“So, you’re like the Neutral Zone’s tour guide?” I asked, wanting to be sure I understood.

“Pretty much,” he replied with a small nod.

My eyes wandered to the crescent moon in his tattoo, and curiosity bubbled up. “The moon... Jim’s tattoo had one too. Do you know him?”

Charlie’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Yeah, I know Jim. He makes trips to the city often. He’s a character, like me. I think he lives in Zone 1 or Zone 2. You can always tell someone’s a character by their tattoo. Each one is distinct and symbolizes their role.”

“So, these tattoos—they aren’t something you choose? They’re… required?” I asked, trying to piece it all together.

“Right,” Charlie confirmed. “They’re not optional. Tattoos are passed down through generations, tied to the system that governs this place. They’re more than marks—they define who we are and what we’re meant to do.”

“That means Mr. Bill had one too?” I asked, a hint of excitement in my tone.

Charlie’s expression shifted slightly. “No, it was my mom who had the tattoo. I guess I forgot to mention—when the bearer of a tattoo dies, it gets passed down to their children.”

He grew quiet for a moment, and I hesitated before asking softly, “I see. How…how did your mom pass?”

Charlie's gaze dropped, his hand gently stroking Sky's fur as he took a deep breath. "It all started with my mom," he began softly. "She had this daring nature. She snuck my dad out of his zone and brought him here, along with a group of others who wanted a fresh start. Mom and Dad began their life here, and for a while, things seemed good. But when Mom showed others how to leave their zones and relocate, it upset the delicate balance of this island.

I think that’s why, when I was four, it stuck with me—everything fell apart. I remember fire everywhere in this zone and thick smoke rising in the distance—probably from Zone 2. Soldiers came, marching through with guns, shooting anyone in their path. That was when I saw your aunt, Aria. My dad was on his knees, held down by two guards. In front of him stood a soldier with a knife, and on the ground nearby... was my mom, lifeless, her body soaked in blood."

Sky suddenly stood up from Charlie's lap, breaking the moment. Without hesitation, the cat darted toward the kitchen, as if something there had caught his attention. Charlie fell silent, and we both instinctively followed Sky’s movement with our eyes. I looked at Charlie and noticed his gaze fixed on the sky. Curious, I glanced up as well. The sky’s hues were shifting, painted in shades of gold and amber as the sun began its descent—it must have been around 4:30 pm.

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After a long pause, Charlie spoke again, his voice trembling. "A soldier grabbed me and called me 'the woman’s child.' I could hear my dad begging, tears streaming down his face, pleading for them to spare me." He paused for a moment, then met my gaze, his eyes brimming with emotion.

"Your aunt, Aria—she told them to cut my dad’s tongue and kill Granny Chan’s husband instead of her. She said they needed her to help my dad raise me—the next Character. To uphold the rules and preserve the system."

Charlie let out a hollow, mocking laugh, his voice laced with bitterness. "Whatever this so-called system is," he added.

His voice cracked, and I saw the tears he was fighting to hold back. I remained silent, feeling the weight of his words press down on me. I turned my gaze to the sky, letting the stillness of the moment wash over us. There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but I could tell he had shared enough for now.

Trying to ease the tension, I offered a small smile. "How about I help you with cooking?" I suggested, hoping to shift the mood and move away from the painful memories.

Charlie seemed to appreciate the distraction. "That would be great," he said softly, a sad smile tugging at his lips. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "You know, Aria, I don’t really know your aunt, but… I don’t think she’s a bad person. I’m actually grateful for what she did. If not for her, I would have lost both my parents that day—and I wouldn’t be here, talking to you."

I stayed quiet, letting his words sink in, my mind reeling from everything he had just shared. The weight of it all settled over me like a heavy blanket. I gave him a small smile and nodded, unsure of what to say next.

Just then, Sky strolled into the room, looking utterly pleased with himself. A fish dangled from his mouth, as if he were proudly presenting his latest catch.

I couldn't help but chuckle, breaking the somber atmosphere. "Seriously, Sky?" I said, raising an eyebrow as the cat paraded his prize around.

Charlie followed my gaze and his eyes widened. “Oh no, Sky! What have you been up to this time?” he said, springing to his feet.

Sky, sensing trouble, darted away as fast as his chubby legs could carry him. Charlie chased after him, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Sky had unintentionally provided a much-needed distraction.

Charlie’s memories, heavy and painful, had clearly left their mark, and it felt like the mischievous cat had lightened the mood just enough to pull him out of his thoughts. I sighed, thinking about everything he must have endured.

To witness something so horrific at such a young age—that was unimaginable.

Reaching for a biscuit, I took a bite and sipped from my teacup, letting the warmth of the tea settle me. Then, I began gathering the cups and plates put them in the tray, carrying them to the kitchen sink to tidy up.

As I finished washing the dishes and setting them back in place, Charlie walked into the kitchen with a sheepish look on his face. “Hey, Aria, do you think you could help me catch some fish? Turns out Sky ate the last one—our dinner for tonight.”

I chuckled. “Sure, I’d love to help. But who’s going to look after the inn while we’re gone?”

“Don’t worry about that,” Charlie replied casually, leading me down the hallway toward the sea. “You’re the only guest we have right now, and besides, we keep a record of everyone living in this zone.”

My eyes lit up with curiosity. “Really? Including where they live?”

“Yep,” Charlie said with a nod. “If you’re that interested, we could check it out at the library tomorrow.”

“That would be amazing! It’ll definitely make my search for aunt Marie easier.” I smiled but then stopped in my tracks, surprised. “Wait—you have a library here?”

Charlie smirked, “Come on, Aria. Of course we have a library. Did you think just because we’re not from the city, we wouldn’t have books?”

I stammered, caught off guard. “Oh, no, no! I didn’t mean it like that. I just…didn’t expect it.” I cleared my throat, feeling slightly embarrassed, then changed the subject. “So, the ‘L’ in your tattoo—does it stand for Library?”