CHAPTER 11♍♑

ENTER:

ASTRA ELSPETH KATSURAGI

⛎⛎⛎⛎⛎

THWACK! Came the sudden sound of the frying fan crashing down hard against the ground, leaving it's wielder running out the door, shrieking

"Grandma! Grandma!!"

Before long he rushes back into the room but this time, accompanying him on his return was a girl of kiel's age and an old elderly woman.

They were no monsters....

At least not like Kiel, not like the elf kid....just human!

"Ohhhhhh...he moaned softly. His eyes twitched before gently pushing open his eyelids, taking time for his eyes to better adapt with the brightness of the room.

"Look he's coming through...the elf kid uttered and as quickly as she can, the old woman requested the help of the young girl before thus scampering away and from a few metres, she followed.

He opened them fully now, his eyes now wide and broad darted around the airing cupboard he found himself in.

It was more of a room than it was a cupboard really....all because you could walk right in

Anyone could walk right in.

Along three of the walls were Shelves with piles of towels on them, sheets, blankets and also pillowcases too

And then there was a matter of the boy.

With every ounce of effort, Kiel turned his head towards his supposed rescuer.

He supposed he should have been most surprised yet almost from the moment his gaze fell on the figure, Kiel accepted him for what he truly was....

.....there was no shock, no confusion.....

For the second time just a calm sense of acceptance

"Stay calm...the rational part of his psyche echoed in the caverns of his mind "just oberve

Silence was the only name he could classify his surroundings with as the two held each other's gaze for what seemed to be ages before atlas breaking the awkward silence

"H-E-L-L-O" the elf kid started off with a slight wave of hand

"H-E-L-L N-O...was the response given "Where am I?? Ack! My head, what did you hit me with??!" He continued with a throbbing headache felt in an attempt to sit up, one he mourned from the sudden pain that ran from his head and down to his body.

His head felt thick as though he'd been sleeping for years on end. He couldn't remember much of how he'd gotten here nor could he remember what had happened the day prior to that.

His memories were blurred!

With the sudden question asked, no response followed for all the elf kid could do was stylishy kick the frying pan underneath the bed...

...to hide the evidence while at the same time whistling to himself - an unnerving one at that

Shortly afterwards the old woman and the girl returned and cupped between her hands was a small,white bowl while in that of the girl's -- a pail.

At first glance, Kiel quickly remembered who the girl was.

It was the same girl whom he saw back at the game...

The orange haired!

Upon observation, they trooped past the elf child and headed straight for him, offering the bowl and it's contents over to....him still??

"Here,take this. the old woman said "...you drank the medicine I prepared earlier so you'll be fine, just take one more dose and you'll feel better in no time"

Kiel looked at the elderly woman, he was a bag of nerves to say the least.

Unsure of what to say needless do, he couldn't help but gaze down at the contents of the bowl.

In it, he could see his own reflection in the brownish liquid of a soup, filled with chunks of what he couldn't quite figure out yet.

He was a mess needless to say,... Actually a wreck if you will.

He found himself not dressed in his usual clothings nor any clothing for that matter.

When his clothes were taken off him, he hadn't known

His midsection was properly strapped up with bandages, for once taking notice of the severity of his injuries but even that wasn't what bothered him....

For some reason it didn't even seem to faze him

it was far from that actually

He didn't know which was worse, to die in the hands of the elderly or in that of the young elf whom he remembered quite clearly hit him in the head with a frying pan but when asked would probably deny that fact.

He had seen a fair share of humanity's cruelty, at least long enough to know they wanted things like him dead.

Why else would they risk helping something as him??!

The thought of this strange liquid before him actually been poisoned was quite the disturbing one at that and even if he knew it to be true, Kiel pushed aside the thought as soon as it came for one; upon witnessing their smiling faces

They weren't faked or made up

They looked quite infact peaceful

He was an excellent judge of character to have known that at least.

Taking a deep breath, he reached for the bowl with both hands stretched out and then proceeded in taking it from her.

Slowly, he puts it to his mouth and gulped down on the concussion but something was wrong.....

It's burning sensation made him choke, paving a way for some startling coughs

"Was it supposed to do that" he wondered

And then came the loud sudden CRASH! A sound at which was produced from the glass bowl hitting hard against the ground and shattering.

He hadn't even realized this.

He didn't even realize he'd let go of the bowl until he heard it shatter. All he could do now was stare at it in a million pieces, unable to move

He thought he was done for....

He thought the old lady would blow a fuse or a gasket or maybe even...even report him.

It's worth the amazement of how far our minds can sometimes run away with us in times of crisis.

Non of the things kiel thought would happen actually happened but regardless, the old woman calmly reached down and began picking up the broken pieces with no words being uttered whatsoever.

