As Luther opened the door, a flash of movement caught his eye; a small figure darting down the corridor, clutching something in their hands. His eyes narrowed, and he recognized the shape instantly. The figure was holding a gray jar, and not just any jar, it looked disturbingly like the one he used to contain the ghoul's severed head.
"Damn it!" Luther cursed under his breath, feeling a surge of panic. 'If that jar makes it out of here, who knows what could happen?'
Fully alert now, Luther bolted down the corridor, his pulse racing. He couldn't believe he'd left such a dangerous item unsecured, but between his training and the chaos of the day, it had completely slipped his mind. That jar should have been disposed of long ago.
In a few long strides, Luther caught up to the figure just as they reached the clinic's exit. Grabbing a handful of fabric at the back of their collar, he yanked them to a stop. The figure squirmed, but he held firm.
"Let me go! You're just a mean old man!" a high-pitched voice yelled, and Luther realized with some surprise; it was a young girl.
"Oh, so it's a girl, huh?" he muttered, a bit thrown off. "And what were you planning to do with this?"
She glared up at him, her face dirty and defiant. "I was hungry, okay? I just wanted to find something to eat!"
Luther let out a humorless chuckle, snatching the jar from her hands. "Hungry? And you thought you'd just eat whatever you grabbed?" He shook the jar in front of her face. "Do you even know what's in here? You could've made yourself seriously sick!"
The girl huffed, her small mouth twisted into a pout. "You…you're just a bully!" Her voice wavered slightly, and she looked like she might burst into tears at any moment.
Luther sighed, shaking his head in exasperation. "Naughty kids are trouble no matter where you go," he grumbled. Without another word, he lifted her effortlessly and carried her back to the entrance. Setting her down outside, he gave her a pointed look.
"Stay out of trouble." And with that, he shut the door firmly behind him, the sound echoing through the empty space.
For a moment, there was only silence, and then, outside, the girl finally lost her composure. She crumpled, tears streaming down her cheeks, her small frame shaking with sobs. Fortunately, the street was mostly empty at this hour, so her cries didn't draw any attention.
Her name was Hailey Berman, and she'd come here on the faint hope that the clinic held answers. Earlier, she'd received a mysterious phone call from someone at the clinic who had mentioned knowing her grandfather. Desperate to find him, she'd followed that thin lead, hoping someone inside could help. But when her hunger became unbearable, she'd grabbed the first thing she saw; only to be caught and thrown out by a stranger who seemed to have no sympathy at all.
"Everyone's so mean," she sniffled, wiping her eyes with a dirty sleeve. "I didn't even look inside the stupid jar…"
As Hailey sat there, feeling the sting of rejection, a soft, kind voice broke through her misery.
"Here, eat this."
She looked up, startled, and saw a tall, woman standing in front of her. She held a piece of white bread in his hand, the surface glistening with honey. She was watching her with a gentle smile, her eyes warm and compassionate.
"Ms. Hailey Berman, right?" She said softly, crouching down to her level and holding out the bread. "My name is Carol. I'm Dr. Joseph's apprentice. I believe he mentioned you before."
Hailey's eyes widened as she took in his kind expression and the sweet, delicious smell of the bread. Tentatively, she reached out, taking it from his hand. "Th-thank you…" she mumbled, cheeks flushing slightly as she took a small bite.
Carol gave her an encouraging nod. "If you're in trouble, you can talk to me," she said gently. "Whatever you're going through, I'll do my best to help you."
Hailey chewed slowly, savoring the unexpected kindness. For the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope, and she looked up at Carol with a mixture of gratitude and relief.
"Mmm, it's delicious, thank you," Hailey murmured, taking the white bread with a mix of eagerness and restraint. She took a small, polite bite, chewing slowly, trying to act as ladylike as possible.
But despite her attempt at composure, her cheeks grew hot with embarrassment. She had deliberately smeared mud on her face to avoid drawing attention, thinking it would keep trouble away. Now, in front of this beautiful women, she regretted it a little. Still, hunger trumped self-consciousness, and she kept eating.
Carol chuckled softly, watching her with a warm, unruffled smile. "Take your time, Miss Hailey. I have a few things to attend to at the clinic, but if you need a place to stay, you're welcome to come with me once I'm done."
Hailey's eyes widened in surprise, nearly choking on her next bite. 'she's inviting me to his home?' She quickly steadied herself, taking a calming breath, recalling her manners. Despite her upbringing around aristocratic customs, she still felt caught off guard. This kindness seemed almost too good to be true.
She glanced at Carol, her mind racing. 'Is dhe really just being kind, or does she have some hidden agenda?' She wasn't used to accepting offers without suspicion, especially from strangers.
"Well… if you knew my grandfather, it wouldn't be… out of the question," she replied cautiously, testing her intentions.
Carol simply smiled, giving no further comment on the matter. "Perfect. Then please wait here for a bit. I just need to check on someone at the clinic."
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "The clinic? Just… be careful. There's a bit of a weirdo in there."
Carol raised an amused brow. "Oh, don't worry, I just need to say hello. He actually came by my place yesterday, then ran off without a word. Anyone watching might've thought he saw a ghost." Carol's eyes held a glint of mischief as she turned toward the clinic, leaving Hailey with a bemused smile.
Just then, the door to the clinic swung open. Out stepped Luther, wearing a plain apron, muttering to himself as he carried a small tray with two slices of black bread and a cup of hot milk. He'd come out hoping to find the troublesome girl still lurking about. Perhaps she'd been genuinely hungry, and despite her sticky fingers, he figured a meal might do her some good.
But as his eyes landed on the figure walking toward him, his expression shifted from mild annoyance to stunned recognition.
"Carol?" he blurted out, surprise coloring his tone. "Well, haven't seen you in a few days, and now you're looking even more beautiful?"
Carol laughed, a smooth, easy sound. "And you, Luther; seems you've been working out. How's Dr. Joseph?"
Luther's face softened, though a shadow flickered in his eyes. "Oh, he's… fine. Thought you were gone for good. What brings you back?"
Carol kept her gaze steady, a subtle smile still playing on her lips. "Ah, I had a feeling I should check in. You know, make sure everything's still… in order."
The two held each other's gaze for a beat, each searching the other's expression. Luther, regaining his composure, gave a slight shrug, casually gesturing to the clinic door. "Well, welcome back then. Seems you've got a knack for showing up at interesting times."
Carol's gaze flickered, catching a hint of something unsaid in Luther's tone. But his smile didn't waver. "Let's go inside, then," he said lightly, and without further words, they both stepped back into the clinic, leaving Hailey outside, wondering what exactly lay between these two mysterious figures.