The most dangerous enemy in the world is the one you do not recognize.
Zane had heard it and even if he recognized Jammy, he didn't understand him. And that made him cautious of the man.
But his cautiousness proved to be useless as the man was already in front of Zane and said something that sent shivers down his spine.
"If you were my enemy, you would already be dead."
Jammy said that not as a warning, he said it as a fact. As a universal truth.
And the way he was able to come closer to Zane in a blink, he wasn't wrong.
Jammy stayed in front of Zane and Milo shivered standing behind him. She was constantly trying to move the carpet from the hole so that she could go inside it.
But she also didn't want to leave Zane alone. She was ready to fight and die alongside her brother if things came to that.
She couldn't find the courage to look at Jammy anymore.
"Don't worry, princess. I am not a bad man." He said and stepped away from Zane.
He threw the black plastic bag on the bed that contained the shirt.
"I am leaving. You better go there early or they might reject you on the first day. They are always looking for an excuse. Also, don't forget to bring that relic with you."
Jammy said some parting words and waving his hand, he left the hut.
Zane and Milo stayed in silence and only after two minutes, did Zane let out his held breath.
"That was… tough." Zane let go of the bat and turned around.
He sat on his knees and looked Milo in the eyes.
"We are safe. And even if he saw you, we are leaving from here anyway. No
need to be scared. You are a brave girl, right?"
Milo nodded, looking at the ground.
Zane patted her head and stood up.
"Just to be safe, stay in the hole until I come out." He said and Milo didn't argue.
She went inside the dark small suffocating hole again and Zane went to clean himself in the small bathroom.
In just five minutes, he came out, not wanting to make Milo stay in the hole for long.
Milo heard his footsteps but only after hearing Zane's voice, did she come out of the hole.
"You can go now." Zane said and Milo went to the bathroom.
During that time, he waited on the bed and checked the plastic bag that Jammy brought.
He took out the clean white shirt and wore it without wasting any time. He might be cautious but the thrill of a new shirt made him eager to try it.
He struggled with buttoning the shirt as it was his first time wearing something like that but after a few tries, he succeeded and was finally ready with the shirt.
The shirt fitted him perfectly, hugging his skinny upper body and if he buttoned to his chest, then his plus shaped scar was well hidden as well.
Did he figure out my size just by seeing me for a short while? He has sharp eyes.
Zane then wore the same pants as yesterday again which he had washed last night.
He shifted the Remembering Needle and the Relic from the pants he wore while sleeping yesterday to the pants he had worn to touch the slab.
But as he placed the Remembering Needle inside his left pocket, he felt something.
Something else was already there.
He took it out and when he saw it, he smacked his forehead.
I forgot to give her the candy.
It was the Sun Drop candy that Xavier had given him.
He looked at it and now it looked out of color, it had become white from its original yellow color and broken as Zane had washed his pants with full force last night.
What a waste. Sorry, Milo.
He placed the candy in his pocket again and decided to throw it on the road while leaving.
He shook his head and in a matter of seconds, he was finally ready for the Citadel.
He had no mirror to see himself, not that he cared about it. He looked exactly like someone poor.
After taking the shirt, he won't leave the plastic bag on the bed so he took it to throw it out.
But as he picked it, he found it heavier.
He looked inside and his brows shot up.
It wasn't empty.
It had something in it.
He placed it back on the bed and took out the thing it had.
One rectangular box of steel was there and Zane didn't want to admit it but it looked like:
A tiffin?
Zane felt the warmth coming from the box and he instantly opened it.
He was afraid of it containing explosives but he decided to trust Jammy.
He removed the lid and the next moment, the hut was filled with the fragrance of fresh food.
There was also a metal spoon inside the tiffin and Zane picked it up.
Beneath the spoon, he saw something white and yellow and below that he saw something he had only heard while passing the city.
Rice.
That yellow sheet must be egg. I think.
Zane licked his lips and shoved the spoon.
He took a chunk on the spoon and brought it near his mouth.
The smell made his stomach churn but his eyes then went to the bathroom and as a result, he placed the food back on the tiffin.
I'll eat with Milo.
He closed the tiffin and waited for his sister to come out.
After two minutes, Milo finally came out.
She wore the same black dress with roses and her long white hair was wet, as she used the curtain of the bathroom to dry them.
"Come here, Milo. That scary man brought food for us." Zane said and Milo's eyes lit up.
She bolted towards the bed and sat in front of Zane.
The tiffin was between the siblings and Zane opened the lid for her to see.
The smell welcomed her as she closed her eyes to take in all of it.
Zane smiled seeing her and also felt sad that he couldn't give her this feeling for all this time.
If Jammy knew about my sister, he would have brought two tiffins.
Zane wasn't sure about that but he had a hunch that Jammy would have done that.
"Let's eat, brother. I don't know what it is but it smells delicious."
Milo rubbed her hands, staring at the delicacy in front of her.
But she didn't touch the spoon herself.
She waited for Zane to have the first bite.
Zane nodded and picked up the spoon.
He took out a chunk of rice and egg and instead of himself, he brought it towards Milo.
"Here." He said and Milo didn't fight.
She opened her mouth and let the food enter.
She chewed, her eyes closed on their own and she chewed longer than usual just to feel the taste for one more second.
Zane wiped a tear from his eye and laughed.
He took out another chunk.
He again passed it to Milo but this time, Milo held the spoon and brought it near Zane's mouth.
Zane smiled and opened his mouth.
Milo made him eat and finally, he tasted real food for the first time in his entire life.
His tongue relished, his whole nervous system felt rejuvenated by the taste of it.
He let each speck of rice dance inside his whole mouth as the taste was hundred times better than the wraps he used to eat.
Like that, both the siblings took turns with the spoon to eat.
Zane wasn't afraid of being contaminated by Milo's disease by eating from the same spoon as it appeared that the illness wasn't contagious. If it was, Zane would already be suffering from it for a while.
In just five minutes the whole tiffin was finished.
Milo rested on the bed right after that.
"Will we get the same food in the big building daily?" She asked, rubbing her stomach with satisfaction all over her face.
Zane smiled lightly. "Yes. We will get the same food daily there. If not better."
Milo beamed but in his mind, Zane's wasn't beaming.
They might get the same food daily in the citadel…
But not as easily as we got here.