11. Zane
11
ZANE
Z ane sat in his room, nervously tapping his foot and biting his nail.
The anxiety around him was palpable.
He knew this was the work of Jax’s uncle, and what was worse, it was something Jax had previously defended to Zane. He realized that if he had been there that afternoon, he could have stopped it the same way he stopped that wolf from killing that family. He wanted to help Lea, but it would come at the cost of outing himself.
If others found out he worked for Diesel in any capacity, he would have been kicked out of school.
Being blacklisted like that was something he couldn’t afford. However, he still wanted to help her in some way. He knew Lea, just like his family, was poor. This meant that there was no way they could afford a funeral for her parents.
“Perhaps I could raise some funds for it.”
It was the only solution he could come up with that didn’t include outing himself and Jax.
The anxiety took over Zane as he popped out of his chair and exited his room.
Outside, his little sister and brother, Daise and Lucas, were waiting for him. They knew he wasn’t in any mood to be trifled with today.
“You guys stay out of trouble. There’s food in the kitchen if you get hungry. I have to go help a friend today.” Zane patted Daise on the head before leaving their home.
“We know… We heard what happened.” Lucas spoke up.
Zane stopped dead in his tracks before turning and facing his two younger siblings. “What do you mean you’ve heard?”
“We were going for a walk when it happened. Besides, the whole village is talking about it.” Daise explained.
Zane’s chest ached with the thought that these two children were witness to such violence.
He knelt and pulled the both of them into a hug. “I’m so sorry you had to see that.”
“It’s okay. We hope your friend is okay.” Daise hugged Zane back with her little arms.
Zane only nodded, unable to bring himself to respond to them again.
This world was a cruel place that a child not only had to witness but was comfortable with the situation.
His family didn’t get the shakedown like the rest of the village because Zane would help Diesel from time to time, but that was it.
He was drawing the line in the sand. He wanted nothing more to do with Diesel or his terrible schemes.
Zane spent the rest of the day going around Dask and the neighboring villages to collect funds for Lea’s parents.
By the end of the day, it was nowhere near enough, but he wanted to give what he collected to her anyway.
In truth, he just wanted to see her. He wanted to know that she was alive.
It was pure dumb luck that she wasn’t home when Striker came.
“Or was it a coincidence?” Zane began questioning if Diesel did that in broad daylight simply because he knew Lea wouldn’t be home. “But why? It wasn’t like Diesel had a soft spot for kids.”
The situation seemed more suspicious as he looked at it, but he didn’t know enough to put the pieces together.
His thoughts fell away as he approached Lea’s home.
Lea was sitting outside staring out into nothingness.
Her face was gaunt, and her skin was pale.
She hadn’t eaten or taken care of herself in days.
Zane’s heart was wretched and pounded with a mixture of feelings. He was happy to see her alive but felt deep pain for her situation.
He hadn’t realized how much his feelings for her had flourished until now. However, it should have been a sign that he went around collecting funds for her when he was just as poor. He approached her slowly, hoping not to spook her since she didn’t seem to be paying attention. “Lea.”
She jumped slightly, which confirmed his suspicions about her. “Zane.”
He extended his hand, passing her an open envelope. “It’s not very much, but I hope it helps pay for your parents?—”
“I hope this helps,” he said, unable to bring himself to say the words. Losing his parents, especially his mother’s disappearance not too long ago, made him understand the pain of being orphaned at a young age.
Lea slowly took the envelope and held it with both hands over her lap. “I don’t know what to say, Zane. That’s very kind of you.”
Zane sat down next to her, holding his hand over hers. “Here for you; whatever you need, all you have to do is ask.”
Zane looked earnestly into her eyes, desperately seeking her to look at him the same way, but she didn’t.
She averted her gaze and nodded, thanking him again.
It was apparent that she didn’t feel the same way he felt about her. It wasn’t a pill Zane wanted to swallow, but he would if it meant he could comfort her in her time of need.