The Huntress Book 1 Memories

by Mihaela Gheorghe

  “The grass is wet and very cold.” he says, “It doesn't bother you? You're not cold?”

  I laugh. He doesn't have the slightest idea what truly cold means.

  “Cold? During this period of time? No, not at all.”

  I blink. When I open my eyes, he's right next to me. It's very strange. Not only because I didn’t hear him moving, but I can't figure out how he could move so fast. I am so surprised that I don't have time to get scared.

  “Hey, how have you managed to move so fast?”

  He does not answer, but he still fixes me. He stares at me enough that I feel bad. So I say the first thing that crosses my mind.

  “You do know you have an unusual eye color? I do not think I've ever seen someone with such eyes. A brownish yellowish orange.”

  He still doesn’t speak.

  “I think it's a gene thing. Because your brother has them too. Although I see no resemblance between you two, he has the same color eyes.”

  “Yes, you may be right. It's a gene in my family.”

  “And there are many of you?”

  He hesitated. As if he was wondering whether to reply to me or not. I know very well how it feels not wanting to talk about yourself.

  “You don't have to answer me.” I say

  “You met Sky. I've got a sister, Slim, still a brother, Mark and my parents, Seth and Joyce.”

  “Wow, but you have a fairly large family.”

  “I think so.” he admits it.

  His fixed and insistent gaze begins to bother me.

  “Why are you staring at me?”

  “Oh, do I?”

  “Yes, you do.”

  “Excuse me, I have not figured it out.”

  “Okay, but now that I've told you, would you, please, stop?”

  Instead ceasing, he kept looking at me from head to toe. I don't want to look at him. The glow in his eyes begins to resemble with those of Director Watson, but he also looks like a child staring longingly at a cake. I sat Bad idea! This way he could see the hole on my elbow.

  “How come you didn't ask anything about the bruises and cuts on me?” I blabber again.

  “Did you want me to ask?”

  “Gosh, no!”

  “See?”

  I keep quiet. Better than to reel nonsense. It's quite true that I have not talked to too many people, especially to young people. However, I do the stupidity to talk again.

  “Sometimes, you seem more mature than your age. And not just physically, but as attitude as well.”

  I was convinced that he would not comment on anything. Whenever I make a personal remark about him, he shuts up.

  “So do you.” he says.

  “Think so? If it were so, I would be able to control my nerves and don't say the first thing that I can think about.”

  He laughs. I laugh with him. He looked at me with the same look earlier, which disturbs me. I move a little backward. I begin to tear some grass with gestures rather nervously. His hand reaches for mine. I instinctively pull back mine. Usually, people are disgusted by me. They cross on the other side of the road not to pass by me. Even with my mother, I touch only in passing, with no meaning of an emotional display. As concerning my dad, the only time when we touch is when I go to his fists.

  “What are you doing?”

  My voice is slightly hoarse. I do not feel comfortable. Not at all.

  “Excuse me.”

  “I do not understand you at all. You're not like other people?”

  “Why do you ask that?” He says, slightly tense.

  “Because usually people back away from me. While you... you... you look... You look for my company, or even want to touch me.”

  “So what?”

  “It's not normal. I'm not accustomed to so much attention and I dislike it. I profoundly dislike it.”

  I look at him straight in his eye after that. He moves slowly and his hand is placed over mine. It's cold hand. Like the ice in the winter. After a few seconds I try to withdraw mine, but he presses his hand more to keep mine.

  “You're cold.” I say easy. “Very cold.”

  “Do you mind?”

  I give him a weak smile.

  “Not so much.”

  His hand is still on mine.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  But I can't look into his eyes while asking him. Because I like and I dislike as well his innocent touch. He waits until I look back at him.

  Because, although you could doubt, people don’t touch me as well. Not at all, I'd say. Because I know how it is not to find a place in the world of humans. Because I know how it feels to be seen as a freak. And, above all, it is because I think you're very beautiful.”

