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MISSING CHILD THOUGHT DECEASED FOUND ALIVE.
Just yesterday, a young child who goes by the name of Niko Solis had just been found after a gruelling four-month search across the outskirts of their village.
The light did not subside for a long while. It took an almost unbearable amount of time for their eyes to adjust to the sudden sunlight—traversing in a Sunless World for who knows how long can do that to you. It hurt.
Authorities and volunteers that were assigned for this search had long begun to fear the worst. On the day Niko Solis disappeared, they vanished without a trace, leaving behind no evidence, no known witnesses, or any indication to their whereabouts. For months, search efforts amounted to nothing at all.
Until now.
Eventually, when they could see a little bit better, they took a good look around to see vast blurs of yellow surrounding them. The wheat fields, they soon realized. It only just hit them how tired they truly were—they could just collapse at any moment.
Niko Solis was found asleep near an abandoned home, far away from the village itself by their mother, Hazel Solis, alongside a few volunteers from a search party. Witnesses at the scene confirmed that the child was surprisingly unharmed, later being woken up and quickly reunited with their parent.
See photo on page 12.
After walking a bit further from the strange home they first arrived in, they finally notice the tall clock tower in the distance, eventually seeing the outskirts of their village. They smiled wearily. We did it [PLAYER], the thought lingered in their mind for a long while, I’m home. Their attempt to simply run toward it resulted in them tripping, collapsing into the wheat. Maybe home can wait...
The circumstances that surround their disappearance and subsequent reappearance are vague and more often than entirely unclear, nevertheless, the otherwise sleepy town can breathe easier in the days to come. Investigations regarding this matter have been confirmed to continue until they find a conclusive line of events that could help to explain the phenomenon.
“Nik—!” What? “Niko!!” Oh, someone’s... calling me? They open their eyes to look beside them. When did they take a nap? They could see blurry figures in the distance rushing toward them, they looked... desperate? Out of all them, one person stood out. “Niko, can you hear me!?” Mama. It’s Mama.
Residents and neighbors have noted that Niko Solis seemed to have been deeply shaken upon their return. According to their mother, they seem closed-off and unusually secretive regarding the events that occurred of the past four-months, often avoiding questions entirely or responding in vague non-answers.
They weren’t given much chance to speak or stand up properly. They could feel their Mama scoop them up with her trembling arms. She was sobbing uncontrollably, it filled them with a discomforting feeling hearing her like this. “N-Niko, I’m s-so sorry.” Oh, oh dear... is this... my fault? Niko ignored the open stares from everyone else, instead, they tried to comfort their Mama.
She only cried harder at their gentle words.
She refused to let them go for a long while. They did not mind.
I missed her so much.
It was 6:34 AM. The sun had not risen, it had yet to cross beyond the horizon, only a faint pale blue lingered beyond the windows and high above in the sky—quiet hints that after dawn, morning would eventually arrive whether everyone was truly ready for it or not.
Hazel certainly wasn’t.
Still, that had never deterred her before.
For most, particularly the folks around the village, they would have seen being awake at this hour to be far too strenuous for any sane individual—not even Alice wakes up this early. I should visit her again to see how she’s doing, she quietly mused to herself. That old trader rarely, if ever at all, started her shift before the sun ever arrives high up in the sky. She remembers her going on another one of her tirades, going on and on about how waking up early is purely punishment for older people.
I just laughed the first time I heard that remark, thinking it was just a joke.
Now that she puts herself through that every day, she’s starting to believe that Alice may have a point...
Not that she will stop anytime soon. Old habits die hard.
Her small home remained dimly lit save for the open windows letting in a faint glow from outside, it was just bright enough to light up the interior—at least in places where she really needs it. Her vision doesn’t have night vision, though she wishes that were the case. Across the wooden floorboards, the occasional long shadow was formed with numerous objects and dusty furniture. It was almost distracting.
As she moved from room to room, she did so with the shocking efficiency of someone who had repeated the same line of chores oh so many times that it had become nearly second nature. Too much time on hand can do that.
