Nodding with satisfaction, Lief snapped his fingers and the objects on the table disappeared.
"Very well, Mr. Frankenstein." He said changing his tone, adopting a mocking formality. "Officially welcome to 'Devil May Cry'. Let's talk business: as for the salary, it is currently non-existent. Zero dollars. However, unlimited resources, total protection, and food and drink whenever you are here are provided. Is there any problem with the terms?"
Victor shook his head vigorously.
No salary? That was the least of it! The opportunity to study unknown objects and, most importantly, having a place where Sparky could live without being persecuted was worth more than all the money in the world.
"N-no... there is no problem! Deal... Boss!"
Lief made a visible grimace, raising a hand to stop him.
"Don't do it." He shook his head laughing. "Don't call me 'Boss'. It sounds like I run a criminal organization, just call me Lief."
"Ah... o-okay, Lief!" Victor corrected quickly, blushing a little.
"Woof, woof!"
Catching his owner's positive energy, Sparky woke up and ran happily toward them and rubbed his stitched head against Victor's leg.
"Well, it's getting late. You should go back before your parents notice you're not there," said Lief, glancing at the clock on the wall.
He accompanied him back toward the exit and placed his hand on the knob without turning it, taking advantage of that pause to turn to Victor with a solemn expression.
"Listen well, Victor. This is important. From now on, the door to your attic is the bridge."
Victor nodded.
"It's like an intent recognition system," Lief explained. "If your parents, or anyone else, open that door, they will only see a normal attic. But when you touch the knob, you need to concentrate. You have to recite in your mind clearly, the name of this place: 'Devil May Cry'."
"And only then do you turn the knob. Only you and those you recognize as 'partners' like Sparky can cross. For the rest of the world, this office does not exist."
Victor's eyes lit up with fascination.
"Understood," he said hugging Sparky a little tighter. "Clear mind. Devil May Cry."
"Exactly. Now, go," said Lief, patting him on the back, pushing him gently toward the exit. "Rest, tomorrow you start. I'll bring you your first research subject."
Victor nodded, feeling his heart beat faster, with the feeling of being on the edge of a wonderful precipice, took a deep breath and crossed the door frame.
The office air disappeared instantly and was replaced by the familiar atmosphere of his own house.
Victor blinked and looked around...
He had managed to return.
He looked down at Sparky, who was wriggling happily in his arms. Then, his mind returned to the office.
It seemed too good to be true. A reasonable doubt assaulted him. Had it been a hallucination from lack of sleep?
Without thinking twice, he pinched his leg hard.
"Ouch...!" he hissed under his breath, rubbing the area.
It was real!
Painfully real!
He looked at the attic door one last time and a secret smile appeared on his face.
Starting today, his lonely life was over. Starting today, he was going to lead a double life.
After sending Victor home safe and sound and confirming, Lief also left.
But he didn't directly use the office door to return to his own room, but chose to enter through the front door of his house.
"I'm home!"
The living room was brightly lit. The aroma of roast chicken and mashed potatoes hit him. His father was wearing an apron while taking the last platter of cooked broccoli out of the kitchen. His mother was placing the silverware, making sure the table was spotless.
Next to the table, the three girls were already seated and waiting.
As soon as Lillith saw him, her face lit up with a sweet smile.
"Brother, you're back!"
Emma nodded courteously.
Esther only gave him a quick glance, and then returned to concentrating on stabbing her fork into the napkin.
"Lief, go quickly wash your hands. We are about to serve," said Sarah, smiling with relief upon seeing her son return. Her smile, however, faded slightly. "Why are you back so late? Were you with Frank again?"
"No, I chatted for a while with the neighbor," Lief replied casually, as he headed toward the small bathroom.
"Huh?"
John, placing the chicken in the center of the table and untying his apron, joined the conversation.
"The neighbor? Do you mean the Frankenstein boy? Victor, right?" He asked, pouring water into the glasses. "That kid seems quite... withdrawn. You should make an effort to talk to him more. He needs a friend."
"Mmm, he's a good kid," Lief commented, finishing drying his hands and taking his seat at the table.
The satisfaction of his successful mission was reflected in his mood.
The family began to enjoy dinner with the familiar sound of silverware clinking.
"John, speaking of which," Sarah cut a piece of chicken and suddenly spoke, raising her voice. "I saw the weather forecast. The weather will be beautiful this weekend. Sunny, perfect temperature, ideal for outdoor activities."
Hearing this, John immediately brightened up, momentarily abandoning his composure.
"You mean...! Great! My new fishing rod can't wait any longer! We could go to the West Oak stream! The bass in that area are fat and big..."
But with his wife's intense gaze, John, who knew that look well, swallowed and corrected his words without missing a beat.
"I mean...", He continued, "We could take the kids there for a picnic. We can get some fresh air and have a family camping activity. Right, honey?"
"That idea is excellent," Sarah nodded with evident satisfaction, having achieved her goal. Then, she directed her gaze toward her son. "Lief, what do you think?"
"I don't have a problem with that." A family camping trip was, in fact, much more relaxing than staying in the office dealing with exorcism jobs. It was a good break.
"Great! We can go camping!" Lillith waved her fork excitedly.
Although Emma and Esther did not speak, the confirmation of the activity caused both of them to stop chewing momentarily.
"That being the case..." Sarah's tone paused, and her expression softened. "Lief, why don't you invite Carrie too?"
