Chapter 32- Premonition

A lone headlight cut through the darkness, its weak glow barely piercing the storm that consumed the empty road. The car moved forward with quiet persistence, the muted thrum of the engine drowned out by the rain pelting against its surfaces.

Outside, the world was a distorted blur of gray, obscured by rivulets of water that streaked down the glass like ghostly fingers. Thunder rumbled overhead, a deep, rolling sound that seemed to shake the very ground, followed by a searing flash of lightning that momentarily flooded the car's interior with an eerie, bone-white glow.

Lucien remained engrossed in his book, his eyes scanning the pages with steadfast concentration.

Beside him, a motionless boy sat tucked at the farthest end of the seat, slumped like a discarded doll. A vast, unspoken distance stretched between them, an invisible barrier that made them feel like strangers occupying the same space yet existing in separate worlds.

Unblinking crimson eyes stared vacantly into the distance as silent tears carved glistening paths down pallid cheeks. Damp black curls hung in tangled strands, droplets trailing along his jaw. The soaked fabric of his clothes clung to his skin, offering no warmth against the cold that wracked his fragile body. Each breath came in soft, uneven shudders, teeth faintly clicking together as violent shivers coursed through him. Below the boy's feet, a bag lay in a wet heap, water seeping into the floor beneath it.

Lucien finally glanced in his direction, his golden eyes settling on the boy's pitiful state. The hush inside the car was broken only by the faint, uneven rise and fall of breaths.Noah sat solemnly, his head resting against the cold window, his heavy-lidded eyes barely open.

The steady drip of water from his soaked clothes distracted Lucien more than he cared to admit.

"What were you doing out there by yourself?"

"....."

Noah showed no will to respond and remained eerily lifeless in his seat.

Knowing that a conversation would be pointless, Lucien didn't bother to ask again and resumed his attention on the book he was holding.

- - -

Soon, the car glided to a seamless stop in front of a towering building, its tires slicing through puddles and sending ripples across the rain-soaked pavement. The rhythmic drumming of raindrops against the roof filled the silence as the driver cut the engine, leaving only the steady roar of the storm outside.

The doors swung open, allowing a sharp gust of cold air to rushed in.

Stepping out into the downpour, they were immediately greeted by a waiting worker who held an umbrella over them, shielding them from the ceaseless rain as they made their way toward the entrance.

Noah followed without a word. He didn't lift his head to take in his surroundings, nor did he show the slightest hint of curiosity. His gaze remained empty, his steps slow and mechanical, as if he driven by nothing more than inevitability.

The wet, sloppy echo of their footsteps filled the empty hallway, the sound stretching through the stillness until, at last, they came to a gradual halt before their destination.

The door to Lucien's room clicked open and with a flick of the switch, soft light spilled across the space, driving back the shadows. The faint rumble of thunder echoed through the walls, a distant reminder of the storm still raging beyond the windows.

He handed Noah a dry towel along with a set of his clean clothes.

"You should wear this for now."

Water dripped from the soaked figure, forming small puddles at his feet, yet he stood motionless, making no effort to dry himself.

Lucien said nothing, his eyes resting on the desolate youth. With a sharp sigh, he turned and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

He needed to inform the warden about Noah's unexpected delay, otherwise it will turn into an unnecessary problem.

Fortunately, everything was handled before the situation reached his father. The call to the warden also went smoothly, and Lucien assured them he would drop the boy off soon.

By the time he stepped back into the room, the sight of Noah still sitting on the floor in his drenched clothes made him pause at the doorstep.

Lucien exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple as he took in the scene before him.

"Why don't you change before you catch a cold?"

"..."

The boy remained unresponsive, his vacant eyes fixed on nothing.

Lucien's brow tightened.

"Noah."

Silence. There was not even the slightest flicker of recognition.

Realising his usual approach wouldn't work, he decided it would be wiser to try a different tactic. He knelt beside the slumped figure and reached for the boy's hands, wrapping them gently in his own. They were cold as ice, trembling slightly in his grasp.

"Did something happen?" he asked, his golden eyes fixed on the soulless face. "Is something making you sad?"

"….."

There was no immediate response, but Lucien didn't let go. He simply waited, his warmth seeping into the frozen fingers, offering comfort where words might fail.

"….."

Without warning, the floodgates burst open. A broken sob tore from Noah's throat, and before he could stop it, the tears rushed down, faster and heavier than before. His crimson eyes, already swollen from earlier, glistened with fresh sorrow.

"…hic… uh… hic…"

Instinctively, he tried to cover his face, desperate to smother the sounds of his own crying. But Lucien's grip remained firm, his larger hands enclosing Noah's, refusing to let go.

A shudder ran through his frail frame as he fought against the wave of emotions crashing over him. The more he tried to contain it, the harder the sobs wracked his body. In the end, he gave up, letting himself break in the quiet of the room.

Tears spilled down his cold cheeks, his cries heavy with sorrow. He couldn't believe he had broken down like this, worse, in front of someone who already saw him as a burden. But his thoughts came to a halt as warmth slipped around his neck, spreading like fire through his frozen skin.

Lucien gently pulled Noah into his arms, letting the boy collapse against his shoulder. Noah could no longer resist. He simply melted into the warmth, his frail body trembling as he burrowed closer into the firm embrace. Muffled sobs escaped through the cracks, and he nuzzled deeper into the comforting hold, seeking solace in its warmth.

Lucien's hand moved in slow, rhythmic motions, patting his back in a quiet attempt to soothe him.

"It's okay."

Noah clung weakly to the fabric of Lucien's sleeve, his fingers trembling as he grasped it desperately. His sobs gradually softened, though the occasional shudder still ran through him. Time stretched on, measured only by the muffled sound of his uneven breaths and the distant rumble of thunder beyond the window.

Slowly, he lifted his head, drawing in a shaky breath. His vision swam, still disoriented from being squeezed so tightly.

"Do you feel a bit better?"

Noah nodded, lowering his eyes as embarrassment crept up on him, his mind finally clearing.

"Ehgh..."

He flinched slightly at the sensation of Lucien's long fingers brushing through his hair, pushing back the damp strands to expose his reddened eyes. A soft touch followed, soothing the tension lingering on his face.

"The water in the tub must be getting cold by now. Why don't you go wash up? Can you do that?"

Noah nodded, his face resting in the warmth of the gentle hand.

After successfully coaxing Noah to calm down, Lucien watched as the boy silently made his way to the washroom.

He glanced down at his own damp shirt but made no move to change, knowing he would be heading out soon to drop the boy off.

Finally dressed in dry clothes, Noah emerged, the fabric hanging loosely on his smaller frame.

"Come here."

Lucien angled a chair toward him, gesturing for him to sit. Noah sluggishly stepped forward and obeyed without resistance.

Taking out a small medicine box, Lucien gently rolled up the oversized pant leg, revealing a badly scraped knee with raw skin and dried blood clinging to the wound. He pressed a cotton pad soaked in antiseptic against it, causing the boy to flinch in pain.

"It'll sting." Lucien warned as he continued to clean the wounds.

Biting his lip to silence his scream, Noah watched the graceful hand tending to him, its smooth movements momentarily distracting him from the pain.

After securing the bandage, Lucien put away the supplies and fetched a pair of shoes from his chamber.

"Try these on and see if they fit."

Noah stared at the polished leather shoe before him, its dark, smooth surface catching the light with a faint sheen. Carefully, he slid his foot inside, the supple material molding comfortably around him. It fit better than he had expected. He gave a small nod to Lucien, who watched him in silent assessment.

"Good. Let's get going. The driver is already waiting downstairs"

Noah trudged behind the towering figure, a rush of cold air greeting them as they stepped out of the room's warmth. The door closed behind them with a quiet thud, leaving the space once again swallowed by darkness.

In the dark corner of the room stood a tall lectern with an open book resting on top. Ink began to flow across the smooth pages like a silent river weaving its tale in the moonlight.

…..the mangled corpse capturing the full attention of th-...

It was a grim premonition.