II. Fenix, my guardian

A roar woke me up suddenly, I moved my body quickly on the bed, the light of a candle hit my head, I squinted, covering half my face with one hand, my mind contracted from side to side, as if was on a scale looking for balance. Another crash was present, followed by this, rain.

The non-stop beating of my head had me in a confused trance, the candle on that small nightstand absorbed my consciousness, I settled back on the bed with my eyes immobile, hypnotized by the dance of that fire, that being of light transformed into a young woman, who fearfully buried a knife in her belly.

I closed my eyes, a stabbing pain brushing my belly. Almost instantly I passed a hand over it, looking for that wound, but I only felt skin, strangely healthy.

A thunderclap made me wake up, just in time, my whereabouts were unknown and I couldn't just think of something that was nothing more than a sensation. I opened my eyes again, the place that received me with such warmth was a cabin, somewhat worn and old, as if more than one person had lived there.

I began to hear footsteps in the distance, someone was approaching, when I saw that the door handle was moving, simulating to be sleeping. My hands were sweating cold, a female voice spoke from a distance. I felt the bed sag slightly, followed by this, Some hands covered my forehead.

"Haley…" The voice whispered my name.

I run her hand across my cheek, stroking it briefly.

A small chill ran down my spine at the touch of her, somehow I felt safe listening to her, I took a long sigh and opened my eyes.

The sweet voice belonged to a red-haired girl, she had freckles scattered all over her face, she was looking at me with a big smile, sitting at the foot of the bed.

I sat up, the covers that covered me sliding down my body. I stared at the girl, just at the moment that she was going to ask about my whereabouts someone slammed the door of the room, immediately, my eyes were fixed on the cause of that.

Unlike the little girl, he didn't seem very happy about my presence, rather, he looked at me with contempt.

"So… you're the girl in the forest, right?" I speak while he hung a hunting shotgun on the wall.

I just nodded at his comment, everything was getting more and more confusing, Forest…? I really do not understand this reality, it is too confusing.

My mouth moved on its own, uttering a question; Who are you? I could clearly see the boy's smile, it was creepy.

"We are monsters, and you are dinner," he said with that horrible smile.

I tried to stay firm, but a shiver made me shiver for a few minutes, minutes that I take the opportunity to tease me, laughing out loud, the girl scold him with her eyes, he ignored her, and just went to another room.

"I'm so sorry," said the little girl, catching my attention. He won't hurt you, no one will hurt you now, so don't worry. I'm Marie, and this is my older brother, Alwin.

He gave me a smile, this managed to calm me down, if only a little.

"Highdell," said this Alwin from another room. In case you were wondering, you are in Highdell.

Highdell? I've never heard that name in my entire life, nor do I think it's close to where I live.

Silence took over the room, thinking about my situation was desperate, I had so many questions, however, only I could answer them.

Try to remember, to remember something, at least a face, a voice, a poorly structured memory, whatever, but there was nothing. My head was blank, I bit my lower lip.

I had to distract myself, if I continue like this I will not get anywhere but madness. The murmur from the window captured my attention.

Rain.

The sky was crying softly above us, from the window next to the bed, I appreciated its suffering, forgetting mine for a few seconds.

I felt better now.

I glanced at Marie, who had never let go of me at any time. As the seconds passed I realized that they had no bad intentions, I assumed that she had taken care of me during the time that she had been unconscious.

She "She is a very good girl ..." At that thought, I smiled.

"Do you like the rain, Haley?" She said she finally breaking the great silence.

I nodded a couple of times, without taking my eyes off the window.

-To you? "I returned the question."

"Yes, I liked to watch her with my mother, but…" I felt a small pang in my chest.

Looking at her eyes I was able to see her response, I dare not ask her to complete the sentence.

"It's very strange…" I whisper with an eerie calm, she is probably more like her brother than I would like.

-Why…?

She leaned closer to my face, and whispered again.

"She died a year ago, in the forest, I don't know very well how she died, even so, I can remember her perfectly, but ... everyone forgot her, everyone except me" She glanced at the next room, where her brother was. . Although I think ... I'm starting to forget her too ...

Hearing that, my skin prickled, did they forget her mother, just like that?

