Hidden Heroes

FĮFTÉÈÑ

I opened a bandage and placed it on a small cut on my finger, looking down at the broken glass sitting by my feet. I sighed and pulled my tangled hair back, strands waving in front of my face as I swept the glass away. Ivy threw a glass at one of the maids for going through her things and I got caught in the crossfire.
I ended up being punished for just being in the room while who knows what is happening to the maid.

Robert was sitting on the window seat at the farther end of the room. The windows were covered in cold air so we resorted to the fire place and the chandelier being the best source of light and heat.

I should have expected this when moving in two weeks ago. I hid my box to speak with dad in between the bed frame and the mattress in my room and didn't allow anyone to enter unless I was in there. If Ivy were to find it, no doubt I wouldn't be getting it back and she'd use all the essence up in a day.

I had a packet of sunflower seeds stuffed in my hoodies's pocket and was snacking on them as I swept. Robert must have been getting annoyed by how slowly I was working since he kept looking up from his book with his eyes glowing from time to time. The broom bristles hitting the ground did sound rather vexatious but it was a good chance that I wasn't going to pass up.

The glass clattered against the broom and I heard a small grunt from him. I bit my tongue to stop myself from laughing.
"Yo, can you move any slower?!,"he yelled form across the room.

"Do you want me to?," I smiled. He tossed his book at me but missed completely and it landed by the fireplace.

"Fine." I swept the glass into the dust pan and picked up the tray, dumping the remains in a garbage bag.

I walked I've to the fire place and picked up the book. The cover had gold wording engraved in that seemed to be in a different language. I ran my hand across the red cover before placing it back on the bookshelf and grabbing one for myself.

I dragged a chair towards the fireplace and sat in it, my feet swinging towards and away from the flames. I thought about the cell Chance gave me and how I haven't received a call or text from him at all. Maybe he was busy but I started to wonder if he was even going to call at all. I didn't have his number so I couldn't do anything about it.

A loud thud interrupted my thoughts and I watched as Robert settled into his own chair and observed the front of the book I was holding.

"Are you going to read it or what?," he asked, not really caring.

I looked at the book and opened to the first page. I wasn't really intrigued at the plot of the book but I kept looking sideways as Robert followed my finger when it flipped a page or tapped on the wood of the arm rest.

Before I knew it, we spent a majority of the day just sitting their in silence. We didn't eat, didn't get up to use the restroom and pretty much everyone got the hint that we were not to be disturbed.

By the time the sun was setting, I closed the book and looked up at the flame, it had dulled down to a few sparks and a small fire.

Robert got up and added another match to the pit. Then he turned his chair to face mine and pulled a table in between us.
"Wait here."

I was honestly too scared of him to do anything else so I waited. After ten minutes, he came in with a tray full of assortments of cookies and warmed milk.

"Eat the red one," he demanded. I nodded and picked up the smallest cookie in the batch and shoved it in my mouth. After I ate it, we sat in silence. Robert had his legs crossed and he looked at the fire. He looked calm and collected, while I felt too tense to even lean back in my chair. I felt the need to strike up a conversation.

"The book," I started. His eyes glanced over to meet mine. "The book was good."
He didn't say anything so I kept going.

"The story was dull at first so I'd understand if people would drop it on the first few pages but the fact that it was based in a world before the apocalypse even started was smart. It was a new sort of plot you wouldn't expect." I sat on my feet and smiled nervously. "And I like how it doesn't have a happy ending."

"You don't like happy endings? ," he said, interest in his voice.

"It's...cliche," I said.

"Like, you wouldn't want yourself to have a happy life because it's cliche?"

"No, not like that," I responded. "Sure, people want to live life smooth-sailing but what's going to guarantee that? Not everything's going to go your way."

He shrugged. "I guess."

"You don't guess, you know."

I saw a small smile grow on his face and he covered it with his fist. I wanted to laugh but before I could my vision began to blur.
"Um, Robert? Can I get an Advil or something?"

"Yeah, it's about time to go to bed anyways. Go to your room, I'll be there in a bit."

I pushed myself off the chair and stumbled towards the nearest wall. I put all my weight on the wall and railing as I walked up the stairs. I entered my room and flopped on the bed.
My legs became weak and I couldn't move them so I struggled to pull the blanket from under me and sheet it on myself.

I have been taking care of myself well so why did I feel so sick? Then my thoughts flashed back to the red cookie. "Ho my fu-"

"Lizbeth?," Robert called. He walked into the room with a glass of water and a pack of Advil.
I just glared at him.

"What?," he said, not acknowledging my weak state. He popped a pill out and helped me up.
My eyes stayed situated on him as he tried to hand me the medicine.

"Look, don't be a problem. Just take the damn pill."

"You know what you did," I shot back.
He looked up and rose his brows.

"Obviously. There was no way you could stay in this house and have any intention of being a hero. You would give us away."

"Why?!," I cried. "Why are you people so intent on being villains? Why do you want to break the law? They're there for a reason!"

"It's not that simple," he spoke. "Being a hero doesn't give you any advantages. You know how much your brother gets paid because he isn't a high ranking hero? People still hate you and rank you even after everything you do for them. You don't get the respect you should. Why do you want to be someone like that?"

I stayed silent. Robert just sighed and put the medicine and glass on the table. "Whatever, you just gotta ruin everything, don't ya?"

"What's your issue, man?"

"You."

"Of course it is. Is it because your mom abuses you and neglects you because of my daddy?"

"Your father is a joke," he spat. "Why would he just turn himself in when everything was showing his way?"

"Don't talk about him like that."

He just smiled with an evil, arrogant glint in his eyes. "Or what? You can't do anything in your state anyways." I felt myself boiling with fury.

Then something lit up and we both looked at the glass of water. A layer of blue flames were growing out of the glass.

I smirked at Robert's worried face.
"Wanna say that again?"

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Lots of luck and other stuff 🍀