CHAPTER 99: MIDNIGHT GAME! 1

Elias climbed the stairs slowly, each step feeling heavier than the last. His body ached from the hospital, from the heat, from everything. The house was quiet... too quiet. There was no sign of Leo’s laughter anywhere, no clatter from the kitchen. Just the soft creak of the old wooden steps under his feet.

He pushed open the door to his room... their room... and stopped. Lila was sitting cross-legged on the bed, his phone in her hands. The screen glowed as she tapped away, her tongue sticking out in concentration.

"Lila?" Elias said, closing the door behind him. "What are you doing with my phone? I thought I left it at school."

Lila looked up, grinning.

"Of course you did! Jace brought it back with your scholarship stuff. He said you dropped your bag when your heat started."

Elias’s eyes widened. He crossed the room in two strides, spotting the familiar backpack in the corner. The scholarship certificate was folded neatly on top... Everything he took to school that day was safe and sound. He let out a long breath. "Thank goodness."

Lila held out the phone. "You have like a million messages. I replied to some for you."

Elias froze. "You... what?"

She bounced on the bed.

"Don’t worry! I was good! People were asking if you were okay, so I said you were resting and thanks for worrying. See?"

She shoved the phone at him. Elias took it, scrolling through the texts. Friends from school, Rowan, and even a couple of classmates he barely knew.

Rowan: Elias?? You alive?? Heat bad?

Lila’s reply:He’s okay! He’s sleeping a lot. Thanks!

Classmate Sara: Heard you collapsed. Do you need notes?

Lila’s reply:Yes please! He’ll catch up soon.

Elias couldn’t help but smile.

"You did good, kiddo. It’s really good."

Lila beamed. "I’m smart now, right?"

"Yes! You’re the smartest." He ruffled her hair, then kept scrolling. Most were harmless. But one stood out... unread, from Nathan.

Nathan: Saviour. When you finally find your phone, call me. We need to talk. About the contracts and your choice. In fact, about everything. Don’t forget.

Elias stared at the screen. Contract? Choice? His stomach twisted.

Lila leaned over his shoulder. "Who’s Nathan? He sounds bossy."

Elias hesitated. He’d never hidden much from Lila... she was too sharp for that.

"He’s... a friend. Sort of. He helped me out a few times."

"Like Jace?"

"Jace? Uh... no! He’s different," Elias said. "Hey, Lila... we need to talk."

She sat back, folding her hands in her lap. "We’re leaving, aren’t we?"

Elias blinked. "How’d you know?"

"You look sad. And Mrs Voss looked mad downstairs." Lila picked at the hem of his hoodie. "I like it here. But it’s not our house."

Elias’s chest tightened. He pulled her into a hug. "You’re too smart for your own good."

She hugged back. "Are we going back to our old house?"

"That’s the plan," Elias said. "Just till I get a job. Then we’ll find something better. Okay?"

Lila nodded against his shoulder. "Okay."

Elias pulled away.

"Come on, let’s start packing. Clothes and whatever you can grab. We’ll leave tonight."

"Tonight?" Lila’s eyes widened.

"It’s better this way," Elias said. "It’s better we leave quietly. There’s no need for big goodbyes."

Lila hopped off the bed and started pulling clothes from the dresser. Elias watched her for a minute, then grabbed his own duffel bag. Shirts, pants, and the scholarship papers. His hands shook a little... he hadn’t eaten in days, and his body was screaming for rest. But there was no time.

They packed in silence. Lila folded her stuffed bear carefully. Elias stuffed his phone charger into a side pocket. The room looked smaller as it emptied.

By evening, two bags sat by the door. Elias checked the clock... 7:15. The house was still quiet. Jace had an evening class and he hadn’t returned. Mrs Voss was probably in her study. No one to stop them or say goodbye.

Elias slung a bag over his shoulder. "Ready?"

Lila nodded, grabbing her smaller bag. They slipped out the side door, the one near the kitchen. The night air was cool, the sky dark. Elias called a cab from his phone... thank god for Lila saving it.

The cab arrived ten minutes later. Elias helped Lila in, then climbed in after. The driver glanced back. "Where to?"

Elias gave the old address. The one he hadn’t said out loud in weeks.

The drive was long. Lila fell asleep against his arm, her breathing soft. Elias stared out the window, the city lights blurring. His body ached... every muscle, every bone. He hadn’t eaten since... before the heat. Four days. Maybe five.

The cab pulled up to the small, rundown apartment. Paint peeling, windows cracked. Elias paid the driver... Part of his last cash... and helped Lila out.

She woke up slowly, rubbing her eyes. Then she saw the house.

Her face crumpled.

Elias knew why. This was where the police had brought their parents’ bodies. Where the neighbours had gathered. Where Lila had screamed until her voice gave out.

"Hey," Elias said softly, kneeling in front of her. "Look at me."

She did, tears already falling.

"We’re not staying long," he promised. "Just tonight. Tomorrow, maybe in a week, I’ll find us something better. Okay?"

Lila nodded, but the tears kept coming. Elias pulled her into a hug, holding her as she cried. Five minutes. Ten. Her small body shook against his. She didn’t even cry when she woke up from her coma.

Finally, she hiccuped. "I’m okay."

Elias wiped her face with his sleeve. "Let’s go in."

The key was still under the loose brick. The door creaked open. Dust. Stale air. The living room was exactly as they’d left it... furniture covered in sheets, a layer of grime on everything.

Lila yawned. "I’m tired."

"Go lie down," Elias said. "I’ll clean a spot."

She shuffled to the old couch, curled up under a sheet, and was out in seconds.

Elias worked alone. He swept the floor, wiped counters. He found a couple of blankets in a closet. His arms burned. His stomach growled loud enough to echo.

Before 9pm, the living room was livable. He collapsed on the floor next to Lila, pulling a blanket over them both.

His stomach rumbled again. He smirked in the dark.

"Now, I’m back to square one," he mumbled. "No food. No money. No plan. Do I really have to sign the contract or go back to the Dragos?"

He closed his eyes. Sleep came fast.

.

.

Meanwhile, at the Voss house.

The dining room was warm, filled with the smell of roast chicken and mashed potatoes. The family sat around the table... Mrs Voss at the head, Mr Voss beside her, Jace picking at his food, Leo scrolling on his phone. Ethan came down late, dressed in a simple hoodie and jeans instead of his usual suit.

Mrs Voss frowned.

"Ethan, why are you dressed like that? And why are you back so early? I thought your trip was three days."

Ethan sat, grabbing a roll.

"It was. I got sick so I cancelled it."

Mrs Voss’s hand flew to his forehead.

*Do you have a fever? Should I call the doctor?"

"I’m fine, Mom," Ethan said, pulling away. "I’m just tired. I’ll get better by tomorrow." He looked around. "Where’s Elias and Lila?"

Mrs Voss waved a hand.

"Oh! They must be upstairs, I suppose. Maybe sleeping."

One of the chefs... Maria... poured water for Mr Voss.

"Actually, ma’am, they left. I saw them go. With bags. Around seven."

Ethan’s fork stopped halfway to his mouth.

"Left? With their luggage?"

Maria nodded.

"Yes, sir. They must have left quietly since I saw them walking through the side door."

Ethan turned to his mother.

"How did this happen? Mother, what’s going on?"

Mrs Voss rolled her eyes.

"I told them to leave. I never thought they’d go so fast."

Ethan’s voice rose. "You what??? How could you do that?"

"Lower your voice," Mrs Voss said sharply. "Don’t you dare yell at your mother that way!"

"Why?" Ethan demanded. "Why kick them out like that?"

Mrs Voss stood.

"Can’t you see Jace suffering? He’s your brother, and yet you cared for those strangers more than you do for your own brother. That boy doesn’t want anyone here. He’s made his choice."

Ethan stared at her. "So you took them in... what, as a favour? Were you expecting something in return from someone who has nothing but a sick sister?"

Mrs Voss opened her mouth, then closed it.

Ethan shook his head.

"I thought you were kind, Mom. I was wrong."

He pushed back his chair and left. The room was silent.

Upstairs, Ethan changed into dark jeans and a black jacket. He checked his phone... the anonymous link stared back. ’Midnight.’

He wanted to call Elias and ask if Lila was okay. If they needed anything.

But he stopped. "I’ll do it tomorrow," he muttered. "I’ll definitely call them tomorrow."

He slipped the phone into his pocket.

Grabbed his keys.

And headed out into the night.