Not only was that strange, this whole place completely was, the fact that only Marie remembers her scares me, the most absurd thing is that I completely believe in her words.

"I have a question," I said in a higher tone to change the atmosphere that a few seconds ago had become tense and painful. How did you know my name

She did not respond immediately as she had done before, she looked thoughtful, perhaps she remembered moments that she lived with her mother, I felt a pang in her chest. Just as she deigned to ask something else, she spoke up.

—Three days ago I went to see my mother, but when I was returning home, I felt someone calling me, I found you in the depths of the forest, near a cave, you were delirious, I asked you several questions, you only answered the last one , your name, after that you fainted, luckily, Petra was there, she helped me take you here, "he said, without taking his eyes off me.

Her response impressed me.

Not just because she had been unconscious for three days, but that she herself claimed to be in the woods, that puzzled me. If her mother died there, she too could take the same risk.

I guess she knew very well the danger she was in, even so, was she there?

I don't know why, but something inside me told me that she was waiting for me, and that she really didn't go to see her mother.

Silly stuff.

I shook my head, taking that thought away from her, it was too absurd to have it there.

Marie looked at me strangely, maybe she realized that she doubted her words. I changed the subject quickly, letting all my curiosity, which I had saved a few moments ago, collapse against her, I asked her thousands of questions, Marie answered each one of them without any problem; I asked him about her, her brother, and most of all, Highdell.

Marie started by telling me about Highdell.

It turns out that it is not a town or anything like that, rather, it is a huge house — It has twenty thousand floors or more. She is the only one there is, she is in the middle of the forbidden forest. She lives on the second floor with her brother, in addition, she said that going out was very dangerous. That is why no one can do it.

I'm talking about how she didn't know the other people who lived there so well, her brother wouldn't let him talk to them, according to him, they were crazy and could hurt him.

Following this, I talk about her, Marie lived with Alwin forever, I don't mention her parents, probably because of the same thing as before.

I also talk about Petra, and she explained to me that she lives on the first floor, she is the one who takes care of them, I emphasize that they were very close, however, a few days ago things changed, Alwin argued with Petra several times, most likely That it was my fault, although, Marie, I do not specify the reason.

There is no doubt that it was my fault. I guess she didn't like the fact that a stranger was with her little sister, it's understandable.

Marie quickly changed the subject upon noticing my silence.

—I like to dance…, I would love to make a living from that, to go outside and explore the world…

My eyes did not leave his, without him noticing I smiled. The atmosphere was pleasant, her company was, however, she seemed somewhat downcast.

"I'm sure you will." Try to cheer her up, I don't know why.

She looked down.

"I don't think they'll let me, Alwin is too overprotective," I whisper the latter.

"That's because he loves you, you know?" "She was still the same," although I don't think I'll stop loving you because you fulfill your dreams, "I added.

Marie shook her head.

"It wouldn't be nice."

I sighed.

—What would not really be right is for you to limit yourself like that, he may not accept it easily, but when he sees you so happy, he will surely change his mind.

After saying that, she smiled. Somehow I created an interest in her, since she began to ask me thousands of questions about me, but I was not able to answer them honestly, because if it were so, she would not have said anything.

I felt bad for lying to her, she looked like a pretty sincere girl, filling her illusions with lies was quite unpleasant.

It was in those moments that I became aware of something, small fragments, painful and angry memories. All that attacked me off guard, however, I hid it again inside myself, luckily, Marie, I did not notice any change in my behavior.

"We can't leave her outside, the forest is dangerous, you said it yourself, Ali," she claimed, Marie.

"I know, but there's no place here…" Alwin scratched her chin.

We were in a kitchen, sitting at a small table, Alwin was cooking all this time, while they argued about my next whereabouts, I slowly ate the chicken broth I had prepared.

Looking at them from this angle, they looked like two phoenixes fighting — Phoenix for his orange hair, of course — one of them was fighting for me, while the other just wanted to finish me off.

Alwin ended up giving in, ending the great battle.

As the little girl celebrated by jumping up and down in her chair, I devoured a large piece of chicken. I had won my first battle without even lifting a single finger.

Marie was, without a doubt, my guardian angel, also, I can assure you that my guardian angel is a beautiful Phoenix.