Hope

The car stopped in an underground parking lot, Iris stepped out and headed to the back of the car. He stood and stared at the trunk as he heard the child sob and beg for his parents. He was awake. Iris leaned in closer to the trunk and spoke " Kid, stop wasting your time. Just do as told and everything will be fine. "

Desmond in his fear stopped crying. Should he believe this time, or will he have the same fate as in that godforsaken van? There was no other choice. Yet all of a sudden the voice spoke once again " Escaping will only mean death. " There was indeed no other choice; he then replied " OK. " While sobbing away his hopes.

Iris opened the trunk, grabbed the kid from the trunk, and held him in his arms. This brought back so many memories he slipped in a longing smile. Shut the trunk and walked to the elevator as he pressed the child's head into his chest. " Hide your face. We want no trouble. " Desmond just nodded while he tried to stop his running tears.

They got in the elevator. Iris swiped a card, pressed a button and the elevator started moving upwards. Within seconds, it stopped as the ding sound heightened Desmond's senses to the point he grabbed the man's shirt. Iris kept his long stride as he walked into the lounge. Passes the security guard, then stopped in front of another elevator. Swipes his card again, then pressed the button to call the elevator. Desmond tried to peek around to see where they were going, at his curiosity Iris just pulled his head back to his chest. " What did we talk about? " Desmond apologized " I am sorry, I didn't know I was not allowed to look. "

Iris sighed as they got on the elevator. Soon after got off, walked to the only door on the floor. Swipes his card again, puts a key into the door he then leaned closer to the screen next to the door. The door opened. He took the key and closed the door after walking in.

" Now in the bath with you. " Iris stated as he opened the door to the bathroom and put Desmond down. " Can you wash yourself? "

Desmond was in awe as he never saw such a big bathroom. It was just as big as the living room of his home. " Yes. " He then headed to the shower. Took off all his clothes, the stench finally hit Desmond. He was so disgusted he immediately jumped in the shower.

Iris's discomfort with the smell started to show and as soon as the child got in the shower he went to get an empty trash bag and put all the clothes in it. Thereafter, left and threw it in the garbage chute and returned to see how the kid was doing. He was not done yet, he then quickly went and opened all the windows of the apartment. The smell was still irking.

Desmond tried to wash as well as he could, but despite that, he could smell the displeasing stench. He kept hearing the man that brought him going in and out of the apartment, but he was too scared to act recklessly. After all, he seemed like a kind person. The door of the bathroom opened once more then the man walked in with a shirt and a towel in his hand. Desmond stopped the running water, he was done and got out of the shower. " I am done. " Spoke in an embarrassed voice as he was butt naked. Iris walked up to him then frowned, then gave him a closer look. " Did you wash your hair? "

" I do not know how to wash my hair. My mom always washed my hair. " Desmond's voice quietly died out as he remembered his family.

Iris sighed while throwing the towel and the shirt on a nearby counter. " Get in the bathtub. "

Desmond did as he was told. Iris kneeled next to the bathtub as he turned on the water. " It will take a while till it will fill, be patient, and wait. " Without any takebacks, Desmond sat in the bathtub while looking at Iris's every move.

" You are very kind, compared to the two men. "

Iris stared at him as if in a daze. " I am just doing as I am told. Do you think I am nice, or the person that saved you? "

" She is not nice. " Desmond gritted at the flashbacks of the horror in the room with the others. Yet she killed them. " She killed them. They were innocent. "

" Interesting. " Iris glanced under the sink and saw a new sponge, he reached to it and dipped it into the water. " But they gave you up… Just so they can survive. " He then grabbed the showerhead and started washing the child's hair. " Are you not worth saving? "

Desmond was confused by what Iris spoke of. Not knowing how to respond to such a question. He just blurted " I had bad grades in school. I don't quite understand what you mean. "

Iris was shaken by the kids' response. He slowly started to sympathize with him. " Don't worry. It is nothing of importance. " Rinsed his hair and applied more shampoo on the hair. " How old are you? "

Desmond turned around as the man questioned him. " I am young. " He mustered as much courage to give such a witty reply. Then instantly turned his gaze at the wall, afraid of facing the adult. Iris did not give it a second thought and moved the showerhead in front of the kid. Desmond was taken by surprise that he did not know what happened. The water was so hot that he kept crawling further from it. In the spur of the moment, he yelled " I am 10! " Then tried to put his hands against the hot water to protect himself, then yelled again " 10! ".

