Sam and I walked in silence for what seemed like eternity, all that was heard was the occasional yap from Yuna and the rustling of the autumn leaves. A sense of calm floated around us as we walked on... That was until we came to that town. I did not notice exactly where I was until it was too late.
"LOOK MOM!" A young child called, "LOOK AT HER!"
"Hush now Thomas! Don't go near that thing." The mother replied to her child as she took him by the arm and carted him away.
"What is it?" an old woman asked sternly to another women standing next to her, a disproving expression swept across her tan face.
I let go of Sam's hand as the sun peaked over the hillside and Yuna began to yap as the sunlight hit me with all its might.
"What's wrong Nicole?" he inquired a puzzled look in his eyes.
"I can't be here. I'm a monster. I shouldn't be here." I breathed stepping backwards away from the disproving and judgmental eyes that were locked on me.
"What are you talking about? My house is just over the hill. Ignore those old croons, they don't know what they are talking about." He said, extending his hand towards me as I continued to back into the shadows, "I'll get you out of here."
As he said this I slowly took his hand and we walked away from all the jeering into the darkness of a garden. As we came upon his home, I became hesitant. I let go of his hand as he began to walk up the steps of his home. He stared at me intensely seeing the fear as it flooded my eyes and drained down my pale face.
"You're safe here. You don't want to stay out here, do you?" he asked, a sly smile swept across his worried face.
I took his hand once more and walked inside with him. I entered a nice home much like my... old... home...
God I hope my mother is ok...
I entered what seemed to be the kitchen to be met by two young girls looking to be around 3 and 4 years of age.
"Sammy, who is she?" they both cooed as their mother entered the kitchen.
"Why... Hello!" the woman said, a smile on her tanned face, her eyes filling with curiosity, "Well Sam, who is this?"
"This is Nicole mother." He said smiling as he released my hand, "She needs a place to stay."
"Well Nicole... Make yourself at home. We have an extra room in the attic, if you do not mind." She continued, smiling as she picked up one of her daughters.
"No milady. The attic is perfect. Thank you." I replied, smiling enough to satisfy all who were staring.
"Sam, show her to her room please." The women ordered, as she began to tend to her crying children.
"Nicole?" Sam inquired as he walked up the stairs.
As we came to the top, I began to notice a few distinct features that had been concealed by the ebony night. He had crystal blue eyes, a somewhat tan face, blonde hair and wondrous smile. He looked in the light to be around my age if not a year or so older. His was fairly muscular and about six inches taller than I.
"Here is your room miss." He said as he opened the door and stood outside the doorway, "If you need anything, let one of my family members know."
"Thank you." I replied as Yuna dashed in behind me.
"FOX!" the woman called, racing up the stairs with a broom, "Where is it?"
Yuna dashed into my arms as the woman came through the door, broom held up in a striking position. I held Yuna tightly against me, turning from the woman, shielding Yuna from the blow that I anticipated. I stood quivering, Yuna's small body held against my chest. I felt my heart begin to race, my breath quicken, and a small silent tear fall like an autumn leaf onto my dress.
The world slowed as I the broom hit my upper back, sending my aching body crashing to the floor. I held tightly onto Yuna who now was snarling and baring her teeth. I stood as quickly as I could, letting the pain redirect itself, turning to rage. I grabbed the broom the woman held as she was about to strike again. I stopped her blow in mid-air and felt the broom I clutched break in my hands, blood dripped to the floor.
"Don't you dare harm Yuna." I stated, my voice bubbling with fury.
"Nicole, are you hurt?" Sam asked as he burst through the door.
He stood for a moment in shock as his mother silently and slowly let go of the broom. It dropped in two pieces onto the floor as I let go of the piece I clutched tightly.
"I... I did not know..." she stammered, putting her hand silently to her chest and steeping away from me.
"You struck at me Madame. Not at the Yuna. WHY?" I inquired, glaring at the pale faced woman as she stood stunned in the doorway.
"What did you do Mother?" Sam asked, staring at my bleeding hands and the broom that lay broken in half in the floor.
He slowly walked over to me and gently took one of my hands. I felt the anger and pain melt away as he gently turned my bleeding hand over, palm up, and looked deep into my eyes.
"Mother, if you will not answer Nicole then will you please retrieve bandages and some disinfectant from the closet?" Sam said sternly, his crystal blue eyes never leaving mine.
His mother stood awkwardly for a moment in the doorway in deep thought it looked like before finally walking down the stairs and opening a closet door. I heard as she shut the door and slowly walked back up the stairs. Sam and I sat in the floor, Yuna at my side as Sam treated my wounds.
He gently cleaned off the blood that dripped from the palm of my right hand and dressed the wound. He did it with such care that I could not help but let a faint smile wash away the pain that shot through my entire body. After he dressed my wounds we sat for awhile and talked.
His eyes danced in the faint candlelight of the attic as I spoke to him. As the sun rose he spoke,
"I should let you get some rest."
He then helped me to my feet and helped me into bed. He gently covered me with a quilt, smiled, and then left the room, shutting the door behind him.
I turned over and blew out the candle. Then finding a comfortable position, soon drifted off into one of the deepest sleeps I ever had.
He washed away the pain and made me feel as though everything would be perfect in the end... Although I knew, it wouldn't be.
