C17 A Day With Isla and Seth's Past 5/7

"Did you not notice his name? His name is the very word of one of the seven deadly sins written in the holy scriptures!"

"His name 'Lai Marcus' is one of the seven deadly sins? Did you hit your head or something?"

"Yes kid! The word is 'laimargos', meaning Gluttony in french. He calls himself that because of how he devours his prey!"

I took out my phone and browsed the web for the French word 'laimargos', and I saw it.

"#Laimargos : eat poop?"

"huh?" x7

I read it out loud for people to hear and their reactions were as expected, surprised just like how I was.

I scrolled for more results and saw realized that it wasn't just about poop.

"Oh, wait, this is just an SNS post… here it is!"

I stared at the words with pure focus before reading out loud again to make sure it was the right one.

"Laimargos - is the Greek word translating to 'Gluttony' in English."

"It was Greek not French." x7

Murmurs of people began ringing out in the open because of the reporter's mistake, while mom and I stiffened in doubt.

We instinctively ran towards the entrance of the building to go and check the situation inside only to be blocked by the guard.

"I.D. please."

"I.D.!?"

*Slap

Mom slapped the guard because of his stupidity. The guard held his cheeks while tearing up and stepped aside to give way.

We continued our pacing while asking for forgiveness.

"Sorry about that Frank!"

"My name's Joe though!"

The man shouted, while mom waved back with the bottle of wine she had.

Running towards the elevator, I was reminded that it was out of order so I told mom to use the stairs instead.

We reached the 3rd floor and heard the elevator go:

*ting!

*huff *huff

"You said it *huff was broken? *huff"

"It *huff was! *huff Earlier. *huff"

"As punishment *huff you carry this wine."

She brought her wine throughout the stairs after hugging it tightly she extended her hand to give me the wine. I shook my head as a refusal.

Why did she even bring it up as a punishment?!

"You bought that! So you carry it!"

"Please?"

She put on a cute face. Puppy eyes with a pouting mouth and her hand clasp together, she begged me to carry her cheap wine.

Out of annoyance, I took the wine from her hand and carried it through the hall as we rushed to Lai's place.

After all the running, we finally reached it. Standing in front of the door we calmed ourselves down and knocked on the door.

*tok *tok *tok

"Yes? Who's at the door?"

Lai asked from inside the room.

Looks like he's cautious because of all the reporters down the entrance.

"It's us, is my little brother there?"

"Oh! It's just you two. Please come in quickly."

He unlocked the door and opened it for us to enter.

His place was smaller than ours and before you could enter the living room, there was a short and narrow path just enough for one person to pass.

Mom and I both took a step inside the room and walked together in sync.

"Ow! Let me go in first! I've never been inside before! "

"The door is small for the two of us!... aw aw aw! Hey! don't step on my foot!"

We squeezed ourselves out of excitement, entering a handsome boy's home.

"Ladies first Isla…"

"I'm a lady too mom! Mom, move or the wine goes bye bye!"

I raised the cheap wine as if to smash it on the floor then she stepped back as she saw the resolve in my threat.

Is this cheap wine really that valuable? Even though it's cheap.

I threw the bottle to her direction and she caught it as soon as it was at her arm's reach.

Walking through the narrow hall, the living room slowly revealed itself to me. I saw a small table in the middle with a sofa around it.

There was no TV nor any kind of electronics anywhere. There's only the big glass window in front of me.

On my right were two doors, probably the bed room and the guest room, on my left was the small kitchen.

The whole place was so clean, not a single vine to be found anywhere. He must have burned it with his ability every time it appeared.

I took a deep breath and the sweet scent of a teenage boy registered itself to my system.

Mom followed behind me with the same reactions, although she was way older than me she still had a maiden's heart.

"Please take a seat."

Mom with her wine, and I, took a seat facing the window while Lai stood at the window while opening it.

Due to the calming atmosphere, we completely forgot about the commotion outside.

I took the initiative to start a conversation and asked:

"By the way, where's my little bro?"

…

Lai took a few seconds before answering,

"I didn't expect for you to be back early, but what's done is done. I'll just take some extra fill with me this time."

The mood suddenly became frozen as Lai said something neither of us could comprehend. We were reminded of the situation outside the building once again and everything inside the room became quiet.

Mom, who was still holding on to her cheap wine, took the courage to speak up as she noticed the eerie tone of Lai's voice.

"W-what do you mean by that… Lai?"

She said with a hesitant voice

"Ah! No no! Your son is fine, he's just sleeping in my bedroom."

Lai reassured mom with a relaxed face.

It was just for a bit, but there was something strange about what he said before that.

It doesn't connect somehow…

"Well, we don't want to monopolize you, so we'll just wake him up and take him home."

By the way mom is trying to run away, it was obvious that she felt something was wrong too.

She stood up with a forced smile and a bottle of wine on her hand while walking slowly sideways trying not to avert her eyes from Lai.

*Bam!

She tripped.

Why can't she be more obvious!?

"Aw! that hurts!"

"Mom! Are you okay?"

I quickly stood up and tried to walk over to my mom who stumbled because of her carelessness only to fall the same way she did.

That's weird, I'm pretty sure there was nothing blocking my path earlier?

I looked at my right foot which felt odd. I tried moving my it but I couldn't feel anything.

It was like my leg was missing.

"I can't let you take our little brother yet Isla..."

"What do you mean Lai?"

"... I've been taking real good care of both of you just for today."

Taking good care just for today?

I glanced at him to signal him to explain what he meant by that, but he didn't catch it so I asked him.

"For today?"

"Yes Isla, today! Such a delicious looking… CATTLE!"

"iyaaaaaaa!"

Facing where the voice came from, I saw mom with an expression filled with terror.

She wasn't used to being submitted to despair.

Back when she heard dad's group didn't come home when they were supposed to be, she hid herself in her room crying quietly.

We didn't get to eat for a week then, so we cried at her door, begging her to feed us. After hearing our tearful voices, she must have realized something and went out of her room to hug both of us asking for forgiveness.

"Mom it's okay! Little brother is okay! Lai, little brother is alright, right?!"

I pleaded, hoping that all the time that we spent together weren't all a lie, a trick, a plan to destroy our remaining family.