Gust went to sleep before Heron came home, and, surprisingly, Heron was gone before Gust woke up. Today, he had no classes at the Academy, but he went back to the fountain garden as the sun first crossed the horizon, hoping that Lucifer would be napping early. He did not find any sign of Lucifer and at once realized that the beautiful boy in the garden would never be found again. So Gust sighed, turned on his heel and began his morning walk of the city.

The stone streets of Berkan were empty at this time, at least in the academy district. As Gust crossed the threshold into the market district, the sun cast shadows across the uneven on the road. Gust walked the uneven shadows made by each building. The residents would be waking soon. He imagined quick meals before setting up shop and trying to draw the attention of the academics passing by. A few early risers waved at him as he walked. Gust breathed deep. Here, he looked just like one of them. 

Reaching the end of the market district, the storefront homes made themselves sparse. The road cracked and gave way to nature. This was Gust’s favorite part; when the city gave way to its original forest environment creating a ring of forests and nature walks forming the edge of Berkan before its wall. It was quiet and isolating. Perfect.

But Gust had never entered the ring from this side. He usually avoided the market district, especially on his runs with Vera. It was too crowded for him. Going this early let him be alone with his thoughts, and as he was passing the last cabin before being greeted by a ring of forest, the temperature shot up. It was eerily familiar, and uncomfortable. Gust ran faster until the air cooled. It was as if there was no heat or cold. It was perfect.

The cabin was just in front of him now. Vines grew out of old cracks in the stone walls. The one frontal window was covered only by tarp. Gust took a breath and stepped towards it. He must be here. 

He swallowed, nervous, and walked forward. The cool air encouraged him. He was a little less sweaty now. Gust wondered if he smelled bad. He lifted his hand as if to knock and stopped. His jaw clenched and he felt a cold chill run through his spine. He was knocking before he realized it and all his tension made butterflies in his stomach. 

Silence. “Of course. Who was I kidding,” Gust said to himself as his hand went to the door handle. “It’s just abandoned right.” He pushed. It was unlocked. Inside, it was dark, but Gust could make out a stove, cabinets, a sink, a wash basin and other basic livings. The room was entirely stone with no carpeting for comfort. Gust let his eyes adjust. 

There was a second room without a door. He poked his head into the doorway and his heart dropped. This was a bedroom, and the bed was occupied. Lucifer lay there with comfortable clothes. He slept with his arms behind his head and his legs spread. Lucifer fit the bed well. But Ferek was also in the bed, and he was laying on Lucifer’s chest. If his blood didn’t feel like it would boil out of his skin, Gust would find the proportion between the average bed, the smaller, skinnier lucifer, and the massive Ferek, comical. 

Gust stumbled back for a second and covered a yelp. He calmed his breathing and looked to steal another peak into the bedroom. Ferek’s eyes were incredibly an icy sky blue and staring right through him. 

A shocking chill started in his shoulders and made its way into Gust’s head. His breaths became shallow and quick. He clutched his chest and tried to speak “Sorry...I….I’ll...I didn’t.”

Ferek spoke, but his accent was too thick for him to understand. Gust’s knees gave way. Ferek shouted something, but Gust was focusing on how much his body was shaking now. Large hands grasped his shoulders and lifted him so his back was against a wall. And then, nothing.