She doesn’t even have her morning coffee yet—and yet, she’s still cleaning away in the dark and lonely home. Though it may seem hard to see, that is not the case for her and... pretty much everyone else around these parts. Their eyes may not be perfect, but they still provide well enough in the dark.
With her watchful gaze, not a speck of soot, nor a stain escaped her. Not a hint of a mess would go ignored for too long.
It always did get dusty around here.
A shame really, but that’s fine.
She likes cleaning, or at least the part where gets plenty of time to herself.
Hazel always find doing chores to be therapeutic in a sense. Cleaning was easy, she liked the peace it provides. She admits that she would often prefer familiar company, but even she needs a little time to herself. Rarely does she ever get a moment to unwind. Not since he left...
Ah, moving on. With a a broom in her hands, she easily brushed against the floor in a steady pattern, gathering dust and loose debris that kept piling up from yesterday—leaving it all in the corner of the room. There was no need to rush, she reminded herself, Niko was still comfortably asleep and the Sun... isn’t even in the sky yet.
For all she knew, she had all the time in the World right now. She had more than enough time to prepare breakfast later.
And maybe fix herself a cup of coffee while she’s at it...
Speaking of coffee, while she was away, she ran into Alice. By sheer luck, maybe even some bribery but no one can prove anything, she managed to snag a large bag of coffee powder—the expensive kind even.
She didn’t remember what she gave in return, though knowing her, she most likely gave something shiny. She always liked those things.
Anyways.
It has only been a few minutes of meticulous sweeping, and the room already looks unrecognizable from before—there was comfort in seeing a distinct sign of progress—yet there is still much to be done. The leftover stains were wiped away. The dust swept aside to pick up later. All the clutter at long last organized. It was a routine she was intimately familiar with, one that had kept her going for a long while.
It was... easy, something she could understand.
People are harder to understand. As that thought lingered, her bright eyes drifted toward the staircase leading upstairs—where all their bedrooms were in—she instinctively adjusted her ears, trying to gauge for any sounds that could suggest discomfort.
It was quiet.
That’s good... Niko was still asleep.
A faint feeling of warmth settled in her chest at the thought. She liked it very much.
She remembered how Niko would wake suddenly in the night, usually with a shout. She always enters their room to comfort them from... whatever night terrors plague their mind—they looked frightened, confused, almost every time. They cry for a while in her arms. She always had to glance away, lest she starts crying as well.
Other times, Niko simply... stared. Clutching the blankets closer to them. There was this far-off look to their otherwise bright and youthful eyes—it was discomforting.
The silence terrified her.
Still does.
There’s just something wrong about it. It’s often hard to believe that they were the same child that would chatter away without a care in the World. They always had something to say, now... not much at all.
Their abrupt silence always led my mind back to those four months.
She had spent many days, sitting by the window with the telephone nearby. Most of those days were spent wasting away with not a single phone call.
Every knock was deafening. At some point, she simply started ignoring them. They always came back empty-handed.
If we all just cycled across the village more. If we had just sent even more, we would hav— her grip on the broom tightened, the constant sound of brushing against the floor had stopped.
No. No, that’s not... it’s too early for this.
She did not want to think about any of that yet.
She swept more firmly across the floorboards, bordering on becoming erratic, gathering another annoyingly stubborn line of dust into the dustpan she had on hand, I always hated it when that happens, the growing messy pile nearby was... concerningly large. Had she really let it stay this messy before?
With continuously rising frustration, she kept up her sweeping—remaining just as persistent as the slowly thinning line on the floor.
Another sweep. Another line.
She stared at it with mounting betrayal.
The line stares back.
You know, sometimes I think this house just wants to spite me.
...
....
Oh good, now I can move on.
She let out a sigh of relief, now no longer trapped in that purgatory. She glanced around the living room and smiled to herself. It had improved significantly over the past few weeks. Before Niko’s return—before she even knew they were alright—she had... stopped caring entirely. There just wasn’t much of a point. It was a little embarrassing having to explain to Niko what happened to the place.
Never again.
