According to Marissa
Chapter Three - Part Three
The sound of the name brought a visceral reaction. Samuel was unsure if either of them knew if they were ready for it. In fact, given the pain, he knew for certain that they weren't. Instantly, Marissa blinked, then snapped to her feet. In doing so, she accidentally knocked her forehead against the old man's chin. Samuel groaned and cradled it with cringing hands. Marissa, though, rushed to unsheathed her sword. "Hey!" she growled, "Who are you? What are you doing here? These sheep aren't here for the taking, Old Man. You better beat it - Hey!"
That was when she stopped. Mid-sentence, Marissa was surprised to find herself swallowed into a hug causing the sword in her hand to clatter to the ground. After a moment and one long solid squeeze, the old man put her down. He stepped away chuckling, his hand now cradling his chin in thought instead of pain. He bent over, picked up her sword and handed it back hilt first. Samuel smiled.
The mirth in his eyes made her relax, Marissa. She gingerly retrieved her sword, resheathed it and then crossed her arms. This gave the old man the room he needed. Once more, he stooped before her. He meet her gaze eyes to nose. "So, it is you." He said, stated really, not asked. Marissa narrowed her eyes remembering he had said her name, her real name that is. "Marissa?" He asked once more. She frowned. She squirmed.
"David," she answered gingerly. "My name..." she paused, " My name is David. These are my family's sheep. I live in a house with them at the bottom of the hill. I am 13."
"No," Samuel shook his head. "You're real name is Marissa May. Your mother's name is Guienivere and you live in a house in a small town in the future. You spend a lot of time at your cousin's house, with her mother and father. She has a condition. She has..." Here, Samuel paused thinking, slightly impressed he remembered as much as he did, yet frustrated that he couldn't remember everything, not even the other girl's name. He spent most of that summer with her. It irked him. "Her name is..." He frowned crossing his arms. "It's..."
"Christine," Marissa answered for him. She reached over and slowly uncrossed his arms. Distracted, Samuel let her.
"How do you know me?" Marissa asked. "Can you... can you see me?"
Samuel began to shake his head but immediately stopped for as he did so he noticed her image began to change. It blurred and then sharpened revealing the true girl before him. She was dressed in David's rags, David's sling and David's life. His answering smile was amazed and slightly overwhelmed. "Yes," he answered. "Now, I believe I can."
— Calla