Myth

The sun's beams were just peaking above the horizon, when a long shadow began following a figure. Slowly, and cautiously it moved and neared a frightened prey only to watch it's delicate legs carry it away.

The figure pinched its eyes close in frustration, before breathing through the nose.

When the man opened his eyes again, they fell on a small bundle in his line of sight. He frowned finding it odd and decided to have a closer look. He tiptoed near to meet with shock.

It was a small baby wrapped tightly in a grey blanket, and on its both sides lied two shell figures, probably its parents.

He moved his eyes around to see a bag nearby. He figured, it must have their belongings and other necessities.

His ears picked up a slight sniff and his gaze went back to the small grey cloud.

He forgot to breathe. He was afraid it would wake up even if he stirred.

He sat there watching it sleep peacefully, smiling in sleep in dropping temperature, unaware of any harm that might come its way. He envied the baby, yet it was a sight that melted him. He had never felt such warmth.

He noticed the baby shrinking in and let out a small – almost an inaudible sneeze.

His hands reached out to pick it up from between the seemingly lifeless corpses and clasp it to his warm chest.

He breathed, and scent of baby products mingled with the essence of earth (grass and burning wood), wafted into his nose.

Sensing arms around itself, the baby waved a hand and accidentally slapped his nose. He let out a soft chuckle and watched it put the very fist that hit his nose, in its mouth and started sucking with its eyes closed.

That was when he was hit with the realization that the baby might be hungry.

He quickly began looking through the couple’s belongings in the worn out bag.

He knew that babies were given powdered milk.

However, he soon found himself lost, as he didn’t know how to make one.

Without wasting another second, he was sprinting up and back in the direction of his car. His hunting gear, long discarded by the dead.

Carlos didn't believe in ice hearts. He laughed in the faces of those who declared that they didn’t care for anyone. That was impossible and against human nature.

Everybody had someone they loved, or someone they cared for —someone to protect. Carlos knew that because it was easy to hit people where it hurt most.

He also had a family - his brothers to protect and live for. He could do anything for them. And now he had an addition to that family.

The baby he brought home.

The sight of their boss trying to calm a small baby nearly left a few of their jaws scrapping the floor. They quickly shook out of their shock however, and began helping him.

One of them, who went by the name Nickolas, surprisingly knew how to deal with babies and he took charge. The others followed suit, and Carlos was among them.

They made some milk and made the baby burp, following directions of a quick online tutorial. Then, Nickolas put the baby to sleep before Carlos began making arrangements for a nanny.

This side of Carlos was a surprise to his boys. However, those who were closer to him knew that he was a soft person, rejected all his life and yet brimming with love to give. They knew he wanted to have someone so dear to him upon whom he could shower his love.

And it happened that he came across a little being that had him wrapped around its little fingers.

He for once appeared joyful and a man with purpose, as he anxiously barked orders at his people to finish things timely and perfecly.

The second day of the baby in his life, and Carlos had decided to quit his dangerous ways, so that he could build a safe and secure environment around her. He needed to keep her safe, and be safe himself, for her sake.

He had money stacked up that could last him a lifetime without any kind of work and yet live a good life. Not extravagant, not measly, just the right; but he wanted to give her a lavish lifestyle. The one best suited for a princess. And so, to his boys' surprise, he started to rack up his brains for business ideas. He even gave them orders and had them under pressure for the same reason.

That was the reason the boys heard one another grumble in the hallways as they passed by each other. Yet, no one complained as they were happy for him.

The baby was a wonderful influence on him, they noticed. He had finally found a reason to live a worthwhile life. Even if it meant, they wouldn’t continue to live like they had been for over a decade.

It took him three days to finally build a corner for her, where no one aside from himself and a few trusted servants were allowed.

The little fluff had a room too spacious for her, and a cot that allowed free movements. The vast room had stuffed and robotic toys well kept at a side, close by which was also a small area for the baby to play and crawl in.

Fluorescent stars stuck to the ceiling of the room, and a projector was placed to display small twinkles on purple and blue bathed walls as well.

The room also had a glass window opening into the balcony that had potted plants along its boundaries. Stars at night could be seen strewn across the sky through the glass window.

The baby also had her own closet and an attached bathroom.

All in all, Carlos went over the top and provided her with things that other kids only dreamt of.

When the room was all set, Linda the nanny, brought the baby there all clean and ready to be put to sleep as it was her time to go to bed. Well, she slept throughout the day anyway.

Linda left after checking the baby monitor while Carlos stayed behind to watch over the baby for a little while more. He felt strangely proud at what he did for the bundle of softness, and couldn’t help but stoop down to plant a soft kiss on its forehead. He felt that the baby’s skin was like silk against his chapped lips which smoked a lot. A habbit he had determined to let go of.

‘Hi.’ he mumbled softly near the baby’s ear.

That was the first time he was talking to it. He didn’t know how to communicate and had simply observed other’s interaction with the little thing thus far.

‘I welcome you officially, little joy. And I hope your life will be as colorful as this room of yours.’

‘I hope I can be a good father to you.’

He had decided, he’ll file a case for her custody. He didn’t need to deal with formalities. He had much influence to get things done, but he wanted to do everything right for her.

For Aurora.

Yes, that was going to be her name.

Aurora, because she was like the Aurora that had appeared, and brightened up everything. Lit up his life on a dark night, on a dark road.

Like a light that clicked his inside puzzles in places, completed him and gave his life a beautiful frame.

A beautiful picture. A beautiful future.

‘You’re like Aurora.’ she twisted her mouth in her sleep and rubbed at her nose before succumbing to rhythmic sleep again.