"Why are you helping me??... Aren't you afraid of something like me?!" A bruised up Kiel couldn't help but ask

"Hold still, don't move" she cautioned

"Wait, was she mad??" He wondered, steadying himself on the bed.

Next, he turned his gaze at the windows nearest to him and began viewing the outside world.

His head sunk too deep in thoughts

"You have no idea, do you?! You people go about your lives like sleep walkers, unaware of what's out there...the darkness harboring on the belfry of your vision"

"And you do?!...the old woman answered "be it as it may, you're still and only just a child whereas I,...I myself have been through my fair share of battles during my youth

"Up close, I've seen and encountered more things like you with more meat on their bones. looking at you quite frankly, my fears are dimmed...very very dim.....

"So that darkness you speak about, it's nothing new to me" she concluded, picking up the last piece of glass with a look

"So you're not freaked out?! Not even a little??"

"No even the slightest...she responded, standing up uprightly "...and as of my helping you part, don't even think I enjoy this as much as you do. I was but an old woman simply leaving a life of uninterrupted solitude before my grandson,.. in all the things he could have brought back home ended up bringing in here the one thing I've tried so desperately to get my memories rid off......

"Monsters?!"

"Close, the existence of monsters"

she turns around with a look of distain and then walks straight out the room a frustrated old lady.



"Well she's kinda cranky....

"Kinda?? You're just being modest" the girl responds, dropping down the pail.

Up close now, Kiel could see just how pretty she was and not just on the inside too..

Her orange hair was carefully braided into a single pig tail

Her eyes as blue as the summer sky spoke of a beautiful soul and below them lay a nose so freckled that the brown splotches overlapped much like autumn winds after harsh wind blew.

She wore a long, dark green shirt that went past her waist with black knee length compressioned shorts.

Her movements told of a need to nurture and her smile...

Her smile told of warmth with a hint of shyness

In the average person's opinion, she would be considered rather stunning or gorgeous but to Kiel, she was the most prettiest thing he'd ever seen

"Gahhhhh, that's cold!" He gave out a sudden shriek, wincing in pain from the bag of ice placed on his head

"Well you wouldn't feel the cold if you'd just stop moving you green baby"

"Baby?! Hey if your brother hadn't hit me in the head with that frying pan under here...he taps the bed's wooden frame just to make a point "...then I probably wouldnt even need that"

Saying that, he falls back on the bed soon after

"Hey, is he really your brother?"

"Yes..." she answered with the elf kid standing there, leaning against the wall a few metres from them.

His arms placed in a fold and his facial expression remained like that of an unfazed one, paying little or no attention to them as they continued so

"But he's not a ......

"Human...??! She cuts him off, gently placing the ice bag back into the pail and in her pocket, she brought out a strand of bandage and began tying it around kiel's bruised arm

"Well he is, just different. His long pointy ears are just features of his anomalous genes and traits but other than that, he's your everyday stubborn, annoying and impatient little brother"

"Hey am right here you know!...the elf kid scoffs

"Oh and by the way, I didn't ask you to do that. I didn't need you to save me, I didn't need anyone to save me! So you...you did this to yourself" he said, pointing an accusing finger at kiel

"Oh I know, I just got sick of hearing them talk trash about us. It starts off as awfully sad but then hearing it overtime, it just becomes straight up annoying if you know what I mean" he lets out a smile

"Right,...the elf kid Answered looking as though he'd make a mistake of some sort

Well uh get better soon, I've been through enough as it is

Can't have some guy's dying last words be taken in my room"

And with those words, he left

"So what about you?! I mean who are you people??" Kiel asked, staring at the girl now

"What?!?...

"Not that am complaining or anything but most people, when they find something like me, they call the police...they turn me in, So why didn't you?"

"I can tell you don't got alot of experience in this area"

"Why are you helping me?!" Kiel asked the question that bothered him

The girl paused a bit and with a slow, steady exhale, she continues

"Same reason you helped him, remember?!

No one's ever really laid down their life for him besides well Mom of course...why would they anyway?

I mean just take a good look at him.....

You know, what happened..back at that alleyway...she explained, her gaze slightly dropped

"...Kiki told me all that you did for him.

"He says it was incredibly foolish and stupid and extremely reckless

..."But also brave, admirable, Noble and for that he's grateful.

She concluded, completely tying up his bruised arm with a smile

"...Am grateful"

His face flushed pink, Kiel couldn't help it

"Well he does have a funny way of showing it though. Can I get a name at least?? From you I mean,..not him"

"Think you can pronounce it?!" She replied

"Try me....he put on a smirk

The girl paused for a moment looking at him before answering quickly yet directly

"ASTERIALNAUCHSECCIN ELSPETH KATSURAGI⛎⛎⛎

Try saying that 5 times fast.

Enjoy the story??

Check out the continuation next on Beyond the Horizon