𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕

Giran sat at the large oak desk in his study, his textbooks and notes scattered around him in a disorganized mess. He tried to focus, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the events at school, to Filan and the strange, unsettling interactions they’d been having. It was hard to concentrate when the weight of the mystery pressing down on him seemed to be growing heavier by the day.

"Lucas, no running around!" Giran called out to the small child, who was racing circles around the room, laughing and giggling. The five-year-old, Lucas, the maid’s son, had been a constant presence in Giran's life ever since his family hired his mother as their housekeeper.

Lucas was a bundle of energy, and while Giran found him amusing at times, the noise was starting to get on his nerves as he tried to study. Lucas had no concept of the tension that had been mounting at school, or the fear that Giran couldn’t shake off. The child was too young to understand what was happening.

“I’m not running!” Lucas protested as he skidded to a stop and grinned up at Giran, his little face bright with mischief. “I’m just... playing!"

Giran couldn't help but smile at Lucas’s innocent energy. The kid had a way of lightening the mood, even if it was just for a brief moment. Still, the lingering thoughts of Filan, the killer, and the strange dreams he’d been having kept creeping back into his mind.

“Alright, alright,” Giran sighed, closing his textbook for a moment and turning his attention to Lucas. “But maybe we can study together for a bit? I’ve got to work on some of this, or I’ll fail the next test.”

Lucas scrambled up onto the chair next to Giran, his legs swinging as he settled down. Giran handed him a small, colorful notebook filled with basic words and letters. It was meant for children his age to learn from, though Giran was sure Lucas wasn’t paying much attention.

“What’s this?” Lucas asked, eyeing the notebook curiously.

“It’s for learning,” Giran replied, smiling softly. “You know, so you can get smarter. You don’t want to stay a little kid forever, right?”

Lucas nodded enthusiastically, clearly understanding little of what Giran had said but enjoying the attention. Giran continued working, glancing at Lucas occasionally as the child scribbled on the page, most of it unintelligible marks that only a toddler could call writing.

Giran rubbed his eyes and sighed, his focus once again faltering. He had so many questions about the recent events at school, and Filan’s strange behavior, but now wasn’t the time. Lucas, who was innocent to all of this, deserved his attention for just a little while longer.

"You know, Lucas," Giran said absently as he stared at the papers before him, his mind still elsewhere, "I wish things were simpler. Like before."

Lucas looked up from his scribbling and tilted his head, not understanding Giran's words but somehow sensing the sadness in them. He suddenly pushed the notebook aside and crawled into Giran's lap, his tiny hands gripping his shirt.

“Don’t be sad, uncle Giran!,” Lucas said in a surprisingly mature voice for his age, his big eyes wide with concern. “I’ll protect you. I’m strong!”

Giran looked down at the little boy in his lap and smiled softly, his heart warming despite the confusion and fear swirling in his chest. How could a child like Lucas know what he was really going through? But something about the kid's innocent confidence made Giran feel like, for a moment, everything might be okay.

"Thanks, Lucas," Giran said quietly, a chuckle escaping his lips. "You're my hero."

The little boy grinned, clearly pleased with himself, and climbed off Giran’s lap to continue his play, unaware of the tension that still loomed over Giran’s life.