NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20: The Delicate Thread (pt. 1)
Hi! Its been a long time since my last update. I had university exams and struggled with a lack of motivation to write. Since I'm not very good at English, it takes a lot of time to come up with a plot that I'm able to write.
Thanks to everyone who reads this. I really want to be a writer, and when I have writer's block in Czech, I feel like I must write in another language instead.
If you like this collection of short stories, I'd be really grateful if you could leave some feedback in the comments to let me know how I'm doing and if it's worth continuing.
Thanks.
Aurel's POV
I inhaled a mouthful of cigarette smoke, letting it burn its way down. As I exhaled, the bitter taste left a metallic aftertaste that clung to my tongue. For a moment, the tight, suffocating grip in my chest eased. Nicotine worked its magic, dulling the sharp edges of my thoughts. The storm in my head quieted as I closed my eyes, letting the night fold around me.
I should quit this job. I knew that. But quitting wasn't an option. Not here. Not for someone like me. Leaving an illegal organization was suicide, and worse, they'd go after my family. Even Noel... No, especially Noel. The thought of his life being destroyed because of me twisted my gut into knots. I clenched my fists. Who else would I dirty my hands for, if not him?
The faint glow of the streetlight mixed with the pale moonlight, painting the alley in eerie shadows. The rain had eased to a cold drizzle, dampening the pavement and my mood. It was strangely calming, though. The nicotine-induced clarity, the icy prickle of rain against my skin, the oppressive quiet of the alley—it all made for the perfect hunting ground.
A bitter chuckle escaped my lips as I flicked the cigarette away. "Well, it's not like I've got a choice." My voice barely carried over the sound of raindrops.
My gaze dropped to the unconscious figure at my feet.
"What should I do with you, little fox?" I murmured, crouching beside him.
He looked peaceful, almost innocent, even with the dirt and faint cuts marring his face. Blond hair clung to his pale skin, and beneath the grime, he could've passed for one of those sweet, unassuming types. But I knew better. Adorable and cunning—just like a fox.
My stomach churned. I hated dealing with kids who reminded me of Noel. Not that I was much older, but still. They always made me hesitate, and in this line of work, hesitation could get you killed. That hesitation was my biggest weakness, and now, it was staring up at me from the ground.
I sighed and rubbed my temples. Letting him go wasn't an option—not unless I wanted both him and Noel dead. Killing him would solve the problem cleanly, but... shit. Why did it have to be a greenhorn?
It had been an easy mistake on his part. The kid had started tailing me after I wrapped up some business. He wasn't bad, but he was still new to the game. When he finally made his move, I'd already seen it coming. One swift counter, and here we were.
I leaned closer, studying his face.
MOON. Rival organization. Their boss and ours were siblings who'd split the family empire after a bitter feud. MOON had been a thorn in our side ever since. It wasn't surprising they'd send someone after me, but a rookie? That was either a grave insult or a deliberate ploy.
I touched my face, the dampness of rain and sweat clinging to my skin. Shit. Maybe I knew why he'd come after me. I'd taken off my mask after the deal, a mistake I never should've made. My face was supposed to be a ghost—known only to my patron, the boss, and the inner circle of guard dogs. I'd always feared someone might connect the dots, track me down. Worse yet, trace it back to Noel.
But something felt off. Was this boy sent for someone else? Who in LEO could he have mistaken me for? Mahogany-toned hair, mid-twenties... In our ranks, only a handful fit the description. Fewer still had the same dark, curly hair. In the dim light, rain plastering my hair to my scalp, it could easily pass for black.
Nigel.
The thought clicked into place, sharp and clear. He must've confused me with Nigel, another rookie—a far easier target for MOON to send their own greenhorn after. Rookie against rookie. That, at least, made sense.
"Damn it, kid," I muttered. "Wrong guy."
I stared down at him, his chest rising and falling steadily despite the bruises blooming across his pale skin. Something about his face tugged at a distant memory. Blond hair, pale skin, and those rabbit-like features. The familiarity set my nerves on edge, gnawed at me like a half-forgotten dream.
Then it hit me.
Julian.
Noel had mentioned him a dozen times before, a constant fixture in his stories about school and his small group of friends. I'd seen pictures too, blurry snapshots of birthday parties and group outings. My stomach twisted as I pieced it together. This wasn't just some random MOON grunt; this was someone from Noel's world. Someone who'd vanish without a trace if I made the wrong move. And Noel... he'd never forgive me.
"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered, running a hand down my face. The weight of the situation pressed down on me like a steel vice. Killing him was out of the question now. If Julian disappeared, Noel would notice. He'd ask questions, dig for answers, and eventually, he'd find the trail that led back to me. That kind of exposure could get both of us killed. And Noel would hate me. That's the worst outcoming.
"Buddy, you're coming with me," I said, more to myself than the unconscious boy. There was no other choice.
I crouched down and slipped my arms under him, lifting him into a princess carry. His body felt too light, his head lolling slightly against my chest. If he were awake, he'd probably fight me tooth and nail for the humiliation alone. But for now, he was blissfully unaware, and that was for the best.
The rain continued its soft patter as I moved through the dark alley, Julian's limp form in my arms. Each step felt heavier, the weight of what I was about to do pressing down harder than the boy in my grasp. This was going to get messy, and I wasn't sure if either of us would come out unscathed.
