The End of the Littlest One [Completed]

37. Her mind, however, was a chaos

'So long story short, I need you to run to the market really quick,' Sheppard said.

Olivia was cooking several omelets at once in the inn's kitchen. Sheppard stood next to her, cleaning an odd stain on the wall. His hand held an old rag, drenched in soapy water. He was scrubbing the brick so hard his knuckles turned white.

It has been two days after Olivia wrote her letter to Benjamin and Dante. She sent it to their new inn that same evening. Still no answer from them, nor a chance to escape her current inn.

'Can you do that for me?'

'Sure,' Olivia said.

This is my chance she thought. I can leave without Sheppard becoming suspicious.

'That's a quick agreement,' Sheppard noted. 'A little unusual coming from you.'

Olivia looked at him with a small smile on her face.

'I can also say I don't want to do it if you'd prefer that?'

'No, no, no. Forget what I said.'

They both laughed. Olivia was going to miss the banter between them while she'd be traveling. When she'd return, would Sheppard still be nice to her after she basically ran away without telling him anything?

I can't tell him now, however, she thought. It would be too much to get into. He'll also scold me for not telling him that I had a bit of a weird feeling towards Danny and Jamie and didn't tell him about it.

'I'll go after everyone has gotten breakfast,' she said.

'Sure, I'll have someone else make a start on cleaning the rooms.'

Sheppard put down his hand holding the rag. Upon inspecting the wall, he saw the stain was still there.

'I think a painting would look quite nice here,' he said while putting his hands on his hips. 'Don't you think?'

Olivia looked at the place of the stain. It spread over three different stones and was close to a window. Not the most optimal place for a painting.

There have been stains before on that exact same spot Olivia thought. A painting wouldn't be safe from those.

She caught on to the joke, though.

'I'm surprised there isn't one already,' she said instead.

Sheppard shot her a smile and put the rag in one of the sinks.

'In advance, thank you for going to the market,' he said.

'Sure.'

'I'll see you around, okay?'

'See you around,' Olivia said.

Sheppard left the kitchen to do other things. Presumably. When the omelets were finished, Olivia put them on plates, and walked to the dining room.

She couldn't believe she actually went through with it. To rebel against people who trusted her. But there she was.

Olivia walked on the path towards the next village. The evening the men gave her that address, she looked it up on the inn's map on her way back down. She knew the way to the town and would only need to ask around where the inn was when she'd get there.

Only bringing a small bag she was able to travel relatively quickly. She didn't carry much in it, only the bare essentials plus the note. The bag was uncluttered and orderly.

Her mind, however, was a chaos. Every ten minutes or so her attitude changed from 'what the hell' to 'I should go back immediately' or the other way around.

However, she forced herself to keep walking forward.

She forced herself to not turn around.

She forced herself to get a step closer to finding her mother.