She didn’t notice at first, partly because of the task at hand, but there was a stack of drawings on the couch—Niko’s work. Their scarf which she was sure she reminded them to keep away at all times was left on a chair. Despite herself, she smiled fondly at the sight.
She emptied the dustpan into a nearby trash bin before setting both tools aside. The cozy home looked respectable once more. Not perfect, it never is—homes with children, no matter how many, rarely ever stay perfect for too long. Especially since Niko possesses an unfortunate tendency to knock things over. Accidentally, of course. Just a brief glance back at the staircase and... still sleeping.
It’s getting awfully silent without them around.
Though, that does mean she still had time to prepare breakfast. Hopefully before they wake up. Sure, she was still not all there at the moment, cooking while exhausted is simply asking for trouble.
What’s the worst that could happen? She so smugly says to herself. She moved toward the kitchen counter, grabbing a few eggs from the basket, along with several strips of bacon.
See, nothing bad at al—
An egg slips and shatters unceremoniously on the floor. Some of its contents land on her feet. Hazel close her eyes and let out a deep sigh. I really need that coffee... she quickly grabs a piece of cloth, crouching down to wipe away her mess with a resigned expression. It would be humiliating as an adult if she ends up burning the food as well—what kind of mother would she be if she does?
Not a very good one I assume.
Right now, without that delightful cup of bittersweet goodness, Hazel was running on nothing but fumes. And whatever mysterious force that keeps adults like her to remain standing despite the prevalent exhaustion. It can wait... probably.
With the floor no longer a concern, she cracked the remaining eggs on hand into a pan. The bacons followed shortly after. The sounds of sizzling was immediate—a warm smell spread all across the room, reaching her nose. It was wonderful.
After flipping the bacon, she looked up to search through the cupboards with determined intent. Now where did she place it... where is... a-ha! She quickly grabbed the kettle, walking away to fill it up with much needed water—it won’t be long now.
Just the very thought of being able to taste her favorite drink was enough to keep her awake.
By the time the water finishes boiling, breakfast would already be done.
Just before Niko wakes up... Niko doesn’t need to wait just to eat in the morning.
She rummaged through the cupboard one last time to get the very thing she has been anticipating since the moment she got out of bed. Resting nearly out of reach was that bag of rich and savory coffee, it was beautiful. Moving aside a few jars and cans, she grabbed it with both arms, then pulled.
The regret afterwards was just as swift as the weight itself. Oh—goodness. Oh... oh dear. It nearly slipped from her fingers, only catching it by pressing it against her chest. No she absolutely wasn’t wobbling, nor is her arms trembling—it was just... just the wind.
She dropped the large bag onto the thick wooden table, it landed with a heavy thud. It creaked for a moment before it became clear it would hold. What a relief. Her wide eyes almost never left the bag itself, only drifting occasionally back to the stove—nothing was burning yet. Opening the bag let out a strong smell that hit her with something rich and warm—could just be the small cloud of powder launched upon herself, but she’ll never tell anyone.
Just the way she loves it.
For a few minutes, she simply stood by and enjoyed the familiar scent—she always did find relief from... well, coffee. Hazel knows many around the village who would find happiness in what she would call silly things. To her, typically around six in the morning, this was enough.
Eventually, she walked away to retrieve the jars holding sugar and the creamer. Approaching the stove again in slow strides.
Now all she had to do was wait for the water to boil.
...
Hazel sometimes hated waiting.
Not all the time, though, waiting for Niko had... changed a few things.
She was never the most patient person in the village. Just ask her parents and they would confirm it with a silly story and a cup of tea on hand.
But she wasn’t waiting for something ordinary. She was waiting for her child to return, for any news at all from the search parties—for a miracle of sorts.
She had tried to remain calm.
But calm was practically impossible to feel with... this.
Hazel remembered counting the days Niko disappeared.
Three hours turned into a day.
A day turned into month.
The stillness was the worst pain she would ever go through in her lifetime.
The kettle had barely begun heating before Hazel found herself glancing upstairs again. Still no sign of Niko—of her sunshine. A desperate part of her irks from this fact, she ignores it in favor of her more rational thoughts in her head.
