Inside Umbra's Ruins ✓ [Umbra's Fate #2]

ᴛʜɪʀᴛᴇᴇɴ: ꜰʟᴏʀᴀ

"Depends on what you call a vacation, and I'm sure that everyone matches outfits there." said Clio, shrugging her shoulders. "Unfortunately for you we have a job to do now, so move your ass. I don't want to spend my whole day interviewing people. I have a nice bottle of wine and a new Marvel movie waiting for me in my house."

"Ohh, I like your plans. Can I join you?"

"Only if you behave."

"I'm always nice, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Whatever floats your boat, Flo." Clio rolled her eyes. "I'll be faster if we split up. You can take care of this block and I'll take care of the block across the street."

"Let's start then," Flora agreed, taking out a notebook and a pen from her backpack. "Don't cry without me."

"Says the one who has to use her favorite notepad to start an interview."

The firefighter turned and crossed the street. Flora raised her hand and showed her middle finger to her friend's back. What would be the problem if she had a favorite notebook? She liked its hard green covers with glitter and the edges of the sheets that had flowers drawn on them. 

Against all her efforts and breaking her notebook's magic, Flora was unable to get any useful information. One by one she visited the stores and asked the workers about that day. Those who weren't angry at being interviewed a second time couldn't recall seeing anything out of place. No matter how much the journalist pushed them, they remained fixed in their stance.

She had only one option left, the store owner who had refused to let Lorcan ask him any questions: Benny.

The bell located above the door rang when the young woman entered the store. She walked through the center aisle, her gaze drifting a few times to the shelves packed with food when something caught her eye.

She reached the counter just as the owner was coming out of the back room. The man parted the purple curtains at the entrance and looked at the young woman who had just entered from top to bottom.

"Good morning," the gray haired man greeted her. "What can I do for you?"

Flora faked a smile, the one she always resorted to when she wanted to convince someone to answer her questions. She leaned against the counter and rested her left arm on the wooden surface.

"Good morning indeed. How're you doing Benny? I'm guessing that you're excited about becoming a grandfather. I saw Sarah the other day at the park. She looked fantastic and a little tired as well, must be hard walking around with a baby growing inside your body."

"What do you want, Flora?" The owner of the shop interrupted her. His brown eyes fixed on her arm. "Move your body away from my counter, I just cleaned it."

The young woman straightened her body, took a handkerchief from her backpack and passed it over the area that her body had touched.

"There, all clean." She put the cloth back in place. "I want to ask you some questions about—"

"Is this about that missing girl, I already told your people that I don't know anything," he interrupted her once again.

"Actually, you said you weren't going to answer any questions."

"Same thing."

"It's not if you saw something and you won't tell us about it."

Benny turned, ignoring Flora's words, and picked up a box from the floor. He came out from behind the counter, went to the last shelf on the right and began to restock the merchandise. Like a shadow, the blonde followed him. She put her notebook in her backpack, then took a packet of cookies out of the box and placed it in its proper place to help the man.

"Please, think about the young woman that has been kidnapped." She tried to convince him.

The sound of the bell announced the arrival of a new client. Benny turned his head toward the door, the seriousness on his face telling Flora that he had no intention of answering her.

"What if it had happened to your daughters? Wouldn't you do your best to look for them?" The journalist insisted.

"That's exactly why I'm not telling you a thing, I have to think about their safety. Sarah is pregnant for God's sake. I can't afford to associate with your group, everyone knows that the demons have something against you. Who can assure me that they won't go after my family if I help you?"

All the words stuck in Flora's throat. Her speeches lost importance in the face of the man's reasoning, he sought to protect his loved ones and she understood him. They had reached the point that she feared, in the face of uncertainty each villager looked after the good of their own and the rest ceased to matter.

"Demons can go after your family even if you don't say anything." A new voice joined the conversation. "You cannot be sure of their safety, but you can ensure that a victim is closer to salvation."

Flora's heart gave a jump once she heard the familiar voice. With a quick movement, she brought her hands to her head and smoothed her hair before turning her body in the direction of the newcomer.

At the end of the aisle stood Aífe carrying an empty shopping basket. The blonde waved at her and sent her a wink, she wrinkled her nose in disgust and shifted her gaze to Benny.

"Still the chances are lower," answered the man. "I don't want to be on the demon's bad side."

"How can you be so sure that they'll know that you help us?" Asked Flora. "As petal said, the demons will go after your family anyways."

"That's not my name," complained Aífe.

"You sure?" Flora kept nagging her

"I'm damn sure, and I'm trying to help you here."

"Está bien, está bien. Carry on."

"Benny, I know you're a good man," said Aífe. "From what I heard she just wants you to answer some questions, if she's this desperate you must be the only one that knows something. You probably know the girl, you saw most of the young people of this village grow up. Think how her family is feeling."

"Please Benny," Flora begged for the second time. "I won't bother you anymore, just tell me what you saw."

The man put the package he was holding back into the box and he passed his hand over his beard.

"Okay, but after that you leave me alone and you owe me a favor."