The Devil's Sweetheart

Everybody's gaze moved to the man in Huichol dress, waiting for his contribution to the Enger and Ruth's past.

''You are?'' Francis asked, studying the man intently. 

''I am Lazaro.'' The man politely introduced himself. ''I was Ruth's neighbor when she stayed in Mexico.''

''While I was investigating Enger,'' Enzo spoke up. ''I crossed path with Lazaro. He was the only one who witnessed the incident that happened on that night.''

''Tell them, Lazaro.'' Enzo said.

When all the eyes were on him, Lazaro spoke up. ''Years back, Ruth's family of three arrived in Mexico,'' His thoughts flew back to the day a woman knocked on his house door despite the pouring rain drumming wildly on the roof.

Lazaro assumed it was another ploy of the wicked street kids to annoy him. He grabbed the torchlight and a stick to bash them, but he found a shivering woman carrying a crying baby in her arms upon opening the door. Despite protecting the baby with a scarf, the heavy rain was drenching the boy to the skin.

''Como puedo ayudarte?'' Lazaro questioned, dropping his weapon to the ground.

''I_I don't know Spanish.'' Replied Ruth, clutching the baby to her c.h.e.s.t. ''My baby..he is crying..We have just arrived into the new house. I can't find a grocery shop in the pouring rain. Can you give me some milk?''

''Come in.'' Lazaro opened the door for her to enter. He offered a seat, and upon waking up his wife, she warmed the milk and offered biscuits as well.

''Thank you.'' Ruth thanked the couple. Feeling comfortable, she introduced herself to them. ''I am Ruth Vaughan. It was pretty hard to communicate with the driver in this town. But you speak English very well.''

''We lived in different countries before settling in Mexico,'' Lazaro said. ''Are you new to this place?''

Ruth nodded, wiping the baby with the towel the woman offered. 

''What's the boy's name?'' Lazaro's wife asked, staring at him intently. At the sight of the baby, her eyes sparkled, and she wished to have a child of her own, but sadly she couldn't

''His father named him Arsen. He is one and half years old.'' Ruth smiled, stroking her son's cheek lovingly. ''You can also call him Enger. That's my favourite name."

While feeding milk to the baby, Ruth exchanged pleasantries with Lazaro and his wife. The couple was sweet enough to give her an umbrella when she left.

Lazaro didnot miss Ruth's darkened face when he brought her husband's topic. But he also noticed, she loved her son dearly. As the days passed, he realized the real reason behind Ruth's irritation over her husband. Not a day went by hearing the fights between the couple. Once, Lazaro tried to stop their argument, but her husband Juan accused him of having an affair with Ruth. That was the last day he stepped into the house.

Seven years passed, and nothing changed between the couple. Arsen also grew up, but something about the boy tickled Lazaro. Picking up fights, beating kids, going out with strange people has become his hobby. Ruth also didnot reprimand the boy. Instead, she spoiled her son to the core.

Once, Lazaro heard screams and loud wails of a woman from the next door. His wife nagged him to check upon them. So, he reluctantly got up to leave. Before Lazaro knocked on the door, he heard a voice, and he immediately realized the woman is not Ruth.

''I cannot keep this a secret anymore, Juan. I know you are supporting us by sending money every month, but..'' The woman cried, holding a boy's hand, the same age as Arsen. ''Our son is growing up, Juan. I can't go and tell my family that I am your mistress. My son needs you as a father, and I need you as a husband. Marry me, please.''

''Gwen, you know that I can't_.''

''You are cheating on my mother!'' At a trice, a boy's thundering voice echoed across the walls. ''How dare you!''

''Stay out of this, trouble maker,'' Juan muttered irritatingly. ''Go back to your room, and study.''

''You are feeding these sc.u.ms with my mother's money?'' Enger rushed inside a room and arrived back with a knife. ''You.'' He pointed the knife at the boy and then at the woman. ''And you. Get out of my house. Now!''

''Daddy!'' The boy cried, hugging him tightly.

''Juan!'' The woman trembled, moving to his side, and instantly he melted. ''I am there for you, Gwen.'' Juan patted her shoulder.

''Give it to me, rascal. You are just like your mother.'' Juan grabbed the knife from his son's hand forcefully. ''Go inside your room!''

Enger's eyes dripped with spite. His face flushed with rage. At that moment, the little boy looked like a predator ready to hunt. He turned around, and instead of walking straight into his room, he went into the kitchen, and moments later, he locked the kitchen door and put the key inside his pocket. 

''Father.'' Enger gently called him, causing Juan to turn towards his son. His sudden gentleness scared Juan off for a second.

''Live happily with your mistress and son in this home forever.'' He gently smiled before moving his eyes towards the door. 

Juan didnot know what his son meant by his words, but something appeared strange when he rushed out of the house and locked the door. 

''What are you up to, rascal? Open the door.'' Juan screamed, yelled, yet didnot receive a response.

''W_hat's happening here, Juan?'' The woman stuttered, clutching her son's hand dearly.

''Don't worry! You will be fine. That boy is a real trouble maker.'' Juan opened the window and watched his son standing in front of his house, wearing a creepy smile on his face. ''Open the door Arsen! What are you...'' His words stuck in his throat when he caught the whiff of a strong smell in the house.

His eyes widened in terror. ''No!'' Juan rushed towards the kitchen door only to find it locked. 

''Give me the keys, Arsen! Open the door!'' Juan screamed as the boy's frame slowly faded out of his eyes. The last thing Juan saw from the windows was Enger's smile, a genuine smile he had ever seen on his son's face. His vision blacked out as the fire engulfed him.

''Die! You bastard.'' Enger laughed cheerfully. ''I killed him, mom. I killed him for you. He will never torture you."

When the crowd started to gather, he escaped before anyone notices his presence.

Dread twisted in Lazaro's stomach. He was trembling, shaking. Fear clawed up his throat. As the crowd started to gather around the firehouse, Lazaro closed all the doors shut. Even if he doesn't look back to the past, he would never forget this day in his life.

The revelation blew everyone's mind. A boy, not more than eight years, planned, killed his father, and escaped! Is that the reason Enger has been keeping his identity secret? Devin's unsettling thought about Enger's identity finally clarified.