Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

This place wasn't anything special-just a random estate Charles picked up,

mostly so his two dogs could have somewhere to go wild. He didn't think much of

it. After all, he'd seen far better.

"Clara, you just ate. Walk with me for a bit? Might help you digest."

"Okay." She answered right away, practically bouncing after him.

Back when Charles lived with the Chester family, his only real interactions with

people were during missions-usually the dangerous kind. Now, with someone

actually choosing to tag along just because, he felt a strange kind of curiosity.

They hadn't gone far before Clara started to slow, her steps turning careful-the

pain from her wound catching up to her.

Charles noticed right away and turned them back. Soon, they were sprawled on

the giant sofa in the living room. Charles grabbed a game controller and handed it

over.

"You know how to play? Let's do it. I'm seriously good at this."

She glanced at the controller, then at him, and nodded.

Charles couldn't help but grin. He switched on the console.

Super Mario popped up on the screen. It was a total classic-ancient, really.

Nobody played it anymore.

His older brother was always too busy with work to bother. Mitch was off chasing

girls. Charles never expected anyone to actually play with him-and Clara was

pretty good at it, too.

It was honestly the first time in his life someone had played a game with him just

for fun.

The family doctor hung around in the background, quietly bringing snacks and

bowls of fruit, changing the bandages on Clara's wrist and neck whenever she

took a break.

They played until late afternoon. Charles was practically glowing, tugging Clara

toward the door, ready for another adventure.

But the doctor stepped in, blocking their way. "Charles, let her rest a bit more,

okay? I know you're excited, but you need to think about her recovery."

Charles's face fell. He let go of Clara's shoulder. "Alright. You should get some

sleep, Clara."

Clara's eyes sparkled as she looked at him, catching the disappointment he tried

to hide.

"If you want to go out, I'll go with you," she said softly. "I'm not tired. Really."

A wave of happiness shot through Charles, prickling from his toes all the way up.

He grabbed her shoulders, held back for a second, then gave her an enthusiastic

pat.

"You're the best, Clara. Seriously. From now on, we're siblings. Real siblings,

even if we're not related."

Clara thought about it, ready to argue, but Charles was already pulling her out the

door before she could say anything.

The two dogs wanted to tag alongnoveldrama

too, so Charles turned to the doctor.

"Keep an eye on them, will you? This

isn't overseas-people here don't like

big dogs running loose. If they scare

someone again, I'll have to go bail

them out at the police station."

The doctor nodded, reminding him gently, "Charles, make sure you and Ms. Clara

come back early."

Charles was too excited to listen-he'd never had someone his own age to hang

out with before, and right now, nothing else mattered.

"Yeah, yeah, don't wait up if we're late," he called back.

The doctor wasn't worried about

Charles's safety. His mind didn't

work quite like everyone else's, but

his skills were legendary. With the

dogs by his side, nobody could

touch him.

The Chester brothers had always

kept a close watch, afraid someone

might take advantage of how

trusting he was. But over the years,

Charles never really let anyone

in-except his dogs. Anyone who

tried to get close never even got the

chance.

In his world, the dogs came first. Mitch was a close second.

Charles himself was like a perfectly sharpened blade-fierce, loyal, and always on

guard.