When a Hitman Gets Haunted by a Ghost
Chapter 34: The Beginning of the End

Chapter 34: The Beginning of the End

"I heard the teacher wants you to make friends," Luke mentioned, sitting next to Kant during lunch. "Wanna team up for the physics project?"

Kant narrowed his eyes, ignoring the part about making friends, but considering the part about teaming up.

The last time, his project partners "forgot" to show up to the meetings and turned in half-baked work that Kant had to fix last minute. After Kant called them out on this during presentation, no one wanted to team up with him anymore. He had no choice.

"Sure, whatever."

Luke’s eyes widened. "Really?"

"I said yes," Kant muttered.

"Then can you tutor me too?"

"No," came an immediate answer.

Luke passed his apple to Kant as a bribe. "But I’m really bad at physics..."

"So you’re saying you want me to do the work for you?" Kant raised a suspicious brow, pushing the apple back.

"No, no," Luke pushed the apple to Kant again, "I just need your help with understanding stuff, and then I’ll do my part."

After a moment of evaluating whether Luke was sincere, Kant let out a small huff and nodded. "Fine. Let’s meet at the library after school tomorrow. Bring your textbook."

Luke nodded happily, but then paused, his grin fading to a hesitant look, as if he wanted to ask something but wasn’t sure whether it was okay to do so.

"I’ve thought about this for a while now, but did you run away from home?" Luke blurted out.

Kant sighed. "And what if I did?"

"Didn’t your dad call the police?"

Kant glanced at Luke as if he was stupid. "Didn’t you see him? The cops would arrest him first." He apathetically stabbed a meatball with his fork. "Nobody will look for me."

Luke scoffed, his jaw hanging open. "What about your other family?"

"My grandma showed up once. Asked if I was still attending. Never came back. That’s it." Kant tried to dismiss him.

Luke stared at him, lips parted like he wanted to argue. "Just like that...?"

"Yeah, I can do whatever I want now," Kant repeated flatly.

About two weeks later, Luke showed up at the library early in the morning, his stuffed backpack slung over one shoulder like a bloated, misshapen ball.

He sat next to Kant, his voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. "Guess what? I’m running away."

Kant glanced up from his book. "Why?"

"Why not?" Luke countered, stretching his arms. "I want to live my own life. Without nagging and arguments. I’m gonna crash at the park for a bit, maybe hit up some places for work."

Kant sighed and set the book down. "Don’t do it. They don’t hire kids under sixteen."

"Maybe not legally," Luke shot back. "I’m sure I can find something."

Kant snorted. "Find something? All you’ll find is trouble." He stared at Luke’s excited face, slightly concerned. "Don’t be stupid. Just go home."

Luke smiled wider. "No way. I’m starting a new life."

It was three days before Kant saw Luke again. They had completed the physics project with Kant the previous week, but Luke had missed the presentation day. And now he was sitting on the curb outside school, scraped up and miserable.

"Did someone rob you?" Kant asked bluntly, stopping in front of him.

Luke raised his head to look at Kant, then lowered it again. "No."

"Street fight?"

Luke shook his head. "No... My dad caught me."

Kant frowned. "Does he beat you?"

Luke opened his mouth, then closed it. He shrugged, his gaze sweeping the ground. "Usually my mom."

Kant could see Luke biting his lip, and the few tears dropping into his lap, but chose not to point it out. He looked away, but didn’t leave.

After a bit of uncomfortable silence, he thought some good news might make Luke feel better.

"We got an A plus on the project."

Luke’s head snapped up at Kant’s words, his teary eyes wide with disbelief. "An A plus? Are you serious?"

Kant nodded, forcing a reassuring smile, though it probably looked crooked.

Luke blinked a few times, then jumped up, wiping his face in his sleeve. "No way! An A plus in physics? That’s insane! But wait, I didn’t show up to the presentation day... Did the teacher fail me?"

"Are you dumb? I told the teacher you did as much as I did. It’s your project too. She said she’ll give you an A plus too."

Luke broke into a wide grin and shook Kant’s arm. "Wow, you told her I worked hard? Thank you so much!"

Kant rolled his eyes, already regretting it. "It’s only fair."

Luke didn’t notice the eyeroll, beaming with joy. "I can’t believe it—an A plus? I’ve never even gotten a B in physics! You’re a really good tutor!"

"Stop exaggerating." Kant hoisted his bag over one shoulder, leaving.

Luke followed, chattering as they walked. "My mom will be shocked! I knew partnering with Einstein for physics would bring me luck. Next time we have a project, you’re automatically my partner. Okay?"

Kant cast a sideward glance at him. It didn’t sound too bad. He gave a nod. It was pretty nice, having a friend. Even if he was annoyingly happy over the smallest stuff.

The next month passed smoothly, then came winter. Cold, unforgiving, and seemingly unbeatable. Every night was a struggle for Kant.

One day he ran into some older guys he had stolen from. Luckily, he managed to get away after a light scuffle, running until no people were in sight. It was an unfamiliar place. There were no shops or restaurants, only factories and old roads.

Exhausted, Kant sat in the snow by a cold brick wall to catch his breath.

Strangely, after sitting there for a while, it wasn’t as freezing anymore. It was as if a sudden warmth enveloped Kant, telling him it was safe to close his eyes and rest. But as he was about to fall asleep, a sharp poke to his side jolted him awake.

He flinched and groaned, barely able to lift his head. The toe of a small shoe jabbed into his ribs.

"You dead?" the voice asked, light and mocking.

Kant blinked, glaring up. The figure standing over him was a kid, maybe a year or two younger than him. Blond hair, clean clothes, but he didn’t seem rich. The most expensive thing about him was the grin, wide and unapologetic, like he was out to sell something.

"What do you want?" Kant grumbled, trying to straighten. His limbs felt like they belonged to someone else, his whole body numb from the cold.

If this kid decided to fight him right now, Kant would sorely lose. But he didn’t seem to be there to fight.

The kid crouched down in front of Kant and poked his head. "You don’t look like you’re doing so hot. Are you homeless?"

"Yeah. I got nothing to steal."

The kid laughed and reached out a hand, palm open. "Then I have good news for you! I know a place where you can spend the night. Warm bed, a roof over your head, that kinda stuff. Wanna come?"

Kant stared at the hand for a long moment, too tired to even question whether it was a trap. Maybe it was the cold, or maybe it was the frustration of feeling like he didn’t have any other choice, but he took the kid’s hand.