At the end of a long, winding driveway was a grand mansion. Its ivy-covered walls and ornate gables gave off an air of old-world charm over the sprawling estate.
The manicured gardens that surrounded the property were a riot of colors in the summer sun, with roses climbing trellises and tulips swaying in the breeze. The neighborhood itself was quiet and affluent, with other similarly impressive homes lining the tree-lined streets.
Inside the mansion, the playful screams and laughter of two young children echoed through the halls. An eight year old boy with curly black hair and bright brown eyes darted around a corner, his small feet pounding on the polished hardwood floors.
Right in front of him was his three year old sister, her blonde curls bouncing as she sought to escape from her big brother. But much to her disappointment, her short legs failed her. Her brother reached her in no time and grabbed her shoulder.
"Tag, you're it!" The boy called out with his voice filled with excitement.
The little girl pouted. "I don't wanna be 'it'!" She protested with her tiny fists clenched.
The young boy who was just about to run away paused with a sly grin spreading across his face. "I told you I was going to win."
He chuckled, and then he folded his arms. "I'll give you another chance. Why don't you choose a game that you can win?" Despite his 'generous' offer, one could definitely see the challenge in his eyes and the grin of confidence on his lips.
The little girl narrowed her eyes and gave a cute 'Hmph' before folding her arms and furrowing her brows in concentration.
"How about… hide and seek?"
The boy stroked his beardless chin, a habit he had gotten from his father and a habit his mother wished he had not learned at such a young age.
"Sure thing sis. If you think you can beat me in hide and seek." The boy nonchalantly shrugged.
"I'll definitely win this time around." The little girl clenched her fists in determination, and the boy smiled.
"Count now! Count to a hundred!" The little girl spoke excitedly and with a lot of anticipation, and the boy chuckled.
"Ready?"
The girl nodded eagerly. Her eyes wide with anticipation. "Ready!" she cried, her tiny hands clapping together.
The boy turned back, closed his eyes, and then he began to count. "One… two… three…"
The instant he started counting, the girl darted off, her little legs pumping furiously as she searched for the perfect hiding spot.
Meanwhile, the boy knowing that his sister was far away, opened his eyes. He looked to his left and right, and then he sat on the floor.
"56… 58… 61… 63…"
The boy kept on counting, though his mind was on the possible places his sister might have chosen to hide.
Eventually, he reached hundred. "I'm coming Esther!" He shouted.
The boy scanned the room he was in, and then he walked to a nearby room.
'Now, where in this large mansion could she be hiding?'
The boy scratched the side of his head. He released a soft sigh as he walked from room to room, his eyes darting around from shadow to shadow as he tried to catch a glimpse of his sister.
Ding Dong!
Just as he bent to check underneath the bed in their room for his sister, the doorbell rang, and the boy could not help but furrow his brows.
'Who could that be?'
"Who is that Brother?!"
The boy blinked in sheer amazement when he heard his sister's voice. His gaze followed the sound, and he could not help but shake his head in amusement.
His sister had exposed her location, and he didn't have to do anything. It almost felt like cheating at this point.
'I'm very sure she doesn't know of her mistake.' The boy could not help but think of the expression his sister would make when she realized her blunder.
'She'll probably cry. She's still very small.'
The boy walked to the main door, and he grabbed a chair to climb. He placed his eye on the peephole, and he saw a middle-aged thin man in tattered clothing and disheveled hair. From his appearance, he looked like a beggar.
'Looks like a wretched beggar.' The boy thought as he looked at the skinny figure of the beggar and his long and extremely dirty beard.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" The boy asked. Though, if he were any older and wiser, he would have realized that a lot of things did not make sense from the appearance of the beggar.
There were so many discrepancies, and the main one was that there should be no beggar in their neighborhood. Not… a… single… one.
"Please, can I come in?" the man replied, his voice hoarse and desperate. "I need a warm place to stay and some food and water… It's almost winter, and it's getting really cold outside."
The boy furrowed his brows slightly. He knew it was almost winter, and that meant it would be difficult for the homeless. His heart told him to open the door and offer assistance to the beggar. But his mind told him otherwise.
He remembered his father's words about not opening the door for strangers, and a conflicted expression appeared on his face.
'What should I do?' The boy glanced at the peephole, and the sight of the slightly shivering beggar caused him to feel a pang of guilt.
'Uugh. I wish Mom and Dad were around.' The boy grabbed a fistful of his hair, and just as he was about to make his decision, the sound of hasty footsteps flowed into his ears.
Tap
Tap
Tap
"Young Master Wayne, where are you?"
The instant the boy heard the voice calling for him, his expression changed to that of disgust and hate.
He turned to the back, and the hate in his expression was swiftly hidden. Only an expression of disgust was present.