Echoes Under the Apple Tree
Jake walked with heavy, hasty steps that practically radiated his irritation. He was currently forced to walk beside the very bastard who had shot the Boss and attempted to kill him. And what did this bastard get in return? Protection, attention, and to top it all off—an invitation to join their group!
Jake abruptly stopped walking, muttering under his breath with intense annoyance, "What kind of absolute absurdity is this?!"
He turned sharply toward Aaron, who had come to a halt as well.
Jake closed the distance between them, his eyes narrowing. "I truly can't stand the sight of your face."
"Then don't look at me," Aaron replied flatly.
"You're going to be my escort whether I like it or not."
"I won't force you to look at my face if you hate it so much," Aaron said smoothly. "After all, I consider other people's feelings. Besides, my face isn't something just anyone gets to see... only those who appreciate it."
Jake scoffed with an irritated turn of his heel, storming ahead. "Your personality and the way you talk are utterly insufferable!" he shouted over his shoulder.
They walked for a distance that was neither too short nor particularly long.
Eventually, not a single sound came from behind. Even the faint dragging of Aaron’s shoes—which had been scraping against the pavement with obvious struggle—had completely died down.
Jake stopped. He turned around to check on Aaron... but there was no one there.
"Where the hell did he go?" Jake whispered.
The street was entirely deserted. Aaron was nowhere to be seen.
Jake bit his lip nervously, panic creeping into his voice. "Damn it... Did he run off? But why..."
Jake swiftly retraced his steps, his eyes scanning left and right with mounting anxiety. Part of him felt he should just leave Aaron to his own devices. He knew his way back, and since the Boss trusted him this much, there was nothing Jake could really do anyway. Yet... a quiet voice inside urged him to keep looking.
Jake finally stopped when he spotted Aaron. He was sitting on the cold ground, his back propped up against the wall of a closed storefront.
Jake approached him, crouching down to his level while trying to catch his breath. "What on earth are you doing here?"
Aaron raised his head with clear difficulty. "Glad to see you came back. I'm feeling dizzy and exhausted... I think my blood sugar dropped. My legs just gave out."
"And what do you need to fix that? What do you want?"
"Maybe... candy?" Aaron murmured faintly.
Jake let out a low laugh, a faint smirk forming. "What are you, a kid?"
Aaron pressed a hand against his forehead, groaning softly. "The point is, I need something with sugar in it."
Jake left for a few minutes and returned holding a transparent pouch filled with colorful, shaped chocolates. He placed the bag down next to Aaron, sat beside him, and pulled out a strawberry-shaped chocolate wrapped in bright red.
He held it out toward Aaron.
Aaron stared at the bag—a collection of vibrant fruit-shaped sweets. He raised an eyebrow in skepticism. "Do you really think I'm a child?"
"I've never bought something like this before," Jake muttered, looking away. "It caught my eye in the shop... It's candy, isn't it?"
Aaron took the piece from Jake's hand. A faint smile touched his lips as he unwrapped it and ate it. "This used to be my favorite candy when I was a kid," he murmured, before glancing up. "Do you want some, Captain?"
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Jake let out a cynical chuckle, pushing himself up off the ground. "I don't eat stuff like that. And don't call me Captain... hearing it gives me chills."
"Captain!" Aaron repeated.
"I said stop."
"Captain."
"I said stop, you piece of—"
Later that night, their long journey finally came to an end at the Institution. Jake turned back the moment Aaron stepped inside the quiet building.
The premises were dead silent, everyone asleep. Aaron glanced up at the large wall clock hanging in the main hall. The hands pointed to 2:35 AM.
Clarity stepped into the hall, stopping directly opposite Aaron. Aaron smiled weakly. "Still awake?"
Clarity nodded. "I was checking on a patient."
"Your mother?"
"Yeah. You seem to know about her, then. She sleeps well around this time, so I like to stay near her."
Aaron took a deep breath. "I learned recently that we share a favorite spot—the apple tree by the back garden. Let's head over there for a bit."
A short while later, Clarity and Aaron sat side-by-side near the roots of the apple tree.
"What did you and the Boss talk about?" Clarity asked softly.
