Chapter 2 – Questions with No Answers

17:30 – 27th December 1888 – Algeria

Helen was worried. It had been over a day and the girl, who she supposed was called Leona, had yet to wake up. Questions clouding her mind Helen watched her hoping that she would wake up soon.

A faint groan snatched Helen away from her musings. Looking back to girl Helen could see her eyes fluttering open.

Large glassy orbs, that were a stunningly clear blue, tried to focus on her surroundings. After blinking they sleepily the focused on Helen.

"Soiop iosie yse?"

"Uop, iamie?"

Her voice was soft and melodic, cracking slightly because of a parched throat.

Helen had no idea as to what she was saying. The girl spoke in a strange language. It sounded ancient and it stirred Helen's consciousness as though she had once spoken like that but forgotten long ago.

Noticing the girl's attempts to sooth her parched throat, Helen offered her a little water, knowing that it the girl would gulp it down her body might reject it causing more damage than good.

Surprisingly the girl seemed to know the importance of not gulping it down and waited patiently, sipping the water slowly and gently.

Questions burning in her mind Helen decided to start with the most basic one.

"Hello, my name is Helen."

She said softly.

"I saw your bracelet. Is your name Leona?"

The girl only stared at her. Wide eyed and still. Helen was starting to think that she couldn't understand her when the girl replied.

"Um, I think so, I don't know."

Helen was at first relieved that the girl could actually understand her but, that relief quickly turned to disbelief.

Wait, did she say that she didn't even know her own name?

"What do you mean you don't know?"

Helen asked as softly and gently as she could.

After a pause the girl answered, trembling slightly.

"I just don't, I can't remember."

"Okay, do you mind if I call you Leona then? I think it suits you."

"Thank you"

How can she not remember her own name? Everyone knows their own name even six year olds. Well she looks about six. Maybe she knows when her birthday is or how old she is. She can't have forgotten everything.

"How old are you. Where were you born?"

After yet another pause the girl replied shakily, as if the thought frightened her.

"I don't remember. I'm sorry"

Why is she sorry? Helen thought. Does she remember anything at all? How did she end up here covered in rags and looking like she had wondered the desert for days?

"Do you remember anything?"

Helen asked gently, as she realised how frightening this must be for her.

"No, I don't think so. I'm sorry."

Why is she apologising again? Poor thing she is probably confused and scared.

"Anyway, Leona how about you stay here. It isn't exactly glamorous but hey, it's home. So how about it?"

Leona only sat and stared at her. Thinking that it could be too much or too soon for her Helen made to quickly reassure her but was stopped before she could open her mouth.

"Yes, I would love that, if it's not too much trouble. Thank you."

"No it's fine."

Helen quickly reassured her.

"Anyway the others won't mind. I if I say you can stay, you can stay. How about you sleep here until we can make you your own space?"

"Thank you. But where will you sleep? Isn't this your bed?"

"It's fine. I'm used to sleeping anywhere. Anyway you must be tired still. Go back to sleep and I'll see if I can find something for you to eat when you wake up. You look like you need it."

She added jokingly.

"Thank you."

With that Leona laid back down and was asleep in moments. Helen stayed there for a moment. Just watching her face. She looked so peaceful.

Sighing softly Helen got up and went to find her some food.

It was at least a good hour later when Helen finally got back to where Leona was sleeping. She had managed to find some bread and soup. It was cold but at least it was food.

Sitting down beside the bed Helen drifted off to sleep.

Where was she?

Leona couldn't make sense of what she was experiencing. She was floating in a black void. Silent, alone Leona was scared.

Why is this familiar? She asked herself.

She had no idea how long she floated in this dark abyss. Years, weeks, seconds? Time seemed irrelevant.

Suddenly there was a flash of scarlet to her left. Her head whipping round, Leona was confronted only by the blackness of the void where she was prisoner.

Flash. Another explosion of scarlet to her right but, like before it had vanished when she turned to see.

A premonition of terror invading her Leona tried to curl up, retreat into herself to try to escape from the horrors that she could feel coming.

It didn't work. No matter how hard she tried she could only move her head. Paralyzed she was confronted with the first of her nightmares.

A young boy staggered towards her, covered in blood, reaching out imploringly. Terror filled eyes gripped hers and forced her not to look away. He was inches from her face. She could smell his rotting breath and feel the coldness of his skin when he collapsed, dead.

Before she could even draw breath to scream there was another, only this time it was a woman and she was pregnant. Shielding her unborn child she struggled onwards towards Leona. Only finally dying from the numerous lacerations adorning her body when she was within touching distance to Leona.

And there were more. Hundreds, thousands. Each face pleading for help only to die before she could even blink.

The bodies were piling up. Suffocating her. She was trapped.

More and more came. Each one covering her. She couldn't scream. She could only see the thousands of eyes dulled by death staring at her accusingly.

A shrill scream of pure terror filled her ears. Trying to turn, she franticly searched hysterically for this new horror.

Suddenly two warm hands seized her from behind. Covering her eyes the unknown presence enveloped Leona in a calming embrace.

"Shh, calm down, your safe."

A soothing voice velvety and warm washed over her. Realising that the screaming was her Leona stopped as the voice continued to comfort and sooth her.

Feeling her breathing slowing as the warm embrace removed her fear, Leona realised she could move. Slowly she reached up to remove the soft hands shielding her eyes.

Determined to see her saviour Leona tried to ease the hands off of her eyes.

Sensing her intentions the presence hesitantly removed her hands, for Leona could tell that whoever it was was female.

At first all Leona could see was a soft blue light.

Blinking slightly Leona gasped.

Surrounding her was a great cocoon of crystal wings.

Leona was stunned.

They were beautiful. Comforting and strangely familiar Leona reached out to stroke them. They were warm and resonated slightly at her touch.

They were achingly familiar, but why?

Turing her head Leona tried to get a glimpse of her saviour.

"Who are you?"

"I have many names."

The soft voice responded, slight amusement clear in the tone.

"Until you can remember my true name call me, Angel Soul. Or just Angel."

"Angel, thank you"

Leona answered softly. Something about Angel reassured her and she trusted her unconditionally even though she couldn't remember who she was.

Eyes drifting shut, the last this she saw was a pair of bright blue eyes. They were strange as the pupils were slit like cat eyes.

They were glowing softly and for some reason Leona thought that they looked slightly sad.

Leona finally lost the battle with her eyes, falling deeper into a now dreamless sleep.

"Sweet dreams my host. I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to remember anything until you're ready. I promised you that. Don't worry no matter what happens I will be with you. As you are with me."

The voice whispered this to the oblivious girl curled up in her arms. Smiling sadly to herself Angel guarded Leona's mind while she knew Helen was guarding her body.