fatherless

After a long walk, Ali and Luca finally arrived at the entrance of the Hormonos Hotel. Night had already fallen, but excitement filled their hearts. Exhaustion weighed down their bodies, yet hope still lingered in their steps. The hotel stood tall and grand—perhaps this was the place where Ali's family had once stayed. His heart pounded a little faster.

"This is it! This is the hotel!" Ali said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Luca, his black feline companion, moved closer, his tail swishing happily. "Well then, let's see if we can find something," he said.

As they stepped inside, the hotel's lobby was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the cold outside. The air smelled of polished wood and fresh flowers. The receptionist greeted them with a polite smile.

Ali, barely containing his excitement, asked, "Do you remember a family that stayed here some years ago?"

The receptionist paused for a moment, then nodded and turned to the computer screen. "Yes, they were here... five years ago."

Ali's face lit up. "Really? Do you know which room they stayed in?"

"Room 304," the receptionist replied. "But it seems they only stayed for a few nights."

Ali felt a surge of hope. "So they were really here," he murmured to himself.

Luca, sensing his excitement, flicked his tail. "That means there must be something we can find."

The receptionist glanced at the screen again. "Your family did stay here, but we don't have any records of where they went afterward," he said.

Ali took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. "Is there any way we could find out? Maybe an address or any other information?"

The receptionist shrugged. "You could try checking the city records. Maybe the municipal office has something."

A new spark of determination lit up in Ali's eyes. "Thank you," he said, and with that, he and Luca stepped back out into the night.

However, they soon realized a problem—they had nowhere to stay for the night. Ali checked his pockets, but they were empty. "We need to find a place to sleep," he said, forcing a smile.

Luca's golden eyes glimmered in the dim light. "Maybe we can find an abandoned place… that way, no one will find us," he suggested.

The two of them wandered through the quiet streets, searching. After a while, they stumbled upon an old warehouse. It looked abandoned, yet sturdy enough to provide shelter.

Ali took a cautious step inside. "This will do," he said.

Luca darted inside, sniffing around, his tail flicking happily. "It's actually not bad! This will be our spot for the night."

They settled into a corner, sharing a quiet moment of relief. For the first time in a while, Ali allowed himself to relax. He took a deep breath, feeling a strange sense of peace. "At least we're safe here," he murmured.

Luca curled up beside him, resting his head on Ali's lap. "Spending the night together, huh? Not bad," he purred.

Ali looked up at the dark ceiling, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah… nothing's going to stop us."

Outside, the streets remained silent, but in the shadows, Jack and John were watching. They had been following Ali and Luca all along.

Yet, for this one night, Ali and Luca had found something precious—a sense of peace.

No matter what dangers lurked beyond, they had each other. And for now, that was enough.