The One Who Showed No Mercy (Ongoing)

episode 2. Hunger

I can't feed my siblings, today. We barely have any leftovers from yesterday and I didn't get my pay because of my mistake at work.

I walk through the streets of the village and enter the alleys. Everyone here is poor, but your status as a human being is even less if you live in the alleys. We are basically less than human beings in the eyes of most. Hopefully, I can get a good job in the future and get us a better place.

I walk further into the alleyways until I see the pair of stairs leading down to the other houses. Our house has one window beside the door unlike others so it is never hard to find.

My siblings should already be home since their school ends before my work does. I knock on the door and wait for my siblings to open. I always tell them to lock the door from the inside when they get home. Burglary and kidnappings were normal occurrences in our neighborhood.

I hear small yet quick footsteps coming closer from behind the wooden door. Most likely Ava's footsteps. The sounds of locks clicking and opening as she tries to open them as fast as possible. Not that it has ever been quick to open three locks, two of which need keys.

10 seconds go by and the door opens, at last. Ava is there to greet me. I give her a hug and kiss her forehead. Even though I work I can never stop worrying about them. I'm glad she's alright, as well.

But where's her sister?

-"Ava, where is Nevaeh? Have you guys eaten, yet?"

-" She's sleeping right now. She said she was tired and went to sleep and no we haven't eaten, yet. We waited for you."

Hearing her say that warms my heart and makes me annoyed at the same time.

- "Ava, you two need to eat after you come home from school. I come home late so don't wait for me. I'll take the leftover vegetables and make some soup since it's so late and you better eat it"

I don't know what went through Ava's head, but she started smiling a lot. Bouncing by lifting her heels from the ground as quick as she could. She is small so she looks really cute doing it. Her long black hair getting in the way of her eyes and all she does is blow it to the sides with her hands behind her back.

She should make herself useful when I'm so kind to make this goblin some food.

-" Make yourself useful and bring the bowls and spoons for the soup. You're cute little bouncing won't give you any less chores."

-" Whaa? That's not what I was trying to do! I'm happy we get to eat with you. We never eat with you."

Her voice falls silent and she prepares the table with bowls, spoons and cups. She's quiet the entire time.

After she's done she walks into the bedroom without saying a word. I quietly stir the soup and decide to give it a taste.

I gently lower the wooden spoon and let some broccoli and water pour in on it. Lifting the spoon gently as not to let anything fall. It's really hot so I should be careful. Before I get to taste the soup, Ava screams and I burn my mouth.

-"FUCK. My mouth!"

I quickly let go of the spoon and run in the bedroom where I see Ava at the verge of tears and Nevaeh laughing.

-" What happened here?" I asked in the tone they knew that meant I was angry.

-"Ava was annoying her older sister so she got what was coming to her." She arrogantly exclaims.

-"I was trying to wake you up so we could eat, you idiot! Vidarr made soup and we never get to eat with him." She was basically crying at this point

-" Nevaeh, you are not older than Ava because you came out before your other TWIN, Ava. Secondly, what did you do your sister to make her scream?"

Nevaeh doesn't meet my eyes and looks around the room instead, fidgeting with her fingers. I cross my arms and click my foot on the wooden floor signaling that I'm waiting for her response.

Suddenly there's a knock on the door. This was rare and definitely not a good sign. I immediately tell Ava and Nevaeh to hide under the hatch in their room and I put the rug over it to hide them from any intruders or slavers.

I walk up to the door and ask what the people behind it want. 

-" We are of the Grimwa family and we seek a wanted man who we believe resides in this village."

This is weird. Nobles never come this far from the kingdom to ask peasants like us for wanted men. They simply send soldiers to do these jobs. Maybe this was an exception? This person they are looking for must be dangerous. 

-" Who are you looking for? What does he look like?"

There's a slight pause, but I hear no movement so they must still be behind the door.

-"He's a tall man with green eyes and long brown hair. His name is Vidarr."