zero

Chapter 5: Family of Three

The forest was calm, the cool air rustling the leaves as Fliyn and Ruben wandered through it, the crunch of their boots soft beneath the thick canopy of trees. They often came here for walks—a welcome break from the noise of the city. Fliyn, dressed in his usual alt-emo style, with his black hoodie, silver rings, and dark eyeliner, kept to himself mostly, hands shoved deep in his pockets. Ruben, on the other hand, was all sunshine and energy, bounding through the undergrowth with the enthusiasm of a golden retriever.

"Fliyn, you ever think about how big this forest is? Like, what if there's some secret treasure buried here?" Ruben mused, hopping onto a fallen log and balancing precariously on it. Fliyn snorted but kept walking, his eyes scanning the trees ahead.

"I think you've watched National Treasure one too many times, Ruben."

"C'mon, admit it—if anyone here's got hidden treasure, it's you, with your 'brooding artist' look," Ruben teased, hopping off the log and jogging to catch up. "You've got mystery written all over you."

"Yeah, well, I prefer it that way," Fliyn muttered with a smirk.

The banter between them was natural, something that had developed over their years of friendship. They had met in college, bonded over late-night study sessions, bad cafeteria food, and eventually, the practicality of splitting rent to afford a decent apartment. Fliyn liked his space, liked the quiet. Ruben liked being around people. Somehow, it worked.

As they wandered further into the forest, Ruben suddenly stopped. "Hey, did you hear that?"

Fliyn froze, listening carefully. There, faint and distant, was the unmistakable sound of a child crying.

They exchanged a look, concern flashing across Ruben's face. "That's... a kid, right?"

Without waiting for a response, Ruben started moving toward the sound, and Fliyn followed, heart pounding. They pushed through the dense trees and came to a small clearing. In the center, huddled against a large rock, was a small child. Their clothes were dirty, hair tangled, and they clutched their knees tightly to their chest.

Ruben approached first, crouching down at a respectful distance. "Hey there, are you okay?"

The child looked up, startled, their wide eyes flicking between Ruben and Fliyn. They didn't answer, just stared, as if unsure whether to trust these strangers. Fliyn stood back, letting Ruben handle it—he was better with kids, anyway.

"What's your name?" Ruben asked gently.

The child didn't respond right away, but after a moment, in a voice barely above a whisper, they muttered, "Zero."

"Zero, huh? That's a cool name," Ruben said with a warm smile. "What are you doing out here all alone?"

Zero's eyes flickered with uncertainty, and they pulled their knees tighter to their chest. "I was left here. They didn't want me."

Fliyn's chest tightened, the weight of those words hitting hard. He could see the sadness in Zero's eyes, the kind of sadness no kid should have. Ruben's face softened with concern, and without hesitation, he reached out a hand.

"Hey, how about you come with us? We'll figure this out together."

Zero hesitated but eventually reached out, taking Ruben's hand. Ruben stood, helping them up, and turned to Fliyn. "Let's get them back to the apartment. We can call someone from there."

Fliyn nodded, watching as Zero shyly moved to stand closer to Ruben, clearly finding comfort in his warm, open demeanor. Together, the three of them made their way back to the apartment.