Omi was waiting for the inhabitants to show themselves, one small hand holding Chase Young down.
He was about to apologize profusely and to offer to help with the missing door situation, although he had no idea how.
"I am most sorry, kind hosts. My name is Omi, I did not mean to-"
"Break and enter, ruin my door?" Annabelle asked calmly, looking unimpressed.
"Not take the porcelain?" John added then averted his look as to not see his wife's reaction.
Chase raised an eyebrow.
"My name is Chase Young and you already know Omi, he is my...adopted son."
Omi's eyes widened and the child began smiling. He looked adorable and couldn't help but lean into Chase.
Said evil warlord absentmindedly put a hand on his head.
"Well met!" John said and could not dodge in time the light strike from Anabelle.
"Stop fraternizing with them. For all we know they came to kill us!"
"Oh no, kind lady! We are not murderers."
"Speak for yourself, little one," Chase muttered and Omi sighed.
"We are harmless, and in need of assistance! I would not hurt a spider!"
"Fly," Chase corrected fondly.
"What about the destruction? What was that about, if you're so benevolent?" Annabelle asked grumpily.
"It was merely a result of you being careless and not putting more of an effort in safeguarding your house. Now you know where to start. You are welcome, " Chase answered bored yet somehow charmingly.
"You, you!" Annie said as she ran forward, intending to slap him.
"No!" Omi said as he put himself in front of him.
It all happened incredibly fast, one would have blinked and missed the child's valiant act.
Fortunately, Chase managed to intercept the attack before it accidentally hit Omi . He gripped the woman's hand painfully and made sure that the little monk was out of harm's way. Chase snarled, his golden eyes narrowing.
"Don't you dare hurt him," he whispered, dangerously.
Annabelle yelled in pain and surprise as Chase's clutch left purple bruises on her skin.
"Let go of her!" John said in a panicked voice as he ran forward and attempted with all his might to detangle the grip. Omi was trying to do the very same thing.
It had little to no effect.
"Chase Young, stop, please. Chase Young," Omi pleaded.
There was a haze in Chase's eyes along with a rage the kind that could only be satisfied by blood shed.
How dare that wretched woman almost hurt his little one?
"Chase Young! I- father please stop!"
Suddenly the haze seemed to clear, but just a little.
Upon seeing Omi's pleading look he reluctantly and roughly let go of Annabelle's arm.
"Get out of our home!" John said, shielding his wife, "Take the china, the money, the food, whatever just...get out!"
Omi's eyes began to glisten.
"Gladly," Chase answered as he rushed to take food, water, strange-looking money, blankets and books.
He left the porcelain where it was out of spite.
Omi was trailing after him, hot tears running down his cheeks.
Technically they had given their accord to give them the things they needed for survival, but if it was because they feared for their safety, was it still noble to take them?
He did not know but he was tired and still hungry. His throat was sore from too much crying and yelling and he wanted home. He just wanted home.
They walked away from their house, venturing deeper into the strange reality within the mirror and found a market.
It was not abandoned however, it was bustling with life.
Upon seeing Omi's guilty expression, Chase put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Let us get something nice to drink and eat, little one."
"I am not hungry," Omi said stubbornly.
"You haven't had anything nice to eat for hours. A few hastily made cheese sandwiches can only do so much. It is not up for debate, young monk," Chase said, crossing his arms.
Omi sighed and eventually nodded.
They entered a pub. Besides the clients, a bartender and a cook were there. They were arguing, almost were by far worse than the married couple.
"I don't care, brother, that you were stuck inside this thrice-darned mirror because there is a much worse fate! Being stuck here with you!"
"You dare talk to me that way, little brother? Did you forget who helped change your diapers, by chance?"
"Not in front of the clients!" the younger sibling despaired.
"Ahem!" Chase coughed and they immediately settled.
"Hello, what would you like to order?" the older sibling, the bartender asked.
Chase ordered soup and meat dumplings for himself and Omi. He also added tea for himself and milk and cookies for his little one.
As soon as he saw the cookies Omi forgot that he wasn't hungry.
Chase looked fondly at the child devouring mountains of sugary treats.
"How are you feeling, Omi?"
"Better. Thank you, Chase Young."
Chase smiled.
"I, I cannot help but feel most ashamed too."
"Whatever for?"
"I, It was my fault out host got injured and I did not stop you from stealing food and blankets, and I acted most shamefully and dishonorably and..."
"Omi, look at me," Chase said, " You had absolutely no fault in what transpired. The blame lies entirely on that beast of a woman's feet and perhaps at my feet also. I was a bit antagonistic."
Omi smiled fondly.
"As for stealing, little one you didn't steal anything yet, I stole it," Chase said and cackled warmly.
"But I didn't stop you."
"They were practically begging us take belongings from their home, Omi, we just acquiesced."
"That is most untrue! They acted like that because they were afraid."
"And they were scared because of their own idiocy. Nothing more, little one."
Chase put a hand on Omi's shoulder who looked him in the eyes and said, "Thank you."
"You two don't seem the type to get stuck here." the cook noticed.
"Hmm?" Chase asked.
"The type that is always arguing." the bartender said.
"How exactly did you get stuck here?" Chase asked, diverting the subject.
"No one knows for sure. All of us arrived here two months ago. Only two people managed to return home. Among us, only one person saw the monster who got us stuck and his voice haunts each and every one of us. According to Annie he was small, ugly, and looked like a talking legume. Of course when we heard that description we decided to ask if a psychiatrist could check her noggin. She didn't take my advice well."
"Hannibal," Chase growled, his fist hitting the table which in turn sent a few plates flying.