Steve’s POV

“Thud... Thud… Thud…”

I heard a loud knock on the door of my cabin. “What the hell.” I hurriedly opened the door and saw a cute boy crying holding his hand. His hand was bleeding and the blood drops were dripping on the floor. I pressed my fingers on his wound to stop bleeding and call the nurse.

“How did it happen?” I asked while wrapping bandage on the wound. “How did you get a very deep cut? What were you doing?” He remained silent like he was hiding something. I raised my brow, “It’s a knife cut. You were fighting. Hmm?”

“No, they were bulling me. So I fought back and then they hurt me with a knife.” He said and started sobbing.

My eyes opened wide. I made him to open his shirt and noticed many bruises on his soft skin. “Oh shit!” I gasped. I treated all the bruises and asked about his family. But his answer made me feel bad.

He said, “I live in an orphanage but the owner does not treat the kids properly and he makes us work and also beats us a lot for making mistakes. And sometimes he doesn't even give us food and if someone comes to adopt us, he asks for a lot of money, and when someone does not give, his anger also comes out by beating us.

Tears welled up in my eyes after hearing everything. I hugged him and patted his back and asked, “What’s your name?”

“Xavier.”

“So, Xavier, now what will you do?” I opened the drawer of my table and picked up four toffees and gave them to him.

“I ran away from the orphanage and crossed the path of bullies while running. If I go back, they will again hit me and the owner will beat me.” He bursted out in tears. My heart clenched seeing him crying like this.

I came to this city only a few months back. This place was still new to me. And the flat which I have bought for my living was also big for a person, so nothing wrong will happen if I keep this child with me. This kid will also get a safe place and I will not be alone. Yes, it’s right. I thought to myself and decided.

I wiped his tears, “Do you wanna stay with me? I will make tasty foods for you.” Hearing my words, his eyes shined and he pouted. A soft laugh escaped from my mouth. I kissed his both cheeks and again hugged him caressing his hair. “Aigoo, you’re so cute.”

I closed the file and looked outside the window. It was already dark. I stood from my chair and then woke Xavier up who was dozing on the couch in my cabin. “Wake up; it’s time to go home.” He rubbed his eyes cutely and nodded his head. I held his hand and picked up my bag and walked out of the cabin.

After a car ride of 40 minutes, we reached to my flat. “Go get fresh up; I’ll cook something for us.” After showing him, his room, I walked into the kitchen and wore an apron to start cooking. I liked cooking so it didn’t take much time and I finished cooking three dishes in half an hour.

“Xavier,” I shouted from the dining room while keeping the bowls on the table. “Come out, dinner is ready.”

He came out wrapping with the towel. A laugh escaped from my mouth. “Oh, so you don’t have anything to wear. Let me see what I can give you.” I entered my room and opened the cupboard. I picked one big size T-shirt and then walked out of the room.

“Wear this. It will cover you completely. We will go for shopping tomorrow.” I extended my hand holding a T-shirt to him. Without saying anything, he took the T-shirt and ran inside. “Okay so, he is shy.” I murmured.

He came out wearing my T-shirt and he was looking too cute. My T-shirt was covering his body completely, reaching below his knees. A smile came on my face when I looked at his cute face. “Come and sit here. Let’s eat.”

He walked slowly and stood beside me. I picked him up and made him sit on the chair. I served food on his plate and sat next to him. He was looking at his lap while playing with his fingers. “What happens? Why are you not eating? You don't like what I cooked? Shall I cook something else?” I asked. He shook his head and remained silent.

“Tell me what happened.” I asked him lovingly. I put my hand on his head. He looked at me and jumped to hug me. I caressed his back, calming him down. I heard a sob escaping from his mouth so I broke the hug and asked again, “Bun, tell me.”

“Uncle, the owner will beat my friends and won’t give food to them.” He started crying and it clenched my heart thinking how pure hearted the kid was. “I am missing my friends. Please help them too.” He looks at me with his pleading eyes. This kid got a place to leave and food to eat but still he was thinking about his friends.

“Let’s not think about this now. You eat. We will go there tomorrow. Okay?” I wiped his tears and ruffled his hair softly. He nodded and then started eating slowly.

After dinner, when I moved towards my room, Xavier asked, “Can I sleep with you? I am a little scared.”

“Of course, come with me.” I said and he walked with me inside the room. He laid down on my bed and curled his legs inside the blanket. The whole night I couldn’t sleep as the only thing in my mind was about the orphanage.

The next day, I was standing in front the orphanage, holding hands of Xavier. I sighed, saying, “Let’s go inside.”

“No, Uncle. You go inside. The master will hit me.” Xavier said with his scared face. When I looked at his face I found him pleading with his eyes.

I scooted down at his level. “Nothing will happen. I am with you. If he tries to touch you I will beat him. Okay?” I gave him an assuring smile.

When I entered inside the orphanage office, I saw a heartbreaking scene. A man, in his fifties, was drinking alcohol in the day time keeping his feet on the table and 2-3 small kids were cleaning the room. He was also abusing those kids verbally.

“WHAT’S GOING ON?” I shouted with my whole heart out. I instantly walked close to that man and held is collar. “How dare you to abuse small kids like this? I will report you to the police.”

He grabbed my hand and harshly pushed me freeing himself from my grip, “Who the hell are you? How did you enter without my permission?”

When he pushed me, I stumbled at my feet and was about to fall but Xavier helped me, “Uncle! Are you okay?” I held his small hand and assured him that I was fine.

“Oh! So this piece of shit brought you here. Let me handle him first.” He looked at Xavier and marched towards him, but I stood in front of him, securing Xavier behind me.

“I will report you to the police and they will handle you.” I took out my phone and typed the police’s number. I thought he would stop me but instead he started laughing like a maniac.

He laughed and sat on the chair with his legs on the table, like a leader of a gang. “Do you really think the police can touch me?” I raised my brow and glared at him. He continued, “I keep them in my pockets.”

The anger was building inside me and I couldn’t control myself. I made him stand by grabbing his collar and punched on his face. “You bastard, I will not spare you. The people like you should not live on this earth.” I was continuously punching him. Hearing my loud sound, all the kids came running and surrounded us.

But then I felt a hard push from the behind, two men were trying to stop me from hitting the master of the orphanage. The master stood up and looked at me in anger. His lips and nose were bleeding because of my punches. His two men were holding me from both the side and I was struggling to get free from them.

“You bastard, don’t you have any shame? You are abusing small kids.” I shouted feeling my anger increasing inside.

He stood in front of me and said through clenched teeth, "You don't know who I am. I will bury you alive and no one will even know." His words scared me a little but I didn’t show it to him.

I wanted to hit him badly but his men were holding me tightly. He laughed at me, seeing me struggling from his men. I had to do something so that the smile on his face goes away, so I spat on him. But his next action scared me, I thought I was gonna die. He cleared his face angrily and pulled my hairs harshly. He threw me on the floor and then he raised his fist to hit me, but someone’s sound stopped him.

“What is going on here?” A very deep voice came from the gate and everyone turned to look at the person.

I couldn’t see the face as that bastard was standing in front of me, but as soon as he saw the man at the gate, the master started shivering in fear.

I tilted my head a little to see who was the man. The man was wearing whole black dress and his face was covered with mask. His aura was too dark and two men were standing behind him with guns. I was staring at him without realizing that he was glaring at me.

I broke my eye contact with him and pushed those two men who were holding me tightly. I freed myself and then stood aside with the kids, observing everything. He walked, still his eyes on me and then sat on the chair, like a king.