Throughout the night, Leonard thought about everything his mother had said about mending his relationship with Daniel but he realized that she didn't know the main details about it. If she knew what he knew and also about Edgar's stealing, she would be appalled. Leonard didn't want to make her worried which was the main reason why he didn't want to tell her why he and Daniel were having a misunderstanding. "If she knows, she'll look at all of this in a new light and she might be worried," he muttered. Elsie was in the other room and he knew how much of a light sleeper she was. He felt sad when he knew the reason why because it stemmed from having to keep awake because she didn't know when her father would attack her. It was a very bad thing and Leonard hoped that one day, she could sleep with her two eyes closed. He hated having to think that she was living in danger and fear of her father returning soon. If he did, he had no doubt that he would do everything possible to get her and
The next morning, Leonard wasn't surprised when his bed was empty. He knew that Elsie wasn't so stupid as to remain with him till morning and she must have gone back to her room in the middle of the night while he was asleep. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. Today was another day, another school day in fact and he knew he had to get up but his body wasn't moving at that moment. He really wished he could sleep in because he had no motivation to even stand up from the bed. "I don't think I can go to school today," he sighed. If his mother came knocking, he would just tell her the truth. There were some days that he would want to go to school and other days, he would just wish he could skip it and today was one of those days. Just as he had thought, his mother came knocking. Soon, she walked in and one look at him told her that he wouldn't go to school. "No school today?" she asked. "To be honest Mom, I really don't feel like leaving this house," he said. "Okay then
In school, Daniel looked for Leonard and even though they weren't on speaking terms, that didn't mean he couldn't look for his friend. He had something important to tell him and he couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he told him. "Have you seen Leonard?" Daniel asked as soon as he got to the class. He was even surprised that he hadn't seen him since he walked into the school. Usually, he could always find him by his lockers or even by the class door, going over the timetable of the classes he had that day. "No." the boy said. Daniel knew him as James. He was a smallish-looking boy who usually kept to himself most of the time. He never really talked to anyone and Daniel realized that maybe he was just shy which was the main reason he hardly talked. "Oh, thanks," he said. He went in search of him, practically around the whole school and he was quite surprised when he couldn't find him. It was very odd to say the least because he knew that Leonard usually never missed s
At home, Leonard's heart raced as he positioned himself in the dimly lit living room, his grip tightening around the cold, sturdy handle of the knife he had grabbed from the kitchen. The anticipation was palpable as he crouched behind the couch, his eyes fixed on the entrance, ready to confront the unknown intruder. The soft glow from a nearby lamp cast eerie shadows across the room, heightening the tension that hung in the air. "I will destroy you," he murmured. As seconds turned to minutes, the weight of the silence pressed down on Leonard, making every tiny sound seem loud. He strained his ears, listening intently for any sign of movement, and then, in the midst of the stillness, a faint sound reached his ears – the unmistakable shuffle of footsteps approaching the door. His pulse quickened, and his breath caught in his throat as he readied himself for the imminent encounter. The knife he held felt both reassuring and ominous, a last line of defense against whatever threat await
In the dimly lit living room of the house, Leonard leaned over a laptop perched on the coffee table, his fingers tapping away at the keyboard. The tension in the room was palpable as they delved into the depths of the internet, searching for any information they could find about Elsie's father's mysterious gang. "Daniel, look at this," Leonard said, his voice a hushed whisper. Daniel, seated across from him on the couch, leaned forward to peer at the screen. The webpage displayed a series of articles and photographs, all highlighting the activities of a criminal organization operating in the city. Leonard's brows furrowed as he scrolled through the content. "This is more than just a gang. It's an empire," he murmured, his eyes narrowing. "According to these reports, they control everything from drug trafficking to extortion, and even political manipulation." Daniel's expression mirrored Leonard's concern. "This can't be a coincidence," he said, his voice low and edged with worry.
Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky cast shades of orange and pink, Helene returned home to the comforting embrace of her modest abode. The warm glow of the lights inside spilled out through the windows, casting a welcoming aura onto the front yard. She met Leonard in the living room, his brow furrowed with concern. As Helene entered, he looked up, his eyes a mix of relief and tension. She could sense that something was amiss. "Mom, you won't believe what happened," Leonard began, his voice carrying a mixture of disbelief and worry. "Elsie's wicked father... he actually intruded into the house today." Helene's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing to process this unexpected revelation. "What? How did he manage to get in? Is everyone okay?" Helene's voice quivered with concern. Leonard's expression darkened. "I don't know. I had thought the security measures I put in place would keep us safe. But he somehow got past them." Helene's eyes widened wit
The next day, Leonard stepped back into the school hallway, his backpack slung over one shoulder, his thoughts a blend of anticipation and trepidation. He had been absent for a day but he was quite glad to be back in school, and he hoped he hadn't missed out on too much. As he rounded the corner, he spotted Daniel chatting with a group of classmates and he knew he needed to talk to him. He had been there for him the previous day when he looked like he was almost losing his life. "Hey, Leonard!" Daniel's face lit up as he saw his friend. He quickly excused himself from the conversation and walked over, a warm smile on his face. "You're back! Missed you yesterday." Leonard's lips curved into a grin, relieved by the friendly welcome. "I missed you too, Daniel." With a playful twinkle in his eye, Daniel slapped Leonard's hands in a friendly manner, the sound echoing in the hallway. "One day you're gone, and I'm already feeling lost without you." Laughing, Leonard shook his head. "Come
Leonard and Daniel exchanged curious glances as they walked down the linoleum-lined hallway toward the principal's office. The last time they had been summoned to this particular room, it was for a rather unsettling reason – reporting the stealing incident involving Edgar and his gang of friends. They hadn't anticipated that their actions would lead to such an intense outcome. Upon entering the office, Principal Thompson gestured for them to sit. The stern expression he usually wore had softened somewhat, replaced by a more appreciative look. "Leonard, Daniel," he began, his tone surprisingly warm, "I want to thank you both once again for bringing the stealing incident to my attention. It took courage to come forward, and your actions have not gone unnoticed." Leonard shifted uneasily in his seat, a mixture of pride and nervousness bubbling within him. "Um, you're welcome, Principal Thompson," he managed to stammer out. The principal leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled