Khrystal © me
Hawking © Raygirl
Rayman design © Ubisoft
~*~*~*~*~ To Mend A Broken Soul Chapter 3~*~*~*~*~
Hawking opened the door to his home carefully, peeking around the door and glancing over toward the bed. Khrystal lay huddled in the corner, her face toward the wall and the blankets forgotten at the foot of the bed. Silently he moved over and pulled the soft green and yellow fabric to her shoulders.
He crossed his humble sitting room and moved into the kitchen where he placed a few packages on the counter. Emmanuel had given them to him. They were for Khrystal, to bring her back to health. Unfortunately, Emmanuel couldn't stay; he had to get back to The Sanctuary and his family. When she got better, Hawking was to bring Khrystal to the Sanctuary, where she could live with others instead of in solitude.
He heard a slight, breathy muttering coming from where Khrystal lay. Curiosity getting the better of him, he moved closer in an attempt to hear what she was saying.
"No…" She sighed. "Papa…mmm…sorry."
After a while the dream seemed to get worse. Hawking watched as her hands unconsciously clenched and relaxed, grasping the fabric of her sleeves. And then it happened again. Slowly, like a smell being wafted into a room by a fan, Hawking began to get a feeling of fear. As it began to become more solid he watched as a tear rolled down Khrystal's cheek.
He woke her up then. He couldn't bear to think that she was suffering even in her sleep. Tentatively, he shook her shoulder. Her good eye batted open and she starred at the ceiling. When she moved again it was to sit up. Indignantly she batted away Hawking's hands as he tried to help her. An embarrassed flush came over his cheeks and she noticed, her face turning its own shade of pale red.
"I'm sorry." They said at the same time. After this they fell into an uneasy silence. Hawking tried to begin a sentence a few times, but as he opened his mouth and drew in a breath she looked at him and he immediately lost courage. Finally he was able to get his question out.
"What was that?"
"What?" Khrystal asked.
She appeared guilty and Hawking suspected she knew what he was talking about, but explained anyway. "When you were asleep just now. I felt something. Like before, too. When you…" his voice got softer, gentler. "When you cried."
Khrystal bit her lip and Hawking could almost see the war that she was fighting within her mind. He could almost hear her asking herself 'Should I trust him?' It seemed the answer was no, for she shook her head and looked up at him with confusion. "I don't know what you're talking about."
He wouldn't push it. If she wanted to tell him, she could. If she didn't, well then he would leave her alone.
"Where's…uhm…"
"Emmanuel." Hawking provided as he got up and grabbed one of the medicines his friend had given him. "He left. But he gave me these, they should help you to feel better." He sat down and opened up the small container. A pleasantly fragrant balm was within. "This is for your eye."
He dipped his finger into the balm and reached forward. Khrystal flinched away from him. He paused and looked at her, keeping the worry he felt to himself. He wanted to ask her what was wrong, but he feared she would lie about that, too. He gave her an apologetic look and held the balm out for her. She smeared some of it over her eye.
"Does it hurt?" Hawking asked, startling even himself.
After a few moments, she grudgingly nodded her head. "Yes."
"How come you didn't hear the muggers before they got to you?" He asked curiously. "It's hard not to make a sound."
Khrystal looked out the window. "I… I was thinking about someone."
"Oh." Hawking let the silence envelope them as he joined her gaze out the window. The sun had already risen past the horizon and was making its way steadily to the highest point in its daily arc.
"Hawking?"
He jumped slightly as her voice trembled through the quite. He looked into her upturned face. "Huh?"
She paused a moment, as if she was choosing her words very carefully. "Why," her voice cracked and she cleared her throat to steady it, then began again. "Why did you help me?"
Hawking gave her a look of confusion. "You were hurt." He said simply. "I couldn't just leave you there." 'You might have died' he added as an after thought in his mind.
She shook her head. "Anyone else would have just left me alone. They would have walked away and let me…" Her voice petered out before she finished.
"I don't think so." Hawking said. "Emmanuel would have helped you, too." Khrystal sighed and looked out the window once more. Hawking couldn't help but wonder sadly what made her think that no one would help her when quite obviously many people would. Maybe muggers really had gotten to her, and that brief encounter had made her believe everyone was like them.
She looked so sadly out the window. He wished he could cheer her up a little. And then an idea struck him. "Do you want to go outside?"
For just a moment, Hawking watched as her face brightened. And then it fell once more. "I don't know if I could make it…" She said doubtfully.
"Well, I can help you." Hawking offered. When she gave a small nod, he moved over to the bedside and watched as she scooted to the edge. She stood carefully, using the bed to help her stay steady. Timidly she took an uneasy step forward, wincing.
"I can't." She said, sitting back down.
"You give up to easily." Hawking said softly.
For some reason this seemed to make Khrystal sad, but more determined. She stood once more and took a bigger step forward. She would have tumbled to the ground if Hawking had not been there. Awkwardly he let her steady herself on his shoulder. He helped her slowly across the floor and into the bright sun outside.
He helped her to sit down on a rock near the entrance to his home and watched as she tilted her face to the sky. An inner-glow seemed to flicker on within her, and the dark, pained expression left her face. He caught himself staring and blushed, looking out towards the trees. Silently he argued with himself. He shouldn't start liking her too much, he would be taking her to The Sanctuary soon and he'd be left to his solitary life once more.
He was brought from his thoughts when a sparrow trilled its greetings and landed on his shoulder. He whistled softly to it and watched as it hopped curiously from foot to foot, flitting its wings.
'Hello, friend-sparrow.'
'Hawking.' The little bird chirped. 'Stranger, who?'
'She's my friend.' Hawking explained.
'Friend to Hawking, nice.' The sparrow trilled with excitement. It flitted over towards Khrystal and landed on the rock beside her. With an astonished air, she held out her finger and the small bird hopped onto it, allowing her to lift it close to her face.
"You were talking to it, weren't you?" Khrystal asked, her voice for once, was devoid of its usual anxious note. As if in reply the little bird gave a tweet and fluffed its feathers so it looked chubby. A laugh escaped her and tinkled through the air. "Weren't you?"
Hawking blushed and looked down at the ground. "Yes."
"I'm sorry." Khrystal said quickly. "I didn't mean to pry."
"It's all right, you would have found out sooner or later." Hawking said, waving his hand to dismiss the matter.
"Uhm…"
He looked up at her. She was focusing her attentions on the small bird, which was allowing her to stroke its chest feathers lightly. She seemed as if she wanted to say something, but shook her head. "Never mind." She lifted her hand to the sky and watched as the sparrow took off and flitted back into the trees. "Let's go back inside."
He helped her back inside. He made some broth and stirred the other medicine that Emmanuel had given him into it. "He said this would make you tired." Hawking said as he ladled it into a bowl. Khrystal finished most of it before the medicine began taking its effect and he helped her back to the bed.
She turned over to face him. "Where will you sleep?" She asked drowsily.
Hawking pointed toward the cushioned chair that had been moved beside the bed. "I'll close the curtains so you can sleep."
"Will you be comfortable on that?" She asked.
Hawking moved about the room and shut the curtains, blocking out the sunlight. It was still early in the day, he wouldn't sleep until later, but if Emmanuel was right then the medicine would have her out and in a deep sleep until the next morning. "I'll be ok."
He heard the blankets rustle softly as she turned over onto her side, and then her muffled voice floating drowsily through the thick fabric. "Thank you."
He stood watching over her until he saw her breathing even out and steady. Smiling to himself, he stepped into the sun's waning light for a short walk before he would lie down to sleep.