She looked at him sincerely, "That girl is living alone now, and even though we visit her often, I'm sure she still feels isolated. Let her come with us. Having more contact with people her age will do her good, and we would love to have her."
"Okay," Lief accepted flatly, "I'll tell her tomorrow on the way to school."
"Perfect, then it's settled."
…
The following morning dawned with crisp clarity, promising an uncomplicated day.
The morning sun filtered through the treetops of the neighborhood, painting long shadows on the pavement.
Lief turned the usual corner on the way to school and, as he expected, there she was.
Carrie was standing next to the stop sign, with her thumbs nervously hooked into the straps of her backpack.
She was wearing a knit jacket that was somewhat big for her and her posture visibly relaxed the instant she saw him approaching.
She did not wave, she simply straightened up a little more, and an expression of genuine relief softened the tension on her face.
It was her routine: she waited, he arrived, and the world became a little less bleak for her.
"Good morning, Carrie."
"Hello, Lief. Good morning."
Their footsteps resonated in unison against the concrete as they walked together along the sidewalk wrapped in a comfortable silence, enjoying a shared peace throughout the journey.
Lief waited until they crossed the street before speaking.
"Hey, my mom asked me to ask you something," he said, keeping his eyes forward so as not to pressure her.
Carrie gripped the straps of her backpack tighter.
"Is... is something wrong?" she asked quickly, her voice rising in pitch from anxiety. "Did I leave something at your house last time? Did I... did I do something that upset her?"
Lief stopped and turned toward her, raising a hand to stop her spiral of panic.
"No, relax. Breathe," he said softening his voice. "It's nothing bad. In fact, I think it's good news."
?
Carrie blinked, confused.
"This weekend, my parents are planning a family outing. We are going camping at Oak Creek," explained Lief. "My mother wants you to come with us."
"..."
Carrie stood paralyzed and her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.
Disbelief was written on every feature of her face.
"Me...?" she pointed to herself. "Go with you? Camping?"
She shook her head, the old instinct of not bothering taking control.
"Oh, no... I mean... that sounds nice, but I don't want to be a burden. It's a family trip. I would just... get in the way–"
"You aren't going to get in the way," Lief interrupted her firmly. "It was Mom's idea. She asked me and it seemed fine to me."
He put his hands in his pockets and gave her a half-smile, "Besides, do me a favor and say yes. If you don't go, I'll have to put up with my three sisters all by myself all weekend. I need reinforcements."
"..."
Carrie lowered her gaze to her sneakers while her fingers played nervously with the edge of her jacket.
Going camping with Lief's family...
People who treated her well, who wanted her there.
But the fear of doing something wrong struggled against a desperate desire to belong, to be, for a couple of days, a normal girl.
Lief didn't pressure her.
Only a few seconds passed before Carrie raised her head again with a slight pink blush, revealing in her eyes a new spark of determination.
"I want to go," she said, and then nodded more strongly, confirming it to herself. "Yes. I would love to go. Thank you, Lief."
She paused and swallowed.
"And... and please, give your mother my thanks. Really."
Having said that, a smile made its way across her face.
It was a shy smile, but incredibly sincere, transforming her face completely.
Seeing her smile like that, Lief felt that the morning had become a little brighter.
"I'll tell her," he replied, returning the smile. "Let's go, or we'll be late."
But the moment was short-lived.
"Hey! Am I interrupting something?! It's too early for you guys to be standing here gazing into each other's eyes!"
Frank's thunderous voice broke their bubble. He approached with long strides, with his bulging backpack bouncing against his back, and without asking permission, draped an arm over Lief's shoulders, shaking him.
Behind him, Jennifer and Anita arrived.
The confidence in Jennifer's walk suffered an imperceptible stumble when her eyes caught Lief next to Carrie, and above all Carrie was smiling....
A genuine and pretty smile that Jennifer had never seen.
Her expression froze for an instant, but it was so fast that if you blinked you missed it. Immediately, she adjusted.
A bright smile appeared on her face. She sped up her pace, ignoring Frank, and headed directly toward Lief.
"Good morning!"
With fluidity she slid between Lief and Carrie, occupying the physical space with determination. She hooked onto Lief's free arm, intertwining hers and sticking to him with possessiveness, claiming him subtly.
"I've missed you this morning~", she said to Lief with a soft voice, ignoring the rest of the world for a second before turning her head slightly toward the other girl.
Her gaze swept Carrie up and down, but it wasn't hostile.
"Oh, Carrie is here too", she said maintaining her sweet tone. "What a coincidence running into you…"
The confidence that Carrie had gathered just a few minutes ago evaporated and the smile that had just bloomed withered on her lips, returning to her usual defensive posture.
"Good morning everyone", intervened Lief.
With a subtle movement, he shook off Frank's bear hug and let himself be grabbed by Jennifer, but she, wanting more, tightened her grip a little more.
"Come on, come on, move or they will close the door in our faces", insisted Frank, completely oblivious to the tension.
"Oh right, Lief, last night I was reviewing that code we talked about. I think I found a way to optimize the rendering, but I need you to take a look at it..."
While the group began to move, Anita, who had stayed in the background observing the dynamic, approached Carrie's side.
She didn't say anything knowing that Carrie probably didn't want attention, but she gave her a kind smile and walked at her pace, offering her a silent and safe company.
________
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