She returned her attention back to the kitchen before she could spiral.
She grabbed a plate before raising the pan from the now closed burner, placing the eggs and bacon on it to cool. A small smile graced her face.
She’s now standing at the tables side, using a spoon she took to get the exact portions of coffee powder, sugar, and creamer inside her cup. As much as she likes the drinks served at the cafe, she prefers making it herself—it was always too much of something back there.
The kettle gradually grew louder as the water heated up. The sounds of steam escaping from the spout was the only constant noise alongside the clock above the table. It soothed her.
Normally, she barely noticed it at all.
Nowadays, it became something she could ground herself with—it served as a reminder that time hadn’t suddenly left her behind.
She leaned down on a chair, just barely avoiding falling over and collapsing on the floor below. Sleep does not come to her as easily as before. Exhaustion weighed heavily on every aspect of her being, making it harder to just... exist sometimes—she hadn’t been sleeping very well.
She lost count of the nights she spent looking at Niko through the gap of their bedroom door, just to make sure they were still there. The relief was so overwhelming, that it almost hurt.
It embarrasses her a little, but she knows that she won’t be stopping this habit anytime soon.
Now... why does it feel as though she was forgetting something...?
If she forgot then maybe it wasn’t important.
...
Wait, do we even have rice?
Hazel blinked twice before hastily standing up to go check. As if the light weight wasn’t enough, she raised up the lid to find... well, nothing at all they could eat. Clumsy.
With a heavy sigh, she pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation, how could I forget? Stupid... stupid...
After taking a few cups of rice, she moved the container below the sink’s faucet to fill it up with water. She steadily rinsed the rice with one hand, pouring out all the excess down the drain—repeating this process two more times, until, she decided it was enough. She quickly measured the water, making sure it reached the uppermost line of her middle finger with practiced ease.
Maybe a little too much. She frowned before pouring out some of it, checking again to make sure she got it right this time. Ah, perfect.
After starting the rice cooker, she placed the lid back on and moved slowly back to a chair. It wouldn’t be absurd to say she collapsed against it.
Opening her eyes after a short nap, she checked the clock on the side—it now reads 7:12.
Huh, new record, she noted quietly to herself.
Hazel will most certainly brag about this to the end of time.
Whatever gave her a boost is almost a good substitute for coffee.
Almost.
The kettle gradually started to scream bloody murder.
She most certainly did not jump and fall flat on her back.
Quickly getting on her feet, kicking aside a chair that had mysteriously fallen over, she ran straight for the stove. She grabbed the handle, pulling away the Kettle from the burner—stopping the noise—she put out the flame before placing it back down.
The silence afterwards was deafening. Hesitantly, she carried it over to the table and poured boiling water into her cup. It was steaming.
Without much care left, she raised the cup and took a sip...
The regret was instantaneous.
“Ouch—ow—hot, hot—"
She stuck her tongue out with a grimace. She placed the cup down, beside the plate with the finished breakfast.
Patience, Hazel.
A sudden thought had just hit her. Maybe the kettle woke Niko—it had been very loud. Now would be a good time for them to come down and eat, even if she had to apologize for the unwitting interruption.
I Should really be more mindful in the future.
...
Any minute now.
....
There was no small footsteps scurrying down the stair case. No tiny voice to offer half-asleep greetings. Not a small yawn to be heard.
Nothing that could suggest that Niko was even present at the moment.
Oh well.
Despite herself, she couldn’t bite back the strong feelings of disappointment. She wasn’t fond of eating all alone. She’s been alone long enough. I’m not even hungry yet, so it’s fine... it’s fine.
She got the chair to stand upright and sat down slowly. The wooden surface of the table felt cool to the touch. There was this persistent ticking from that same clock. It wasn’t annoying, never is—if it had been completely silent for too long, she’s certain that she would have gone mad a long time ago.
Hazel focused on that sounds. Just outside the household, birds have begun singing softly, filling the distance with their songs. The wind brushed gently against the windows. The sun rose higher, coating the World in a faint yellow glow. The village begins to wake up.
Hazel closed her eyes.
