Chapter 134: Yokefire House

“I heard that Little Red Riding Hood skips all the way to her grandmother’s house to deliver pies. You don’t seem any different to me,” Derek remarked as he walked alongside Robin, who continued skip-walking along the pavement.

Her red cloak swayed gently with each cheerful step, its edges moving in rhythm with her movements. Even though they were heading toward a place associated with trouble, Robin seemed determined to maintain at least a little of her usual spirit. Every few steps, she hopped lightly over a crack in the pavement, almost as though she were following an invisible path known only to her.

She turned toward Derek and offered him a bright smile.

“Oh, that’s just how I prefer to walk. It helps lighten my mood whenever I’m going somewhere. I’ve been doing it since childhood, and I love adding merry songs to it. It’s like being a princess dancing with beautiful nature all around her.”

She spread her arms slightly as she skipped forward, allowing the afternoon breeze to flutter her cloak.

Derek blinked before smiling at her enthusiasm.

“Okay, that’s actually pretty nice. I suppose everyone has their own way of enjoying a walk.”

“Exactly!” Robin replied. “Walking doesn’t have to be boring. You can enjoy the breeze, listen to the birds, admire the trees, and sing a little if you feel like it.”

“Sing a little? Should I be expecting a performance?”

Robin giggled.

“Only if you’re lucky enough to hear one.”

“Then I hope the performance is good. I wouldn’t want to regret accompanying you.”

She turned toward him with a playful pout.

“How rude! You haven’t even heard me sing yet.”

“That’s true. I suppose I’ll reserve my judgment until later.”

Robin laughed, and for a few moments, the cheerful atmosphere between them made it easy to forget why they were walking together in the first place.

However, Derek’s smile soon became more serious as he remembered what she had told him about Barry.

“Still, we don’t need someone ruining all that happiness by harassing you,” he said. “You should be able to walk around the school and enjoy yourself without constantly worrying about him.”

Robin’s steps slowed.

For a moment, she simply looked at Derek, as though she were trying to decide how to respond to his words. Then, without warning, she rushed toward him and wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace.

Derek froze.

He had not expected her to hug him so suddenly, and his hands remained suspended awkwardly for a second. He looked down at the girl clinging to him, surprised by the sincerity of the gesture.

Then he understood.

Robin was not trying to make the situation awkward. She was expressing her gratitude in the most natural way she knew how.

Derek relaxed and returned the hug, gently patting her back.

“It’s all right,” he assured her. “You don’t have to thank me every five minutes.”

“But I want to!”

“Then I suppose I can’t stop you.”

Robin held on for another moment before finally pulling away. Her eyes were brighter now, although a trace of sadness remained beneath her smile.

Derek had already noticed how expressive and friendly she could be. She spoke openly, laughed easily, and seemed eager to share her happiness with anyone willing to listen. It was difficult to understand how someone with such a cheerful personality could have become the target of persistent harassment.

She was simply a girl who wanted to enjoy her school life, make friends, and spend her days doing the things she loved.

Yet Barry had managed to turn even the simplest activities into sources of anxiety for her.

Derek felt his expression harden.

“It’s okay,” he said, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat. “We’ll handle this as quickly as we can.”

Robin nodded, though her smile faded when she remembered what awaited them.

“Thanks. I honestly don’t know what to say about all this.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Just tell me where we’re going and what I should know before we get there.”

Robin hesitated.

“There is something I should probably tell you first.”

Derek raised an eyebrow.

“That sounds important.”

“It is. Barry doesn’t actually live within the school premises. He has an apartment outside the school, and I found out that it’s somewhere near the Yokefire warehouse.”

Derek stopped walking.

For a moment, he simply stared at her.

“Wait. You mean the old Yokefire warehouse?”

Robin nodded slowly.

“Yes. That’s the place.”

Derek’s expression changed as he considered the implications.

He knew about the Yokefire warehouse. Almost everyone familiar with the King’s District had heard something about the place, and the stories surrounding it were hardly reassuring.

The warehouse had once served an ordinary commercial purpose, but its surroundings had gradually become notorious for several reasons. Dungeons had appeared in the vicinity on multiple occasions, and the area had also attracted criminal activity. Some incidents were old news, while others had occurred more recently.

Eventually, the property owner had declared the warehouse and its restricted surroundings off-limits. The decision had been made because of repeated misuse of the area by criminals, combined with the unpredictable danger posed by dungeon-related phenomena.

Even people who had no interest in exploring dungeons generally avoided the immediate vicinity unless they had a legitimate reason to be there.

