Strong & Resilient

The siblings watched Roger approach with slow, heavy steps. He finally stopped at the door, which was already slightly ajar, the wood creaking softly. Roger looked at the children and then glanced around the room, noticing that it was cleaner than it had been in the morning when he left in a hurry. "Did you clean the house?" he asked, raising an eyebrow with a mix of surprise and exhaustion. The children responded in unison: "We did." Roger gave a forced smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Good job," he said, trying to give a casual compliment, although his mind was clearly elsewhere. The siblings soon realized that he seemed... different.

Leo was the first to question, his concern evident in his voice: "Did something happen, Uncle?"

Roger sighed, running a hand through his hair. "There's something important I need to tell you. It's about your parents."

Zoe, her eyes shining with hope, immediately asked: "Have they come back?!"

Roger entered the house completely, closing the door behind him. He looked around as if carefully choosing his words. "Sit on the couch. I need to have a talk with you now."

Zoe felt a chill in her stomach upon hearing those words. Usually, they knew their uncle had something important to say whenever he approached them like this. Leo felt a shiver down his spine. Given it was about their parents, he hoped it would be good news, but looking at his uncle's face, he already expected bad news. Deep down, he didn't want to believe in that possibility.

They went to the couch and sat down, exchanging apprehensive glances. Roger took a chair and placed it in front of them. He sat down, and a few seconds of silence dominated the room. He sighed again, adopting a serious and authoritative demeanor as he looked at them firmly. "You know I'm not one to beat around the bush, and I don't want you to think I'm being insensitive here."

The siblings glanced at each other briefly, trying to find courage in one another.

Zoe nodded slowly. "We know."

Roger took a deep breath before continuing. "I went to the town of Arbordale earlier today and received news from the local guards that three bodies were found last night: two men and a woman. I don't know their identities yet, but I want you to be prepared for the worst."

Leo felt a lump in his throat. "Are you implying that two of those three bodies might be our parents?"

Roger nodded gravely. "Exactly."

Zoe trembled at that moment. Just imagining her parents' death made her break into a cold sweat, fearing the idea in every imaginable way. Leo was not excluded from this either. He was scared but tried to stay positive.

Zoe, with a trembling and anxious voice, asked: "But what do you mean?! Why would they be dead?!"

Roger remained calm, but his voice was firm. "I didn't say they are. I'm just saying there's a possibility that one of the bodies could be theirs." Even when discussing the potential death of his own brother, Roger managed to keep his voice firm and controlled. Leo, being a bit more astute, noticed that he was trying to convey confidence through his calm way of speaking. But the same didn't apply to Zoe. She was scared. At that moment, many possibilities ran through her mind. She just dug her nails into her clothes and stared down, not knowing what to say, think, or how to act.

Roger looked at his nephews with empathy. "I know, I understand you're scared. I am too, but until we're sure, let's stay positive."

Leo, with a sigh, asked: "But what are we going to do?"

Roger stood up from the chair. "We'll go to Arbordale and to your parents' house. From there, I'll go to the local guards' building and ask to see the bodies. Normally, bodies found on the streets are examined and kept in a cold room to prevent decay. Be prepared." He began walking towards the bedroom, grabbing a coat.

Leo observed his sister's nervousness and tried to comfort her. "Don't worry, Zoe. We still don't know if they're our parents or not, but let's hope they're not." Zoe shook her head, rejecting his attempt to comfort her. "But... what if they are? What... what are we going to do?" Before Leo could respond, Roger reappeared, now with a resolute look.

Roger: "Let's go."

Leo placed both hands on Zoe's shoulders, facing her. "Come on, Zoe. Don't be downcast until we know something for sure. Like a flower, we need to withstand the storms, remember?"

Zoe raised her head, looking into his eyes. She saw a source of courage reflected in Leo's eyes, which calmed some of her anxiety. "Alright."

Leo took her hand and led her outside, where Roger was waiting. They headed to the town of Arbordale, each step increasing the tension but also reinforcing the hope that everything might end well.

