Chapter 2: A Hearth in the Storm
The ride in the back of the sleek black sedan was silent, save for the rhythmic swish of the windshield wipers. Lily had fallen asleep immediately, cradled in Leo’s lap, her small fingers clutching a warm blueberry muffin Arthur had given her before they left the shop.
Leo stared out at the passing neon lights of the city. He kept his back straight, remaining alert despite his exhaustion. ""Where are you taking us?"" he asked, his voice steady for a child his age.
""To a safe place,"" Arthur replied softly, observing the boy's guarded posture. ""My home. My name is Arthur.""
""I'm Leo. And this is Lily.""
""It's a pleasure to meet you both, Leo.""
When the car pulled up to a historic brownstone in Brooklyn, Leo gasped softly. Inside, the house was filled with warm lighting, high wooden bookshelves, and the comforting crackle of a burning fireplace. An elderly housekeeper named Mrs. Higgins rushed over, her eyes filling with tears the moment she saw the soot-stained clothes and hollow cheeks of the two children.
""Oh, sweet mercy,"" Mrs. Higgins whispered, immediately taking off her apron to wrap Lily in a soft wool blanket. ""Arthur, where on earth did you find these poor angels?""
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""They found me,"" Arthur said quietly.
Within an hour, the children were bathed and dressed in warm flannel pajamas that Mrs. Higgins kept in the attic from Arthur’s late son. Sitting at the long dining table, Leo watched his sister eat a bowl of warm chicken noodle soup with innocent delight. For the first time in months, the knot of terror in Leo’s chest began to loosen. Yet, he held his small folded hands together, waiting for the catch. In his short life, kindness had always come with a hidden price.
