lot of blood. I pick up the kitchen towel next to the sink and wipe my hands trying to pause the bleeding until I find the first aid kit. I bandage them up. Mary appears in the kitchen.

"Why'd you summon me?" She asks impatiently.

I show her my bandaged hands before crouching to clean up the porcelain pieces on the ground. She walks around the island table and is shocked at the sight. I can imagine what she is seeing. Blood. Blood coating every inch of her perfectly clean floor. Glass shattered everywhere. Her expensive glass everywhere. Exaggerated, right? I had set another bowl for Vincent who put it on the tray. Mary grabs the tray and takes it with her. I'm done cleaning up. I never called her either so I don't know what her problem is.

"So, where to next?" Vincent asks with a massive grin on his face.