They followed a dirt road, bordered by trees in the distance and tall grass. The sun was already setting, painting the sky orange and purple, marking the beginning of the night. In the distance, straight down the road, they could see a small community, not far from Roger's house. The atmosphere, usually calm, seemed charged with an invisible tension.

Leo, still confused, asked: "Why aren't we going directly to the building? I don't understand why we need to go to our parents' house first."

Roger, keeping his eyes fixed ahead, replied: "Let's see if we find anything that can help us."

Zoe, with a puzzled expression, asked: "Why did Mom and Dad leave so suddenly?"

Roger, without taking his eyes off the road, replied: "They had matters to attend to, Zoe."

Zoe frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the vague response. "..."

Leo, persistent, questioned: "But what kind of matters? Why did they suddenly decide to leave?"

Roger paused for a moment, seeming to choose his words carefully. "They didn't leave. Don't think they abandoned you to go on a trip around the world. There was something more."

Zoe, feeling a pang of anxiety, asked: "Something more? Like what?"

Roger, in a more serious tone, replied: "They didn't want to tell me anything about what was happening. They said they were already in a lot of danger just being involved, and because of that, they didn't tell me anything. They didn't want me to be in danger too, but they made me promise that I would take care of you, and that's what I'm going to do."

They continued walking until they reached the entrance of the community, where a weathered sign read "Arbordale." As they passed the entrance, a guard approached them, warning: "Be careful out there, sir. It seems there's a murderer in town, so never let your children wander around alone."

Leo looked at the guard, correcting him: "He's my uncle, not my father." The guard quickly corrected himself: "Ah, my apologies, but the warning has been given. So, be careful, and if you see any suspicious person, please call the guards and report everything about the suspect to them."

Roger, nodding, replied: "Alright, we'll alert you if anything happens."

They continued, passing through some deserted streets and silent houses, until they reached Victor and Samantha's residence. Roger took a metal key, inserted it into the lock, and turned it, hearing the click of the latch. He opened the door, revealing a cozy living room with a polished wooden table, well-tended plant vases, a velvet armchair, an old radio, and a sofa near a bookshelf full of books.

Roger entered the room with the children and closed the door behind them. "Wait here in the living room. I'll check the other rooms." Zoe and Leo obeyed and sat on the couch, their nerves on edge, while Roger investigated the rest of the house.

They remained silent for a while, just listening to the sound of Roger's footsteps and the distant noise of objects being moved. Each sound seemed to amplify the tension in the air.

Leo, trying to distract himself, looked at the bookshelf, scanning the titles, but nothing could hold his attention. He felt lost in a sea of uncertainties.

Roger returned to the living room, and Leo asked, "Did you find anything?"

Roger: "No."

Zoe: "Uncle Roger, if you don't know anything, why didn't you answer me when I asked if they told you anything before they left last night?"

Roger: "Are you referring to the moment when I told you that story?"

Zoe: "Yes."

"I didn't want to worry you with information that even I didn't know. It would only make you two more anxious and concerned, and that was not my intention. But now the situation is different. Anyway, I'm going to the building. You stay here and don't leave this house."

Zoe: "Why can't we go with you?"

Roger: "Because there's a killer on the loose, and I don't want to put you in unnecessary danger. So, stay here and avoid opening the door to strangers."

Leo: "If you're going to leave us alone in the house, why did you bring us along? Wouldn't it be safer for us to stay at your house?"

Roger: "No, it wouldn't. Most killers hide in forested areas, and if by any chance he's wandering near the forest, you would be in danger staying there."

Roger moved toward the door but was stopped by Zoe, who grabbed his shirt tightly and said: "I want you to take me with you."

Roger was surprised for a moment but quickly regained his composure. "I can't take you. It's dangerous."

Zoe: "But it's about our parents. I want to see if it's them or not. So please, Uncle Roger, take me with you."

Leo: "Zoe is right. We're talking about our parents. We need to know if it's them or not."

Zoe: "I understand that you just want to protect us from all this, but we also need to know the truth about what's happening."

