8 hours prior to getting into trouble,
"I didn't know a place like this exist" Ion Paige mumbled to himself as he walked around the bakery. He did take a few walk around this place yet to let this other side of the road unoticed.
He pulled out a chair that near the entrance to take a closer look at the flowers planted outside the bakery. A dim light, reflected above the lake outside. Ion smiled thinking about his mother.
"Oh. It's raining" He got up from his sit.
"You are right, I think you shall stay for the night" The woman placed a cup of tea on the table he sat on. She was not moving at all after saying that as if waiting for him to say yes, or all right to her invitation.
Ion Paige had an uneasy feeling since he enter this place it might seem this woman was hitting on him but she is way too old for him. He laugh.
"Ahahaha... Amy, was it?" He smiled.
"Yes?"
"Do you like me?" Ion Paige distancing himself from Amy and ready to run away of the door behind him.
"Yes, I do like you" she answer. Then grab his hand insisting Ion to sit down. "I uhh" he blushed.
"I mean.. liking me as a man.." his voice trembled. He could see her shocked voice making him embarrassed.
"What?" Amy laugh.
"I meant, I like you as you are kind. I saw you feeding the cat and thought you would be a good kid, but seeing you still meddling outside when it's about to get dark," Amy took out some pastries and tell him to try it saying it's a new recipe.
"I assume you had trouble regarding where you will sleep, that's all" Ion Paige didn't dare to look at her. So he eat the pastry while looking at his thigh.
"It's good! did you make it?" Amy neglect the question.
Things became awkward. He looked around again, and wondering about the drunken old man.
"Are you looking for my father?" Again, that eerie feeling came to him. This place he don't like it it's too quiet and far away from people. What if they're bad people.
"I think I shall leave" he quickly got up and reached the door. "I Don't think you should" Amy stopped him.
"What do you mean?" The door is locked! He was about to cry. Why did I follow them? Was I hoping for that arrogant man to save him if something bad happen? He did saw that guy was glaring at Amy and his father.
"Tourists are likely to get attacked or kidnapped at this time around. It's dangerous"
"Is that why the door is locked?" Amy chuckles.
"You are a funny boy. Of course it's locked to prevent such thing" Amy pulled him again. But he brushes it off.
"Okay, I will stay for the night. I want to take a rest. Where is my room" Ion Paige initiated defeat.
Nyaa,
Nyaa,
Along with a cat meowing, a shadow appeared on the transparent bakery wall. A panicked Ion ran to hide behind Amy.
A cloack drenched man was standing still outside the store knocking on the door wanting to go inside. Beneath him is the same calico cat the Ion Paige met.
"Is it the owner?" He peeked behind Amy. Meanwhile Amy poked the closed sign on the door to let him know they're off. But the man shake the door instead.
"Is it a bad people like you said?" Ion Paige pulled Amy from the door so that she won't get hurt. Amy who was taller than him could only saw his petrified face from above. His touch was cold and he was shaking.
Amy cuddle his shoulder and pushed Ion behind her,
The man outside refused to go and knock again.
Nyaaa, the calico cat was circling the man over and over while shaking its body as she is also wet from the rain.
"I think they want to stay over?" Said Ion.
"What?" Amy thought she misheard him.
" what nonsense are you talking about!? Who would knock around this late?" Ion lowered his gaze and sniff.
Amy felt terrible. How could a puppy like him travel alone into a place that is dwell of criminals?
"Animals would stick to a nice people" he added again. Amy sighed.
"Wait, I know him!" His face was pale earlier but now that he exited he seemed better. Now that he looked closer because the stranger outside pull down the cloak covering most of his face was revealed.
"The merchant guy!" Ion Paige let go of his grip on Amy's arm and pull the glass door. "I forgot, it's locked" he giggles.
"Can you open the door?" Pleaded Ion.
"Why would I let a stranger into my house?" She refused
"You let me in... "
"Anyway, I'm scared to sleep alone. It would be great to have someone patting me to sleep" Amy is completely speechless she had no idea this kid is really a kid, is he a spoiled kid of a rich family?
"Are you nine?" Amy ignored him and began to clear the table. "He didn't drink it" Amy turn her back which was against Ion and put on a silly smile.
"If you drink this, I will let him in"
"Err" he hesitated.
"I Don't drink tea " she glared at him.
"It's bitter!" He added again.
Knock, knock, the lightning startled Ion Paige. If he don't drink this, the merchant will drenched in rain, why would he care though he can sleep somewhere else.
But what if he's I trouble with his inn because he was helping him? What if he's a local? What if he's a human trafficker like Amy mentioned.
"There's no way a cute cat would stick to bad people!'' Ion took the cup and drink the warm mint tea with a disgusted expression.
Amy could only laugh. She never see anyone hating tea before. Now, she focus on the man outside the store,
Other than her and the man outside she was looking at certain area In the bakery.
Ting,
As soon as the bell rang, the door wasn't fully open. Amy looked at the merchant's eyes and blinked twice.
Slowly, he raised his gaze from the ground on to Ion Paige and couldn't believe what he saw.
"You are sure born with bad luck kid"