"You're right, I apologize."
I stutter out my words to Lydia, my gaze locked onto one of the children who is slowly advancing towards me. The small little boy wears a mischievous grin on his face, his tousled brown hair giving him a carefree look. I watch as the boy wrinkles his nose, as if he caught a whiff of something unpleasant.
I pay no mind to him and direct my focus towards Lydia.
"We should go to your place when there's no one else around to stare at us, don't you think? Walking with all these eyes on us feels a bit strange - eep!"
A blood-curdling scream escapes from my lips.
I all but scream when I feel a ticklish sensation as a nose playfully grazes my behind.
I swiftly spin around, prepared to deliver a sharp slap, but my hand meets only empty space. It takes me quite a while to realize that the culprit is not a fully-grown adult, but rather a child.
Once again, I find myself confronted by that peculiar little boy, wearing an expression that makes me wonder what he's up to. The boy, with his hands covering half of his face, looks as if he could vomit any moment, as if he had eaten something disagreeable.
I flush, feeling my cheeks grow warm with embarrassment.
I know I don't smell like a bouquet of flowers and warm summer breeze.
I am already aware of that fact. I don't need to have a child openly admit it to the rest of the world - the hushed whispers and knowing glances are enough evidence.
Inside the small cell that Kieran had trapped me in, there is no way to freshen up or wash away the grime.
The only fixtures in the room are a sink and a dingy toilet. My daily hygiene routine consists of washing my face, gargling with water each morning, and sneaking in a quick refreshing wipe of my armpits with fresh water whenever Kieran isn't around.
With my hair matted and my body drenched in sweat, the missing luggage only adds to my disarray. I am dressed in the same attire, right down to the identical underwear, as the first time I arrived at Westfall.
So, sue me. Given the limited resources available, it is the best I can manage.
A newfound gratitude to Lydia fills my entire body, causing tears to prickle the corner of my eyes. If it hadn't been for the old woman, my pungent odor would have likely filled the entire sheriff station.
"Gross!"
The child mutters loudly, wrinkling his nose and wiping his face as if trying to escape the scent that clings to me. Blushing, I discreetly turn my face towards my shoulder, catching a whiff of my own armpits.
Did I seriously smell that awful? It was never mentioned to me by Kieran and Lydia! In that instant, all I want is to be swallowed whole by the ground, escaping from everything. I feel uneasy, especially since the other males are giving me curious looks, their noses raised in the air as they sniff.
"You have a strange smell, lady. Why's that? Who the heck are you? Why do you smell weird?"
A rumble from behind catches my attention, momentarily distracting me from the brink of tears. Only this time, instead of offering me comfort, it sends shivers down my spine.
The sound is so reminiscent of a dog that I twist in place, my eyes widening in panic, as Kieran's whole demeanor suddenly changes. His eyes, thankfully, don't become as black as coal, but they immediately zero in on the child, his lips curling into a snarl.
Every nerve in my body screams in terror as I observe Kieran's otherworldly transformation. His canines sharpen, reflecting the light like deadly blades, as he makes his way towards the child.
Embarrassment courses through me, but my thoughts never turn to harm for the child.
Acting on impulse, I wrap my arms around his arm, preventing him from moving forward.
"Stop it!"
With a scowl on my face, I spit venomously in the direction of the man.
This is a sight that I often observe dog trainers engaging in.
By staring directly into the dog's eyes, one can communicate that they hold the upper hand. The clear expectation is for them to obediently follow their owners. Much to my surprise, Kieran actually stiffens in place, his eyes firmly fixed on me. He slumps, his whole frame deflated, and he nods with a frown, his expression filled with resignation.
"And… It's embarrassing, sure, but I do smell weird. I-"
I feel the heat rising to my face, a clear sign of my embarrassment, but I can't deny the truth any longer.
"It's been ages since I last showered."
"I didn't mean it like that."
The child, seemingly unconcerned about his own well-being, boldly answers back.
With a frustrated groan, I roll my eyes and contort my body, crouching down to meet the little boy at his level.
With the sweetest smile I can muster, I hope his parents would magically materialize and escort him back to bed. It is nighttime. Shouldn't kids his age be tucked in bed?
"Whatever it is," I take a deep breath, trying to control my rising anger. "We have somewhere to go. It's super rude to go and... sniff other people."
I want to mention that it is completely inappropriate to place one's nose in the middle of someone's butt crack, but I realize that isn't suitable for children to hear. Tilting his head to the side, the little boy continues to shield his nose, his brow furrowing in discomfort.
"You don't stink like you haven't washed, lady. You smell like a wimp."
"Sorry?"
"You smell like you cry and get hurt pretty easily. It's disgusting."
Kieran ruffles the kid's hair, causing a few strands to fall out of place. Then, he grabs him by the back of his collar and hoists him off the ground. A shrill scream escapes the lips of the little child, filling me with a sense of panic.
My initial mortification quickly subsides when I realize the scream is more of a delighted shriek than a scream of terror.
"Pup, what's keeping you from dozing off?"
"I caught a whiff of something weird."
"Seriously, where are your manners? Who raised you?"
"Mom did."
"And?" With a mischievous smile, Kieran prods and swings the little boy in the air. I let out a surprised gasp as my hands instinctively reach out towards the boy, prepared to break his fall if needed. "Your mom's name?"
Kieran is met with a look of disbelief from the little boy, as if he is the foolish one.
"Her name's mommy. I just told you."
I roll my eyes, taking in the sight of the lighthearted exchange.
As I look around the tiny town, I realize something that breaks my heart.
No matter where they look, Evan is mysteriously absent.