Roger observed the two children. They were clearly trembling and afraid of the situation, but even so, their eyes reflected a strong determination. The brown eyes burning with bravery reminded him of Victor's eyes when he needed to be courageous. Roger understood the situation and gave them a gentle, sincere smile. "You have the same eyes as him," he thought to himself.

Roger: "You are right, but stay close to me and don't wander off without my permission, okay?"

Both nodded, and Roger stepped outside, followed by Leo and Zoe. The trio walked through the narrow, dark streets, where the presence of many guards patrolling the various alleys was evident. The air was cold and damp, the houses around were completely closed, and a thick mist roamed the roads, giving the scene an even more sinister atmosphere.

They arrived at a location where a robust guard, with a rigid posture, stood in front of a solid wooden double door. He noticed the presence of the three and approached, examining them with a keen eye.

Guard: "Can I help you?"

Roger: "We want to enter and get more information about the bodies found last night. My brother lives around here, and I haven't heard from him until now. I want to see the bodies to check if one of them is my brother."

The guard looked deeply into Roger's eyes and then at the children beside him, realizing the seriousness of the situation.

Guard: "I understand. We are looking for valuable information to help us find the suspect. Maybe you can help identify the victims. Please, follow me."

The guard entered the building with firm steps and guided them through several corridors with different metal doors, where many other people were working frantically, making reports and alerts. The sound of papers being flipped and pencils scribbling created an atmosphere of tension.

They arrived at a door isolated from the others, and the guard knocked three times on it, each knock echoing down the silent corridor. A noise of something unlocking was heard, and a man in his 40s opened the door. "Do you need something?" he asked the guard, with a firm and experienced voice.

Guard: "These people came to see the victims' bodies and might help identify them."

The man looked at Roger and the children, his gray eyes evaluating them meticulously. "What are your names?" he asked, in a serious tone.

Roger: "My name is Roger, and these two are Leo and Zoe."

"And your surname?"

Roger: "Petrova."

The man nodded and gestured for the guard to leave with a gesture of obedience. The guard immediately left the location. "Nice to meet you. You can call me Dr. Elias. Please, come in." He opened the door wider, giving them space to enter a room illuminated by cold lights, within the room there was another door, giving a view of a series of metal drawers aligned on the wall, suggesting the presence of bodies.

Dr. Elias closed the door with a soft click and soon said: "The bodies are in this room, but... I ask that only you enter, Mr. Roger. I don't think it would be appropriate for these children to see such horrible things."

Leo, with a trembling voice, protested: "But... these people... these people might be our parents!"

Zoe agreed with Leo, her voice anxious and determined: "Exactly, we also want to know if it's them. So, let us in too, sir!"

Roger held their shoulders and crouched down to their level, looking at them deeply. He knew it was not at all responsible to let these children see a dead body, but he could see courage in them. Not just that, but he also saw concern, one that only the three of them could share. "I want them to come in with me, Dr. Elias. If it's their parents, they need to know too."

Dr. Elias hesitated for a moment but eventually relented: "Alright, but please keep your distance from the bodies to avoid any accidents."

They entered the room. Zoe and Leo's hearts were pounding, beating erratically in their chests, as if trying to escape. Their breathing became rapid and shallow, while their minds were flooded with a whirlwind of anxious thoughts. Their hands trembled slightly, and a tingling sensation ran down their spines, leaving them in a state of constant alert. Each passing second seemed to stretch into an agonizing eternity as anxiety took over their bodies and minds.

Zoe and Leo entered the cold room, feeling the chilly air envelop their bodies like a cloak of ice. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly on the tile floor, while both their hearts pounded, resonating in their ears like a thud-thud, thud-thud.

Thud-thud, thud-thud.

As they approached the three metal drawers, the sound of their hearts seemed to grow louder, accompanying the rising tension. Dr. Elias, with a serious and somber look, stood beside the drawers, ready to reveal what was hidden inside.

Thud-thud, thud-thud.

With a firm motion, Dr. Elias pulled the first drawer. Inside, a man lay with his veins completely purple, as if poison had spread throughout his system.

