She stirred restlessly beside me. I still couldn't believe that had happened. I watched as the impatient wind wrapped her pale red hair around her face. She was exotically beautiful, her pale face thin and regal, her eyelids, so thin, stretched over her eyes, showing the small purple veins. She was tiny; I could see that even with her lying down. I would tower over her when she woke up.
I dread to think of what would have happened if she woke up without me. I felt oddly attached to this strange, sleeping girl. The look of pure innocence and curiosity as she stretched out her hand to me and the pleading in her eyes when she was falling will stay with me for always.
I took of my shirt and wrapped it around her shaking shoulders and continued to watch her. She looked so… magical, I thought to my own disbelief. If anything was going to be magical in this tainted world, I thought it would have to be her. I saw her eyes quiver under her closed lids, and I wondered what she was dreaming about. Her fingers curled into a ball and I covered them with my hand. Her skin was so cold, like the blood pulsing through her was chilled from the inside out. I noticed that she wore no shoes. I cursed myself for not wearing my own, but that couldn't be helped.
The spasms shaking the girl's body finally stopped, and she sighed lightly. Her red lips parted slightly as she breathed in and out. I felt a sudden surge of fear for this girl. Where was her family? Where was she from? Why was she here? I squeezed her small hand and her eyelids fluttered open, revealing huge golden eyes. I started in surprise, but her gaze didn't waver. She had abnormally long lashes, dark brown rather than red like her hair. As I watched though, I could swear something in them shifted, and the colour faded slightly.
She smiled suddenly, her open face so happy I had no choice but to smile back. She sat up and took her hand from me. I was right about her size; she is like a perfect little elf.
"Why am I here?" she asked me.
I was momentarily disable; she spoke like she was singing and her voice was so lilting it made you forget the slight accent behind the words. I was surprised at her question, too.
"Most people ask where they are first, you know." I pointed out.
"Oh but I know where I am," she told me. "I'm on the other side of the portal."
I stared at her and she giggled. I realized my mouth was hanging open. I shut it with a snap, and she spoke again.
"This is where you tell me I've been locked up in a tower all my life and you have rescued me from the fearsome dragon. Then you pick me up, carry me to your white stallion, and we gallop off into the sunset to live happily ever after."
She spoke with such conviction I almost believed her, except that she was speaking fairytale language and fairytales didn't exist.
"There are no dragons in Sydney, I'm sorry."
"I'm not. Although I really wish I could've tried my new binding spell."
I stared at her.
"It lasts for two minutes! It's the best yet."
I swallowed and finally managed to speak.
"Two minutes? That's not very long."
"And that's why you run." She stated, as if it's obvious. I watched her gaze around at the park. She was wearing a long purple dress that rippled into piles at her feet. Also, her skin was so pale I thought I'd be able to see right through it if I held her up to the light. I asked her name.
"Addie." She said, turning the full force of her stare back to me. I was disappointed; I had been expecting something more extravagant. Addie seemed so plain next to her shining hair – the most human thing about her. I realised she was till staring at me. She looked almost reprimanding, like I had let her down.
"I'd thought you'd be polite enough to tell me your name without me needing to ask."
I almost laughed; she looked like a school teacher telling off a young child. I apologised and told her my name.
"Well, Coran," she said, the sun suddenly coming out in her unexpected grin.
"Where to?"