  I tear my hand under his I get up on my feet. I'm so angry, but also so disappointed by him, that I hardly refrain myself from tears.

  “You… pig!”

  His eyes are increased by surprise.

  “You're a pig! I don’t have to listen to these damn lies of yours!”

  I know that I'm repeating myself, but I just can’t my words because of the rage.

  “Beautiful?! Beautiful!”

  I laugh hysterically, though my voice is trembling with tears.

  “I know exactly how I am, so you can stop mocking me! I am shabby, too high, too skinny, with my hair clipped, and my face puffy with bruises. This is me! I'm not... beautiful! Pig! Pig! You pig!”

  I yell at him increasingly louder. I'd like to hit him exactly as he hit on me, to hurt him as he hurt me. I walk away from him, starting to run as fast as I can. Tears blind me. I am used with cruelty, but in a way I hadn't expected to find it in him.

  /’Now I know that if I had not speeded, I had to see Sky appearing from nowhere near the latter saying 'Great fool you are!' But back then I did not know how I did not know many things.’/

  Back then I ran without looking back, having a single thought in my mind. Never to see him again.

  It was quite dark when I got to the other town. It is not the first time when I'm looking in people’s garbage. And neither the first time I’m doing it elsewhere than in my city.

  The mansion trash that I poke is very luxurious. But I do not get to pick up the bin lid, when the master of the house appeared next to me. At least, so I suppose.

  “What are you doing here?”

  The light coming from within the windows shows me a pretty dark face, and dark-eyed, with golden, shining glimpses. What's with everyone that's strange-eyed? And why do I feel a brute instinct inside this man I’m facing? His allure is menacing and in my mouth, I feel the taste of ashes. It's the taste of fear.

  "I... I...”

  I am frozen by fear.

  “What happens, Dom? What is it?”

  The female voice I hear is a little calmer, but it sounds worried. The light is very dim, but I know that she sees me very well because her eyes are directed precisely towards me.

  “Oh, that it was... Please, Dom, do not... scare the girl. She's just a kid, can’t you see?”

  I totally unwind. My heart is still scared in my chest.

  “Don't feel how scared she is? Who are you, girl? What's your name?”

  I'm surprised again by the fact she realized so quickly that I'm a girl, all the more since, with my hair cut, I have nothing of one.

  “Dom, come here and let her speak. Don't worry, child, he will not hurt you, or do any harm to you.”

  The man called Dom moves away, but I feel it, however, that he remains cautious.

  “My name is Pat.” I begin to speak slowly and trembling.

  I note that their hearing is also too fine because neither of the two asked me to repeat myself.

  “I... I'm not doing anything wrong. I just want something to eat.”

  “Oh, you poor thing!“ says the woman. “Come in the house. I will feed you well.”

  “Kyrya...” Dom attracts her attention.

  “Please, Dom, don't you see that she's a starving little poor girl? Come, my dear, let u
s take a good care of you.”

  The man muttered something I did not understand, but it seems that his wife heard him very well. And I... I headed in that big and luxury house of this foreign so kind to me who called me 'hungry girl' with so much compassion.

  “Do not worry, sweetheart.” says Kyrya.”Nobody means harm to you. You eat. According to your stomach sounds, it's a long time since you have eaten a decent meal. Look at her, Dom. She looks like a frightened little creature, like a pursued deer.”

  Dom continued to mutter. There is still rough in his looks, but he does not look like an animal ready to pounce any longer. Kyrya puts a plate full of goodies on the table. My entrails are moving noisily this time. So loud that I feel ashamed.

  “Come, and eat!” Kyrya urges me.

  I look from the woman to the man. The enticing smell that comes from the plate makes me feel an almost painful need. With a small surrendering gasp, I throw myself on the food. I swallow almost without chewing. The taste is divine. While I eat ravenously, I study both of them, the woman, and the man.

