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Tunk.
The rock hit the window. Herbert tapped his foot impatiently and glanced over his shoulder.
He sighed as the window once again didn’t open, so he picked up a rock, aimed, and–
“Ow!” Aurelein rubbed his head where the rock had struck, him having gone to the window to open it just in time to get struck. “What was that for?”
“Sorry!” Herbert called. “Can I come in?”
Aurelein looked back into the house, then nodded. “Sure. Let me unlock the door.”
“No need, I’ll climb."
Herbert didn’t wait for Aurelein to react, and he was already hopping up onto the first floor’s window sill to propel himself up enough to catch Aurelein’s open window.
He nearly slipped, leaving a red stain on the window, but Aurelein’s hand caught his and pulled him up. Herbert’s hand nearly dwarfed Aurelein’s, but the man was strong.
“Thank you,” he breathed. “It’s so hard to climb while covered in blood. Although, I thought I’d scrubbed it all off..” he shrugged. “Anyway, i came to say goodbye.”
Aurelein opened his mouth to comment on the blood, but he stopped. “You’re… saying goodbye? Why?”
“I can’t stay here anymore. One day, someone will notice, and they’ll find her. I couldn’t find the axe, so I just… left her there.”
“What?” Aurelein glanced at the fingerprints catching the moonlight, then to Herbert’s face. “What did you do? And why are you acting so strange? This isn’t like you, Herbert.”
Herbert grinned, too wide and unnatural on his usually neutral face. “I finished it. She took him, so I took her.” He patted Aurelein’s cheek. “Don’t be sad about me leaving, though, little fox. I’m sure we’ll meet again.”
Aurelein grabbed Herbert’s wrist as he began to turn away. He turned back to face him, grin losing its certainty. “What–?”
Aurelein pulled Herbert close then pressed his lips up against the other boy’s. It was brief, and left Herbert staring at him like an owl who nearly fell off its branch.
“What was that about?” Herbert asked, quiet.
“I’m just saying goodbye.” Aurelein let him go and playfully shoved him towards the window. “Now get out of here, murder boy, or they’ll think I’m an accomplice.”
Herbert chuckled, then saluted to Aurelein before he climbed out of the window and landed with a soft thump as he hit the grass.
And, as he sprinted into the woods, he could feel Aurelein’s eyes tracking him as he left behind everything he knew.
He wasn’t welcome in the village. But maybe he could find somewhere he was.