DESIRE ME IF YOU CAN [EN] - Chapter 40 - 40

Grayson stood motionless, straining his ears to focus his senses. It felt like a long time, yet he sensed nothing.

Did I mishear?

Just as he was about to dismiss it, he heard the sound again. There was no way he could be mistaken twice. Twitching his ear slightly, Grayson frowned, looking around.

It was a residential area where houses lined the street, looking identical; nothing special stood out. Perhaps finding something unique in such an ordinary village was the harder task.

He focused once more to find the direction of the sound. Using the noise heard again after a pause as a signal, he moved his feet. When he heard it next, it was clearer than before.

Save me.

As the distance closed, the destination became clear. Grayson stopped in front of one of the similar-looking houses, looking around.

“Save me...!”

Perhaps hearing Grayson's footsteps, the child shouted again. This time, he could be sure. Opening the side gate, he went inside without hesitation. Crunchy grass broke under his feet. Half-withered and brown, it clearly hadn't been tended to for a long time.

“Save me, save me!”

The child's voice continued more urgently. Pressing his ear to the wall, he waited for a moment; the house was silent, as if empty. The child probably knew that too, shouting so desperately.

Thinking that far, Grayson looked down towards the source of the sound. There was a large cellar door. Although the closed door muffled the noise, he could hear it clearly—probably due to a vent somewhere for air circulation. Grayson knelt on one knee, bringing his ear to the door.

“Is someone there?”

At Grayson's question, a higher-pitched voice shouted from inside.

“Yes, yes! I'm here! Save me, please let me out, I beg you! Save me, I'm scared...”

The tearful voice was completely hoarse from screaming.

“Oh dear...”

Grayson made a sympathetic sound, asking again.

“What's your name? Why are you in there? What happened?”

The child sniffled, answering.

“I-I'm Santiano. Dad said... because I was bad... I have to stay here...”

The last words faded into sobs. Grayson nodded as if understanding.

“I see. Alright, I'll help you.”

This was something he had done frequently. Helping others—what a noble, altruistic act. Grayson was always ready to help others, doing so willingly when the opportunity arose. Just as he had been taught since he was very young. This time was no different.

He opened one of the double doors. On the floor of the basement, looking endlessly deep, a small boy who wouldn't even reach Grayson's knee looked up at him with a tense face. Santiano stood on tiptoes, stretching his arms out as far as possible, hoping for a miracle. His face was full of expectation. He believed he could finally leave this dark, scary basement, that this brightly shining adult man would save him, ending these nightmare-like days. Salvation had finally come.

However.

“...Huh?”

Suddenly, Grayson jumped into the basement. The door he had flung open closed with a dull thud; darkness covered everything again. Santiano couldn't understand what had just happened. Standing blankly, blinking his eyes, he saw the man's gorgeous face illuminated by a faint beam of light coming through the crack in the doors. Only then did Santiano realize that this man had entered this terrible space instead of taking him out. The child immediately turned pale.

“W-what are you doing? You're supposed to get me out!”

Santiano shouted in panic. Seeing the confused child's face, Grayson tilted his head as if puzzled.

“Why? You're being punished right now.”

“...What?”

When Santiano asked back, unable to comprehend, Grayson added as if admonishing him.

“You shouldn't run away while being punished. Only bad kids do that.”

Santiano couldn't understand what this meant at all.

What is this man saying right now?

To the bloodless, pale-faced child, Grayson spoke in a thoughtful voice.

“But Santiano, relax. Don't worry.”

He slowly extended a hand. To Santiano, who flinched, stepping back, Grayson smiled brightly, his hand hovering in the air.

“I'll stay with you.”

The child's eyes shook violently. Watching the hope that had bloomed fully wither away, Grayson whispered.

“It's okay now. We're together.”

Hope vanished completely from Santiano's face, replaced by shock and terror.

***

After things were somewhat settled, the dispatched firefighters gathered to return. Once Ezra returned the phone after taking the last picture, the other guys rubbed their trapezius muscles, sighing deeply.

“Classic Dane Stryker. Once he shows up, women go wild.”

At someone's remark, others chimed in noisily.

“Just women? Earlier, men were trying to take pictures with him too.”

“How about a campaign with Dane as the face? If we put up sexy pictures like this, the effect would be amazing!”

At the colleague's suggestion, spreading his arms wide, another man chimed in excitedly.

“Like a public service announcement?”

“Then a fire prevention campaign would be perfect!”

“How about this? Consoling people. I heard there are services like that these days, conducted at the fire station level. If Dane goes, the response would be explosive, wouldn't it?”

“Oh, that's good too. Dane, what do you think? Isn't it a great idea?”

The excited guys chattering away waited for Dane's reaction. Silent until then, Dane opened his mouth indifferently, eyes still dull.

“I hate working for free more than anything.”

With that, all discussion ended. Taking pictures and signing autographs earlier must have been because he was ‘working.’ Dane strictly separated work and private life; if he hadn't been on duty, he would undoubtedly have ignored any request regardless of the reason.

Yawn. Dane opened his mouth wide, yawning deeply. Seeing him like that, DeAndre whispered.

“Did that bastard party hard again yesterday?”

Another guy nodded.

“Highly likely. Dane always goes to a club on his days off.”

“Anyway, he's diligent, only when it counts.”

“Alright, alright, stop it. Let's go back quickly, it's too late.”

Ezra banged on the truck. Dane got in first; the others grinned as they climbed aboard. They realized one person was missing just as the truck was about to depart.

“Huh? What is it? Something's missing.”

At someone's remark, DeAndre reacted immediately.

“Miller isn't here?”

Realizing the fact only then, everyone looked around in panic. Even after looking several times, Grayson was nowhere to be seen.

“Ah, hell!”

“Miller! Grayson Miller!”

“Where are you? Let's go back, come out quickly!”

“Miller!”

“Grayson Miller! Damn it!”

Cursing, they hopped back out of the truck, calling his name loudly, searching for Grayson. There was no response. Eventually, after checking the vicinity, they gathered again, panicking upon confirming that no one had any luck.

“Fuck! Son of a bitch!”

Losing his cool, DeAndre kicked the truck's tire. Although not as furious as DeAndre, who huffed and puffed, the others weren't in a good mood either.

“What do we do?”

At Ezra's words, the other guys started pouring out complaints angrily.