Chapter 3

No backwards Glances

As I carried the strange girl into the house I noticed something, along with various cuts from which blood spilled from she had a knife with the blade completely embedded in her upper right thigh. I took her to the bed in the study as it was closest.

"I will have to cut her top off. What have I gotten myself into. couldn't she have collapsed at someone Else's doorstep." I thought shaking my head. I walked into the other room to collect the supplies I would need to hopefully successfully patch this girl up.

I walked up to cut off her top that was soaked with rain and sticky with blood when I for the first time noticed what she was wearing. Her top was a loose fitting piece much like Gypsy girls wear, and she worn a skirt but it was crudely sown into a pant like garment.

"What a strange girl you are." I muttered as I cut the cloth from her body.

"This is Strictly to keep her alive, why do I feel bad about doing this."

She had even more cuts under her top.

"Wait these aren't simple cuts they're stab wounds." It clicked I looked at the knife stuck in her leg it was about the size that would make such wounds. I began the task of cleaning her numerous wounds and bandaging them.

"What kind of trouble could she have gotten in to sustain such injuries. This was no accident whoever did this to her did it with a purpose."

"And why do you care. For all you know She could have killed someone if she's the girl every one's talking about. What if the police come here then you'll really be done for." I sighed as the darker half of my personality came into my thoughts.

"No. I will help her. She came here looking for help. Antoinette could have left me to die but she didn't. So I will not let this girl die."

I realized I would have to remove her pants as well. I did so with out cutting them off except around the area where the knife protruded. Modesty would have gotten the better of me if not for what I saw. Just below the knife on her right leg was a large ragged scar which zig-zagged down her leg ending at the base of her ankle. I could not help but stare at his anomaly what had caused a injury of that magnitude and from the looks of it ,it had only been there at least two years. I proceed to shake the initial shock and began to treat the minor wounds on her legs.

Then I turned my attention to the knife. I knew I had to be careful about going about this removing the knife could cause her to bleed out if it had cut through an artery or vein. I knew the wound would require stitches which I had a small amount of practice with from patching myself up after various miscalculations with building certain traps. Knowing she could awake at anytime I needed to do this quickly yet carefully. I placed a hand over the handle of the knife and slowly began to pull it out luckily it seemed to be a clean stab as the knife was not lodged in anything. Finally the tip of the knife emerged from the wound and I immediately put pressure on the wound with a cloth.

"This is far from over." I thought I had no idea how much time had passed since the girl had arrived yet I could feel this ordeal was taking it's toll on me as well.

"and once her wounds are treated I still have her fever to deal with. This girl is more work then I thought."

"Why not get rid of her then I doubt anyone would notice I mean look at the condition she's in it would be easy to dispose of her and make it look as if her wounds killed her. And why do you care. She's not Christine."

"I told you once I will not tell you again I will not Abandon her No one deserves to die a slow painful death." I turned my attention back to the girl noticing the bleeding in her stab wound had slowed considerably I began to clean it. Even in her unconscious state I watched discomfort flash across her face as I did so. I started the slow process of stitching her up next and as I wrapped the wound in bandage I noticed the moon was beginning to set. A whole night had passed while I worked on her yet it felt like eternity. With her wounds finally treated I walked into the kitchen grabbing a rag and wetting it placing it on her forehead. She seemed to have small scars all over her body other then her head.

Exhausted I decided to sleep on the couch in the den so if she stirred I'd be able to here her.

"This isn't the opera house" I mused instead I stood in a snow covered forest I felt myself compelled to walk through the forest towards a series of lights in the distance I found myself in a gypsy camp a familiar one the one which most of my childhood was spent. As I continued to walk forward when I felt something bump me I looked down to see a sight I had not seen since I was a child A younger version of Antoinette .

"Pardon me Monsieur." She said walking by. Curiously I found my self following came to a tent one I knew too well I walked in and in the center was a cage, yet instead of it being me it was Her the girl. She looked straight at me except instead of her eyes being dull as I had seen they were bright and seemed to pierce into my very soul.

"Free me" Her voice rang though my thoughts.

"Look at me." I did now she had several knives sticking out from every spot on her I had seen a scar.

"Kill me, Free me."

"She's not Christine."

I awoke with a start I went to check to make sure the girl was still alive. She was.

"What could this mean."

"You'll have to figure that one out won't you?"

Sometimes the voice of my darker side seemed to know more then I did even though I knew that was not possible. I sighed and went to write letter to Antoinette.

"Antoinette,

I write to inform you that the next time you send the boy have him bring double the supplies. I am currently protecting a severely injured Girl. I would appreciate if you could stop to visit sooner then two weeks but I understand if you are unable to.

Signed,

Erik"

"I hate to leave her. But Antoinette must get this letter." I said placing the travelling cloak on.

I returned from Pax Fortus to find the girl safe and still asleep.

"So now I wait." I sighed sitting down next to the girls bedside.

AN: Hope you guys are liking it. Reviews are Helpful :)