Thud-thud, thud-thud.

Zoe and Leo held their breath as Dr. Elias opened the other two drawers simultaneously. In one, a man with a slit throat and a cut hole in his chest. In the other, a woman with cuts on her abdomen and a hole in her chest, exactly in the heart region.

Thud-thud, thud-thud.

The cold air in the room felt even colder in the face of the macabre sight. Zoe and Leo felt a shiver run down their spines as the sound of their hearts continued to pound loudly, echoing in the silent room. Both looked and recognized that these were their dead parents in front of them.

Zoe felt the ground disappear beneath her feet upon seeing her parents' bodies in the drawers. The shock hit her like a cold wave, paralyzing her for a moment. Her eyes widened, and her breath caught in her throat. Her heart was beating uncontrollably, as if trying to escape from her chest.

Thud-thud, thud-thud.

Pain and despair began to seep into her being like poison running through her veins. Tears began to well up in her eyes, blurring her vision. She tried to hold back her sobs, but the sadness was overwhelming. A sob escaped her lips, and the tears started to roll down her face.

Zoe: (crying) "No... it can't be... mom... dad..."

She took a step forward, extending a trembling hand towards her parents' bodies, but was stopped by her uncle, Roger. He held her firmly by the shoulders, trying to keep her away from the horrific sight.

Zoe struggled against Roger's grip, desperate to reach her parents. Tears were now falling freely, and her voice was choked with sobs.

Zoe: (screaming) "Please, Uncle Roger! I need to see them! I need to... I need to..."

Roger pulled her away, enveloping her in a protective embrace. Zoe fought against it, but the strength of her emotions left her weak. She surrendered to Roger's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably against his chest.

Zoe: (crying) "Why... why did this happen?"

Roger stroked Zoe's hair, trying to comfort her as he led her out of the room. Each step seemed like a monumental effort, and the pain in Zoe's heart was unbearable. She felt as if she were being torn apart from the inside, a pain that words could not describe.

Roger: (whispering) "I know, Zoe. I know. Let's get out of here. You don't need to see this."

Zoe continued to cry, feeling lost and helpless. The image of her parents' bodies was etched in her mind, and the sense of loss was overwhelming. She clung to Roger, seeking some solace amidst the chaos of her emotions.

Roger picked Zoe up. She clung to him tightly, not wanting to let go, seeking any form of comfort. He looked at Leo. "Leo!" he called, but no response was heard.

Leo stood still, as if time had stopped around him. The cold air of the room seemed not to affect him, as he was trapped in a deep stupor. His eyes were fixed on his parents' bodies, unblinking, unwavering. His heart, once full of life and hope, now seemed like a dead weight in his chest, beating slowly, almost without strength.

The happy memories, the moments of affection and laughter with his parents, began to fade, like shadows fleeing the light. In their place, the horrific image of the bodies fixed itself in his mind, engraving itself like an eternal scar.

Leo could not cry. The tears seemed to have dried before they even formed. There were no screams, no reactions. Just a deafening silence that filled every corner of his soul. The deep sadness enveloped him like a heavy shroud, suffocating any vestige of emotion.

His innocence, that naïve and pure view of the world, was being brutally torn away. He felt as if a part of him was dying along with his parents, leaving only an immense and desolate void. The void was all that remained, an endless abyss that consumed his essence.

Roger, noticing Leo's state, approached slowly. He placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder, but Leo did not react. It was as if he were in a trance, lost in a sea of despair and pain. Roger, with a look of sadness and understanding, guided Leo out of the room, trying to protect him from the sight that had shattered him.

Leo followed mechanically, his steps heavy and uncoordinated. The world around him seemed distant, unreal. All he could feel was the void, a void that threatened to swallow him whole.

As Roger led Zoe and Leo out, Dr. Elias closed the drawers and returned to the previous room.

Roger: "I apologize, I will take them home and then come back here to talk about the bodies, okay?"

Dr. Elias: "Don't worry, I understand. Come back tomorrow. For now, just take care of them."