Finally letting her thoughts wander—perhaps, a bit too much.
...hadn’t she waited enough...? The thought was bitter, laced in grief and a dull sorrow.
She had waited. Four months. Four. Painful. Months.
She knows Niko is safe, she carried them to bed yesterday—of course she knew. And yet, it wasn’t enough to dull the ache.
Breakfast is ready, isn’t it? I could... bring it upstairs, in their room.
I could wake them up. Let them have breakfast in bed.
They would love that, wouldn’t they?
It wouldn’t matter if they made a mess, I would clean it all up anyways.
I would tell them it was alright... I would... I s-should—
She stopped, realizing her breathing had gone shallow. She remembered something Alice taught her... for when things get heavy. She took a deep breathe.
Then exhaled. She repeatedly did this until she was sure she would be alright.
Her coffee wasn’t steaming as much as before. Careful not to spill any of it, she raised it back up again, her lips slowly making contact with the edge of her cup.
....
Oh!
Rather than that same burning pain from before, she was instead treated with the all too familiar blend of something she’s craved since the minute she got out of bed.
Hazel occasionally let out hums of satisfaction with every sip. Spending the rest of her morning in a relaxed albeit pensive state of mind. She never really gave her time in solitude much thought before, always drifting away from it at every opportunity.
Though, since her sunshine wasn’t up yet... maybe she could, you know... give herself some time to mull over it.
Her face was composed, betraying no sudden emotion. Her eyes grew glossy, unfocused, lost. Her mind wandered far away from the present, back to when it all began. It was a long, long, long struggle.
One she wishes with all her heart to never endure a second time.
She remembered that morning so vividly. She had prepared a stack of pancakes as a surprise for Niko. Though, knowing them, she also prepared spaghetti—they can have plenty of favorites—Hazel was using the same chair she always had for every morning. With a cup of coffee cradled carefully between her hands, she simply waited for Niko to come downstairs.
The clock read 9:08, she used to wake up considerably later in the day, just as her sunshine did.
She took another sip from her coffee while reading through the newspaper left behind on her door, humming softly to herself as she flipped the pages—an old habit she never got over. She brought the cup down on the table, glancing away from the article she was reading to check the time.
9:10. Huh, they must be tired today.
Hazel made a mental note to herself to lecture Niko about proper sleeping habits... even if she herself had trouble sleeping at a consistent time. I suppose Niko has that in common with me, she mused dryly at her own expense.
Although... they aren’t usually a heavy sleeper.
What changed?
She could feel her ears lower ever so slightly as the concern lingered. She just shook the feeling, and chalked it all up as just her nerves getting the best of her.
They’re fine.
Why wouldn’t they be?
With renewed patience, she went back to her daily reading, only finding difficulty with the small text, the font size being indecipherable. How bothersome. She took out her reading glasses—the pair she got from a particularly skittish young man along with a bouquet of flowers, the librarian’s assistant. No matter what, she just can’t seem to remember his name...
With the glasses resting properly on her face, she can now clearly read everything. She quietly thanked... well, whatever his name is.
She should really ask him sometime.
As she was reading, Hazel took the cup back in her hand and—oh, it was... empty. As if to make sure, she flipped the cup over to be upside down, as if coffee may magically reappear—not a drop in sight. “Oh... damn—excuse me—gosh.”
...that’s going to be another in the swear jar, won’t it...?
With a heavy sigh, she got up from her chair to approach the self-inflicted punishment. All with the solemnity of a woman marching toward her execution. The jar does have results however, she doesn’t remember the last time she’s said anything worse than fu—actually, you know what? Let’s just stop that word.
She rummaged through her pockets on the sides of her pants—a miracle all things considered—fishing out some spare change. With a steeled gaze, she reached out for the jar and opened it.
I will never financially recover from this.
All because of my dirty mouth.
...
Okay, that was overly dramatic.
Hazel’s inner theater kid shines through the motherly exterior, before the cold hard reality of losing her, uh... life savings? Hits her face like a splash of cold water.
She somberly walks away in defeat. Sitting back down on her chair with an expression that suggests she had lost everything.
