Harry sprinted toward the alleyway where Kane had disappeared.
Kane, seeing Harry running his way, knew exactly what he wanted: to drag him back to the Dursleys.
In Kane's heart, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley weren't truly "evil" people. After all, they had taken him in when he first transmigrated to this world, providing for him for an entire month without asking for anything in return.
Regardless of the fact that he lived in a cupboard under the stairs, it was a roof over his head, and he was genuinely grateful. However, gratitude was one thing; living with them was another.
The Dursleys had a talent for "ntal violence" that felt like it could shave years off a person's life. Harry had a supernatural gift for enduring it; Kane did not.
Harry burst into the alley. Kane was hiding behind a derelict car, watching Harry's reflection in the side mirror. With a flick of his mind, the shadows already rged with the alley floor twisted into several—decidedly un-cute—shadow hounds. They lunged out of the darkness, barking silently but nacingly at Harry.
Harry frowned, picking up an iron pipe from the ground to bolster his courage. "Kane! Co out. Let's go back.
Uncle Vernon was just talking out of anger. Aunt Petunia even asked Mrs. Figg where you were. If you go back now, they'll both choose to have selective amnesia about this."
Kane sighed and stepped out from behind the car. "The more likely scenario is them mocking for the rest of my life. I don't enjoy that feeling."
Harry looked helpless. "It's just so nagging and yelling. At least you get fed every day and have a dry place to sleep."
Kane didn't budge. "This isn't bad either. So what if I have to deal with the elents and skipped als? At least no one is committing psychological warfare against ."
For the first ti, Harry felt the urge to say the words he usually heard from adults: "Can't you be a bit more mature?"
Kane shook his head. "I've been mature. Maturity taught that being 'grown-up' brings zero ntal health benefits.
For the sake of a little material comfort, I really can't stand letting my fragile spirit dance on the edge of a blade. So, Harry, go ho and eat. Otherwise, Dudley might finish your portion too."
Harry shook his head vehently. "You're coming back with !"
Kane sighed. If bribery and logic failed, he'd have to use a little force.
"If you don't leave, these two things might actually bite," Kane said. He commanded the shadow beasts to charge.
He had no intention of hurting Harry; he simply used the shadows to shroud Harry's vision, blinding him temporarily.
"Alright, go ho, Harry. Just go ho," Kane murmured, walking toward Harry to guide him out of the alley.
Harry panicked for a split second when his vision went dark, but he quickly realized this was Kane's doing. He had long suspected Kane was "different," much like himself.
Harry had once made a pane of glass vanish and had fallen from heights without a scratch. Previously, the only odd thing about Kane was his shadow, which sotis writhed like a living thing before snapping back to normal.
This was the first ti Harry truly felt the weight of Kane's "magic."
Once he realized it was just Kane, he wasn't afraid. He lunged forward, grabbing the hand on his shoulder, determined to drag Kane out of the alley.
"Harry, you really are stubborn," Kane muttered. He manipulated the eerie shadow claws, mimicking the resistance of his own body as Harry slowly "dragged" him toward the street.
Eventually, Harry's vision cleared. He felt the "Kane" behind him stop struggling, his strength fading. Harry breathed a sigh of relief and looked back.
There was no Kane.
The hand he had been gripping so tightly was nothing but a mass of pitch-black shadow. Now, that shadow abruptly dissolved. Well, it didn't disappear entirely; the shadow morphed into a mouth and spoke with Kane's voice.
"Bye-bye, Harry. I have a place to go. Sayonara."
Harry bared his teeth. "Can't you just speak English?!"
The mont the words left his mouth, the last of Kane's shadow vanished with a soft pop.
"Fine... fine..." Harry hissed, looking at the empty alley. "Pray I don't find you, you evil shadow-brat. I'll definitely..." He paused, then muttered, "If I can beat you by then, I'll definitely make you regret this!"
Kane had no idea he had just topped Harry's "must-settle-scores" list. He had arrived at a dilapidated, sowhat shady motel.
Reputable places had safety; disreputable places had the benefit of not asking an eleven-year-old for an ID.
To avoid drawing the owner's greed, Kane had hidden most of his earnings from the magic show in secret pockets sewn into his clothes.
He kept only a small amount of loose change in his main pocket, looking every bit the penniless street urchin to prevent any "nightly visits" from a greedy landlord.
"Boss, how long will this get ?" At the counter, Kane dumped a ss of crumpled notes and coins.
The owner took one look and calculated the value. "About two days. Private bath, no als."
Kane did the math. Fifty pounds for two days—about the standard rate for a place like this.
He took the key and found his room. It wasn't bad; small but not cramped. After a quick wash, he collapsed onto the bed. He was exhausted and needed sleep.
Back at the Dursley house, a dejected Harry opened the door and took off his shoes.
Vernon, watching TV, grumbled without turning around, "Food's in the kitchen. Eat and get to bed!" He imdiately turned off the TV, as if allowing Harry or Kane a mont of entertainnt was a sin.
"Kane didn't co back. It's just ," Harry said quietly.
Vernon froze halfway up the stairs. "Didn't co back? Where is he?"
Harry lowered his head until his nose nearly touched his plate. "I don't know."
Vernon scowled, then snorted. "Let him freeze for a night. He'll be back tomorrow with his tail between his legs. Throw his portion in the bin!" He stomped upstairs.
Harry looked at the plate that should have been Kane's. Angry and frustrated, he pulled the plate over and began stabbing the food violently. He shoved it into his mouth as if the sausages were Kane's own flesh, chewing with unnecessary aggression.
Then, with a sharp crunch, he bit his tongue. Tears and blood welled up simultaneously. Whether it was the pain or sothing else, he couldn't tell.
After finishing, Harry lay in his dark cupboard, his breath trembling. He looked at the low "ceiling" and listened to the sounds of laughter from upstairs—laughter that held not a hint of sadness. In that mont, he realized exactly why Kane would rather suffer outside than co back.
In the motel, Kane was sleeping soundly until a strange, sharp prick of cold startled him. He snapped his eyes open.
"It's Charlie!" he whispered.
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