Chapter 4

The sun slowly descended to its final resting place, painting the sky in a weary crimson of finality. The dust that clouded the world had slowly began to settle as diurnal creatures began to make their final arrangements for the day while the nocturnal ones started to stir from their slumber. On a long and lonely dirt road a few people could be seen running about, their laughter echoing through the days' final rays. Aby was surrounded by a handful of kids, seven in number as they all chased him about trying to catch him in a game of tag. He laughed heartily as he narrowly escaped from the tiny hands of each child while the children laughed, mocked and encouraged one another all at once all trying to make sure they caught the man who seemed to always be right out of grasp. Suddenly Aby 'Tripped', 'stumbled', and 'fell' to his face, the kids let out a roar of victory as they all pounced on him, unwilling to let such a golden opportunity fly past them. They all pinned him down from several angles as though afraid he'll suddenly slip away again. They all laughed and panted as they tried to catch their breath. “Alright, you won. I got caught even though it was just by luck” Aby giggled “Humph, being lucky is also part of our strength.” A girl not more than seven years of age with Auburn hair and light freckles sitting on his back said with a victorious grin displaying a missing tooth. “Yes, remember you said it yourself, luck is also part of strength.” A slightly old boy holding one of his hands said with a wide smile “Yes, yes. I'm not denying, I shall accept my loss with honour. You all have earned another story from me.” Aby said with a sigh of resignation as though unwilling to accept his loss but not having a choice “Yay!!!” The kids all screamed, throwing their hands up in victory “Marcus!” A loud feminine voice suddenly called from a distance and one of the boys suddenly stood up. “Alright Mr. Dee, I'll be waiting for you tonight.” He said as he stood up and ran along while waving his hands. “I'd better get going before father returns” Another kid said and soon all the kids had fled except one, the freckled-faced girl sitting on his back. “Say, Mr. Dee, why do our parents hate you so much?” she asked, full of curiosity and concern Aby turned his neck slightly to look at her face and gave a smile and a shrug, “I don't know, a misunderstanding perhaps.” He then tried turning, forcing the girl to climb off his back, “Now it's better you run along now, before we get in trouble.” He said while standing up and patting the dust off his body “Alright, see you later tonight.” She said with the cutest smile before skipping away in glee Just as she left a small orange glow could be seen appearing in front of Aby buzzing about really rapidly, “You liar from the pit of hell, you act so innocent and nice in front of the kids, I wonder why their parents are yet to burn you on a pyre.” Tink mocked the moment she appeared “Firstly, I'm from the abyss not hell, secondly I wasn't acting and lastly they can't burn me.” Aby said with a small smile hanging on his lips as he gazed in the direction the kids had left. “You're such a fake softie” Tink rolled her eyes “I'm not fake, I only adapt quite conveniently.” “Moreover, nothing can compare to the primal innocence of children, they're the best little things in this world.” “Pervert.” Tink snapped, wearing a pout afterwards Her face brightened up and her freckles glowed the next instant as the flew straight in front of Aby's eyes “Tell me, do you think I'm innocent enough too?” She asked with a gaze full of anticipation Aby just rolled his eyes, “You're one of the farthest things from innocence Tink, don't flatter yourself.” “But I'm also just a child.” Tink stamped her feet in the air in a mock tantrum “Race wise you're indeed a child, as a matter of fact, you were once innocent, until you decided to hang out around me.” “You pervert, you ruined me.” Tink slumped dramatically in the air while pulling her hair as though about to have a breakdown. “Stop being dramatic, you're beautifully corrupted, Bell.” “Really, tell me about it.” Tink immediately fluttered around his head “It means, you'll never find love or peace.” Aby sniggered, making Tink turn red with anger as she began to chase him about but catching him is impossible unless he wants to be caught.