“Kuh.” was the sound he gave out when he was stabbed. Having his abdomen ripped open, he could not stand still, so he leaned on the wall next to him, where he was shoved to. He collapsed some second after. Bleeding out, his mind started to bring back his memories buried a long ago.

*****

“Do you want to come to the market, Mia?”

“Yes!” a seven-years-old Mia replied. “We need to decorate your inn to look better.”

“Get your shoes on, then.”

“Okay.” after that, Jack grabbed her by the hand and ventured forth to the Lower City Market, which was at the main centre of the city. Their inn was on the other side at the border of the Upper city.

Although it was not a tremendous amount of walking, they had to take shelter, since Mia could hardly endure the heavy smoke of the city. Entering a shop occasionally and buying some minor goods was the best solution.

“Look, Jack it’s a chicken.” She pointed on a figure on the counter.

“Yes.”

“Would you buy it for me?”

“Do you need it?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

She looked at Jack with a faint of disappointment.

“Let’s just buy the things you think the inn needs.”

“Okay.” She said with more dissatisfaction.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll buy you something after we finished the inn. What do you say?” The response dealt a decisive blow to the seven-years-old Mia’s conscience.

“Will that be okay for you?”

“Definitely. I’ll buy you the chicken statue if you want it.”

“Okay.”

“So let’s go.” They went out to the streets. The market was not far from this location, but was very busy along with its vicinity, so Jack held Mia tight not to lose her.

“I am hungry.” She complained.

“Let me check my purse.” But it was not there. He felt some movement few moments ago, but he thought it was only because of the crowd. He looked around for potential thieves, who might have acquired his purse. He did not feel despair, these things happened too much close to the shops and centres. He saw a girl, grasping firmly on his purse, running away into an alley.

“Mia, would you run with me?”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“Okay.” They started to run. On arrival, they saw the alley, which was enclosed, but had a hole in the fence. Jack heard some machines that were used to heat the buildings, and heard his money clinging.

“Mia could get into the alley, but I cannot send her in, it is too dangerous.”

“Why are we here?”

“How should I put?” he thought. “Someone has taken my purse, and she went in.”

“You are too fat to go in.”

“You mean my muscles are too thick?”

“Fatty.” She smiled, Jack laughed.

“Could you come out? I want my purse back. I have someone to feed, you know.” He shouted. Someone imitated a growl. Jack, who had been working with military dogs knew that it was a fake. It was a human with a high-pitched voice, preferably a child. “You seem to be much younger than I anticipated. Come out. I will not hurt you.” There was no noise this time. “Mia, could you look through the hole?”

“Yes.” She crouched and put her head in.

“What do you see?”

“A girl.”

“A girl?”

“Aham.”

“What does she look like?”

“She is young and she has blue eyes and she has bad clothes and she seems afraid.”

“Anyone else?”

“No. She is holding a purse.” Mia stood up.

“I’ll buy you food.” He shouted. No answer. “I have some rooms to spare. Come out, I won’t hurt you.”

“Are you sure? I stole your purse. People beat me for that.”

“You could just give it back and apologize. I might be able to help you.”

She appeared at the hole, carefully moved forward. Mia was smiling all along.

“Can we eat now?” she asked. “What do you like?” this was meant to the stranger.

“Hold your horses, Mia. What is your name?” he saw a girl, the same age as Mia crawl out of the boiler’s alley. She was filthy, her clothes were torn, and held a thimble desperately.

“Vale.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Don’t know.”

“Could you give my purse back?”

“Can she come with us, Jack?”

“Wait, what? What should I do now? I don’t have enough money to refurbish the inn, and maintain two children alongside.” he thought.

“Jack, Jack, could she come with us? She seems sick.”

“I see that.” She seemed somewhat pale, and had fever. It was not very healthy to stay in a hot and humid place, but at least she did not freeze to death during the night.

“I should just establish a kindergarten. I don’t have enough money, I don’t want another kid. I do not have the time. Yet it doesn’t matter how I feel, I cannot leave her here.”

“Jaaaack.”

“Come, I’ll buy you some food. What do you want to eat?”

“Really?” both asked simultaneously.

“Yes, but I will definitely not buy you the figure, Mia.” she nodded. “Let’s just go back to the inn. Could you pack your things, Vale?”

“I do not have any.”

“I see a thimble.”

“I don’t have to pack that.”

“True. Come then.” They started their journey back to the inn, Jack held their hands.

“Would you like to eat some golden carrots?”

“What’s that?” asked Vale.

“Raw carrot with yellow candy coating. I’ll buy you some.” He went to the stall and bought two. “Here.”

Vale was speechless. “Thank you…”

“Yes, thank you.” Mia replied vigorously.

“So you do not have any other clothes, do you?”

“Not really.”

“I could buy you some.”

“Really?” she blushed.

“Yes. But you have to take a bath first, and you have to eat. I’ll give you a room as well. Do you want to help us out? Mia needs help with the decoration, I need help with serving food.”

“Can I?”

“Definitely.” She was speechless, again.

Interpolating between the streets and the shops, they arrived. Jack showed her around. She was given a room next to Mia, while Jack told her where to find him if bad things happened.

“Now go, take a bath. We have to get some clothes for you. You can’t help us around with those rags you wear, it would not be appealing. Borrow some clothes from Mia.”

“Appealing?”

“Acceptable and favourable for the customers. Go now. There is one bathroom in your room, you can use that.” She climbed the stairs and disappeared.

The door of the inn was bashed out of the way with a strong force. Its sound could be heard throughout the building. Four men entered the battleground.

