Almost as though…
No.
Surely not.
Garrett pushed the thought aside.
“Then,” he said calmly, “what do we do first?” Theo smiled.
Garrett could hear it in the shift of his voice, the warmth that crept into his words.
“We say goodnight.” Garrett relaxed.
That didn’t sound difficult at all.
He nodded once, a simple, dignified gesture.
“Goodnight, Theo.” Theo burst into giggles, the sound bright and uncontrollable.
“No!” Garrett frowned.
He was confused.
Who was he telling goodnight to if not Theo?
Syly?
“No?” “We don’t say goodnight to me first.” “…We don’t?” Garret asked confused.
What did he mean?
Theo shook his head, his voice taking on the patient tone of a teacher explaining something obvious to a particularly slow student.
“We say goodnight to everybody.” Ah.
Garrett remembered Syly mentioning something about this once before.
A passing comment, a joke about Theo’s extensive collection of friends.
He hadn’t thought much of it at the time.
Children often had little routines, small rituals that gave them comfort and structure.
Perhaps Theo simply wished his friends goodnight before sleeping.
“Very well.” Garrett inclined his head slightly, his expression composed.
“Who shall we begin with?” Theo immediately straightened his back, his small frame suddenly radiating importance.
“Queen.” Garrett remembered.
The queen ant.
The ruler of the tiny kingdom in the corner of the mountain.
Syly had mentioned her once, laughing about how Theo insisted on bowing.
“Goodnight, Queen.” Theo frowned.
“Mister.” “…Yes?” “You forgot.” Garrett blinked.
“…Forgot what?” Theo stared at him as though the answer were obvious.
His voice carried a note of disappointment that made Garrett feel strangely guilty.
“You have to bow.” Silence filled the room.
Garrett wondered whether he had heard correctly.
“…Bow?” Theo nodded, his voice firm.
“Queen is very important.” Garrett remained seated for several seconds.
He had bowed before kings.
He had bowed before the High Priest.
He had bowed before the royal family, his back straightening with practiced grace.
Tonight…
He was apparently expected to bow before an ant.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could almost hear Syly laughing.
The sound was clear and mocking, a reminder that he had walked directly into a trap.
This was definitely revenge.
Garrett sighed quietly, a long exhale of resignation, before inclining his head.
“My apologies.” He cleared his throat.
“Goodnight, Queen.” Theo clapped happily, his small hands coming together with a sharp sound.
“Perfect!” Garrett wondered if it was still possible to escape.
He could make an excuse.
He could claim exhaustion.
He could simply stand up and walk away.
But Theo was already moving on.
“Next!” Theo announced proudly, his voice bright with enthusiasm.
“Timmy.” “Goodnight, Timmy.” “Rabi.” “Goodnight, Rabi.” “Fifi.” Garrett remembered the fish whose funeral he had unknowingly attended.
The memory was still fresh, the absurdity of the situation making him shake his head inwardly.
“Goodnight, Fifi.” “Buzzy.” “Goodnight, Buzzy.” “Flutter.” “Goodnight, Flutter.” Theo smiled after every greeting, nodding with complete satisfaction before announcing the next name.
His voice never wavered, never slowed.
He moved through the list with the precision of a general reviewing troops.
Garrett had expected perhaps four or five friends.
The list showed no signs of ending.
“And then Sir Hops.” “Goodnight, Sir Hops.” Theo hummed thoughtfully, his finger tapping against his chin.
“And…” He paused.
Garrett waited.
“And…” Another pause.
Finally, Garrett asked carefully, his voice gentle, “Is that everyone?” Theo gasped.
“Mister!” “…Yes?” “We forgot Gogo!” Garrett rubbed his forehead, his fingers pressing against the bridge of his nose.
“The goat?” “Yes!” “The goat is outside.” “I know.” Theo sounded confused by Garrett’s response, as if the location of the goat was irrelevant to the matter at hand.
“He’ll still hear you.” Garrett wasn’t entirely convinced that goats appreciated bedtime greetings.
He wasn’t entirely convinced that goats understood language at all.
But the certainty in Theo’s voice was absolute, and arguing with a child about the emotional needs of livestock seemed like a losing battle.
Still…
He had already bowed to an ant.
There was little dignity left to lose.
“I suppose we’d better not leave him out.” Theo smiled so brightly that Garrett could almost feel it, the warmth radiating from the child like a small sun.
“Come on!” The child grabbed his hand once more and pulled him toward the window.
Garrett stumbled after him, his boots scraping against the wooden floor as he was dragged across the room.
The cool night breeze drifted into the room as Theo pushed it open, the wind carrying the scent of pine and earth and distant snow.
The stars were bright above them, their cold light spilling through the open window.
Almost immediately— “Meeeeh!” Theo gasped excitedly, bouncing on his heels.
“See?
He’s waiting!” Garrett looked toward the sound despite seeing nothing but darkness.
He tilted his head, listening to the goat’s bleat echoing across the mountain.
“…Goodnight, Gogo.” “Meeeeh!” Theo clapped.
“He said goodnight back!” Garrett couldn’t help the small smile that escaped him.
It was ridiculous.
The whole situation was absurd.
But the joy in Theo’s voice was genuine, and somehow, that made it bearable.
“…Goodnight.” Theo closed the window, the latch clicking softly into place.
“There!” He sighed in satisfaction, the sound of a job well done.
“Now we’re finished.” Garrett felt an unexpected sense of relief.
The ordeal was over.
He had survived.
He could return to the quiet peace of his own room and— Then Theo suddenly froze.
His entire body went still, the tension radiating from him like a warning bell.
“…Oh no.” Garrett immediately sensed trouble.
His instincts, honed by years of battle, prickled with alarm.
“What is it?” Theo slowly turned toward him.
His voice became nothing more than a tiny whisper, barely audible in the darkness.
“…Mister.” “…Yes?” “We forgot the babies.” Garrett closed his eyes.
For the first time in many years, in a life filled with impossible challenges and unimaginable horrors…
He began to question every decision that had led him to this moment.