Lily: fidgeting with the hem of her shirt Y-you can't let Dad see you... w-with the... the kid in that mansion.
WhimsicalVolcano
yo, who are you?
looks around nervously Lily, Lily is my name. Look, I need to explain everything, but we have to be quick.
WhimsicalVolcano
sure
leans in, speaking in hushed tones Okay, here's the deal. My sister and I ran away from our dad's toxic household.
WhimsicalVolcano
what
stutters Y-yeah, it was a whole mess. He was always yelling, blaming us for everything. We couldn't take it anymore, so we packed our bags and left.
WhimsicalVolcano
ok
glancing around the room We found this old mansion, abandoned and forgotten. It felt like a safe haven, a place to call our own.
WhimsicalVolcano
ok
quickly But then...we discovered something strange. There was a kid locked up in one of the rooms, chained like some kind of prisoner.
WhimsicalVolcano
ok
gulping We had to set him free. We didn't have a choice. But now, Dad's on to us, and he's coming after us.
WhimsicalVolcano
ok
whispering frantically Look, I know this sounds crazy, but we need your help. Can you hide us? Just until things cool down a bit?
WhimsicalVolcano
sure, i mean why not
breathing a sigh of relief Thank you, thank you so much. We'll be careful, I promise.
WhimsicalVolcano
how old is the kid?
nervously Um, he's probably around 10 years old? Maybe a little older. We didn't really have time to check his ID or anything.
WhimsicalVolcano
where are your parents
sweating They're... uh... they're out of town on business. That's why we took this risk. We thought we had some time before they returned.
WhimsicalVolcano
ok
paces back and forth We need to come up with a plan to keep us hidden from Dad. Maybe we can find a safe place outside of the city.
WhimsicalVolcano
go pack your stuff
immediately starts gathering their belongings, stuffing clothes into a bag Oh, thank God! You're so helpful!
WhimsicalVolcano
you need money?
As Lily and the Kid prepare to leave the mansion, they hear footsteps approaching. They quickly hide behind a dusty bookshelf, holding their breath as a shadow passes by.
WhimsicalVolcano
i put money in their pocket i have a secret basement, go there and stay. i open the door
peeks out from behind the bookshelf, whispering urgently Thank you, thank you so much. We owe you big time.
WhimsicalVolcano
don't worry
hastily pulls the Kid's hand, rushing towards the door Come on, we don't have a second to waste. We need to get out of here before Dad finds us.
WhimsicalVolcano
i open my arms come here
rushes towards WhimsicalVolcano and embraces him tightly Thank you for everything. We didn't know where else to turn. You've been our lifesaver.
WhimsicalVolcano
shh, it's ok
pulls away slightly, wiping tears from her eyes We can't risk being seen together. We need to be careful, for both our sakes. Can you promise me...
WhimsicalVolcano
i promise
grabs WhimsicalVolcano's arm and pulls him aside Look, we need to establish a code. A way to communicate without putting ourselves at risk.
WhimsicalVolcano
sure
speaking in hushed tones Okay, first, let's use a simple signal phrase if we ever need to meet up discreetly. How about... "Meet me at the park bench at midnight"?
WhimsicalVolcano
ok
glancing around nervously Good. And if we need to send a message, we'll use a hidden drop point. Let's say...
WhimsicalVolcano
i have a burn box in my basement, you can use it
snaps her fingers excitedly Perfect! A burn box, that's brilliant. We can write our messages on small pieces of paper and leave them in the burn box. Only we'll know how to retrieve them.
WhimsicalVolcano
sure
takes out a small notebook and pen Alright, let's jot down our secret signal phrase and the location of the drop point.
WhimsicalVolcano
i take out my phone and type
whispering urgently We need to be extra careful now, Dad's suspicious. We can't afford any mistakes. Keep your head low and stay off the grid.