The drive away from that house had been quiet and oddly serene. Lynn watched the shifting scenery outside the car window, the streetlights casting fleeting trails of light across his vision. He was finally leaving that place—a supposed home that had been nothing more than a cage. Familiar roads melted into unfamiliar streets, carrying him away from everything he had ever known. He expected relief, maybe even freedom, yet all he felt was a strange mix of emptiness and ambition. With nothing to his name, the mere thought of the uncertainty of the unknown kept him grounded in the present.Glancing forward, he caught Edmund's reflection in the center mirror, the dim light illuminating the older man's sharp gaze fixed on the road. A single thought kept circling in his hazy mind—why? Why go through all this trouble for someone he barely knew? Why not just return a lost child to his so-called home and be done with it? Lynn had no answers, and Edmund offered none.
"What're you staring at me for? You're staring a hole right through me at this point."
"Uh. No, nothing"
Lynn flinched at the sudden remark, realizing he had lost track of time.
He hadn't even noticed how long they had been driving or how Edmund always kept his eyes on the road, yet still managed to catch him staring.The car slowed down the winding streets to where it all started and ended.
They were nearing the turn to the culdesac, with its street name in full view by the yellow-tinted street lights.
Aesopica End
A peculiar name of the least, how would you pronounce it? The word was new to Lynn, who had never seen or known what Greek was or what became of Greece.
'I'll ask about it at school.'
Slowing down, the car eased into the quiet culdesac. The lights were back on in some as if the events of the gunshot were heard not long ago.
Edmund finally decided to ease his head towards Lynn, gesturing to him with a nod to get out of the car.
Lynn hesitated, then stepped out, finally taking in the details of Edmund's home. A modest two-story house sat at the center of the plot, its walls partially covered in creeping ivy that stretched toward an arbor on the walkway. A grand oak tree stood alone in the front yard, its branches sprawling like an ancient guardian over the space. The yard had a quiet, natural charm, with a small walnut chair and matching table set outside. A book lay on the table beside a now-cold mug of tea, abandoned atop a coaster.Fumbling with his keys, Edmund unlocked the front door and pushed it open, revealing the space inside. The interior was cluttered and worn, a stark contrast to what Lynn was used to. Books and stacks of paper lined the wooden floors, making the generally open foyer feel almost claustrophobic. The moonlight streaming through the glass above the door only deepened the shadows cast by the disarray. Any available surface—tables, shelves—was occupied by books, papers, and an assortment of odd trinkets. When Edmund flicked on the lights, the dim glow did little to brighten the space. Yet despite the mess, there was a strange sense of order, as if the chaos followed its own set of unspoken rules."This way," as Edmund navigated through the maze of books and went up the stairs, Lynn attempted the same with a more cautious step trying not to knock anything over. Walking up the spiral stairs revealed the opened second floor, the mess less apparent but much more manageable than the last.
The hallways were long, but once past, they revealed an open doorway leading to more stairs. This time, the hallway ended with a door to access the attic space. Edmund swung open the door once he reached the landing.
Edmund pushed it open, revealing a modest space filled with covered furniture and stored tableware. A dusty display case housed porcelain plates and cups, long untouched. Two small windows overlooked the front of the house. One side of the attic held a bed with a simple frame, while the other had a desk beneath the second window, one of the few clear surfaces in the room, or house."This will be your room," Edmund said. "Don't trash it. If you need something, ask, but don't expect me to cater to your every whim."
Lynn walked in, the air quite stagnant as particles of dust were disturbed by the sudden wind brought from the opened door. The particles of dust visible from the dim lights resembled snow.
He ran a hand along the desk's edge, noticing a brass lamp and melted candles on its side. This was his space now. His private room. A foreign concept."I'll drop by your mom's to get you your clothes. But first off…"
Edmund walked into the room as Lynn tested out the comfort of his bed.
At his old house, all he ever received was scraps of food and a roof over his head, given in between the beatings and neglect. But now, this.Edmund pulled a plain black book from inside his coat pocket, its cover void of title or markings. He handed it to Lynn before turning to leave.He handed it over to Lynn's hands as he began taking his leave.
"What's this?"
Edmund paused for a second as if considering his words."A starting point," Edmund replied. "Once you've finished and believe that you're ready. Come to my study, we'll have more to chat."
Edmund closed the door, letting Lynn feel accustomed to his new surroundings. Lynn exhaled slowly, sitting back down on the bed. With that, the wave of nausea finally started to settle as he fought to stay awake from the very start. To bring today's end, the final straw of Lynn and his new life bore a new ticket. With its destination unknown, he finally drifted off away into the rest of the night, with his hands still clutched onto the book given by Helzinger.