246: A Killer's Promise   Trust

After their unlikely friendship had begun, Chris frequently visited Rick's house, much to Rick’s annoyance.“Hey, what’re you doing?” Chris asked while hovering over his shoulder.Rick sighed while grabbing his pen.“Looking for a new job, I guess.”Chris laughed.“Hey, hey, don’t laugh right in my ear, idiot.”Chris smiled, amused.“I already have one kid I’m taking care of; I really don’t need another,” Rick smirked.“Hey!” Chris shouted, insulted.“By the way, where is the shrimp?” Chris questioned.“The huh?” Rick scratched his head in annoyance.“Maru,” Chris replied.“Oh, Sena and Abbey took her to the park,” Rick replied, checking the clock.“I think they’ll be back soon.”Chris nodded.“Any luck finding anything?

246: A Killer's Promise   Acceptance

246: A Killer's Promise   Lessons

“Hey, where are you going?” The girl tugged the man’s coat. Rick sighed as he knelt on his knee and faced the girl. “I told you already, didn’t I?” Rick smiled softly and began to gently stroke her hair. Maru bit her lip as not to cry. “Hey, why are you crying?” Rick looked alarmed. Maru puffed her cheeks. “I’m not crying!” She pouted. Rick chuckled. “I promise I’ll be back soon!” He stood up and gave the girl a quick head pat. “Promise, promise?” The girl turned to him as he began descending the stairs. “Promise, promise!” He shouted with a wave goodbye. As she heard the door close, the girl let out a whimper. This was the first time the two of them would be separated since they met. * “Morning, shrimp!” A tall man opened the door to the apartment. Maru turned her head to look at the man. “Chris...?” Maru questioned, looking up. “What’s with the co

246: A Killer's Promise   Pinky Promise

The weekend had come after a busy beginning at Wildwood Elementary.Maru and Rick were seated on the couch, watching cartoons as they heard a sudden knock at the door.“Rick?”Rick looked up, half asleep."Chris?” He sleepily replied.The door flung open.“Hey! Are you trying to break my door down!?” Rick cried angrily.“Rick,” Chris began.“That certainly is my name.” Rick let out a sigh.“You’re not going to believe this.”Rick sat up.“What am I not going to believe?” He asked.Chris brushed his hair back.“Experiment Labs,”Rick’s eyes widened at the name.“Well,” Chris continued.“There was a rebellion by a few of the patients, they kidnapped the boss’s son, and now the labs are in ruins.”Rick quickly turned to Maru, whose eyes we

246: A Killer's Promise   Beneath the Rubble

“Chris, sir?” A man knocked on the door. “Clark?” “Y-yes, sir.” “C’mon in.” The man opened the door. “Sir,” Chris shot him a dirty look. “...Chris,” the man corrected himself. “Get on with it, Clark.” Chris raised an eyebrow. “W-well Chris,” Clark stammered. “Before we came the other night to investigate the Labs, we set up cameras.” Chris sat up a bit. “And?” Clark handed him a camera. “Well, this...this isn’t one of our men.” As Chris pressed play, his eyes widened. “Is that...” * A man wandered the rubble whistling, swinging his keys. “Yeesh.” He sighed as he kicked a tiny piece of the ruin. “Glad I wasn’t on shift during this shitstorm.” The man suddenly froze. He looked around cautiously. There’s no way. Before the man could take another step, something grabbed at his leg. Startled, the man dropped his k

246: A Killer's Promise   Bandaged

“A child...?” A woman questioned.“Clearly.” The man huffed in response.“Yeesh, what are you in such a mood for, big brother?” Another girl chimed in.“Tea is ready.” A third girl said as she walked into the room.The three girls and Norio sat around a table in silence.“What do you think mother will think, Nori?” The eldest girl began.“What does mother care?” Norio sighed.“It’s not like she’s ever around anyway...” He grumbled as he went to take a sip of his tea.“Big brother has a good point.” The youngest of the three girls said.“Yui, let us handle this, please.”Yui puffed her cheeks in annoyance.“Faye?” The eldest turned to the middle child.“Eh?” Faye looked up.“Hiromi,” she began.“I personally think mother would b

246: A Killer's Promise   Warmth

Norio closed the newspaper and huffed. “Looks like I’m officially out of a job.”He sighed as he sank back into the couch.“I’m surprised," Faye began.“I didn’t think you would be upset about it,” she continued as she placed tea down on the table.“You’ve said several times that you didn’t enjoy working at such a place.”Norio picked up the tea and blew on it a couple of times before taking a sip.“Weren’t you working there because you had heard rumors your bro-”Norio turned with a glare.Faye let out a sigh.“What’s got you in such a bad mood this morning, baby brother?” Hiromi questioned as she sat on the arm of the couch, ruffling his hair.“I didn’t sleep well, I guess.” He muttered.“Oh!” Faye exclaimed as if she had just remembered something.“What&rs

246: A Killer's Promise   Teachings

A few weeks had passed since Rick had begun teaching at Wildwood Elementary. Rick has always had a soft side for kids; teaching a subject in his field of knowledge was also a nice bonus.As night began to fall, Rick was busy grading his class tests.“Hey, Rick?” A small voice called out.“Mm?” Rick answered, not picking his head up.“What are you doing?” Maru came over, attempting to get a glimpse.“Nothing,” Rick replied, too, into the grading.Maru puffed her cheeks.“Liar!”Rick turned his head, quickly coming out of the trance.“Huh?”Maru glared, still puffing her cheeks.“Oi oi, take it easy.” He chuckled, patting her head.Maru finally gave up on puffing her cheeks and took a deep breath.“What do you need?” Rick asked, twirling her hair.Maru pointed.“What does that say?