By the time I finally got home, the lights were already off, meaning Noel was asleep. For a moment, I stood in the drizzle, listening carefully and scanning my surroundings. I didn't sense any unfamiliar presence. This heightened awareness, this instinct for detecting unseen eyes, had long since become my sixth sense.
After assuring myself no one had followed us, I slipped inside with Julian still in my arms. The first thing I did was kick off my wet shoes, mindful not to dirty the floor. Noel would nag me endlessly if I did.
Bringing Julian here wasn't exactly ideal, but I hadn't had any other choice. I couldn't stash him in my office at LEO's headquarters—too risky. Leaving him in some random abandoned garage wasn't an option either. So, home it was. If I played my cards right and brushed up on my acting skills, maybe I could convince him I'd just found him unconscious in the street. Years of learning to mask my true emotions should count for something, right? And if he remembers me? I just have to ask him before Noel wakes up and threaten him to cooperate with the act.
I carefully laid Julian down on the couch in the living room. It was the only option that made sense. His clothes were soaked, so I undressed him down to his underwear to keep him from catching a chill. As I worked, I couldn't help but notice how unscarred his body was. A few small marks, maybe, but nothing that suggested he'd been through any serious fights. He was so young. Too young to be tangled up in the underground.
Why was he there? Family connections? Poverty? Revenge? Or was he just a reckless idiot? Probably some mix of all four.
After undressing him, I dug out the first aid kit from the bathroom to treat the wounds I'd given him. Guilt and embarrassment churned in my gut. I'd taken down my brother's friend. Great. But what was done was done.
After cleaning and bandaging his cuts, I covered him with a blanket and went to wash up. I tossed both our clothes into the washing machine before stepping into the shower. The mild water cascaded over me, washing away the grime of the night. But as I ran my hands over my skin, my thoughts kept drifting back to Julian's fair, unmarred complexion.
I'd had skin like that once, too—untouched, unscathed. The car accident that took my parents left a burn scar on my back, now hidden beneath the death's-head hawk-moth tattoo. Over time, more scars followed—cuts, slashes, even two bullet wounds. My body told the story of my rough life, each mark a testament to battles fought and barely survived.
Thankfully, my face had remained untouched. Fully dressed, I didn't look like someone entrenched in the underworld. I could still show up at Noel's school festivals without raising suspicion or embarrassing him. And let's face it—my looks didn't hurt either. Having a pretty face was a blessing in this line of work, where trust was rare and appearances could be deceiving.
After drying off, I slipped into a plain T-shirt and sweatpants, then headed to the kitchen. My stomach twisted, not from hunger but from the weight of everything piling up. Still, I forced myself to brew some tea, hoping it would calm my mind.
With the kettle hissing softly, I leaned against the counter and stared into the darkened room. Julian's steady breathing filled the quiet, a stark reminder of how fragile and out of place he seemed.
The kettle clicked off, and I poured the steaming water into a mug, the scent of chamomile wafting up as I carried it to the table. As I sat down, I pulled my phone from my pocket, scrolling through encrypted messages and recent reports. Nothing stood out. No chatter about MOON's movements, no hints about why they'd send someone like Julian into our territory.
It was useless to search for answers in LEO about why Julian was working for MOON. To LEO, he was just a small fly. At least to higher-ups like me. The biggest problem was that he was my enemy—someone I might one day be forced to eliminate—and, at the same time, Noel's close friend.
After our parents' death, my entire life revolved around Noel and my work. Nothing else. So, of course, I felt responsible for Noel's well-being and, by extension, the well-being of his friends. Even Julian. But balancing all of this? I couldn't kill him, couldn't let him discover who I really was, and yet I felt the need to protect him.
Ah, how complicated. Sometimes I wished I wasn't so fixated on my younger brother. If I didn't have this damn brother complex, I wouldn't be so tangled up in this mess.
Unable to sleep, I grabbed my laptop and sat at the kitchen table, where I had a clear view of Julian on the couch.
Fine. If I couldn't sleep because of this kid, I might as well tackle some of the dull paperwork I'd been putting off.
Of course, I didn't work solely on illegal operations. I maintained a legitimate job to avoid raising any suspicion from Noel and to appear as a proper citizen.
As the hours ticked by, the soft hum of the laptop filled the quiet space. My eyes flicked between the screen and Julian, his peaceful face a stark contrast to the chaos he'd unknowingly brought into my life. Every so often, I'd catch myself wondering what had pushed him into MOON's clutches. Was it desperation? Manipulation? Or something else entirely? I made a mental note to dig deeper into his background once things settled.
By the time dawn began creeping through the curtains, I realized I'd accomplished little. The paperwork remained half-finished, and my head was still buzzing with unanswered questions. With a heavy sigh, I closed the laptop and leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples.
Julian shifted slightly under the blanket, his brow furrowing as if he were caught in a dream. For a moment, I just watched him, the fragile rise and fall of his chest a quiet reminder of how easily things could spiral out of control.
"You're trouble, you know that?" I muttered softly. Trouble for Noel. Trouble for me.
As the first rays of sunlight touched the edges of the room, I stood and stretched, resolving to face the coming day—and whatever complications Julian's presence would bring—with a clear head. Because if there was one thing I'd learned in this life, it was that nothing stayed simple for long.