...
Despite herself, she smirks, and then laughs.
It was a sudden sound—warm, bright, immediately uplifting. It was embarrassingly loud in the quiet house.
“G-Gosh, what am I—doing...”
Her laughter devolved into sporadic wheezing, only stopping when she was sure she was going to lose a lung. She wiped away a few stray tears from the corners of her eyes. Her smile stayed plastered on her face.
Maybe to a certain sleepy child, that would probably be the funniest thing in the whole wide World.
...
Her smile faded away slowly.
Hey... where is Niko anyways?
She turned her head up the staircase. No sign of them anywhere. The unease is starting to eat her up inside, she ignores it—for now.
Maybe a little reading wouldn’t hurt. They could just be sleeping.
With a flip of the page, she forced herself to focus on another story, one regarding a fire that was put out before serious damage could be done.
10:03. It was 10:03. Niko was still not awake.
The ticking of the clock seemed louder than usual in the empty quiet within the house. Despite the warm sunny day, she felt a faint cold feeling travel down her spine.
Hazel rhythmically tapped her foot beneath the table. It had begun slow at first, slowly devolving into an erratic pace. She had finished reading through the newspaper a while ago.
There was nothing to suggest Niko was still there at all... don’t think like that, Hazel.
They’re fine.
Eventually, the waiting got too much. She shakily stood up on her two feet, ignoring the deep pit in her chest. Every step of the staircase creaked beneath her, doing nothing to mitigate her lightheadedness. She soldiered on regardless.
I just have to check.
When she arrived at Niko’s door, she stood in front of it, straining her large ears to listen for any sound whatsoever. Nothing. She pressed the side of her head firmly against the surface, knocking gently. “Niko, are you awake?”
No response.
How odd.
She was starting to think her concerns weren’t unfounded. She kept one hand on the door handle to steady herself. “Sunshine? It’s time to get up... breakfast is ready.”
No response.
That hurt a little, they always responded to that. Are they... mad at her?
She tried listening for any movement. For the small tapping of their steps. For... anything at all. Her grip on the handle tightened. She swallowed down her nerves, trying just one more time to get a word from them. “Niko... I made pancakes for you! Also a plate of spaghetti—it’s gone cold, but I’m sure you wouldn’t mind too much... would you?”
No response.
...
With a muttered apology, she opened the door.
....
Oh?
They weren’t there. The bed was neatly arranged, like she never tucked them in bed herself. Their toys were inside the box. The curtains by the window were firmly shut. By all means, there was nothing amiss—there’s just one glaringly obvious problem.
“Niko?” Hazel walked along the room, checking for any clue to their whereabouts. Nothing. She wasn’t sure if it was desperation for a feeling of normalcy, but she just forced a smile on her face, as if this was just a game Niko is playing at the moment.
But they never hid away from her.
Not like this.
“Niko, is this hide and seek? I didn’t know you liked this game!” They don’t, they really don’t. With narrowed eyes, she pretended to search for nothing in particular. “Now how about... gotcha!” She swiftly drops to the floor to look under the bed frame. Nothing but dust. Her smile falls.
“Oh dear.”
Hazel would spend the rest of the morning trying to find Niko. Opening doors. Running across rooms. Scanning corners. Searching through every possible place a small child could end up in. Becoming more frantic as the hours passes by quickly.
Where else could they be... where else—how about—no, not there. The roof? No, they can’t climb yet—they could be hurt—not now.
Did they run off? Were they taken by someone? The windows were closed—the door was locked, wasn’t it?
Who would even... no, that’s ridiculous. The village folk—they’re all good people—they would never...
Would they?
Was this my fault?
Where. Where. Where. WHERE. WHERE. WHE—
She got into a coughing fit, forcing her to lean against a wall for support, interrupting her downward spiral. She had searched every inch of the household, and Niko was still a no show. Making a mess everywhere she went—she’ll clean it all up before Niko shows up.
Her wide eyes darted everywhere. She had never felt this lost before... what am I supposed to do, who do I ev— once more, her thoughts screeched to an abrupt halt. Her eyes kept wandering until, it finally lands on the front door.