" Younger than I thought. " Said Iris as he turned off the water, and resumed to wash his hair.

Desmond slowly calmed down, but the jump scare once again proved as a reminder of the situation he was in. He had decided to be obedient and listen to this person. As so far he did not harm him and it didn't seem as he has any intention of doing so. Yet he could not deny his growing curiosity about this person.

" How can I call you? " Desmond paused, thinking being polite would help him win him over. " Sir? "

Iris gave the child's hair a last rinse while trying to figure out why the kid had any lingering hope by just trying to know him. Let alone get closer. " Call me Iris. And I do not need to know your name. You'll get one later. " He then reached for the sponge and started washing the child's body, while also checking for scars, hits or injuries. There were none, Iris truly thought the kid was very lucky as he knew first hand that it could have been worse.

Desmond nodded as he tried his best not to show discomfort as his body was getting washed. To his surprise, Iris finished rather fast, then handed him the towel to dry himself. He tried to be as fast he could. Then put on the shirt that Iris later handed over.

Desmond could feel the dying hunger catching up to him, along with the sleepless days. " Am I allowed to eat? "

" Yes, follow me. " Motioned the child to come after him then threw his shirt in the hamper as it was dirty from when he held him. He then showed him to sit in a specific seat.

Desmond understood after wondering for a moment as to why he is pointing towards a chair. He then quickly rushed over to the designated seat. Sat down awaiting food.

" Allergic to anything? " Iris asked as he opened the fridge.

Desmond happily replied " Not that I know of. "

" Not the best answer, but scrambled eggs with toast should do. For now. " Iris took the eggs and began cooking. Then dropped two slices of bread in the toaster. Not long after the food was ready, he then put everything together on a plate and served it to the child. " Enjoy. "

Desmond pulled the plate closer to himself as he voiced a shy " Thank you. " Then quickly started to dig in. Iris sat across from him, as he pulled a magazine he found lying around the kitchen and was reading it. But the phone lighting up and vibrating seemed to only bother Desmond. Iris seemed unfazed.

Iris glanced up as the cutlery was not making any more sound, then saw the kid stare at the phone. " Ignore it. Just finish eating. " Yet the phone kept on lighting up as messages were arriving.

Desmond could only swallow his curiosity as he resumed eating. It was not bad, after such a long time warm food was just the best he could think of. He finished. " I am done. "

Iris closed the magazine, got up, and slipped his phone in his pocket. " You should sleep. You will need it. " Took the empty plate and put it in the sink " Come with me, I'll show you to your bed. " And started walking to a relatively wide door, seeming to be the only dark door of all the ones he saw so far in the apartment. He then opened it wide.

The child slowly walked into the room, as if weary of what will be inside. It was a rather simple room, housing only a relatively big sized bed, a bookshelf, a night stand and what seems to be a wardrobe. Iris indicated " Sleep here. " Desmond got in the bed, it was comfortable. But he could not sleep. Iris didn't seem like he would leave the room. In his boredom, he saw a red dot on the bed. Put his hand on it as if grabbing it, the dot moved. This game kept on for a while until Iris started to wonder what he was doing.

" What are you doing? " Iris inquired in a somehow displeased tone.

" There is a red dot on my bed. " Desmond mentioned as he pointed at the culprit.

Iris stood up to see the red light and instinctively took out his phone to look at it. Then it started ringing, he answered. " Violet, I recommend you stop. Unless you really want me to come there and blow your brains on the ground. " There was no response from the other side, then soon the light faded away and Iris hung up. " You should be able to sleep now. " He mentioned as he pulled the curtain, bringing the room into full darkness despite the sun slowly rising.

" OK, ok… " Desmond worriedly replied, as if cornered by not acting as requested.

" Great. After all, tomorrow we'll be rather busy. " Iris replied satisfied as if achieving the impossible. His first time dealing with children under such circumstances. He then headed towards the door, not having a problem walking in the darkness. And shut the door after himself. Then checked his phone as he walked to the window to see a couple of Rolls-Royce arriving, he could only guess that the problem at the previous site was solved. He then begun scrolling through the messages the team seems to have given him a nickname.

" Lucky Flower Bud. Not bad, but not what I quite had in mind. " Iris scoffed it off as he threw the phone on the couch and walked to his laptop and ordered a few clothes for the kid.