Adding more wood to the weak fire that was gradually dying out, he helplessly leaned against the old, damp, moss-filled wall of the dilapidated house.

Through the half-gouged wall, he turned his gaze to the starry sky vanishing behind threatening dark clouds, mirroring his troubled thoughts. However, the bright crackling of the bonfire reminded him that the powerful fire was still burning strong despite the rain. Just like them, he won't let the hope of the two of them be defeated by this situation.

Bringing his mind back to the present, he turned his eyes to the corner of the wall, the only sheltered and dry place in the house. In his dark, tired eyes, there was a glimmer of contentment and tranquility. Took a long yawn, and he realized he hadn't rested in days. The feeling of weariness came like a storm, making it difficult for his consciousness to hold.

Try to forget the pain coming from his lower abdomen and body. He leaned against the nearby wall and walked slowly towards the corner of the house, intending to sleep a bit to regain his strength. Luckily the house wasn't too big, so it only took him a few minutes to get where he wanted.

Quiet sitting next to a pile of dry leaves, he let out a few tired breaths. Calming down the beating heart in his chest, he glanced at the person lying peacefully on a large pile of leaves. Let out a small giggle at their 'beautiful' sleeping posture, He carefully arranged the blanket for his sister. Talking about a blanket may be an exaggeration for this tattered, stained piece of fabric with an unknown shape. At least, it provides some warmth.

"Um Jack"

The girl stirred and moaned softly. Breaking his rare moment of absent-mindedness. The little girl stretched, as usual, then slightly curled up to cover herself against the cold of late autumn.

"Sorry woke you up, you should sleep more"

He smiled tiredly and rubbed her messy hair. She clutched the edge of the blanket without speaking, hiding her face in the darkness. but he didn't pay much attention to that expression just ruffled her slightly dirty hair then concentrated on glancing around the house, out of the corner of his eye he found a pretty good place to sleep. As usual, he placed a kiss on her forehead before she went to sleep. He was about to go to the place he had just found when suddenly he found something holding the corner of his shirt.

"Jack, stay"

Her voice was hoarse and weak, pleading as if she was afraid he would leave her behind. But he didn't show any reaction, the little girl panicked and tried to call him again

"Please"

 His body was stuck in a frozen state at that moment. He could hear the trembling in the whispers of his sister the one who had never been so weak and broken. She was shivering not because of the bone-chilling cold that the rain brought. He knows what is she thinking and remembering right now. 

And he thought the same as her. The fear he tried to bury suddenly burst, his soul could feel her pain through the connection and he was in pain just like his sister. It looks like what happened a few months ago, was just a drama in a popular novel series and both of us are the main characters in it. Suffering all these things just for the sake of entertaining them.

It's all lies, right?

He turned around to welcome that weak body into his arms. Embracing her through the dirty blanket, sending warmth through her trembling body. Resting his chin on the top of her head, she snuggled into his chest and sobbed softly.

She never tried to sleep, just closed her eyes, slowly sorting out the confusion in her heart. Then finally she concludes this damn feeling, so this is the thing called fear. It wasn't until she lost everything that she realized how much she loved them but she still had him by her side. Isn't it

With determination, she clutched onto the edge of his shirt, desperately clinging to the remaining warmth. It could be called her last hope, preventing her from falling over the edge. Hug it tightly, don't let it escape. She thought she had become weak again. She can't hold her tears back any moment.

Like a child

Scream and cry like when a favorite thing is taken away.

She kept crying until his shirt was all wet, screaming until she couldn't make any more noises other than choking sounds that made her unable to breathe. Finally, she was exhausted and fainted.

Seeing her finally get to sleep he feels a little better. Putting the necklace aside, he hugged her and let himself gradually fall asleep to the peaceful melody coming from the small music box.

The rain has stopped, the dark clouds in the sky have not yet dissipated and slowly drifted away, the fire has burned down but not completely extinguished, the smoke rises and curls in the air and then disappears into nothingness.

On the horizon, the sun gradually emerged, the morning light dispelling the cold darkness that gently enveloped everything. Through the layers of leaves, the sunlight gently passed through the broken wall, caressing the two people sleeping peacefully. But something covers that light, and behind that black shadow are many other black shadows.