IV

Lia felt a stinging sensation in her throat. She just wanted to lie down and didn't want to go downstairs for a drink.

Lia remembered something, so she took the necklace out from under her dress. The gem was blue and quite large. Lia rubbed the uneven surface, she kept looking at the stone which seemed to glow when exposed to the sun.

She closed her eyes, put the pendant on her chest and turned around, hoping her mother wouldn't come in until she woke up. The air around was getting colder, which was strange, the warehouse should be a hot place. She faced the pile of goods with her back to the door.

Her goosebumps bristled as the wind blew softly, this bed was getting uncomfortable. Her uncovered skin came into contact with something soft but pore-piercing.

Lia opened her eyes as soon as she heard a strange sound, probably a bird. To her surprise, she found herself in a dark forest, sleeping on the grass. She sat up and looked around, the splashing of the trees scaring her even more.

"Mom." Lia looked left and right. 

Lia didn't know where to go, she went by instinct. Maybe go deeper into the forest or vice versa. Lia ducked her head, avoiding the branches of a fairly low tree. Her eyes were always alert, but she didn't dare to walk faster because of the short visibility.

Lia stopped, trying to find the direction of the sound that made her heart skip a beat. The sound was getting clearer, coming from behind the bushes. Lia chose to retreat, she felt her life was threatened. The growling grew louder as Lia stepped on a twig. Although it was faint, Lia could see a pair of eyes staring at her, angry or hungry.

As soon as she turned and ran, two or three wolves came out of hiding. Lia screamed, running barefoot. Sometimes she winced when she stepped on something sharp. Every now and then she looked back, one of the wolves almost pulling her dress. They were certainly more agile.

Lia descended the valley, trying to hold on to every tree trunk. The wolf pack was still following Lia although all three seemed cautious.

Lia felt this was her chance, she tried to go faster but unfortunately she stepped on the ground which was soft enough to make her unable to maintain her balance. Lia slipped, rolling until half her body touched the riverbank.

She screamed as she tried to sit up, her back hurt, as she fell her spine hit a rock.

"Helpppp." Adalia yelled hysterically. Out of the corner of her eye she could see that the wolves had reached the edge of the cliff, hesitating to come down.

There was no other choice, she had to move quickly before she became a meal for the wolf pack.

Lia flipped over, occasionally sighing, biting her lip against the pain. It took several times for her body to sink.

The current was strong, she tried to reach the surface but her body sank even further. Oxygen began to run low and she was also unable to move because of the cold river water. 

Lia stared at the reflected moonlight as she let her body sink. Then in an instant a man jumped into the river and held out his hand. 

"No this must be a dream, take me back." Lia closed her eyes, then her body hit the floor.

"Mom!" She cried out in fear and tears welled up in her eyes. "Mom, help me!"

Elisa opened the door and saw no one. "Lia, where are you?"

Lia took out her hand, "Mom, I'm here." Still crying, not knowing what had happened to her.

"Oh God." Elisa sat with her legs folded, her head down on the bed. "What are you doing there?"

"I couldn't move, Mom."

Elisa pulled Lia's hand away, but her daughter's back rubbed against the floor. Lia cried out in pain. Elisa told Lia to hold her, while she would try to slow down, little by little. At the same time, Berta's mother came and helped Elisa. 

After a grueling struggle, they were finally able to get Lia out from underneath. Then they laid her on her side on the bed.

Elisa unzipped Lia's shirt, there was a bruise on her waist. When she touched it, Lia hissed. "How did this happen?"

Lia didn't know how she was transported into the forest in an instant. Maybe it was a dream, then the wound on her back happened because she fell off the bed. 

"Your clothes are wet too. What are you doing, Lia?" Elisa checked everything: Lia's head, skirt, even her legs. Everything was cold and wet. "Did you take a bath at this hour?" Elisa tried to look at her daughter's face but Lia seemed to bury her face deeper into the pillow.

Her mother would probably think she was crazy. Enough with the post-war trauma. Lia didn't want to add to her mother's burden.

"Lia, tell me, what's wrong?" Elisa was worried. "Did someone do something to you? Tell me!" She shook Lia's body who seemed to be sobbing.

"Lia!"

"I don't know!" she replied in a stronger tone than Elisa. Her throat was hoarse, her tears still flowing.

"Let's treat Lia first." Mrs. Berta touched the shoulder of Elisa who was currently sitting by Lia's feet. "I'll heat some water, and bring it here." 

Elisa instantly nodded, not forgetting to thank Mrs. Berta for her kindness.

After the door closed, Elisa touched Lia's leg and squeezed it slightly. Tears suddenly fell from her eyes, but they were quickly wiped away.

"I'm sorry for always asking you to get married." Lia's heart ached at Elisa's words. "I just want you to have someone to protect you in this cruel place. I can't always be there for you, I may not be that old. But if something were to happen, I would give up my life for you first.

"You understand, right. We've lost your father, my life feels meaningless. Honey, you have to be happy and survive. Go abroad where there's no war, I'll be here trying to raise money."

Lia shook her head, her ego holding her back, she wanted her mother to stop talking about death and war.

Her father would be remembered as a meritorious soldier, but only to the extent that she didn't know his name. Klein Bernadette, the name became difficult to pronounce when news of his death on the battlefield reached Elisa and Lia.