I’m taken aback by how irritated he sounds, but I brush it off. “Have you seen a messy brown haired woman about eighteen years old, wearing a ripped black shirt, living out on the streets?"
He scrunches his nose as he looks past my shoulder. "You mean,thatcreepy woman?"
I follow his glare to find a woman staring across the street. Her body looks stiff and her jaw is slacked, with long dark hair getting in the way of her eyes. A big rip on her black shirt exposes her belly.
My heart leaps. That is her!
I quickly thank the man and rush towards her. "Clara!"
She starts running down the street before I get close to her.
I pause in the road. "Clara?” I call again, trying to sound less urgent. “Please!”
She stands still, her back turned to me.
"Please?” I run to the sidewalk but leave a few feet between us. “Let me talk at least?"
She doesn't respond. A part of me wants to step closer but I decide to wait for her to make that final move.
“Why?”
I perk a brow. "What?"
"Why?" She turns around to face me, a confused frown forming on her face. "Why do you want to help me so much? Why does it seem to excite you? You already almost died for my ass today. Why do you need to do more?”
My brain stutters for an answer before I end up snickering. “The job isn't really done yet though, is it? I mean,you're still out here in the streets with risks of infection. Fighting a dreamscreecher doesn't solve all the other issues, does it?”
“Yes, but nearly sacrificing yourself was already plenty.”
“Just because I saved you once doesn't mean I suddenly want to ignore the fact you're on the streets alone. If I'm going to help you, I'm doing all I can. Besides, if I was in your shoes, I would still appreciate the help.”
She twists her lips. “But why would it matter to you?”
“Haven't you heard ‘give the love you would want to be given to you’? I can't just know that you're out here, and ignore it. It's my duty as a human and more so as a descendant of Cosmo to help out the people within my kingdom.” My stomach twists at how sick it'd be if I ignored people in need. “What kind of prince would I be to leave people like you out here with no help?”
She furrows her brows. “I don't know. At this point, I should be repaying you.”
“Okay then,” I smirk. I can use that to my advantage. “Repay me by letting me help you.”
“That's not repayment!” Her eyes widen like I'm a mad man.
“It is to me. I want to find you a home and have someone look at your wounds. I can bring you food and water. Everything you need to make sure you're okay.” I take a step forward. “Please…let me help you…”
She scrunches her brows together. “I don't want to be in the castle.”
“You won't. I can call a homeless shelter. In fact I know one that would be perfect!” My body jumps excitedly at the sudden idea. “You get a private room, with a bathroom and fridge. You get a nice cozy bed to yourself. It'll be perfect!”
“But I can't stay here long…” she murmurs. She glances over my shoulder before looking back to me.
“Then I'll help you as long as you're here.”
Her eyes still shift around, a small frown tugging her lips. It seems like she can't decide if I'm being sincere or not, which is disappointing. Is it so harsh out here that my willingness to help is surprising? “You really want to help me?”
“Yes. I do.”
“And I don't owe you anything if I let you?”
“Nothing.”
