find solace (belong) [KNY/BNHA]

[07] wish for more time

It was a simple job really. One that Gin could easily entrust Char with. The sun hadn't gone down yet, and the area he was sending her to was relatively safer than where he'd usually go — blunter rocks and more defined paths that one could take.

It was supposed to be easy, yet, why did Gin feel like something was going to happen? On a seemingly harmless trip, Char always managed to surpass his expectations, in more ways than one, but even she wouldn't be able to conjure up danger from nothing, right?

So, despite a furrow in his brow and a nagging feeling that he always got when Char had gotten into a fight halfway across the town, Gin had simply waved her goodbye, hearing that easygoing 'Mr Gin, I'm heading out!'. It was something the girl had gotten excited about saying every time she came to and fro from whatever tasks he assigned her to do.

It was adorable, Gin had gushed in a letter to his friend as soon as it became a regular occurrence. Seriously, what has become of him and his terrifyingly strict image that his previous students had of him?

Gin busied himself with the customers in front of him, who were asking for some cold medicine for their youngest child. Huh, perhaps it was flu season.

His shop dealt with procuring medicinal plants and such for other apothecaries, as well as the selling of some common medicines, for more general use. Gin made those medicines, but others he purchased from nearby towns. He had a vast knowledge of first aid and medicine — after all, it was what he was originally studying before he decided to get a job in the military.

Hm? When had it become this late already? The stream of people entering and exiting the shop had him completely swamped with work, being the sole owner of the shop had its downfalls at times like these. Hours had gone by, it seemed. Gin didn't even have time to notice that the sun had set halfway across the horizon.

Where is she? Where was Char?

Gin didn't like this. Not one bit.

Did something happen? A wild boar perhaps? No, it didn't make sense, there were no wild boars and bears in the area he sent her to. Injury perhaps? No matter how small Char was, she was athletic for her age, there's no way she would get injured just by climbing up that mountain a little. Especially if the path was clear and relatively smooth. Gin had also drilled into Char's brain the areas where he laid traps for wild animals that might target the herb garden he had planted, and he had refused to let her anywhere near the place unless he was confident that she wouldn't get caught in any of them.

So what was it? This unease, this annoyance, this brewing disturbance.

The sun had set. Blue and grey darkness rapidly bleeding into the remnants of yellow and orange that it had left behind. It was growing dark, and fast.

Gin clenched his jaw. Something was horribly wrong.

Turning the open sign at the door over to a closed, Gin strapped his boots and removed the axe he had in the back storeroom.

Just to be safe, it was an assurance. If he didn't need it, and Char really had just tripped and fell, maybe sprained her ankle, then great. But if he did need it, wel... he was about to find out.

A crash and a growl from the doorway of the shop attracted his attention instantly. Mr Floofington, who tended to act docile in front of everyone other than Gin himself, let out a sharp whimper. Immediately, Gin bolted towards the counter of the shop.

Burly build with skin of rotten flesh. Grey, a look of death. Loose curls of hair, matted and green. Long hanging nails, dragging across the floor.