n

n

nLeon gave his hoodie to Layla, and he wore Layla's ripped hoodie.

nLayla gripped Leon's hand tightly and hugged his arm.

n

"I was so scared when that man said he killed you,

" Layla uttered in a meek voice.

nLeon placed his hand on his stomach where the man had stabbed him and pondered with a confused look on his face: 'What's happening to me?'

nUp until now, Leon's powers were dormant as he was always in a weak state due to a lack of food and sleep. However, that has changed now.

nLeon had accepted his fate and never tried to fight back, but now he had a new hope, and a new life was waiting for him.

nLeon and Layla left the farmland, and they were now walking on the street.

nLayla was being cautious of her surroundings after the recent incident, but Leon, however, seemed to stumble on his feet.

n

"Leon?

"

nLeon walked a few steps and fell to the ground. He passed out due to over-exhaustion.

n

"Leon!

" Layla yelled with a concerned look on her face and tried to wake him up.

nShe shook his face and body, but he didn't wake up. Then, she gasped and slowly moved her hand to check his breath with a horrified look on her face.

nPHEW!

nShe sighed in relief after feeling Leon's breath. After glancing around and seeing nothing in her sight, Layla sat down beside Leon and placed his head on her lap.

nShe stroked his hair with a distant smile on her face and uttered,

"You have grown so big.

"

nLayla recalled her old memories and remembered how kind and cute Leon was, but now, they both have changed. Or rather, the circumstances forced them to change.

nAfter some minutes, a car passed by Leon and Layla. And it U-turned after noticing Layla.

nThe car approached Layla, and the driver rolled down the window and asked,

"You okay, miss?

"

nThe driver looked to be in his late forties, and he was wearing fine clothes.

nLayla ignored the man and covered Leopn's face with her hands.

nThe driver looked at Leon and asked,

"Is he dead?

"

n

"No!

" Layla yelled with a furious look on her face.

nThe man glanced around and uttered,

"What are you two doing out here at this late?

"

nLayla ignored the man and tried her best to stay calm.

nShe still hadn't recovered from the recent incident with thugs.

n

"Where do you want to go? I can give you a ride,

" the driver offered.

n

"We don't want to go anywhere,

" Layla replied.

n

"In that case…

" The man got out of his car and said,

"My home is nearby, do you want to come there? With this kid, of course.

"

n

"No thanks. Please leave us alone,

" Layla refuted.

nLayla was trying her best not to interact with the man, but the man kept pestering her.

nThe man looked at Leon and saw his hands were covered in blood.

n

"Is he injured?

" the man asked.

n

"....

"

n

"Listen, miss. I am just trying to help you,

" the man asserted.

"You might not know, but this is a dangerous area, especially for teenagers like you.

"

n

"It is dangerous because of people like you,

" Layla commented.

n

"I live near the edge of the city area, and I can drop you two till there. Or maybe I can drop you at the hospital if you want.

"

n

"But tonight is supposed to be purge night,

" the man added.

"And I am not sure if the announcement is real or not, but if it was true, then everything will be closed.

"

n

"...

"

nSIGH!

nThe man sighed and said,

"I am a doctor myself, and I can help this kid if you want.

"

n

"I don't know what happened to him,

" Layla uttered in a low voice.

n

"Then let's go to my place. I will check him up, and we will see what's wrong,

" the man suggested in a calm voice.

n

"...

"

n

"I can help him,

" he uttered and continued,

"If his condition turns out to be serious, then he might die, you know?

"

nLayla's face turned pale after hearing that. She didn't want to lose Leon, but she couldn't trust that man either.

nShe had a tough choice to make.

nIf the man turned out to be just another thug, then both Layla and Leon's life would be in danger. But if the man was telling the truth, and he truly was a doctor, then he could help Leon.

n

"Fine.

"

nLayla chose to go with the man, not because she trusted him, but because she was worried about Leon.

nThe man carried Leon and placed him in the backseat. Then, he opened the front door and asked Layla to get in.

nHowever, Layla sat in the backseat with Leon. She placed his head on her lap and kept her guard up from the possible danger.

nThe man shrugged his shoulders and turned on the car.

nEven after driving for 20 minutes, they still hadn't reached anywhere.

n

"Why is it taking so long?

" Layla asked with a serious look on her face.

n

"We are almost there,

" the man replied.

n

"Amh!

" Leon opened his eyes and looked at Layla.

n

"Leon!

" She called his name with a smile on her face.

nLeon sat up and glanced around to find himself in a car with a strange man. He frowned his face and said,

"Stop the car.

"

nThe man looked at Leon with the back mirror and kept driving the car.

n

"I said stop the car,

" Leon repeated, but this time in a loud voice.

nThe man stopped the car and pointed his finger at a house near the car.

n

"That is my home. And if you would like, you can stay there for a night,

" the man stated.

nLeon grabbed Layla's hand and got out of the car.

nThe man poked his head out of the window and said,

"It is dangerous out there, and the city is not a safe place. I can give you food, clothes, and some money.

"

nLeon wasn't interested in the man's offer as he could live without food, clothes, and money. But it was different with Layla.

nLayla needed food, but more importantly, she needed clothes to cover her body.

nNow, Leon was in the same boat as Layla.

nHe had a choice to make.

nEverything the man said was true. It was a purge night, so the city wasn't a safe place. They had no food, clothes, money, and shelter. Even if they managed to reach the city on their own, they couldn't possibly survive in their current circumstances.

nHe looked at Layla, who was hiding behind him, and wondered, 'Her body is freezing.'

nLeon agreed to go with the man, but he had something else planned in his mind.

n====

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