Roger nodded and led them outside. Zoe kept crying against Roger's chest, while shouting in a muffled sound: "Why?! Why did they do this to them?! I want to see my parents again... Please, bring them back!" Roger struggled to hold back his tears but managed to stay strong.

The night was heavy, laden with an almost palpable silence as Roger, Zoe, and Leo walked back to the house that was once full of love and joy. Zoe, with swollen and red eyes, was in Roger's arms, crying silently against his chest. Her sobs were muffled by Roger's shirt, as he struggled to hold back his own tears, staying strong for them.

Leo walked beside them, his steps heavy and uncoordinated, as if each movement were a monumental effort. The emptiness in his chest was overwhelming, an abyss that consumed all emotions. He couldn't cry, couldn't react. He just kept moving forward, like a shadow of his former self.

The three advanced through the deserted streets, the sound of their steps echoing in the quiet of the night. Roger held Zoe tightly against him, feeling the weight of her pain and his own pain intertwining. With each step, he took a deep breath, fighting the urge to collapse, knowing he needed to be strong for his nephews.

When they finally reached the house, Roger paused for a moment, looking at the front door with a mixture of pain and determination. He pushed the door open slowly, and the air inside the house felt even heavier than outside. The happy memories that once filled that home now seemed distant and painful.

Roger carried Zoe inside, still holding her firmly, while Leo followed mechanically. The living room was engulfed in darkness, but Roger didn't bother to light the lamp. He guided Zoe to the sofa and gently settled her there, stroking her hair as she continued to cry.

With a trembling voice, Roger said: "I'm sorry, kids. I'm sorry I can't do anything for you right now. Forgive me. I'm also shaken by all this, but... I don't know what to do other than take care of you. You can count on my support, alright?"

Roger pulled Leo and Zoe close, wrapping them in a tight embrace. He could feel Zoe's warm tears soaking his shirt and Leo's trembling body trying to hold back the sobs. They were united in a bond of pain and loss, a mutual comfort amidst the chaos.

Roger held them tightly, trying to convey all the love and protection he could. He knew that, at that moment, words wouldn't be enough to ease the pain they all felt. But at least they had each other to lean on.

Time passed, and Roger managed, minimally, to comfort them. Zoe was in her parents' room, surrounded by memories that now brought emptiness. Leo was in his own room, where the shadows seemed longer and the walls more oppressive. The house was now steeped in deep and painful silence.

Roger sat in the kitchen chair with a glass of water in his hands. The liquid reflected the dim light, flickering like the emotions he was trying to contain. His thoughts were in turmoil, the faces of Victor and Samantha coming to mind, along with the memories of the moments shared. He knew he needed to be strong, but the pain was a constant presence, a shadow that enveloped him.

The three of them couldn't sleep. Each attempt to close their eyes brought back images of the bodies, haunting them. Zoe curled up in her parents' bed, hugging the pillow that still had her mother's scent. Leo stared at the ceiling of his room, lost in thoughts and emotions he couldn't process.

Roger, feeling the weight of responsibilities and emotions, took a deep breath, trying to find strength. The house, now shrouded in darkness and silence, seemed a reflection of their own souls. Each of them, in their own corner, struggled against the feeling of loss and the attempt to find some relief.

Time seemed to drag on, each minute heavier than the last. The night advanced slowly and inexorably, bringing with it the weight of the emotions that enveloped them. Roger looked at the glass of water in his hands, as if seeking answers in the wavering reflection. He knew that, somehow, they would need to find strength in each other to face the days ahead.

Zoe sat in a fetal position on the bed, with no more tears to cry and a pounding headache. She felt a deep and immeasurable hatred for the killer who took her parents from her. With each thought of it, she struck the pillow hard, as if she could vent her anger on it. The same questions echoed in her mind: "Why them?" "Who was the bastard that took them from me?" "What do I do now?"

Anger boiled inside her, an uncontrollable flame burning every fiber of her being. Zoe scratched her head so hard she almost pulled out her hair, trying to find some relief for the pain and fury consuming her. She felt lost, as if she were adrift in a sea of turbulent emotions, not knowing where to go or what to do.

