Victor gently guided the sleepy children back to their rooms, his earlier confrontation with Darren fading into the background as he focused on the task at hand. The hallways of the Haven were quiet now, the only sounds were the soft shuffling of feet and occasional yawns from the little ones.
Tommy, one of the older boys, insisted on walking by himself, though his steps were unsteady with fatigue. Victor kept a watchful eye on him, ready to catch him if he stumbled. Lily, on the other hand, had already dozed off, her head resting on Victor's shoulder as he carried her. Her rag doll dangled precariously from her limp fingers, and Victor carefully adjusted his grip to ensure it wouldn't fall.
As they reached the first dormitory, Victor whispered, "Alright, who sleeps in here?" A few hands raised sleepily, and he ushered them inside. With practised ease, he helped each child into their bed, tucking blankets around them and ensuring their favourite stuffed animals were within reach.
"Goodnight, Mr. Victor," mumbled Sammy as Victor pulled the covers up to his chin.
"Goodnight, Sammy," Victor replied softly, ruffling the boy's hair. "Sweet dreams."
Moving on to the next room, Victor continued the process. He laid Lily gently in her bed, carefully arranging her rag doll next to her pillow. The little girl stirred slightly but didn't wake, a peaceful smile on her face as she snuggled into her blankets.
In the last dormitory, Victor helped Tommy into bed. The boy's eyes were already closing as his head hit the pillow. "Thank you for the story," Tommy murmured, his words slurring with sleep.
"You're welcome," Victor whispered back. "Now get some rest."
As he turned to leave, Victor's gaze swept over the room, taking in the sight of the children peacefully sleeping. A wave of protectiveness washed over him, reinforcing his determination to keep this place – and these innocent lives – safe from the likes of Darren and his ilk.
Quietly closing the dormitory door behind him, Victor paused in the hallway, letting out a long, slow breath. The events of the evening weighed heavily on his mind. He knew that confrontation with Mrs. Fairfax was inevitable, but for now, he allowed himself a moment of peace in the quiet of the sleeping Haven.
His feet seemed to move of their own accord, carrying him down the familiar corridors until he found himself outside a particular door. Victor hesitated, his hand hovering over the doorknob. He knew he shouldn't enter, knew that he was treading dangerous ground, but something pulled him forward.
Silently, he eased the door open and slipped inside. The room was dimly lit by a small night light, casting soft shadows across the sparse furnishings. His eyes were drawn immediately to the figure lying in the bed.
Lisa.
Victor's breath caught in his throat as he gazed at her sleeping form. Her dark hair fanned out across the pillow, her face peaceful in repose. The years seemed to melt away, and for a moment, he saw not the woman she had become, but the girl he had known so long ago.
Emotions surged through him – regret, longing, a deep, aching sadness that threatened to overwhelm him. Silently, he approached the bed, his footsteps muffled by the carpet.
"Elder sister Lisa," he whispered, the words barely audible even in the quiet room.
Victor stood there for a long moment, memories flooding his mind. He remembered a time when they were both young and carefree before the weight of the world had come crashing down on them. Before the choices he had made had torn them apart.
Unable to resist, Victor leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Lisa's forehead. The gesture was filled with all the love and regret he couldn't express in words. As he straightened, he took one last look at her face, committing every detail to memory.
Just as Victor turned to leave, Lisa stirred. Her eyelids fluttered, and her brow furrowed slightly. "Who's there?" she called out, her voice thick with sleep. "Is there anybody here?"
Victor froze, his heart pounding. He watched as Lisa pushed herself up to a sitting position, her unseeing eyes open but unfocused. Her hand reached out, searching for something on the bedside table.
"Hello?" Lisa called again, a note of uncertainty creeping into her voice. Her fingers found what they were looking for – a white cane propped against the nightstand. Grasping it, she began to swing her legs over the side of the bed.
Victor remained rooted to the spot, torn between the desire to flee and the urge to reveal himself. He watched as Lisa carefully stood, using the cane to orient herself in the room.
