Sunrise

Chapter 19

The room that AJ, his grandfather, and Richard had occupied was a presidential suite compared to the dump he was looking at.

The faded wallpaper had already been eaten away by both time and termites, leaving the broken wooden panels mouldy, bare and jutting out from their positions. The floor looked like it hadn't been washed in centuries, and the windows were so grimy that the light from the outside was nearly blocked out, plunging the room into near-darkness. There was no furniture except a single sofa; its upholstery faded and torn, exposing the inner sponge that was also stained green and eaten away. The kitchen was worse, for it didn't exist in the first place. The counter that was supposed to separate the kitchen from the living room had been broken down, with the remnants of the ceramic still remnant on the ground. The sockets that were supposed to be on the wall were ripped out, exposing tiny wires and cables intertwined into balls made of complicated knots. Or amenities typically associated with kitchens were also absent. There was no stove, microwave, or even cupboards to store pots, plates, pans, or even spices. The sink was broken and stained, and there was also no fridge. To his left, there were two doors, one leading to the bathroom and the other to a small bedroom, he assumed. However, he was horrified to even think of the architectural atrocities hidden behind them. Even the animal barn back home was several times cleaner than this place.

AJ wished he was still a werewolf. At least he would've been invincible against any possible diseases lurking within this room's horrifyingly disgusting corners.

"Come, let's sit down," the old man said as he invited him to sit on the sofa, which AJ quickly but politely declined.

"I need to keep standing to stay alert to any danger," he said apologetically. The excuse sounded unconvincing to him but was convincing enough for the old man.

"So," said the old man with a smile, exposing his broken yellow teeth. "Care for a snack?"

AJ looked around. There was no fridge or pantry for food to be stored. Also, after seeing him rummage through the garbage behind the restaurant, he was disgusted to think he had any sense of food health and safety regulations.

"I'm good, thank you," AJ said. "I don't want to burden you even further, especially after what you have done for me."

The old man smiled.

"I knew those two were trouble," he said, piquing AJ's interest. "Those two were suspiciously lurking around the block since yesterday. I didn't know why they were here, but I knew that they were trouble. Nothing ever escapes the sharp eyes of Uncle Hobbs!"

AJ raised his eyebrows. The man looked crazy, but he sure was a quick-witted one.

"In the end, I figured they were up to no good," the old man continued. "And when they were chasing you, my suspicions were correct."

"Thank you, Mr Hobbs," AJ said. "I am forever grateful for your bravery, and I apologise for causing trouble for you. If you would like anything in return, I would be more than glad to give it to you."

The old man shook his head.

"No, son," he said. "I don't want anything from you. I am content with the way I live."

AJ was confused. The man clearly lived in awful poverty. His home, if it were actually his home, was a dump; his clothes were shabby, and he really needed to take a shower. He didn't need to have a powerful sense of smell to figure he hadn't showered in days, if not, weeks. He couldn't understand how anyone would refuse such a generous offer. Could it be his pride or his ignorance of the fact that he was from an affluent family? 

"My family's rich," AJ explained. "I can give you anything you want."

Hobbs shook his head again.

"I know you are," he said. "I saw you walking about the street yesterday morning when I was doing my daily rounds. The price of your clothes alone would buy this building that we're standing inside."