  She is slim, with harmonious forms. Her face is slightly olive, black eyes with yellow, strange sparks, like her husband. Her hair is black, long and very straight. As her name suggests, I can see that they have foreign origins. Dom is an impressive stature, very solid, about a smaller bear. Apparently, they do not mind my obvious poverty.

  Once I emptied the plate, in record time, to my shame, Kyrya refilled it without asking me. I gobble it as ravenously, this time with a little less shame. By the third plate, I don’t even feel the initial shame. But a great state of satiety. I do not remember a single moment in my life when I have felt full.

  “I think you're satiated, girl.” Kyrya smiled at me

  I nod a yes.

  “Do not be afraid.” she assures me again. “We do not and will not do anything bad.”

  I get up from the chair.

  “I... have to go. Thank you for the food, but I got to go.”

  I go to the door, keep looking at her.

  “Wait!”

  Kyrya moved so quickly that made me recoil in horror.

  “Oh, do not worry. I meant wait to give you something.”

  She returns in record time with the most beautiful clothes I've ever worn. Jeans, T-shirts with short sleeves and long-sleeved shirts, a few sweaters, leather jackets, trendy footwear. Yes, even underwear. I haven't had anything like this ever in my life. I put my hands behind me, trying to stop them to lie to those wonders. I have never received alms and I am not going to start now.

  “Please, do not deny them. They have been...”

  Her voice becomes muffled and her eyes glow with pain.

  They have been to... Our daughter. She... she... she died.”

  From the corner of the room, I hear Dom making a sound as painfully. Their suffering moves in a specific way. I grab the clothes.

  “I... Thank you.”

  The words come out of my mouth a little too harshly. I just scratch my throat when I pronounced them, for I did not pronounce them too often and it’s difficult for me to do so. The woman nears me.

  “If you could, come to us. At any time. Not only when you need it.”

  In the darkness, I hear Dom’s voice.

  “Kyrya...”

  She pays no attention to him.

  "You come back anytime you want.”

  I hear Dom’s sighs of capitulation.

  “But never look in the trash again. And never ever take anything from there.”

  The voice sounds like a warning. Not that I'd be coming back here. On the way home I realize that there are still people in this world. I don't like Dane, the pig.

  Chapter Six

  It is needless to say that many people have made big eyes when they saw me wearing my new clothes and so well shod. I'm sure they thought I stole them. Because I heard them whispering in corners. And especially since they all know I do not get handouts from anyone.

  It is already December, but we didn’t have yet a fall of snow. But after the cold and by the smell I know it won’t last long until the first snow. I think I have developed several senses, so to speak. For example, I knew exactly when changing weather, even by the smell of nature.

  Faithful to the promise I made, I never talked with Dane. I saw him in the corridor; sometimes I felt he watched me, but I've never addressed him any word. From the moment he told me that I was beautiful, when we first met at school, he had the boldness to speak to me.

  “Hello, Patricia. I think you misunderstood...”

  Anyway, I cannot stand to be called so. I passed him without letting him speak. Since then, we have not talked. Not that I had anything to lose, anyway. And if at first, I went to the river with the fear of facing him, I was soon relieved. I didn’t meet him there. Every time I felt time a strange presence, but no matter how sharply I looked surroundings, I could not see anyone.

  I must admit that I was very proud of my clothes. Especially now that I had enough to change. Director Watson never called me into his office again, and he looked at me rather scared. I admit that this thing terribly amuses me.

  But otherwise, nothing changed. Even though I had a few nice clothes I remained all poverty, still a pariah, the same person non-grata. But at least I wasn’t so ashamed. And I didn’t feel the cold air as usual.

  Just that I was really hungry. I remembered Kyrya and Dom. I remembered all that food. And I felt guilty that I had not brought to my mother some a part of it.