"I know someone's here," she said, her voice stronger now. "I can sense you. Please, say something."
faced with the reality of the situation, words failed him. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His throat felt tight, constricted by emotions he had long suppressed.
Lisa took a tentative step forward, her cane tapping gently against the floor. "Are you one of the children?" she asked, her tone softening. "It's alright if you are. You don't have to be afraid."
Victor's chest ached at the kindness in her voice. Even now, after everything she had been through, Lisa's first instinct was to offer comfort to others. It was one of the things he had always loved about her.
As Lisa took another step, Victor found himself backing away. He knew he should speak, should explain his presence, but fear held him back. Fear of rejection, fear of the pain he might cause, fear of shattering the fragile peace of this moment.
"Please," Lisa said, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. "If someone's there, just tell me. You're starting to scare me a little."
Those words broke through Victor's paralysis. The last thing he ever wanted was to frighten her. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself to speak.
"It's Mr. Mallory, Lisa," he said softly. "I'm sorry to disturb you. I was just checking on everyone after the commotion earlier."
Lisa's face relaxed into a smile of recognition. "Mr. Mallory! I didn't expect you to still be here so late. Is everything alright?"
Victor moved closer, careful to make some noise so Lisa could track his movement. "Everything's fine now. There was a small disturbance, but it's been handled. I wanted to make sure everyone was sleeping peacefully."
Lisa nodded, her unseeing eyes directed towards his voice. "That's very kind of you, as always. You've done so much for us, Mr. Mallory. I don't know where we'd be without your help."
Victor felt a pang in his chest at her words. If only she knew the whole truth. "I'm just glad I could help," he said, his voice rougher than he intended. "You all deserved a chance at a better life."
Lisa tilted her head, seeming to sense something in his tone. "Is something wrong, Mr. Mallory? You sound... troubled."
Victor hesitated, then sighed. "It's nothing, really. Sometimes I just wonder if I'm doing enough, if there's more I could be doing to help."
Lisa's expression softened. She reached out, and Victor gently took her hand, the familiar touch sending a jolt through him that he had to suppress.
"Mr. Mallory," Lisa said earnestly, "you've done more for us than we could ever repay. You didn't just give us a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. You gave us hope, education, and a chance at a real future. Do you know how rare that is?"
Victor swallowed hard, fighting back the emotion in his voice. "I'm glad you feel that way, Lisa. I just wish... I wish I could do more."
Lisa squeezed his hand. "You've already done so much. Thanks to you, I have a job I love, teaching music to younger children. Others have gone on to acquire knowledge in different fields and some have joined your businesses. You've changed lives, Mr. Mallory. Never doubt that."
Victor felt a lump forming in his throat. The unconditional gratitude in Lisa's voice was almost more than he could bear, knowing the full truth of their connection. "Thank you, Lisa," he managed to say. "Your words mean more to me than you know."
Lisa smiled warmly. "It's the truth. We all feel the same way. You're not just our benefactor, Mr. Mallory. You're family to us."
At those words, Victor had to turn away, blinking back tears. 'Family.' If only she knew how true that was.
"That's very kind of you to say," he said, once he had composed himself. "I should let you get back to sleep. It's late, and I'm sure you have a busy day tomorrow."
Lisa nodded, settling back into her bed. "Goodnight, Mr. Mallory. And thank you again, for everything."
"Goodnight, Lisa," Victor replied softly. He watched as she closed her eyes, a peaceful expression settling over her features.
As he quietly left the room, Victor's mind was in turmoil. The gulf between who he truly was and who Lisa believed him to be seemed insurmountable. Yet, seeing the positive impact he had made on her life and the lives of others at the Haven gave him a sense of purpose he had long been missing.
Perhaps, he thought as he walked down the quiet hallway, this new identity wasn't just a mask to hide behind. Maybe it was a chance at redemption, an opportunity to become the man he had always wished he could be. And though Lisa might never know him as her brother again, the bond they shared – one of gratitude, respect, and a kind of familial love – was real and precious in its own way.