The Hunchback's Perfect Family ✔

25 THE PROBLEM

Getting back to the hunchback's home with Pest required nothing short of a miracle. It felt oddly appropriate when he, mere steps away from the door, fell to the ground once again face first.

Fanli considered leaving him there, he was exhausted. But that would be suicide so she did what she'd been doing for the last two hours—the cruelest thing she could imagine. She grabbed him by the hairs in the back of his neck until the pain forced him to stand.

It was a punishment enacted to small ogres going into a lament, as it was difficult for them to come out yet again. She'd never imagined having to do this to a full-grown ogre much less a male.

Fanli hurried to open the door. Pest took three steps to enter, crashed to the floor and Fanli gave his hair another tug and he flopped forward.

As fast as she could, she shut the door.

That took care of that problem, but what of the problem before her?

Pest cried and not in a manly way. He looked like an infant when he curled up and bawled harder.

The way he clutched his gut gave her a hint as to what ailed him.

"Waaaa," he screamed.

Fanli debated how to get him food. Pest's enemies resided in all directions. Going into town buying human food would lead to all sorts of questions.

And could he even eat human food?

Desperation drove her outside to raid the garden. But one hour of unsuccessful feeding attempts later, with enough carrots and pumpkins smashed into the wall, she was at a loss.

"Waa!"

He still remained face first on the floor.

And then she remembered where she found him. "Water." The fool probably hadn't drunk water in these three days. A river would do little good for an ogre due to the tusks.

Fanli snatched up a water bucket and legged it to that same river. Fear had her body burning from pushing herself to the limit to return to him in time.

When she dragged open the door...he was gone.

"No." He couldn't have gotten far. She rushed outside again to witness him scratching at a tree. "Idiot."

Now when she grabbed him in the back of his neck and he cringed while following her, there was no guilt.

They got back inside and he rushed the water, stumbled and crashed into it.

Fanli looked down at the mess. "You...."

She would have told him off if not for how he pressed his mouth against the floor, desperate to sop up what he could—which was nothing because the tusks prevented his lips from making a proper seal.

The moment he sat down on the wet floor, covered his face, and cried, she risked snatching up the bucket to make a second run.

This time he was there when she got back. She slapped his hand down before he could reach for the bucket.

It got his attention and two brown eyes stared into hers. "Stop it," she ordered.

His mouth snapped shut.

He attempted to reach for the bucket one last time before giving up. She raised it high and tapped his chin.

After he gaped his lips, she positioned herself above him and began to slowly pour the water into his mouth. He choked but she soothed, "No. Don't fight it. Your throat'll open by itself. Just wait."