Bewitching

The night wind was cold enough to make one's hands and feet numb, and even as Caesar tried to push Lola away, her limbs clung to him like an octopus' suckers.

Seeing the fabric strain under her grip, Caesar chose to give up, not wanting to tear the girl's clothes.

Lola curled up in his embrace, sobbing softly for a long time. Her cries weren't loud, and Caesar could only let her hang onto him like a koala, warning her, "Don't touch anything, and let go." Lola took a deep breath, her arms around his neck and her legs pressed against his abdomen, still shedding tears.

Caesar noticed she was as agile as a monkey, but the little monkey was cold, trembling in her thin clothes, her arms scraped, and more cluttered than ever.

"…Mr. Caesar," she whispered, "please take me with you. I beg you, or I'll die here."

Caesar didn't respond. Lola pressed her face against his shoulder, rubbing it as if wiping her tears and snot on him, utterly oblivious to her appearance.

"I can clean and cook,