One of a Kind

Chapter 15

I felt warmth on my skin and something ruff against my cheek. I carefully moved my consciousness toward the spot of light ahead and found that it was my eyes opening. The ruff thing was a tongue, with a fuzzy head attached. I smiled and found I was able to move my arms as I stroked its head. They were still numb but I was able to physically move them. The head barked. A dog. And a beautiful one at that. I brushed my hands along its head, slowly calming it.

I looked beyond the dog to find a room, the window locked tight. Where was I? I looked toward the door at the sound of hinges, well oiled hinges I might out in, opening. A girl with auburn curls poked her head in carefully. She looked at me, terror in her eyes. I gave a sweet smile and held a hand out.

She slipped in and closed the door softly. When she turned back to me the terror was still in her eyes but I could tell it wasn't meant for me. I carefully patted the bed and she scuttled over, sliding next to me under the covers. I wrapped my arm around her and patted the other side. The dog jumped up this time and lay there. Whatever she was scared of would think the girl a second dog.

"Please! Stop! There is no girl in this house! Please stop!" I heard the petrified voice of a woman. Footsteps neared the door. I closed my eyes and it burst open. The girl buried her face in my side and I could feel her hot tears against my side. A sneer and a voice I recognized.

"Who's the boy? I don't remember seeing him in this house before." I carefully opened my eyes. I was right. It was one of those men I had been traveling with. Great. I carefully sat up and pretended to be stroking the head of a dog where the girl was. She played along. I managed to look at this guy and he balked.

"YOU! How did you end up here!?" the man snarled. I arched an eyebrow and kept my face neutral.

"Do I know you sir? I don't recall ever running into you. Would you please leave? These kind people helped me so I owe them and you're disturbing the peace. Can you please leave?" I said, words weak and meager. This guy grew angry and grabbed the knife at his bent, lunging for me. A man's hand stopped his arm before it even came close to me. The man glared at this guy and pointed to the door.

"What you came here to find there is none of, you accused my wife of lies and have now attacked our guest. Next time you set foot in this house I'm going to the King with a complaint," he snarled. The other guy balked and ran. I carefully nudged the girl and she stuck her head out. I gave a weak smile and she crawled out of the bed, running to the man and woman in front of me. The dog hopped off the bed and began excitedly barking. This was a warm place.

"Thank you for that. You were a big help. If there is anyway we can repay you..." I stopped this man. He owed me nothing. His family had saved my life. If anything I owed him.

"Was it you... who found me in the woods? If it was then you owe me nothing. To the contrary, I owe you my life. A life for a life. You saved mine so I saved hers. It was only fair," I said. The man was watching me in shock. I carefully sat on the edge of the bed. These people had been kind to me so I would be kind to them.

"I... sir are you sure you want nothing more from us? My son saw what you did with his knife to free yourself. Someone as frostbitten as you were shouldn't have been able to move that fast," he remarked. I arched an eyebrow at that. I guess I was faster than I thought. Natural speed built up by muscle memory I guess.

"Why do you ask? I have no need for whatever you may be able to give me aside from a place to stay for the winter. And I have no desire to start working with weapons this close to a month where the blades would rust," was my simple response. The shock on the mans face faded. As did the fear I saw underlying it. That was good. At least someone was trusting me.

I looked down to where I was wiggling my toes. They moved but were still numb and I slid them back into the blanket. Looked like I would be bed ridden till I could feel my limbs again. If I would ever feel my limbs again. I looked back over at the man and his wife. They seemed peaceful, almost as if a great weight had been lifted off their shoulders.

"How old are you boy?" the man asked, the girl wrapped in his arms. I gave a weak smile.

"Fourteen sir but my father was a police officer so I saw a lot of bad people. He trained me in self defense so I he wouldn't have to keep as close an eye on me or worry for my safety as much. Just not fully with weapons. The only thing I can do is throw knives," I said. The perfect excuse for my being able to be that fast. The man nodded and said that I could stay for the winter so long as I helped out around the manor. I nodded in thanks and listened as he and his wife explained the rules. They gave me one extra one: no dating our daughters. At least I knew I could follow that rule. The one I met wasn't my type.

I slipped under the covers again and closed my eyes. The light had really hurt them. Man this sucked. At least I would hopefully be fine for diner. I wanted to meet the rest of the family. They too had helped me. I owed them almost everything now.

I felt the dog lay back down next to me, the wind blowing as the man opened the window. This was where I would be for a while. Just me and my very broken eyes. I rubbed the dogs head. He let out a whimper of pleasure. I smiled, my mind racing. This place was different and I hoped I could keep it that way.

As I lay there I thought of how everything had changed for me in a matter of months. I had run away from 'home', got to cook in a kitchen once again, was attacked by the people I had been traveling with, walked for weeks in the wilderness, nearly froze to death, and met a very nice family that had saved my life. Or some members of that family.

It was dark out once again when I heard my door open. I turned my head toward the sound and carefully lifted my head up. There was someone standing in the doorway, blocking all the light from getting in.

"It's dinner time," the voice growled. I sat up and slipped out of the bed. When my feet touched the floor I still couldn't feel them underneath me. I carefully stood up and made my way toward the door. I had to use the wall for support. If I didn't I would've fallen on my face.

I looked out on the rest of the house. It was large for a family who lived so far from the border or walked outside in their free time. I guess it just showed that even if you think one thing of a person they could be something else.