Peculiar child

"Andrew, be careful of that child, you have no idea what she is. Despite her innocent looks, a monster may be lurking within." An old man called to him, but he refused to listen as his eyes kept fixed on the terrified little girl.

Andrew was the name of the man who was Anne's brother. He had been aware of his sister being pregnant, but afterwards, she informed him that she had lost the child, while being oblivious of the fact that she had been lying. Moreover, they had no idea who the father of the child was.

The villagers had urged her to spill who the father was, but she never did. As Andrew connected all the pieces of the puzzles together, he now understood why she had hidden the knowledge of her daughter's existence from the world.

She was a child with peculiar features, a child that could never be accepted by the society for her contrasting look, but she was also a terrified child who had lost her mother.

As he observed her, he realized she had never been around other people except her mother. She was in a muddled state and trembling in fear as the villagers examined her like she was an alien being exhibited for their display.

Taking his time, he approached her again, crouching a few inches away from her "What is your name? I'm Andrew." He spoke softly with a kind smile playing on his lips, but the confused girl was reluctant to answer as her eyes scoured through the charred remains of the cottage, in search of her mother.

Andrew's eyes watered but he blinked back the tears as he watched some of the villagers go into the cottage to bring out Anne's body.

"Where is Mama?" The little girl asked again, her purple eyes gleaming with unshed tears, making them look like glowing purple crystals under the reflection of the light.

Andrew swallowed before he proceeded to speak "She went somewhere very far, so she can rebuild the cottage again, she'll come back soon." He lied and with every word that rolled off his lips and every flicker of hope he embedded into the little girl's heart, a searing pain spread across his chest.

He saw the little girl's eyes widen with hope as she asked "Really? When will Mama come back?"

"Soon, she'll come back soon, but for now, you'll stay with me." Andrew explained to her, but she suddenly recoiled back in fear, shaking her head in refusal.

"Mama said never to go with strangers." The little girl suddenly blurted out as she looked down at the ash beneath her little feet.

"But I'm her brother, I'm your uncle and she told me to take care of you. It's not safe to be alone, come with me, I'll take care of you until your mother comes back." Andrew implied, his hand still outstretched, but he could see the look of uncertainty on her face as she darted her eyes between his hand and his face.

Despite his pleas for her to come with him, she remained reluctant as she shook her head.

Suddenly, a little girl about the same age and build as her emerged from the crowd as she hovered beside the unknown man who claimed to be her uncle.

The little girl, unlike her had the darkest strands of hair she had ever seen as it framed her face and her large doe eyes were a pair of striking forest green orbs. Unlike the typical looking villagers that surrounded them, the little girl's features were a marvel.

Dabria, as she caught sight of the little girl, her immaculate features immediately caught her attention as her eyes fixated on her.

With furrowed brows, she took a hesitant step toward them and stretched her little hand toward the girl, brushing her fingers through her dark strands of midnight black hair.

The little girl in return, gave her a wide grin, revealing her teeth with missing ones as she played with her white hair, equally as mesmerized as Dabria.

"Wow you have beautiful hair, why is your hair white? and your eyes are pretty too." The little girl asked but Dabria only fluttered her lashes in perplexity.

"I'm Malieficient, you can call me Malia, what is your name?" The little girl asked in a bubbly spirit, her green eyes filled with excitement for her new peculiar friend, while being oblivious of the tragedy that had transpired.

"Dabria." Anne's daughter replied with a smile, while Andrew watched in bewilderment as she loosened up in the presence of Malia.

"This is my daughter, Malia." Andrew chipped in, but she didn't give him a response as she was rather fascinated by Malia.

"Do you know where Mama is?" Dabria asked Malia, while ignoring him.

Malia tilted her chin up as she tried to think "Hmm, no, but we can help you find her. My Papa is a hunter, he knows how to track things." Malia spoke out with excitement in her bubbly voice.

"Really?" Dabria's eyes widened, she seemed to trust Malia's words more than she trusted his own which left him puzzled as he watched the exchange between the two girls.

"Yes! Right, Papa?" Malia turned to face her father as she clung to his arm.

"Of course, that's why you need to stay with us before your mother comes back, both you and Malia can be friends, hm? You're both cousins after all " Andrew swiftly chipped in and Malia gasped in excitement.

Dabria's lips curved into a small smile, upon hearing that she would be staying in the same house as Malia. She nodded in agreement and Malia giggled in excitement as she locked Dabria's arms with hers, while hopping around.

"We'll stay together and become best friends." Malia chimed while skipping around and within a matter of seconds, Dabria was already playing with her new friend while the villagers watched with caution, despite the portrayal of the peculiar girl's innocence.

"Okay, it's time to go home now, lets go." Andrew said as he called for the girls and they immediately ran towards him while he held them in both hands.