And Barry lived nearby?

Derek rubbed his chin.

“That’s insane. Of all the places he could choose, he decided to live near that warehouse?”

Robin looked down.

“I know it sounds bad.”

“Bad? Robin, that place has a reputation for attracting trouble. There have been criminal incidents around there, and the dungeon activity makes it even worse. Are you certain his apartment is actually nearby?”

“As certain as I can be. I haven’t visited his home myself, but I’ve heard him mention the area several times. Some students also know where he stays.”

Derek looked ahead, his thoughts moving quickly.

“Does he live alone?”

“I don’t know. He doesn’t talk much about his family, and I don’t ask him personal questions. I only know that he has permission to live outside the school premises because of his status as an exclusive student.”

“An exclusive student,” Derek repeated. “That would explain why he has more freedom than some of the others. But it doesn’t mean he can do whatever he wants.”

“I know.”

Robin sighed, and the sound carried more helplessness than she intended.

“I’ve been meaning to tell you about the location. That’s why I was so uncertain when you offered to help me. I didn’t want you to get involved in something dangerous because of my problems.”

Derek turned toward her.

“Hey, don’t worry about me.”

“But what if something happens to you?”

“Then we’ll deal with it if it happens. I made the decision to help you because I wanted to, not because you forced me into it.”

He gave her a reassuring smile.

“Your situation isn’t your fault, and you shouldn’t feel responsible for what Barry might do. Besides, I’m curious about the kind of person who thinks he can treat someone this way without consequences.”

Robin looked at him with concern.

“You’re making it sound like an adventure.”

“Maybe a little.”

“This isn’t a fairy tale, Derek.”

His smile softened.

“I know. That’s why I’m not planning to rush in without thinking.”

Robin looked away, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Derek noticed the change in her expression. Although she had been trying to remain cheerful, the thought of seeing Barry again was clearly affecting her.

He considered asking what she was thinking, but he decided against pressing her for an answer. She had already told him enough to understand that the situation was serious, and he did not want to make her relive every unpleasant detail before they even reached their destination.

Robin swallowed hard.

For a moment, she appeared to be gathering all the courage she could find. Then she inhaled sharply and nodded.

“Okay. If you’re sure about this, I’ll take you there.”

“That’s the spirit.”

“But please be careful.”

“I will.”

“And don’t underestimate him.”

“I won’t.”

Robin studied him one last time before turning forward and continuing along the road. Derek followed beside her, keeping his attention on their surroundings as they made their way toward the nearest taxi stand.

Neither of them knew exactly what awaited them at the Yokefire warehouse.

But Robin was determined to stop living in fear, and Derek had no intention of abandoning her simply because the situation had become more complicated than he expected.

After a short wait, a taxi pulled up beside them.

Derek opened the door and gestured for Robin to enter first. She climbed into the vehicle, gathering her red cloak so that it would not get caught in the door. Derek followed and gave the driver their destination.

The driver glanced at them through the rearview mirror.

“Yokefire warehouse area? Are you sure?”

Derek nodded.

“Yes. Just take us as close as you can to the permitted public road.”

The driver’s expression became more cautious.

“That place isn’t somewhere people usually go for an afternoon outing.”

“We’re aware of that,” Derek replied. “We won’t be entering the restricted property.”

The driver shrugged, accepted the fare, and began driving.

Robin sat quietly beside Derek as the school buildings gradually disappeared behind them. She watched the streets pass through the window, her hands folded tightly in her lap.

Derek noticed her nervousness.

“You’re awfully quiet now,” he remarked.

Robin looked at him.

“Am I?”

“Compared to the person who was skipping and talking about singing a few minutes ago, yes.”

She gave a small, uncertain smile.

“I guess I’m getting nervous.”

“That’s understandable.”

“What if he sees me and gets angry?”

“Then we’ll have to see how he reacts. But remember, you don’t have to face him alone.”

Robin looked down at her hands.

“I’ve imagined standing up to him so many times. Whenever he wasn’t around, I would tell myself that I wouldn’t let him frighten me again. I would imagine saying everything I wanted to say, and sometimes I even pictured him apologising.”

She paused.

“But whenever he actually appeared, I couldn’t do any of it. I would just freeze or try to get away.”

Derek listened carefully.

“That’s not unusual when someone has been frightening you for a long time. It doesn’t mean you’re weak.”

Robin looked at him with surprise.

“You really think so?”