“Is that fucking brat here?”

Jack turned around. “Greetings, how can I help you?”

“Is that fuuucking brat here?” he shouted louder and louder.

“Are you looking for the rat in my kitchen? Though luck, I have been hunting it for a long time too, but you will never succeed, it is too clever for you.”

“Very funny. I am talking about a young lady, black haired, blue eyes, loves to steal and report things.”

“Lady? I do not know what you are talking about.”

“I saw you holding her hand.”

“What took you so long to ask anything like that? I mean, we have arrived at least ten minutes ago.”

“I brought some friends.”

“So you need friends to beat up an eight-years-old?”

“She is the devil.”

“Or you are an unfortunate idiot. She was alone for a long time, nobody took her in, and never knew about other options than stealing. So you want to beat her? I’ll see what I can do.” He put up his boxer, and picked a metal rod, with which he used to clean the ceiling. It had some wool on the end, which could be used to remove the dust easily.

“Boys, we should take care of him.” Three of the men ran towards Jack, who swung his rod hitting one in the groin and then he hit one with his hand, which lead to a severe loss of teeth. The last one wanted to punch him in the face, but he blocked with the rod. His fingers broke. Then Jack bashed him in the face, breaking his nose.

“Oy, you fucker, c’mere.” He shouted angrily. “Nobody is allowed to brawl in my inn. I was a dog trainer in the military. I fought dogs without any equipment. You’ll lose your dignity if you beat a woman, let alone a girl. Then you will be worse than dogs. Do you want to be worth less than a dog? I have no problem with beating them to death, you will be a piece of cake…”

“Wait, I didn’t meant to.” Jack hurled the rod towards the leader’s face, taking his eyes out.

“If you want to go to the local militia, you shouldn’t, most of the officers were my comrades. They will punish you instead. So go now before I grab your other eye as well.” The one with a broken nose got up and the two of them carried the others away. When Jack turned around, he saw Vale crouching on the stairs.

“Did you take a bath?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Mia. MIA.”

“Yes, yes.”

“We should be going.” He grabbed both girls’ hands. Exiting the premise, they ventured towards the market, but took a slightly different route, as Jack was a favoured customer in one of the children’s clothing stores near its vicinity. His late wife’s uncle’s daughter’s husband was the owner. They had some glamorous conversation over pets and family. They rarely met, but that didn’t stop Jack to ask for a discount, since he was almost broke. He used the most of his money to buy an inn, and repair it to a favourable condition.

Entering the shop, Jack asked Vale what kind of clothes she wanted.

“What do you prefer?”

“So I can get new clothes?”

“I have told you about it several times. I only have money for two sets, so choose wisely.”

She pointed on the two cheapest white shirts and black trousers.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

He spoke to the shopkeeper for a while and he bought the clothes. He was given a seventy percent discount.

“I want you to take on one of the outfits.”

“Okay.”

“You can find a changing room over there.” The shopkeeper pointed towards a white door in the back of the building.

“Jack. Come with me. I am afraid.”

“Okay.”

Mia was inspecting the goods during the whole time. She did not pay any attention.

“You look great.”

“Thank you.”

“So we should go back.”

“Noooo.” Mia exclaimed.

“Yes.” He grabbed Mia by her arm and held Vale’s hand. He dragged Mia out of this store successfully. This was a rare occasion.

“I haven’t been here before.” Said Vale.

“This is a part of the market only a handful knows.”

“Can we look around?”

“You do not have to steal anymore.”

“I want to look around.”

“There is a bridge between two districts of the city, we should be heading over there. The landscape is kind of enjoyable.” So he showed the way.

“Can you hear this?” Jack asked.

“Someone cries.” Vale said.

“Under the bridge.” Jack located the perpetrator. He glanced at the establishment of the bridge and saw a boy crying. He was angry too. “Hey, you. What are you doing?”

“Leave me alone.”

“I’ll leave you alone if you answer me.”

“Leave me alone.” He hissed.

“Why is that boy crying?” asked Mia aloud.

“I am not a boy.” Replied the boy angrily.

“What are you then?” asked Jack.

“A son of a general.”

“I understand now. He is an orphan, isn’t he?” he thought. “What happened?”

“Why would I tell you?”

“Why not?” Mia asked. There was a moment of silence.

“Father was taken away by the Vanguard.”

“Why are you under the bridge?”

“I cannot go anywhere else.”

“Jack. Can we help him?” asked Mia carefully.

“Do I have a sign with kindergarten on it? It is an inn, I cannot raise children in it.”

“Jaaaack. Jaaaaaaack.”

“Stop.”

“Jaaaaaaaack. Jaaaaaaaaaaack.”

“Damn. Hey, kiddo, can I offer you a room? I have an inn. It is not a palace, but it’s warm at least.”

“Yaaay.” Mia exclaimed.

“Why would you help me?”

“Because she wouldn’t stop pestering me about it. Come then.”

“No.”

“It’s your choice. You cannot do anything if you die.” He turned around. “Come let’s go. I have to make dinner for you.” They ventured forward. The boy followed them cautiously, since he had nothing to eat.

On arrival, Jack started to cook some onion soup with plain potato. It had little flavour, but was nutritious. Then he saw someone sitting down in the hall.

“We have not opened yet. Please le…”

“Could I get some soup as well?” the boy asked timidly.

“Only if you tell me your name.”

“Noah.”

*****

“I never told them, but they are all my children. You told me I still have a reason to be alive, I did not understand what you were talking about back then, now I know. I guess I’ll be joining you soon enough, darling.”