The Broken Ones

Chapter 8:1 -Returning

They arrived at the small village on the other side of the mountain just in time for sunset. The walk down the mountain had been easier, though it to maintain the balance in the steepest parts of the path. Their toes were throbbing with pain from the constant pressure from the shoes because of the downward slope. As they arrived to the village and the ground was somewhat more even, Ana’s left leg hurt so much that she couldn’t disguise her limping. Each step she took was followed with a grimace of endless pain. After awhile Soi hoisted her up in his arms and carried her instead. She was in too much pain that she didn’t try to reject him. Instead she rested her blonde head against his shoulder. The party took in on an inn and Soi carried Ana up the few steps to their room and put her into bed. She was sweating and her breathing was strained. Jagger, who had followed in Soi footsteps, sat down on the edge of the bed and watched Ana with worry in her eyes.
-Is there anything we can do? She asked Soi.
-She just need to rest, he answered though he felt that he should do something. –Maybe some water?
-I’ll go ask for a glass.
Jagger quickly disappeared out of the room and Soi took up his little dark bottle. He opened it and held it over Ana’s mouth when she came to and put her hand in the way. She tried to focus her grey eyes on Soi.
-I don’t need that, she whispered with a raspy voice.
-But…
-It’s as you said, I just need to rest. Save that for someone who really needs it. Who knows, one drop of that and I might not be able to save you anymore.
She put on a weak smile and her blonde hair was pasted on her temples with sweat.
-What do you mean?
-What if it healed me?
-Not one drop, Ana.
-You don’t know that, it might take away my powers, and I really need them now.
She shifted her head.
-Put the bottle away, Jagger’s coming, Ana warned and Soi did as he was told.
Jagger returned with a glass, the water was dripping over the edge and her clothes were all wet. Ana propped herself up on her elbow.
-And what I really need is some real water, she said and smiled at Jagger. –Did you run?
-No, Jagger panted.
Ana received the glass gratefully and swallowed half of the glass in one chunk before she put the glass away to crawl back into bed.
-Now I just need to sleep, but you two needs to eat.
She waved them away and as they left the room unwillingly the door shut close of its own just behind them. They had no choice but to do as Ana wanted.

Their dinner was filled with tension and worry. None of them ate much but poked around in their meal.
-I’ve never seen her this bad before. I know she limps but she usually cover it up. I didn’t know it bothered her so much, Jagger finally confessed with a guilty face. –I wish she wouldn’t suffer so much.
In his mind, Soi silently agreed. He nodded in response.
-I’ve always seen her as my older sister, but now when she was so pale and her eyes glowed with agony I just saw a little girl. Not much over ten.
-How old were you when you first met?
-I was six years old. I was in Mack’s garden, there was a loose plank in the fence and I was small enough to creep between and out of the garden. I wondered around in the forest and of course I got lost. The darkness was soon upon me and I was scared and cried. I was an easy prey for wild animals. And that was when I saw the red eyes in the dark around me.
Soi knew what eyes she was talking about, he had seen them all too often in his dreams now. Jagger continued her story;
-They had surrounded me and if they had gotten me I don’t know what would have happened to me. But I wouldn’t be normal, for sure. Then Ana silently came out of the forest. Her blonde hair was the first thing I saw, and actually the last thing as well. I don’t remember what happened after she arrived but the next thing I know is that I wake up at home.
-Those red eyes, it was monsters? Soi asked to make sure.
-Yes, the first and the last time I’ve ever saw them. I’m not sure if this is just my mind playing games but I remember them as huge humans with a lot of hair and pointy teeth, their backs all crooked. You know, they don’t attack normal people so I’ve always thought it to be strange that they would surround me. But I suppose they have to eat something as well, like your horse.
Jagger immediately regretted her words and put her hands across her mouth. Soi painfully wrinkled his eyebrows.
-I’m sorry, Jagger apologized.
-It’s alright, I’m sure she’ fine, she’s a smart animal.
It was another part of Jagger’s story that bothered him more. It fitted right into Ana’s theory that brokens or rather monsters were being created. His thoughts was interrupted by Jagger’s discreet little coughs. She steadily met Soi’s dark eyes with her green eyes.
-I want to say thank you for trying to save me even though it meant carelessly throwing yourself over a cliff for a girl who have done nothing but showered you with her hate since you first met.
-And that’s saying something, Soi ended with a smile. –I forgive you. I understand you care a great deal about Ana.
-As I said, she’s like my older sister.
-How long has she looked the way she looks like now?
-She’s been the same since I first met her. I’m sixteen.
-So…, Soi counted on his fingers. –For at least ten years she’s looked like she’s around fourteen. She really is immortal.
-She might not die from old age but she can still be killed. It’s just not so easy…
Jagger lowered her voice and sunk deep into her chair.
-What…
-Sch, she hissed and pointed behind Soi.
Soi carefully turned his head around and saw a strange man order some beer at the bar. At first Soi couldn’t understand why Jagger had reacted or why he at first sight thought he looked strange. But then he saw it. Though the man was of young age, around the same as Soi himself, his hair was completely white, his skin was pale and his eyes were blue as ice. The man suddenly turned his head at Soi’s direction, as if he had felt Soi watching him, and his eyes were ice cold even though he smiled invitingly.
-I don’t like him, Jagger whispered across the table.
Soi thought maybe Jagger had inherited some of her father’s intuition because Soi agreed with her on this matter, there was something about this man.
Then the man raised his glass in Soi’s direction and Soi’s heart sped up. He knew why he didn’t like this man. On his right hand he was missing three fingers, from the little to the middle finger. It was as if Sam stood in front of him holding out the silver dagger. Was this a monster as well? What should he do? Soi couldn’t move an inch from his seat and if he moved he would reveal his suspicions. And where would he go for that matter? He couldn’t go back to Ana if the man would follow him. He smiled weakly back at the man and turned his head back to face Jagger.
-I don’t like him, either, he said to her.
-Then what should we do?
-There’s nothing we can do, he has as much right to be here as we do. Let’s finish our meal and get back to Ana soon.
Soi concentrated on the meal in front him. But Jagger still looked behind his shoulder.
-Another one just walked in, she told him. –He also has white hair. But he looks a lot younger, around my age perhaps. I like him better, he looks less sinister somehow.
Soi laughed at her description and looked up from his plate just to see her face turn pale.
-What? He asked urgently.
But she wouldn’t answer, her eyes widened and she stared at whatever was going on behind him. He had to turn his head again. He soon understood that nothing could have prepared him for the shock.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick