Atop the wall, Theo couldn’t see much due to the storm. He could make out several larger building, and figured the largest would house his target. Once snuck up to the building, he found that all of the doors were locked, but lacked guards. Instead of using force, he crawled up the wall to one of the windowsills and pulled at the seam to see if it would open. Locked. He exhaled over the glass to thaw the glazed ice so he could see through; when it cleared away, his pupils grew as his vision sharpened.

A young girl was stood on the other side, her dark eyes peering into Theodore’s. He froze, not being able to help thinking of his younger sister. Shaking his head, he blinked tightly before opening his eyes back up. She remained. Hesitantly, the girl appeared to begin fiddling with the sill before the window sprung up slowly. Theo climbed in to be able to close the window quickly, as he could see the girl was cold.

“Are you a Saint?” her small voice piped up. Theodore crouched in front of her before scanning her over. “A . . saint?” Theo hissed out, unacquainted to a conversation like this. “An angel, from the top point of the star.”

Theodore shook his head. “I have to visit an Ezra. Do you know any that live here?” The girl’s eyes lit up with excitement, “That’s my dada’s name!” she exclaimed. Theo smirked. “Could you tell me where he is?” his words were met with the squeak of the bedroom door opening. “Who are you speaking with, dear?” echoed a soft feminine voice. Theodore spun around to see a young woman in a silky white dress unlike anything he’d seen before.

Upon the two meeting eyes, Theodore stood tall next to the child. The room filled with stagnation. The child broke the silence, “He’s here for dad, mother.”

“Is that it?” the woman replied, not breaking eye contact with Theo. “Yes . . I’ve got a message for his ears alone.” Theo responded with hesitation. He hadn’t practiced the art of deception, but he hoped his improvisations would suffice to prevent having to murder these seemingly kind people. The woman beckoned to him, extending her hand out towards the man.

He nervously scratched over his cheek before walking towards her. At the door, he turned to wave goodbye to the child with a small smile about his face. She waved before crawling back into her bed, the door separating the two shortly after.