Atonement

About a week had passed since the incident; however, Maru had seemingly moved on from it.

While Maru had quickly moved on, Rick had his concerns.

What if the man’s call for the retreat was a hoax of some sort? What if he reported back, arranged something else, or had bigger plans?

He couldn’t be sure.

*

“Rick?” There was a knock at the door.

“It’s open, Sena,” Rick answered.

The door opened to reveal Sena with a man behind her. Rick's eyes widened as his heart began to race.

It was the man who led the rest of the men during the attempted kidnapping.

“What are you-” Rick stammered.

“Is something wrong?” Sena asked, looking at him in confusion.

“Sena-” Rick began.

“Can I talk to you?”

Sena looked at the man then back to Rick.

“Yes, of course."

Rick pulled her to the kitchen.

“What are you doing!?” He whispered angrily.

“What do you mean?” She frowned.

“Isn’t he a friend of yours?”

Rick quickly turned his head towards the doorway. The man was checking his watch.

“What made you think that!?” Rick sighed.

“You shouldn’t trust people so easily, Sena.”

Sena stared at him in confusion.

“So, he’s not your friend?” Sena questioned.

“Look, let me handle this; you go downstairs.” He turned his head once more.

“Don’t let people you don’t know in next time.”

Sena nodded her head.

“I let you live here the day I met you, though.” She smiled as she walked away.

Rick let out a sigh once more.

“Hey.” He began.

“I don’t know why my landlady let you in, but I’m not as nice as her, get out.”

The man looked up.

“Sorry...” He smiled.

“However, I needed to talk to you.”

Rick tapped his foot impatiently.

“Well, whatever it is, it doesn’t matter to me.”

Rick glanced towards his bedroom, where Maru was busy watching cartoons.

“Look,” the man began.

“I think we got off on the wrong foot and-”

Rick laughed.

“Wrong foot!?” He snapped.

“Try the fact that you tried kidnapping the kid in my care!”

The man sighed.

“About that,”

Rick had heard enough. He didn’t want to shout in case Maru heard him, but he was nearing the end of his patience.

“Summers,” the man continued.

“I quit my job the night of the incident.”

Rick looked up quickly.

“I’m here because I wanted to thank you.” The man smiled.

“It’s just like you said,” the man paused.

“When you asked if I was happy working such a job, it hit me.” He looked down, smiling sadly.

“I never once was happy working at the labs.”

Rick looked down in silence. It seemed like the man was sincere.

“What’s your name?”

The man looked up at Rick.

“My name?” He smiled.

“It’s Chris Huser.”

Rick looked up, locking eyes with Chris.

“Damn.” He smirked, looking back down steadily.

“I can tell you’re sincere, and I hate it.”

Chris looked down.

“Yep…” He said, twiddling his fingers.

“Where’s my proper thank you?”

Chris looked up quickly.

“You said you had to thank me?”

Chris chuckled.

“You’re quite a character, Summers.” He said in amusement.

“Well,” he began.

“Thank you for showing me what a miserable life I was leading.”

He then paused.

“Thank you for not easily forgiving me; I know I have to atone for my sins.”

Rick laughed.

Chris looked up, confused.

“Hey, what’s so funny about what I said?” He asked in annoyance.

“Nothing,” Rick kept laughing.

“I guess I owe Sena an apology; I’m just like her, forgiving so easily.”

He smiled.

“Guess it can’t be helped; I’m also just like you.”

Chris cocked his head.

“What do you mean?” He questioned.

Rick looked at him.

“We both have sins we must atone for,”

Chris smirked.

“Damn, didn’t expect you to get so deep, Summers.”

Rick chuckled.

“Cut the Summers bullshit, will you?” He frowned.

“I like my friends calling me Rick.” He said with a smile.

“Guess we’ll be atoning together then,” Chris said with a laugh.