CHAPTER 7

Whisper led Kelvin to a secluded site in the forest, where bright green herbs covered the ground. Among them stood a special plant that caught Kelvin's eye. Its leaves were arranged in such a way that they resembled the shape of a man's face, with a crooked nose and a mischievous grin.

"Touch it," Whisper instructed, his voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves.

Kelvin paused for a moment before reaching out to touch the herb. As his fingers made contact, the plant began to shake and swing, as if dancing to an invisible tune. Kelvin watched in awe as the herb responded to his touch.

"Wow!" Kelvin exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement.

But the heat of the sun bore down on them, intensifying with each passing moment. Kelvin felt beads of sweat trickling down his forehead as he listened to Whisper's next words.

"That's the herb you need for your mom," Whisper said solemnly, his eyes reflecting the seriousness of the situation. "Give it to her, and she'll start feeling better in five days."

Kelvin nodded, his heart filled with appreciation. "Thank you, Whisper. I'll never forget this."

As Whisper prepared to depart, he flapped close to Kelvin's ear and whispered, "Next time you come, just whisper." With that, he soared into the sky, calling out, "Adios!" and leaving Kelvin to his thoughts, as Kelvin watched him fly away.

****

Kelvin hurried back to his mom and Michelle, the darkness of night surrounding them. His heart sank when he saw Michelle, her face wet with tears and her eyes red from crying. She lay on Nikole, who was flat on her back with her eyes open. Kelvin couldn't understand what was happening – his mom never slept like that.

Approaching them, Kelvin saw Nikole lying flat on her back, her eyes wide open, he was getting suspicious at the sight before him.

Out of curiosity, Kelvin asked Michelle, "What's wrong?" But Michelle only cried harder, unable to speak through her tears. Kelvin moved closer to his mom, dropping the herb he found beside him. He reached out to touch her, but her body was cold. "Mom?" he called, but there was no response. Panic started to rise within him, but he tried to stay calm.

"She's dead," Michelle said, her voice heavy with sorrow.

"Don't say that," Kelvin replied firmly. "Mom was fine when I left. She's still okay. I believe that." He reassured himself, hoping beyond hope that his words were true.

"She's dead," Michelle repeated, her words slow and heavy.

"Stop that!" Kelvin's voice burst out of anger, startled by Michelle's words. She fell silent at his outburst.

Kelvin waited for hours, hoping Mom would wake up and talk to him. He even tried sleeping, but when he woke up at midnight, he realized Mom's body was stiff and swollen, still in the same position.

"Mom! No!" Kelvin screamed, shaking her gently, but her eyes remained closed.

"Why did you leave me, Mom? Why?" Kelvin's voice cracked as tears streamed down his face. He reached for the herb he had found, placing it near her, hoping it would help heal her wound.

"We never talked about this, Mom," Kelvin whispered, holding her hand tightly, feeling lost and alone without her.

With heavy hearts, Kelvin and Michelle departed from where their mother lay. Kelvin clutched the Seraph's Veil tightly, feeling the weight of their loss.

The early morning streets were quiet, save for the sound of their footsteps echoing against the pavement. Michelle held onto Kelvin's hand, her eyes still swollen from crying.

"What do we do now, Kelvin?" Michelle's voice trembled with tension.

Kelvin gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We'll figure it out, Michelle," he said, trying to sound confident. "We'll find a way to make some money and get our place to stay.”

As Kelvin and Michelle walked along the road, they passed by a small restaurant called "Sunrise Cafe," its colorful sign beckoning passersby with promises of warm meals and friendly service. A display in the window caught Kelvin's eye, up

a sign proclaiming "Sales Boy Needed."

Excited by the opportunity, Kelvin and Michelle saw this as the best opportunity in their time of need. The next morning, Kelvin gathered his courage and walked into the restaurant.

Inside, he was met by a stern-looking man named Mr. Johnson, the owner of Sunrise Cafe. Mr. Johnson's weathered face bore the marks of years spent in the business, his sharp eyes assessing Kelvin as he approached.

"What can I do for you, young man?" Mr. Johnson's voice was gruff, with a no-nonsense demeanor.

Kelvin greeted him respectfully, his nerves buzzing with anticipation. "I saw the sign outside about the sales boy position," he began, his voice steady despite his inner restlessness. "I'm interested in applying for the job."

Mr. Johnson examined Kelvin, his gaze lingering on the worn clothes Kelvin wore. "You look like trouble," he remarked bluntly, his tone skeptical. "I can't have someone here who's going to cause problems."

Kelvin's heart sank at the harsh assessment, but he refused to be discouraged. "I assure you, sir, I'm not trouble," he said earnestly, his determination shining through. "I'm willing to work hard and be as loyal as possible. Please give me a chance to prove myself.”

Mr. Johnson, with his hefty stature, moved closer to Kelvin and drew him in, holding his shirt tight, making it hard for Kelvin to breathe. "Young man, look me in the eyes," he demanded, his voice stern. "I don't joke about my job. If you cause problems, I'm going to rip your face off, chop your skin, and feed it to my dogs."

As Mr. Johnson spoke, the dogs nearby barked loudly, as if in agreement with their owner's threat.

Kelvin's face, already turning red from the tightening grip on his shirt, nodded hastily. "Yes...yes, sir," he stammered, fear evident in his voice. "I promise, I will be a good boy.”

“You better be, else you'll be sorry”, with that Mr. Johnson released his grip, nodding in satisfaction. "You can start tomorrow," he said before turning to walk away.

"Thank you, sir!" Kelvin called out after him, relief flooding through him as Mr. Johnson disappeared