Lost Soul

Alora

That was so awkward! I really hope the mysterious person in the window didn't see me. Which that happened yesterday but still.

Right now I'm on my bed in my bedroom with the light breeze blowing. It feels nice as I flip another page of my fantasy book. I see the sun going down and the pretty sunset casting the orange/pink hues slowly fades. The world about to be blanketed by dark skies. I put my book down and get up to close the window when something catches my eye. It's a raven on a tree that is closest to my window.

"Hello, aren't you just pretty." It flutters it's wings like it's almost annoyed. Like the bird understands me but hey you never know. I read enough fantasy books to believe that they must understand us.

"Oh well, I'm sorry aren't you handsome?" I ask the bird and it looks somewhat pleased, I realized it's a male.

"I was about to shut my window... but you can come in if you'd like?" I ask this bird like it's one of my friends.

It gives almost a head tilt or at least it looks like it to me. Maybe this is just my wild imagination. All of a sudden it flies past me and lands on my vanity. Well, maybe birds can understand us.

I decide to lay back on my bed and read some more of my book. I have just my bedside lamp on giving a dim glow to my room. The raven hasn't moved.

"How about I read to you?" I ask since I'm bored and the raven seems to be the only one interested. I usually have nobody close to me who genuinely likes to read. So it's nice to pretend this raven may like it.

I start reading, "The Chronicles of Narnia" one of my childhood favorites that I've left here at my Grammys. As I read, I feel like the raven actually is listening so I keep on. Until, I feel my eyes closing and decide to give in to sleep.

The next morning*

I wake up to the birds chirping outside my window and to the morning sun shining in. I suddenly remember the raven from last night and look around. And much to my dismay, he's gone. Which he probably left to go home or something. I hope it does come back again for me to read to him again.

I get out of bed and decide I'm going to the book store in Fair Village. I look in my closet and find my cute baby blue, cami dress. I pair it with my white sneakers since I'm going on my bike. I have a little basket to put my things in, but because I don't have my car it'll have to do.

I tell Grammy where I'm headed and she waves me bye. She knows I'm older and she just wants me to tell her where I'm always at for safety reasons. Which I get. As I pedal down the road I glance at the gothic Victorian home. I end up at town after pedaling a few miles out. Thankfully, Fair Village isn't way out of the way from Grammys house.

I slow to a stop outside of this small little bookshop I always go to when I visit. I open the door to, "Locke's bookshop" and can already smell the pages of the books and all of the adventures within! I'm waiting to spot Mr. John Locke who owns this store. I haven't had the chance to see him in over two years, and didn't when I went into town the other day.

I hear someone from the back say, "welcome to Locke's bookshop! Be with you in a second!" I just go to the usual spot I hit first which is in the corner that is labeled "fantasy". I find a really good book that's has to do with fire breathing dragons and knights!

"That's a really good book it's actually new." Someone says from behind me which makes me jump.

"Oh lord you scared me!" I shriek as I clutch my poor erratic heart.

"I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!" He exclaims.

As I get over my jumpy self I finally get to look at my terror. He's kinda cute with his messy short and curly, brown hair. I wonder who he is because John only ever worked in his bookshop.

"I'm fine you just startled me," I laugh and smile at him.

"Well, again very sorry. I guess I should introduce myself the name is Sam Locke," he says with an outstretched hand.

"Hi, I'm Alora Knightly well but everyone calls me Lora," I fumble with my words as usual and shake his hand.

"Wait did you say your last name is Locke as in your related to John Locke?" I ask because I swear him mentioning he had a kid my age.

"Oh you know my dad? He was suppose to be here but he's on vacation out of town with my mom," he says while looking for a book.

"Yes well I used to visit every year here, but my Grammy got sick and I haven't been here for awhile." I sigh as I watch Sam pick out a book.

"Sorry about your Grammy. So do you stay with her only for a bit I presume?" He asks me.

"Yep two weeks off for spring break so I decided to spend it with my Grammy," as I flip through my book.

"That's cool and we normally don't get many new faces in Fair Village. Since my dad isn't here to show you the new books. Let me show you this book it's about witches and wizards!" He looks absolutely giddy and that's how you know a reader.

After 5 minutes of showing me the new books I picked about two. Sam checks out the books and I head out the door.

"See you around Lora!" He shouts as I wave him bye.
It's nice to at least know someone my age around here, for the next two weeks.

As I get on my bike I start heading down this dirt path towards Grammys. I can't remember exactly where it is now in the woods I used to go. I end up ditching my bike and walk through the tree branches it's still bright out so I'll be fine.

When I was a kid I used to run off into the woods close to Grammys and close to town. Kinda near the neighbors woods. I make it out of the maze of trees and finally spot it. The alluring pond stays still with the thick forest closing in around it. The pond has a sort of little island in the middle where as a kid I'd swim out to it. Xander my older brother always said this place was creepy. I called him a baby and then he'd get mad. Then he'd leave me by myself which I liked being by myself. I found this place to be very peaceful.

We never told anyone about this place and I always came back to sit and read. I hear rustling behind me and a flap of wings. I duck down and look up to see my friend the raven overhead. It caws out. The first noise it's made. When unexpectedly I see a shadow of a person in my peripheral. This is definitely where Xander would run.

A man says with a deep almost raspy voice, "hello little bird."

Thank you for reading 🖤
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Her dress down below 👇🏼