  She didn’t even ask me where I got the clothes from. I gave some to her so that she would wear them. Maybe I will go for a run at those decent people. So I was thinking while I went home. Funny how we have gotten to say "home" to any place we are accustomed, whether it's about a cottage, an apartment, a mansion, a burrow, or even a shelter made of paperboard.

  “Hello!”

  Sky appeared next to me as out of the blue. Or perhaps I have been too steeped in my thoughts as to notice him.

  “Okay…” I respond with caution.

  “And? How’s your life going?”

  I gather my lips as if I would taper.

  “Come on, no offense!”

  His tone is self indulging. He seems to have honey in his voice. Without being able to resist, I smile.

  “That's better.”

  With him still following me, I prefer to stop than to literally make him see where I live.

  “Well, say what you have to say.”

  “I like you.” He said at once. You are very straight.”

  “People are painfully direct.” I bitter comment.”But rather direct and honest than a false quibbler.”

  “Who do you mean?”

  His tone is lazy, as if challenging me to say something. I know exactly what he wants me to say, but I'm sneaky.

  “No one in particular. I generally speak.”

  Be his attitude tells me clearly that he does not believe a word of what I just said.

  “Tell me, did you stop me for something, or just so... To do my time?”

  It's his turn to purse his lips. Actually, Sky looks more like a petulant little boy; he is very cute when he does that. So I cannot help myself but laugh. His eyes sparkle in shades of orange and moves from my face to my neck. It took him maybe less than a second, but I noticed. And it wasn’t the first time I saw this gesture, both to him and his brother.

  “How do you do this? You moments, you and Dane, when your eyes shine and you look at me weird in some way.”

  “Really?” he asks me with an easy tone. “Perhaps we look at you with bright and strange eyes because you're so cute.”

  My smile faded instantly.

  “I thought that only brother is a jerk. But if you have begun to act like him...”

  “Of course, cute only when you want, I take it up. For example, now you're not.”

  Sky is very playful. I've noticed it recently. And the truth is that I don’t fell as bad attacked at his words as to the words of Dane. I do not even know
why. So I quit getting annoyed and I smile.

  “See? What did I say? Now you're cute again.”

  “And so are you.” I keep smiling at him.

  We smile at each other. He takes a step towards me. I instinctively take one back.

  “You do that every time someone's approaching you.”

  I do not deny it, but I make a remark.

  “And you, as your brother, you're more mature than your years. You talk how only great and wise men talk. And you have to know it's extremely frustrating.”

  “What do you want? We are brothers.” he says, tying for the first part of the sentence and ignoring it entirely the last.

  “Yes.” I say.

  I can see that he expects me to mention something. But what does he want me to say?

  “So… why did you stop me? People are watching us.”

  “So what? Let them watch!”

  “But I do not like that. After all, you do not want me to beat another girl because she offends me if she sees me talking to you.”

  “Oh, I do not worry.” he continued in the same playful tone. “I know you can take care of yourself just fine.”

  We both laugh again. Then I feel that we are being watched. I turn my head. Dane’s yellow-orange eyes seem to penetrate us. It's almost angrily. While Sky is not even looking back to Dane, a sixth sense makes to understand that he knows that his brother looks at us. Then he suddenly raised his hands and arranges the collar of my jacket. I step back, wide-eyed. I clearly hear a growl. I look around. But I see no dog.

  “Did you hear that”? I ask Sky.

  “Perhaps it was a stray dog…” he says casually, but with a twinkle in his eyes, and amused.

  The growl is heard again.

  “Weeeell… okay then. If you stopped me just to stop me, it's about the case I go home. I think it will snow very soon.”

  “And how would you know that?”

  “Don’t you feel the smell? It smells like snow.”

  “Really?”

  Sky deeply breathed the air.

  “No, I'm afraid that the only smell that I feel is of nice girl.”

  “Come on, cut it out of here.” I laugh.”I’m leaving, bye!”

  “Hey!” he shouted behind me. “I haven't asked you what you are doing on Christmas ball!”