Felix held Rex's hand tightly as he led him toward their small apartment, a modest structure built from red bricks. It was the third day since leaving Rex's hometown, Vitoria, and the journey had been long and exhausting. Mr. Ray had dropped them off a short distance away, and they had walked the rest of the way on foot.
The town of North Avalon looked almost untouched, like the apocalypse had skipped over it entirely. Unlike other places ravaged by chaos, this town bustled with activity. Strange flying creatures zipped through the sky, their wings casting flickering shadows over the streets. Humans moved about, some glaring at one another with barely concealed hostility, while only a few exchanged warm smiles.
As they neared the apartment, a familiar sight met Felix's eyes—two teenagers standing outside, engaged in yet another heated argument. His twin siblings, Freya and Fabian. The moment they spotted him approaching with the stranger, they abandoned their bickering and ran toward him, their voices overlapping as they bombarded him with complaints.
"Fabian won't do anything other than laze around! I did the dishes, cleaned everywhere" Freya huffed angrily, crossing her arms.
"I fed the chickens!" Fabian countered.
"That's not a chore."
"Yes, it is!"
Felix sighed heavily, raising a hand to silence them. "Guys! Can we save this for later or maybe when we get in? I'm exhausted and need some rest." His voice calm, but the twins weren't finished.
"And you should understand," he added, rubbing his forehead, "Fabian has been busy with his training which can be quite exhausting, Freya. If you could just…"
"I knew you'd take his side! You guys are the worst!" Freya snapped, spinning on her heels and storming inside, slamming the door behind her.
Felix sighed again, his tired eyes shifting to Fabian, who only shrugged. "I don't know why she's always like that," Fabian muttered. "I just came back from training, and the next thing I know, she's screaming at me. She never tries to understand."
Felix shook his head. "Well, since you've managed to upset her, go prepare a space for Rex in our room."
"Who's the... strange kid?" Fabian asked, narrowing his eyes at Rex.
"This is Rex. He'll be staying with us from now on," Felix said simply.
Fabian's face twisted in disbelief. "You're joking."
Felix ignored him, turning to Rex, who looked like he could collapse any second. "Let's go inside," he said, leading him forward toward the house.
The building stood behind a low white gate, which was connected to a short but sturdy fence. Though small, the house was built with a futuristic, minimalist design, an advanced yet low-budget architectural style. The walls had a sleek metallic sheen with reinforced polymer panels. Soft, energy-efficient lights embedded in the exterior gave off a gentle glow as the evening settled in.
Inside, the house opened into a spacious living area that also served as a hall. The walls were painted a warm, earthy brown, complementing the dim, pale-yellow ceiling lights that cast a soft, cozy glow throughout the room.
The furniture was simple but functional, soft pillows arranged as seats around a low wooden table at the center. Across the hall, two doors stood opposite each other, one leading to the boys' shared room, the other to Freya's.
"This is our place," Felix said, motioning to the space around them. "And those troublesome kids you saw are my siblings. They're twins and always fighting."
Rex barely acknowledged the introduction. His eyelids drooped, his body swayed slightly and then, without warning, he collapsed.
Felix's breath caught in his throat. The way Rex fell, the hard impact of his body hitting the floor was enough to send panic surging through him. "Hey! Are you okay?" He dropped to his knees, reaching out to shake him, but then he heard his steady, rhythmic breathing signifying that he had fallen asleep.
Felix let out a huge sigh of relief, clutching his chest. "He just passed out..." he muttered.
"Help set up a place for him, Fabian, so he can rest."
Fabian grumbled but went to clear a spot in their already cramped room. "Another mouth to feed, and we barely have space as it is," he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Felix to hear.
Felix glanced down at Rex, now sleeping peacefully in his arms. A feeling he couldn't quite explain settled in his chest—a quiet certainty that this boy was different. Special. He had great potential, which made Felix like him the moment he saw him. He didn't know how or why, but there was something hidden beneath the surface, something powerful. He knew Rex was different, but he was curious to find out who this mysterious kid really was and just how much potential he had.
"I'm done," Fabian announced angrily, standing by the door a few minutes later. "Has he fallen asleep?"
Felix ignored his complaints, gently lifting Rex and carrying him to the sleeping area. He laid him down on a simple mat with a soft pillow.
Fabian stood by the door, arms crossed, watching the whole thing with a scowl. "I don't get why you care so much about some random kid you met out there, it could be dangerous, you know that" he shot one last glare at his brother before walking out without another word.
Felix didn't respond. Instead, he sat beside Rex for a moment, observing him. His white hair looked almost silver under the dim light. Felix brushed a few strands away from his face, a small smile forming.
"What a strange hair color you have, kid," he murmured.
Just then, Rex's eyelids fluttered slightly, then, for the briefest of moments, they opened.
Felix froze.
Rex's eyes glowed. A deep, unnatural amber, radiating with an eerie light. But before Felix could react, they shut again, the glow vanishing as if it had never been there.
Felix sat there, stunned, his heart pounding. "It... must've been the reflection of the light," he mumbled to himself. But the thought didn't make sense. The sun had already set. There was no way for light to reflect like that.
Shaking his head, he exhaled slowly. "I'm probably just tired."
Standing up, he made his way outside. Behind the house was a small plot of farmland, his favorite spot whenever he needed to clear his head. Sometimes he came here for peace, sometimes to work, and sometimes just to escape the noise of his siblings.
Tonight, however, he had a different reason.
There was now an extra person in their home. Another mouth to feed.
And that meant he had to work even harder.