“Of course. Being scared doesn’t make you a coward. What matters is finding a way to deal with the situation without putting yourself in unnecessary danger.”

She considered his words, then gave a quiet nod.

“I hope I can do that today.”

“We’ll take it one step at a time.”

The taxi continued through the King’s District, passing busy streets before gradually entering a less crowded section of the area. The buildings became older, and the roads appeared less frequently maintained. Some storefronts had closed their doors, while others stood behind metal shutters marked with faded paint and scratches.

As they travelled farther, the atmosphere around them changed.

The usual sounds of the city became less noticeable. There were fewer pedestrians, and the traffic gradually thinned until the taxi was one of only a handful of vehicles moving along the road.

Eventually, the driver slowed near a junction and pointed toward a distant industrial structure.

“That’s as close as I’m taking you,” he said. “The warehouse is farther down that road. I wouldn’t recommend wandering around there after dark.”

Derek nodded.

“Understood. Thanks for the ride.”

He paid the fare, then stepped out and helped Robin down from the taxi. The vehicle pulled away soon afterward, leaving them beside the quiet roadside.

Derek adjusted his bag and surveyed their surroundings.

The Yokefire warehouse stood farther ahead, its broad industrial structure partially obscured by several older buildings. Its exterior looked neglected, with dark stains marking portions of the walls and sections of fencing leaning at uneven angles. A few warning signs remained attached to the perimeter, although the lettering on some had faded with age.

The road leading toward it was paved, but the surface was cracked in several places. Streetlights stood at intervals along the roadside, with cables hanging between poles and crossing above the street in loose, uneven lines.

The surrounding buildings were equally uninviting. Some appeared to be occupied, while others had the abandoned look of places that had been neglected for years.

Derek slowly turned his head, taking everything in.

“Well, this place certainly has a personality.”

Robin glanced at him.

“What does that mean?”

“It means that if someone told me this was the setting for a horror movie, I wouldn’t question them.”

Despite her nervousness, Robin let out a small laugh.

“I told you it wasn’t a nice place.”

“I believe you now.”

He looked toward the warehouse again.

“Seriously, though, I can understand why the authorities restricted access. Between the criminal activity and the dungeon appearances, this area must be difficult to monitor.”

“That’s what I’ve heard.”

Derek’s expression became thoughtful.

“And Barry chose to stay around here.”

Robin nodded.

“He says he likes having a place where people won’t bother him.”

Derek gave a humourless chuckle.

“That sounds convenient for someone who enjoys bothering other people.”

Robin almost smiled, but the expression disappeared as they began walking farther down the road.

The closer they came to the warehouse, the more unsettled she became. Her earlier attempts to remain cheerful gave way to nervous glances and increasingly hesitant steps.

She kept looking at the buildings on either side, as though she expected Barry to appear from behind one of them.

Derek noticed.

“You don’t look comfortable.”

Robin shook her head.

“I’m not.”

“If you’re too frightened to continue, you can stay somewhere safe while I find out more.”

“No.” She answered quickly, then paused. “I mean, I want to come with you. I just don’t know if I can handle seeing him again.”

Derek nodded.

“That’s fair. But if things become dangerous, we’ll leave. We don’t have to prove anything by staying in a bad situation.”

Robin looked at him for a moment.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

She gave a small nod, although her hands remained clenched around the edges of her cloak.

Derek continued watching their surroundings as they moved along the street. The area was unusually quiet, and the absence of ordinary activity made every distant sound seem more noticeable.

A loose metal sign rattled in the breeze.

Somewhere nearby, a dog barked once before falling silent.

Derek glanced toward the sound.

“This neighbourhood really needs a little more life.”

Robin did not respond.

She had stopped walking.

Her entire body seemed to stiffen, and her face lost what little colour it had retained. She stared toward the road ahead, her ruby-red eyes widening as she sensed something that Derek had not yet identified.

He immediately turned toward her.

“Robin? What’s wrong?”

She swallowed, struggling to find her voice.

“I can feel something.”

“What kind of something?”

“A presence.”

Her words came out quietly, almost as though she were afraid that speaking too loudly might draw its attention.

Derek became more alert.

“Someone nearby?”

Robin nodded slowly.

“It’s not welcoming. I know that feeling. I’ve felt it so many times before.”

Her gaze remained fixed on the street ahead.

“I think…”

She stopped speaking.

Derek followed her line of sight, his expression hardening as he began to understand.

“It’s him, isn’t it?”

Robin’s lips parted, but no words came out at first.

Then she whispered, “He’s here.”