Why didn’t I think of that sooner?
She hastily ran straight for the door, nearly forgetting her coat for the outdoors. Now out in the open, she let her steps guide her—purely by instinct.
She just had to find them. Her child. They’re definitely getting a stern talking to at some point—no child should give their mothers a heart attack before noon.
Through the endless wheat, she could see the clock tower standing high above every other structure in sight—it read 12:16.
Hazel chose to ignore it.
Hazel couldn’t remember how far she ran, only that she nearly knocked several people over during her frantic dash through the village paths—they all looked so worried for her.
Try as she might, she cried on the way.
So many tears I was wasting... for someone who’s still out there, somewhere.
How can I have ever misplaced you?
Hazel chose to bury her thoughts in the back of her mind. She can grieve later.
Faces blurred past her. She could barely comprehend the startled voices calling for her, concern rippled from person to person so very quickly. Someone tried to grab her sleeve, asking her a question—she tore free before they could stop her.
She could feel her lungs burn from the exertion. She kept moving regardless.
Truthfully, she didn’t who to go to for help. A village elder perhaps? Someone who knew what to do in these situations? She’s never really interacted with anyone beyond warm pleasantries. Hazel didn’t have time to think about that, she just needed to find someone, anyone at all. Just where to—
“Heya, Haze! Where you runnin’ off to in such a hurry!?” She felt herself stumble from the relief. That voice. There was only one person who could sound this cheerful yet gruff.
“Alice!” She ran straight toward her stall, ignoring the confused onlookers from afar. She startled a pair of children on the way, making them drop a few things—she muttered out a quick apology before turning her attention back to her friend.
Standing beneath a shade of patched clothing was Alice herself, looking as strange as usual. Her dull red hair spilled unevenly beneath the hood of her old ruby cloak. One bright yellow eye stared openly while the other remained hidden behind a worn eyepatch she absolutely did not need—she still had both. She checked.
Alice thought it added to her “mysterious charm,” Hazel quietly thinks the opposite. In fact, she thinks it makes her looks ridiculous.
She stopped in front of her, the air seemed to have left her body all at once, her legs nearly buckled beneath her.
“L-Look, Alice...”
“Woah there, Haze,” she held her steady with both arms. Alice always had a habit of placing her hands on her shoulders for whatever reason. “Take it easy now... wouldn’t want you to fall over!”
“Niko is—their not...” the words escape her. She could barely breathe easily, sweat trailed down her head, she tried to wipe it all away.
“What’d I tell you? Easy now Haze.” Why does she keep calling me that? “What did I tell you before?”
Hazel could feel herself blink in confusion.
What did she tell me...?
...Oh.
Right, breathe.
She took a deep breath, and exhaled—repeating it an additional four more times. “Aha, so you do remember after all!” No shit—oh wait.
She winced slightly to herself, that swear jar is going to become full very soon if she doesn’t find Niko today. Although... perhaps under these circumstances, she deserves some form of exemption.
“Hazel.”
Oh, so she can say my name.
She was still panicking. Trembling from her nerves. It was shameful, all of this was shameful. “Haze... what’s wrong?” Alice reluctantly landed a rough hand on her shoulder, from years of use she was sure, Hazel slowly placed a hand over hers—the contact kept her grounded.
She avoided looking into her uncovered eye. The sincere concern pierced through her more than she thought it should. It’s my fault, all of this is my fault. The grim thought never escaped her mouth. She wasn’t even sure she could even admit it out loud without breaking down suddenly.
“A-Alice—I’m sorry...”
“What for? You just got here!” Always the loud type. Her boundless energy under any circumstances would have made her smile.
“No, no, it’s not me... it’s a-actually about Niko.”
Her smile fell slightly, just enough for someone as perceptive as she was to notice. Niko actually meant a lot to everyone who has ever met them. They were a sweet kid. “What happened.” It wasn’t a question, her playful tone is all but gone now. She didn’t notice the stares all across the market square, they weren’t subtle anymore.
“That’s the thing Alice, I don’t even know if their fine right now! Oh gosh—they could be hurt—they must be so lost and afraid right now.”
