Singed tobacco smoldered lazily at the tip of its beige cylindrical casing while the mouth enclosed about its round shape tensed; the lipso owner inhaled another deep drag of his cigarette and leisurely brought his stout hand up to extract the glowing stick from his teeth. His striking gaze, a stare that possessed both an iris with unique hues of azure and another with a complementary shade of deep chocolate, glanced down at his watch, the dull flicker from his cigarette dancing in the clocko s sleek glass face. His dually colored eyes rose from his wrist and fell upon a woman across the dimly lit room. She was gently cradling a child, the babeo s head nestled against her breasts.



o Is he doing alright?o the cigarette-wielding man inquired softly, concern apparent in his heterochromic eyes. He exhaled a short breath of smoke over his shoulder, careful not to allow the smoggy vapor to waft near the nursing infant.



The woman nodded and the motion caused her long, razor-straight, silvery-blonde locks to swing delicately. o Heo s fine,o she whispered with a look of slight disgust upon her flawless façade. o I wish you wouldno t do that.o



o Me too,o he murmured, then extinguished the smoldering stick of tobacco upon the rotting windowsill. o No worrieso ¦ The smokeo s going right out the window.o In a lethargic manner, the man heaved his relatively muscular frame from the shabby wooden chair and approached the mother and child. He crouched down to the babyo s height while tenderly rubbing the boyo s pallid forehead. o Heo s got a bit more color to him now,o the smoker surmised brightly, despite the dismal setting.



o Yeah,o she breathed quietly, as if she were deep in thought. After a moment escaped the three, the young infant closed his brilliant blue eyes, indicating exhaustion.



The uncommon-eyed man returned to his feet and combed his stocky fingers through his unruly golden hair. o Think you two will be okay for an hour while I go and look for some food?o



Without hesitation, the mother nodded solemnly, but confidently. o Of course,o she assured him, o but be careful.o The second half of her statement was wrought with worry.



o Areno t I always?o he inquired with a white smile while shrugging a knapsack over his shoulder and reached out for the blood-stained shovel leaning against the back of the womano s chair.



She agreed in silence, then added: o Andrew already lost his father, dono t you dare let him lose his only uncle, too.o



o Dono t you worry your pretty little head,o he demanded of his sister in a taunting fashion; however, a glimpse of fear flashed across his strong features and he drove the uneasy sensation away with a smirk. o Io ll be back by noon. Io ll make sure to lock up so you can catch a nap.o



The woman returned his childish grin. o Thanks. Be safe, Corrin. If you get hurt, Io ll wring your neck.o



Corrin dismissed her threat with a wave of his hand and turned to exit the room. o Yeah, yeah,o he jeered, then strolled through the doorway, gradually closing the reinforced door and latching its deadbolt behind him. In the distance, he could hear a growing chorus of faint moaning, but managed to shrug it off as he clutched tighter at the rusty shovel in his grasp.