He saved me from death... Probably. I mean, it could all have been a lie. He'd do that, wouldn't he? Or more... why would he? It sounded realistic enough and the circumstances of the destroyed ruins were really happening. But why was he there anyway? What was he doing in these ruins? Hunting us down? No, wait, the tracks! That must have been him! So he was there before. And he really did save me... Damn I should have thanked him. He saved my life, nursed my arm, cooked for me, told me the truth, let me sleep in his bed... Oh great, now I owe him. Seriously, he is the enemy! There's not one reason why he did it, since he's not using me for a trap for the professor. Argh! I don't get it! That's it.
Emmy stood up from the bed he let her sleep in. It was the room opposite of the bathroom, she had found out. She had her very own room, but she wondered where her host went.
Silently stepping outside the room, the girl sneaked through the hut. She gazed out the kitchen window. It was completely dark. Midnight, she guessed. She wondered where the horses and wolves had gone, but did not look further outside.
Emmy could not hold back a gasp and immediately covered her mouth with her hand when she turned around to the 'living room' – since it the living room and the kitchen were in the same, big room, big being relative. She spotted Descole sleeping on his back on the couch. However, he was not alone. Five wolves were curled up close to the sofa. The sixth one was laying underneath the scientists' legs on the couch and the last one was peacefully resting on the man's chest. His face was still hidden underneath his mask, but his hat had fallen off the sofa, revealing his ruffled hair in the darkness.
Emmy did not want to believe her eyes. Still, she needed to know why he had saved her, so she swallowed heavily and then neared the pack. She was not usually afraid of wolves, but the closed room and seven of them at once did make her feel a little uneasy. They were not the worst thing, though. She did not know what it was, she could not describe it, but something strange was going on inside her when she neared the mysterious man.
Slowly, she stepped over the sleeping animals, but they noticed her anyway. When one of them lifted its head up and growled at the strange noise, Emmy accidently tripped and fell. To her, or both of their dismay, onto him. The wolves on the couch immediately jumped down and Descole groaned in surprise of the impact.
"Ah, I-I'm sorry, Jean- I mean Descole! I- eh..." Emmy stuttered and inwardly facepalmed herself for being so clumsy.
"Don't be, Miss Altava." The scientist simply said, replacing his mask, while she insecurely tried to stand up, but the wolves on the floor prevented her from doing so. She realized that it was the first time he had ever said her name. Last name at least. She winced when he took her by her waist and shoved her off him and onto the sofa. He sat up next to her and watched her apologetic expression. Emmy was about to open her mouth again to apologize when he started first.
"How are you not tired?" He spoke softly and she noticed a hint of sleepiness in his tone. So he is a real human... She thought and stroked her bandaged arm with the other hand. There was a long pause until she finally broke the complete silence of the night.
"Why...?" She whispered. He only gave her a questioning look, but even though it was in the middle of the night, waited patiently for her to continue. "Why did you save me?" She asked slightly louder. To her surprise, his expression changed, and she could easily read the astonishment about her question. Soon, his calm expression returned, and he gave her a smile.
"A gentleman never leaves a lady in trouble." He said and got up. The wolves instantly stood up, not to get in the way. "Or isn't that what your employer would say now?" He chucked and offered her a hand. She blinked at it in disbelief and then at his face. Eventually, she took it and he led her into the bedroom again. "You should get some rest." He noted as he stretched his hand out for her to let go and follow his motion to the bed. But she did not. The young woman seemed to be frozen in place, lost in thoughts. Too lost to realise that she was still holding his hand.
"We'll try again tomorrow. She cannot just be gone." The professor paced up and down in their guesthouses room.
"Wasn't it strange that no one could find her? I still think the horse took her..." Luke mumbled unsatisfied.
"It is odd, indeed, that there was no sign if her anywhere. And although I doubt that it is the horse, we should not leave any hint out. We will organize something tomorrow to search the forest." He stated as a knock was heard on the door. An old woman – the owner of the guesthouse – entered with fresh towels.
"I am sorry to interrupt, but here are your towels. Breakfast will be downstairs at nine." She nicely said and turned around to the door again.
"Excuse me for asking, Madame, but do you happen to know anything about a horse at the forest? Is there a way we could search there tomorrow?" Professor Layton asked before the friendly lady left. She turned to the two and lifted her finger up.
"Well, I'm sure we can arrange a trip for you two, as for the horse from the forest, it belongs to the stranger of the woods." She informed. The professor and his apprentice exchanged a glance.
"Stranger of the woods?" The boy asked curiously and a little frightened at the same time. The woman cleared her throat before she continued.
"Well, there's not much to say about him. He is rarely seen, but he sometimes comes to our village to shop for groceries or tools. He does have a horse, one at least." She finished.
"So there is someone with a horse in the forest! Professor, we have to go there!" Luke burst out.
"We will, Luke."