Chapter 7

Adrian turned to face Carla, his expression guarded. Carla, with her trademark confident smile, sat casually on the bench beside him, her posture relaxed yet alert.

"It's been a while, Adrian. You've been hard to reach lately," Carla remarked, her voice tinged with amusement.

"I haven't been looking to be reached," Adrian replied tersely. He glanced briefly at Sigurrós, who was happily playing nearby, then back at Carla. "What do you want?"

Carla chuckled softly. "Always straight to the point, aren't you? I heard you've taken on an interesting new charge."

Adrian's gaze hardened. "Sigurrós has nothing to do with you or your organization. Leave her out of this."

Carla raised an eyebrow, her smile unwavering. "I'm just here to catch up, Adrian. No need to be defensive. Void Maker."

Adrian's eyes turned black and his pupils turned red and silver. "Don't call me that."

"Come now, my old teammate, you and I both know you won't attack me here, no matter how much you want to."

"Do not test me, Carla."

Carla's smile widened slightly at Adrian's reaction, but her tone remained composed. "I'm not here to provoke you, Adrian. I simply want to ensure that our past remains where it belongs."

Adrian's expression remained guarded, his hand subconsciously flexing at his side. He took a deep breath, willing himself to remain calm. "Our past is exactly where it belongs. Buried."

"Fair, but I'm curious what you'll do with her?" Carla asked, looking at Sigurrós.

"That's none of your concern."

"I hope you have figured out what you're going to do, Adrian. For your sake, and for hers."

Carla got up and started to walk away.

"Hey, Carla."

She turned to look back at Adrian, and as she did, she noticed something was wrong. Time was stopped, and Adrian's eyes were both blood red.

"Should any Foundation members appear at my house, your organization will not like the end result," Adrian's voice echoed with an ominous tone, carrying a chilling authority. 

As Adrian said this, the air behind him tore open, revealing a black void and multiple massive beings in the void. Carla, quite aware of what the beings in the void were, immediately looked down. With a slight nod, acknowledging Adrian's warning, Carla turned away, swiftly walking off with an air of caution. Adrian watched her leave, then sighed as he started time once more.

"That's not good."

He looked up and saw Sigurrós running up to him with a smile on her face. Adrian quickly put on a smile as Sigurrós approached, masking his concern. "Hey, Sigurrós! Having fun?"

"Yes! Look what I made!" Sigurrós held out a small bouquet of flowers she had gathered from the park, beaming proudly.

"Those are beautiful," Adrian said, ruffling her hair gently. "Let's find a nice spot to sit and make a flower crown."

Sigurrós nodded eagerly, and they found a cozy patch of grass under a large tree. As they sat down, Adrian's thoughts raced. The encounter with Carla had been unsettling, and he knew it was a sign that things were about to get more complicated. But for now, he focused on the task at hand, helping Sigurrós weave the flowers into a delicate crown.

As they worked together, Adrian couldn't help but marvel at how quickly Sigurrós was adapting. She was a bright, curious child, and despite the challenges she had faced, she maintained a cheerful disposition. Adrian was determined to protect that innocence for as long as possible.

"Look, Adrian! It's done!" Sigurrós exclaimed, holding up the finished flower crown.

"It's perfect," Adrian said, placing it gently on her head. "You did a great job."

Sigurrós giggled, adjusting the crown slightly. "Thank you!"

They spent the rest of the afternoon playing and exploring the park, enjoying the simple pleasures of a sunny day. Adrian kept a watchful eye on Sigurrós, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Carla's words and the implications of their encounter. He knew he needed to be prepared for whatever might come next.

As the sun began to set, they made their way back home. Sigurrós was tired but happy, her energy finally waning after a day full of activities. Adrian carried her on his shoulders, feeling the weight of responsibility more acutely than ever. Back at the house, Adrian prepared a simple dinner, and they ate together in comfortable silence. Sigurrós's eyelids grew heavy, and soon enough, she was fast asleep on the couch, clutching a stuffed animal. Adrian sighed softly, covering her with a blanket before going to the training room.

Adrian started to leak large amounts of energy before he stopped. The room then darkened as darkness appeared in the room and took a form before him. It took the form of a woman with spiky hair, dressed in a tattered, off-the-shoulder dress. She had black eyes, wore black lipstick, had a pale skin tone, and wore a prominent necklace with a large, intricate pendant.

"Hello, Adrian."

"Hello, Anafabula."

Chapter 7: End