Each hit on the pillow was a desperate attempt to find answers, to understand the reason for so much cruelty. The feeling of helplessness made her even angrier, and the headache only increased, as if her mind were about to explode. Zoe was trapped in a cycle of anger and despair, with no way out of her anguish.

In the midst of her aggression, Zoe felt something fall from her hair. The blue lily that Leo had placed in her hair was now lying on the bed sheet, still perfectly intact. Her eyes fixed on the flower, and Leo's words came to mind: "Be strong and resilient like this flower." She twirled the flower between her fingers, looking at it, and whispered to herself: "You must withstand the storms."

At that moment, Zoe could only think of her brother. She hadn't spoken to him at any point during the walk home, and that worried her. "I need to see how he is."

Lying in bed, Leo struggled to hold back the tears, fighting an intense and exhausting internal battle, where every fiber of his being was in conflict. His eyes started to burn, and his vision blurred as tears accumulated, desperately seeking a way out. His chest felt tight, as if being compressed by an invisible hand, making it difficult to breathe. Each inhalation was shallow, each exhalation a conscious effort to maintain control.

His lips trembled slightly, and he bit the inside of his mouth, hoping the physical pain would divert attention from the emotional pain. His hands clenched into fists, fingers digging into his palms, as if the grip could contain the emotional flood threatening to overflow.

The world around him became an indistinct blur, the happy memories of his parents drowned out by the terrifying scene of them dead, and the only sound he really heard was the intense pounding of his heart, beating fast and irregularly. He felt a lump in his throat, a choking sensation, as if every unspoken word had turned into a barrier preventing the release of the tears.

All Leo wanted at that moment was to crumble. However, he tried his best to suppress that feeling, trying to disguise the internal storm with a facade of normalcy. Each passing second was a victory but also a reminder of the fragility of his resilience.

"Be an inspiration of strength for her," these words dominated his mind, "be a good brother for your sister," he whispered softly to himself, his heart broken, his mind throbbing with internal pains, feeling the onset of a headache. He wiped away the tears and got out of bed.

Zoe got up from her parents' bed, feeling the weight of memories and loss. Each step to the door felt like a monumental effort. She opened the door hesitantly and walked down the hallway towards Leo's room. Every sound, every shadow in the now empty house seemed to amplify her sadness and anger. When she reached Leo's door, she paused and placed her hand on the doorknob, hesitating briefly before pushing it open.

On the other side of the door, Leo was in a very similar situation. He held the doorknob, feeling the same urgent need to see his sister, to ensure he wasn't alone in this unbearable pain. Both Zoe and Leo were thinking the same thing, their minds in sync:

"I need to see how he is."

"I need to see how she is."

At the instant Leo pulled the door, Zoe mustered the courage and pushed it. They both met, and an internal shock took over them. Not because they were surprised to find each other there, just behind the door, but because of what they saw in each other's eyes. What they found was a completely vacant look.

The pain in Leo's eyes was a mirror of Zoe's own pain, a deep and relentless abyss. They stared at each other in silence, words caught in their throats. Zoe saw the despair and loss in her brother's gaze, reflecting her own feelings. Without saying anything, she stepped forward and enveloped Leo in a tight hug.

Leo returned the hug, feeling the desperate need to cling to something, someone. In the embrace, they found silent solace, a connection that transcended the pain. The weight of the loss seemed a bit more bearable when they were together, sharing the burden.

The tears Zoe thought had dried began to flow again as she clung to Leo, seeking strength in her brother. Leo, in turn, felt a mixture of anger and sadness, his body trembling slightly as he tried to be strong for Zoe.

The house, now shrouded in almost palpable darkness, seemed to silently observe the siblings' pain. The empty hallway echoed with the intensity of their emotions, and for a moment, the world seemed reduced to that embrace, that desperate attempt to find comfort in each other.

Without words, without promises, just the presence of one another. It was all they had, and at that moment, it was enough to keep going.