By Zephyria 
Grayson stood rooted to the spot, straining his ears and focusing his senses. It felt like a long time passed, but he couldn’t detect anything.
Did he mishear?
Just as he was about to dismiss it, the sound came again. He couldn’t be mistaken twice. Grayson twitched his ears briefly and looked around with a frown.
The residential area was filled with houses that all looked the same, lined up neatly along the street, offering nothing particularly noteworthy. He had to concentrate once more to pinpoint the direction of the sound. Taking the sound that came again after a pause as a signal, he began to move. The next time he heard it, it was clearer than before.
“Help me.”
As he got closer, the destination became clear. Grayson stopped in front of one of the similar-looking houses and looked around.
“Help me…!”
Perhaps hearing Grayson’s footsteps, the child cried out again. This time, he was sure. Without hesitation, he opened the side gate and entered. The crunch of dry grass was felt beneath his feet. Half-withered and brown, it was clear that it hadn’t been cared for in quite some time.
“Help me, help me!”
The child’s voice continued more desperately. He pressed his ear against the wall and waited for a moment, but the house was silent as if no one was home. The child probably knew that, which was why he was shouting so desperately.
Thinking that far, Grayson looked down at the area where the sound was coming from. There was a large Cellar Door. The sound was muffled because of the closed door, but he could hear it clearly. Perhaps it was because something was open to allow air to pass through. Grayson knelt on one knee on the ground and put his ear to the door.
“Is anyone there?”
At Grayson’s question, a higher-pitched voice cried out from inside.
“Yes, yes! I’m here! Please help me, let me out, please!”
The tearful voice was hoarse from shouting so much.
“Oh dear…”
Grayson said with a sympathetic voice and asked again.
“What’s your name? Why are you in there? What happened?”
The child sobbed and answered.
“I, I’m Santiano. My dad said, because I was a bad boy, I have to be here…”
The last words faded into sobs. Grayson nodded as if he understood.
“I see. Okay, I’ll help you.”
This was something he often did. Helping others, what a wonderful and altruistic act. Grayson was always ready to help others and was happy to do so when given the opportunity. Just as he had been taught since he was very young. This time was no different.
He opened one of the double doors. At the bottom of the seemingly deep basement, a small boy who didn’t even reach Grayson’s knees was looking up at him with a very nervous face. Santiano’s expression, tiptoeing and stretching out his arms with all his might, was full of expectation and hope. Believing that he could finally get out of this dark and scary basement, that this brightly shining adult man would save him, and that these nightmarish days would finally end.
However.
“…Huh?”
Suddenly, Grayson jumped into the basement. The door he had opened slammed shut with a dull thud, and the surroundings were once again covered in darkness. Santiano had no idea what had just happened. He stood there blankly, blinking, when the faint rays of light coming through the cracks in the double doors illuminated the man’s flamboyant face. Only then did Santiano realize that this man had not only failed to take him out but had entered this terrible space.
“Wh-What are you doing? You have to get me out!”
Santiano shouted in confusion. Seeing the child’s confused face, Grayson tilted his head as if puzzled.
“Why? You’re being punished.”
“….Huh?”
When Santiano asked again, still not understanding, Grayson added as if to reason with him.
“You shouldn’t run away while you’re being punished. That’s what bad kids do.”
Santiano couldn’t understand what this was all about.
What is this man saying?
To the child, whose face had turned pale and bloodless, Grayson said in a considerate voice.
“But Santiano, it’s okay now. Don’t worry.”
He slowly held out a hand. To the child, who flinched and stepped back, Grayson smiled brightly with his hand suspended in the air.
“I’ll be with you.”
Hope completely disappeared from the child’s face, replaced by shock and fear.
Desire Me if you can
After things were somewhat settled, they gathered in one place to return. After Ezra, who had taken the last picture, returned the cell phone, the guys who had been waiting until then rubbed their trapezius muscles and sighed, “Haa.”
“As expected of Dane Striker. Women go crazy once he shows up.”
At someone’s words, everyone chattered and added a word each.
“Is it just women? I saw guys trying to take pictures with him earlier too.”
“How about doing a campaign with Dane as a model? If we put up sexy pictures like this, the effect would be amazing!”
“Like a public service announcement?”
“Then a fire prevention campaign would be perfect!”
“How about this? Comforting people. I heard there’s a service like that these days, run by the fire department. If Dane goes, the reaction would be explosive!”
“Oh, that’s good too. Dane, what do you think? Isn’t that a great idea?”
The excited guys waited for Dane’s reaction. Dane, who had been silent until then, opened his mouth listlessly with a still dazed look.
“I hate free volunteer work the most.”
With that, all discussions were ended. The reason he had taken pictures and signed autographs earlier was because he was doing ‘work’. Dane thoroughly separated work from personal life, and if he wasn’t on duty, he would have simply ignored anyone who asked for anything, no matter the reason.
Haaam, Dane yawned widely. Seeing him like that, DeAndre whispered in a small voice.
“Did that bastard go out partying again last night?”
Another guy nodded.
“Very likely. Dane always goes to clubs on his days off.”
“He’s diligent, but only in that way.”
“Okay, okay, stop it. Let’s go back quickly, it’s too late.”
Ezra said, tapping the car. Dane got into the car first, and the others followed, grinning. It was just before the car was about to leave that they realized one person was missing.
“Huh? What is it? It feels like something’s missing.”
At someone’s words, DeAndre immediately reacted.
“Miller’s not here?”
Only then did everyone realize that fact and looked around in confusion. No matter how many times they looked, Grayson was nowhere to be seen.
“Damn it!”
“Miller, Grayson Miller!”
“Where are you? Let’s go back, come out now!”
“Miller!”
“Grayson Miller! Damn it!”
Cursing, they got out of the car again and shouted Grayson’s name loudly, but there was no response.
“Shit, that bastard!”
DeAndre couldn’t control his temper and kicked the car’s tire. Although not as much as DeAndre, who was breathing heavily and fiercely, the others were not in a good mood either.