"I told him I'm joining the gang, and he agreed."
Clarity looked at him, surprised. "Are you really serious? Joining just like that?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"It's not about how you look... it's just unexpected."
Aaron looked down at the grass. "Clarity, I want to thank you for telling me the truth. If you hadn't, I would still be an ignorant fool throwing accusations at everyone else. So... I'll try to bear the weight of my own ignorance."
"It was my duty to tell you," Clarity replied quietly. "I promised I'd help you find the truth. Besides, it's a relief the Boss is alright. If anything had happened to him, guilt would have been your constant companion... and that's the harshest feeling a human can face."
"I appreciate your help," Aaron murmured.
Clarity kept his gaze fixed on Aaron. "If only you had been a little less hasty, you would have known the truth without any losses."
Aaron frowned slightly. "Why? Did you know for a long time?"
"Do you remember?" Clarity began softly. "In this exact spot... I was sitting here talking to Jake. I know you were watching us and listening in secret. I pressed Jake about Ari's case and forced him to tell me the truth. I thought you were listening to those facts in shock, but it turned out you had already left... right after you accidentally heard us mention the Boss's location."
Aaron closed his eyes, a shadow crossing his face. "I lost my mind back then. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Clarity reassured him. "What matters is that things turned out fine in the end."
Clarity paused, his tone becoming more focused. "So, Aaron... do you know what method the Boss uses to reclaim those properties?"
Clarity shook his head. "I really don't know. Even I'm curious about it. Speaking of curiosity... what does the Boss plan to do after taking those buildings back? I don't quite get his ultimate goal. I mean, the capital is massive, filled with huge, important estates. Is he trying to reclaim the entire city?"
"Not at all," Aaron answered. "Uncle Bruno is only taking back the properties that belonged to him before he was cast out of the ruling family. When he suddenly returned, he demanded my grandfather hand back the properties that were rightfully his, but my grandfather refused outright. So, Bruno said he would take them back his own way. In response, my grandfather told him that if he succeeded, he would be welcomed back into the royal family."
"And which buildings belonged to him?" Clarity asked.
"Let's see..." Aaron pondered. "The Capital Market, the Southern Commercial Complex, and the Clock Park. Uncle managed to reclaim those recently. Three remain: the Orphanage, the Northern Commercial Complex, and... the Fertilizer Factory in the northern forest."
Clarity's eyes widened slightly. "The Park belongs to the gang?! I had no idea!"
Aaron smirked faintly. "Were you really a member of this gang?"
"Yes, I am," Clarity said, defensive yet amused. "I was just informed of what pertained to my duties... But wait, you said the fertilizer factory... did that belong to him too?"
"Yes," Aaron sighed. "That's why he was held responsible for the explosion in the past. Other charges surfaced alongside it, accusing Bruno of treason and allying with our arch-enemy... then he was exiled."
"Since I trust the Boss to a certain extent," Clarity said thoughtfully, "I'm willing to bet those allegations were false."
"I'm starting to think so too," Aaron murmured. "Well... the truth will surely come to light in the end."
Clarity leaned in slightly, his expression serious. "Going back to the buildings... I've heard of the Northern Commercial Complex, but I know nothing about the Orphanage. There's only one orphanage in the northern district."
"No, not that one," Aaron corrected softly. "The orphanage that belonged to my uncle was demolished by my father. He built this Institution over it instead."
Clarity gasped quietly. "The Eve Institution?"
"Yeah. My father did that... Eve asked to be placed in charge of the Institution to prevent Uncle Bruno from coming anywhere near it."
"Did she really do that?"
"Yes, that's what she told my father, and he allowed her to take over. He knows Bruno wouldn't dare harm Eve. Come to think of it, my father intentionally handed those properties to specific people... Reclaiming the Northern Commercial Complex is going to be incredibly difficult and annoying—unless Uncle Bruno already has a plan up his sleeve."
"Why do you think it'll be difficult?" Clarity asked.
Aaron met Clarity's gaze, a sharp, bitter glint in his eyes. "Don't you know who owns the Northern Commercial Complex? ...It's Madeleine. Uncle Bruno's ex-wife."