They could be anywhere in the World at this very moment.
And there was nothing she could do.
“Oh Alice... what am I supposed to—"
A rough hand suddenly clamped her mouth shut. She froze. She could smell faint residue of spices, at least it wasn’t grease.
Alice leaned upward slightly until they were eye level. She was a very short woman all things considered.
“Now lookie here, Zellie!”
Hazel stared in disbelief, Zellie? That’s a new one.
Her voice was loud, absolutely certain. Like being loud enough would be enough to make whatever she says true.
“I don’t care how long it takes, I don’t care if we have to search through every blade of grass just to get Niko back to where they belong—we will find them, no matter what!” That sharp smile of hers could light up homes, she was sure. It left her feeling a tiny bit flustered.
She felt her old friend move her closer with both strong arms to face her wholeheartedly. Her lone eye had a certain fire behind her typical whimsy.
“Just you wait Haze, before you know it, you’ll be holding that kid of yours in your arms like nothing ever happened!” She gave that bright toothy grin of hers whenever she knew that her old friend wasn’t doing too well, a rare showing of her tooth gap in the middle—she seemed determined to see this through.
“She’s right!” A voice from the large crowd shouted. It startled her. Everyone, most especially the children, they all looked like they agreed. It was encouraging, even if being the center of attention this way wasn’t ideal.
Hazel could only manage a small weary smile and a nod.
If only if that were true.
She could have... she should have—
...
Actually, you know what? That’s enough for today.
It was 8:49 in the present day. The sky outside is not the dull shade of blue as it was earlier. A rooster in the distance could be heard letting out a sharp cry, morning has come.
The bright sunlight filtered inside through the windows and the numerous gaps and holes along the aging structure—it has been a long while. Generations of her family lived and slept in this very household, only small mementos and old photos of them remained to signify they were ever here at all.
All these wonderful things from the past don’t mean as much as the one thing that both elated and haunted her since the day Niko returned.
She had kept it hidden for a long while, never letting Niko even take so much as a glance at it. Sitting neatly within a suitable frame was a specific page ripped out of a newspaper, the front page to be exact.
Beneath the large headline was a massive wall of text that always seemed to taunt her with every read. Beside it, an old photo of Niko playing in the fields with friends.
The word ‘Deceased’ never fails to strike where it aches. It’s irrational, she’s well aware.
Niko was alive. They were safe and sound. She’s not sure how, but she thanks whatever deity that watched over them every waking moment.
It was a miracle they said.
It was like a blessing in broad daylight another added.
She’s not sure why, but hearing those things frustrates her to no end. It just sounded... insensitive in a way.
But it doesn’t matter anymore. Hazel buried the frame beneath a pile of useless paperwork, shutting the drawer. She walked away to look out the window instead. Letting her mind wander without all the noise.
Today would be a good day.
She’ll make sure of it.
She heard something.
Small steps shakily descend down the staircase, the slight creaking gradually growing louder as they move closer downstairs.
Her ears turned to face the stairs, even while she was facing away from it. Her eyes widened by a fraction. She smiled—she already knew.
She did not dare turn her back from the window, not until she heard them stop. Just knowing they were nearby already improved her overall mood. Without hesitation, she turned toward Niko with a bright grin. “Good morning, sunshine! How was your...” her words trailed off as she moved to properly face them.
Have they been crying?
Niko looked up at her with tired eyes. They wiped away a stray tear with their sleeve, trembling slightly.
Her heart broke at the sight of them.
“Niko, was it... a bad dream?” She jumped up from her seat to approach them properly. Once in front of them, one of her hands moved to gently cup their face. Her eyes welled up with deep concern. They leaned into the touch, letting their eyes close.
They wordlessly nodded. Opening their eyes to look straight at hers.
There was a deep sadness behind their usually childishly bright eyes—it was hard to get used to the first time she noticed it.
She would never truly understand it.
It pains her to acknowledge that.
Words often fail her these days, so instead of speaking, she opened up her arms invitingly.
They barely hesitated to accept the offer.