"I can't. This family can't take the news that their provider is dead." He mumbled to himself as he turned away from them, walking to the driver side of his car as their door opened. He froze in the moment and looked up.
"Howdy stranger, come join us for a meal! We saw you looking hungry." The lady shouted as Lark took a soft breath for himself. He slowly approached as he felt the slightest bit uneasy. His body ached with worry as he steeled his thoughts. Loosening his shoulders as his body calmed down for the moment.
The lady held the door open as Lark entered it. "Thanks, but I just came by to drop something off, eating a full meal doesn't seem quite right for me." He gave a soft smile as she held herself firm.
"Well, before we send you on your way, you can enjoy a traditional meal. It's the least you can do before you deliver the message." She prodded him with her elbow. Seemingly she knew, her floral dress flowed without worry and reason. Lark didn't have a reason to stay. She didn't have a reason to let him leave.
"Sure, what did you make?" Lark asked, following her into the dining room as he rested his hand inside of his jacket. He wanted to be out of here faster than anything else. A sweeping tidal wave of dread hit him as he sat in the chair.
"A homemade turkey pot pie." She slowly grabbed the knife and sliced it open. "Enough for all of us." She cut four pieces and slid them onto each plate.
"When is daddy coming home?" The daughter asked in a matching floral dress. Lark took a careful eye of the food as he slid the plate closer to himself.
"Soon, very soon." She spoke ice cold. No emotion behind her words as Lark saw what was inside, his contact lenses were dissecting what was inside of the pie.
"Can I speak and share grace before we eat?" Lark asked as she gave a long pause. His contact lenses have scouted out all the chemicals in the food. Poisoned with no taste. The choice to make the kids not live with their family and slip into poverty. "Ma'dam you you have an insect issue?" She nodded no as he stood a little taller.
"My name is Mario. I was a former hunter and there was a combat situation your dad and husband were involved in. He gave someone his journal to bring back home. I was the messenger." He grabbed the inside pocket of his jacket as she took one bite of her food. He reached out with his other hand as she slowly ate. Her two kids watching carefully.
"This one was made a few days ago. 'To my dearest, I wish I could be more present, but current actions made by the hybrids are putting the government on edge. I want to hold my sweet Etheldia again. I miss being with little Jackson and helping him learn sports and being a free kid.'" Mario took a pause as the lady passed out over her food. A soft thud hit the table as Lark stood up and grabbed the plates before the kids began to eat.
"Your father was a good man. Don't let the actions he has taken distract you from who he was. Hell, as a former colleague of his, I know where he is coming from by avoiding home. 'Jackson, I hope you do well with sports while I am gone. I promise to be at one of your youth games. Etheldia, promise to watch your mother for me. She sometimes gets worried. Just make sure to stay by her side.' Your Dad may be gone. But." He threw the poisoned food away and kneeled next to the two kids as they walked up to him. "He is always with you in your heart." he tapped them lightly on their chest.
"This journal is all for you two. If you two want to come with me, you can. Otherwise we need to find you family." Lark stayed kneeled as there was a knock at the door. "Stay here, I wonder if that's your family."
Etheldia grabbed his jacket. "We don't have family. Mommy and Daddy were only children. Both grandparents have passed away." She wrapped her arms around his leg. "At the door are four men, I see body armor and weapons."
'She has powers, and aura. I bet the kid does too.' Lark softened his tone. "Did dad ever discuss a safe room?" He stayed quiet as she pointed behind the stairs. "Go in there, and I won't leave you." He ruffled her hair as the two kids sprinted.
He followed them as he grabbed a small lock from his coat and put it on the door. The kids were safe, now he needed to worry about his own safety. He started his car as he approached the door. "Hello there guys, how is it going?" Lark asked, smooth as cream.
"Mario! My man, oh my god its good to see you!" The man furthest back bulldozed his way through to the front! "Man, I thought retirement was treating you well. But man, did you hear what happened to the dad of this family?"
A breath of relief came from Lark. "Desmond! It's great to see you. Not really, you know I left that behind and I try to keep Dante free from that news." He quickly had his smile turn into worry. "Did you guys see me pull up earlier?"
"Yeah, the reason we didn't instantly come storming in is due to me telling the hounds off." Desmond smiled. "Wait wait, what has you concerned?" He held a moment of pause as Lark clicked a button on his wrist as a thud hit the ground. "Oh something serious had to be happening."
Lark chuckled. "Chaos Desmond. Chaos. I got here to deliver the passed away father's journal. Wife made a poisoned pot pie. I scanned it before I ate it. Both kids are safely not poisoned." The three men behind Desmond look at Lark like he is the bad guy.
"Holy shit." Desmond looked at Lark then back at the other three. "Did HQ give her notice on what was happening? Why would she kill her kids? And herself?" Desmond held pause. "Lark, can you backtrace any past messages on all devices in this house?" He asked as a scream was heard from beneath the stairs.