THE QUESTION

Sitting for several minutes looking at the horizon in an afternoon with a sky between reddish and faint orange made my mind get lost in my thoughts, coming to one in particular.

—Dalia, never gets close to the hunters, stay away from them as you do with wild beasts, they are even more dangerous and cruel. — replied Mom in a persistent way day after day, so that I would never forget it.

The reason was still confusing to me, but the most important thing to know was that hell would break loose the moment one of them placed their hands on me, just thinking about it made a shivering current run down my back until it reached the back of my neck, leaving a horrible sensation in my whole being, making me come back to reality.

I turned around and saw my brother approaching me.

—It's time to go or Mom will worry, let's go, Lia. — said my brother while he was adjusting his clothes wrinkled by the hard work, he had done all day, moving in the direction of home.

''Lia'' was Tyler's affectionate way of addressing me, it was his favorite big brother nickname and I liked it.

—Wait! Have you forgotten what today is like? We can't come home empty-handed Tyler; Mom will be so sad. I know. — I couldn't just go home like that, I couldn't and I didn't want to.

—But what are you talking about? Tyler thought for a moment, then he understood what I meant, he smacked his forehead with his open hand making up for his momentary memory loss. You're right, I had forgotten, but what could we bring him? It's late and you know it will be worse for us if we don't arrive soon. —

We both turned and gazed at the sunset for a few seconds before looking at each other again. —I know what you're thinking and my answer is NO, let's walk. —

—But Tyler, the flowers on the other side of the bridge are beautiful, I know it's dangerous, but Mom will love them, just for today. We can't take her anything more than that, come on brother please, it will only take a moment... — And before I could finish my intensive pleading Tyler sighed and slowly nodded his head at my offer.

We ran as fast as we could crossing the great bridge of the city that joined the borders of the great and powerful city of ''Kratos'' and the miserable and insignificant city of D'mell, we had to snake through the crowd, even though it was close to night, the streets were full of people as if it was only half a day. My brother grabbed my hand tightly with his to prevent me from getting lost, after pushing left and right whoever crossed our path, we managed to reach the other side of the bridge.

I was perplexed looking at this side of the bridge, I had never crossed it before, and the sensation was incredible, a feeling of liberation and emphasis covered my mouth until my brother pulled my arm and made me look at him.

—Concentrated, we are passing by, remember that. It must be quick, we are in danger, and you are in danger. And before turning completely around, he looked at me and said in a low but firm voice. And Lia, don't go away from me, understood? — I nodded in confirmation to my brother.

He was right, the only and most important thing was to take the most beautiful flowers in sight for Mom, at least this day we had to give her something to show how important she was to both of us.

I was so excited about picking the flowers that I gradually moved away from my brother and approached the nearby tents of the place. I inadvertently bumped into someone, and the blow made my head hurt, I immediately apologized, but when I looked up, I could see who was in front of me and the horrible sensation of shivering, fear, and horror surrounded my body.

I had in front of me a ''hunter'' My mind went blank, I could recognize him immediately by his unmistakable dark mask in the shape of a predator that for the moment was on the side of his head showing his face, while my body froze the guy looked at me.

—Eh. Are you okay? I'm sorry I didn't see you; I was so busy looking all over the place that I couldn't notice such a cute little person like you. — The hunter commented with a mischievous smile towards me.

As I didn't answer right away, he kept watching me for a few seconds, until his aura became somber and terrifying, I felt as if my poor soul was being absorbed by the eyes of a predator. Then he asked the question he was never supposed to answer.

—You! What sign of the zodiac are you? — I felt like my whole life was passing in front of my eyes and my destiny was already marking my end, my legs lost strength completely and I was about to fall back when suddenly something happened, a cart with baskets on it appeared and overturned over some potholes right in front of the hunter making him back up immediately.

In less time than I understood the situation, my brother was running holding my hand tightly taking me across the bridge at full speed, thanks to all the dust that covered the impact area and the immediate action of my brother, the hunter lost sight of me.

After a while of running relentlessly behind Tyler, my hand and feet began to ache, one from the tight grip that remained and the other from all the running we had done.

—Stop Tyler! You're hurting me, I can't run anymore, stop, let me go!... and before I finished speaking Tyler went into an alley and threw me in front of a wall, my back hit the wall and I fell to the ground, the pain covered all that part and as soon as I opened my eyes again, I started to cough very hard because of the lack of air that happened from one moment to the next.

I was going to speak and my brother spoke first. —What the hell was going through your mind? I told you clearly 'Don't stay away from me' Are you crazy or are you stupid Dalia? You know what would have happened if I didn't act right away and gotten you away from that guy, do you even know?

I shut my mouth right away, my brother was very angry, he wouldn't use my full name unless he was; I didn't have words to deny what he was saying either, he was right, I was very stupid not to watch where I was going and walk away too far. The only thing I could do was apologize for my mistake.

—I'm sorry, it was my mistake. I just wanted to pick lots of pretty flowers for Mom, I'm sorry, I... my tears fell without me being able to stop them. I won't do it again, Tyler, I promise. —

He still looked very angry and was about to say something very forcefully, but he didn't; instead, he tensed his jaw, took a deep breath, let out a big sigh, and looked at me.

—Stop crying, we are late, Mom must be very worried. I felt a huge lump in my throat as my brother walked away from me until he looked at me out of the corner of his eye and spoke. And come on, Lia, dry your tears, let's go. —

I just smiled relieved and hurried with him toward home, holding the few flowers that remained in my hands despite everything that had happened.

***

As we arrived home and opened the door, I could tell that our mother was really worried. My mother swung in front of me first giving me a very tight hug making her sweet 'lavender' scent that she always gave off accentuate my nose and also covering a great part of my face with her beautiful semi-curly brown hair.

—Mom!

She interrupted me in a matter of seconds.

—Are you all right, daughter? She turned to Tyler and looked at him a little angrily. Where were they? What took them so much longer than usual? —

He just bit his lip as he looked at the floor, I didn't want him to be reprimanded because of me, so I took out the flowers that were still in my hands and gave them to my mother.

—Happy birthday Mom! Please forgive us, we were late because we wanted to give you, even this small gift mom, you work all day flower picking in the city and we know you like them very much. —

My mother worked all day picking flowers, hence their sweet scent, the lavenders were flowers that the city D'mell gave that was what at least this sad city had to sustain those who lived in its surroundings, but, although mother worked tirelessly at it, she could never afford to have at least a bouquet of such flowers, that is why we needed to give her something like a bouquet on this special day.

My mother was very surprised to see the seemingly worn bouquet in my small hands and smiled, then she took the flowers, came over to me and gave me a tender kiss on my forehead, and then looked up at Tyler and gave him a small and tender tap on the forehead.

—Hey Mom, it hurts. — Tyler said to our mother as he blushed and looked away.

—It's time for dinner, kids. — Mom continued as she led us into the kitchen.

Things went on as normal for the rest of the night and I could observe how mom was constantly looking at the bouquet she had placed in a vase she found, then she chose to send me to sleep since it was getting late, I didn't give any excuse to avoid it because the tiredness was taking over me with every step I took, even so, I didn't want to leave, I knew that as soon as I left the room, mom would scold my brother in one way or another.

So, I pretended to obey, I went to my room, I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes, and I pretended to sleep, I would have liked not to fall asleep that night, because that moment was the real beginning of my misfortune.