Corazón

⁰⁴¹ : 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙾𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝙲𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚘

Eight years ago, in the tender days of her youth, Suzette stirred from her slumber to the gentle prodding of a voice that had a soothing cadence. "Principessa, wake up."

Her eyebrows knitted together as she roused from her dreamscape, slowly succumbing to the beckoning of consciousness.

With a languid blink, Suzette's eyes fluttered open, only to discover herself nestled against the broad and protective frame of her Big Brother.

At the age of sixteen, her curiosity and youthful spirit met with her drowsy state, making her strive to sit up, her lithe form now perpendicular to his. Her gaze darted around their surroundings, while her Big Brother, steadfast and unwavering, continued to stride forward.

"Big Brother, how much longer until we reach our destination?" Suzette inquired with a hint of drowsiness lingering in her voice. Her head found a comfortable perch upon his shoulder as she sighed, a sense of restlessness stemming from both her fatigue and eagerness.

"Don't worry we are already there,"

Amidst the tranquil ambiance of the forest, bathed in the soft, golden hues of twilight, Xander's gentle assurance eased Suzette's earlier restlessness. The scenery before them was nothing short of enchanting, with a serene lake mirroring the verdant surroundings.

As the siblings ventured further into this magical bamboo forest, Suzette's senses were heightened, and a subtle unease pricked at the edges of her consciousness.

It was as though an unseen presence lingered, an invisible observer in their midst. She glanced about with vigilant eyes, yet found no tangible source for her disquiet, dismissing it as a trick of her imagination.

Their journey led them to a picturesque stone bench overlooking the lake, and their arrival coincided with the emergence of flickering lights on the water's surface. A soft gasp escaped Suzette's lips as the spectacle unfolded before her. She stood, her eyes aglow with wonder, taking in the ethereal dance of these luminous beings.

Xander's warm chuckle echoed through the forest, a testament to his joy at her astonishment. He joined her, rising from his seat and stood behind her.

A gentle breeze stirred, causing a shiver to run down Suzette's spine, but her discomfort was swiftly alleviated as a familiar jacket enveloped her, its warmth a reassuring embrace. It was her brother's, offered as a gesture of care and protection, a shield against the chill that seems to disrupt her serene evening.

"Big Brother, won't you feel cold after some time?" Suzette inquired, drawing near and wrapping her arms around Xander's waist, her embrace a gesture of warmth and affection. "I don't feel cold, and I know that you might need it anyway; that's why I wore it."

Xander's heart swelled with tenderness as he gazed down at his sister. A soft smile tugged at his lips, and he turned his attention back to the mesmerizing display of fireflies, their ethereal glow painting a breathtaking scene on the canvas of the evening.

"Let's go, hmm?" Xander suggested, realizing that time had passed swiftly and the night was advancing. The rustling of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl served as a reminder of the enveloping darkness.

Moreover, the rumbling in her stomach hinted at her growing hunger. Xander cast a protective glance around the tranquil forest, reassuring his sister who was peering around uneasily, "You don't have to be scared; I'm here, okay."

Suzette nodded, her trust in her brother unwavering, and she got up from the stone bench. She adjusted the jacket he had given her, pulling it around herself more snugly to ward off the encroaching chill.

"How's your mood now?" Xander inquired gently, his concern for her evident. Her response brought a smile to his face.

"Better," she replied with a pointed finger. "Tomorrow, we will come here with all of them, right?" Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she looked at him, yearning for the joy of sharing this beautiful scenery with her beloved brothers.

Xander readily agreed with a nod, promising her a future excursion filled with the company of her other siblings.

The pair ventured down the stone path that wound its way through the dense bamboo forest, the tranquility of the night embracing them. Their footsteps resonated softly against the path, leading them back to the road they had traversed earlier.

Just as Suzette prepared to speak, an unexpected noise from behind caught their attention. Both instinctively turned around, Xander using his phone's flashlight to pierce the darkness. Their gazes scanned the surroundings, searching for the source of the disturbance, but found nothing amiss.

Xander dismissed it as the rustling of leaves, likely stirred by the gentle night breeze. However, Suzette's unease was palpable as she clung tightly to her brother's hand, her apprehension evident in her eyes. "Big Brother, I don't feel safe here," she confessed, her voice quivering slightly.

Xander nodded in understanding, the eerie atmosphere of the deserted road giving him pause. While he wasn't frightened, he was sensitive to Suzette's feelings and recognized her discomfort.

As they prepared to move forward, a sudden crash shattered the silence, a tree falling directly onto their path. Both siblings jumped in alarm, their eyes fixated on the unexpected obstruction.

"Big Brother-" Suzette began, her voice laden with fear.

"Shh, don't speak," Xander whispered, his hands gently covering her ears to shield her from the impending danger. In the next instant, the sharp crack of gunshots pierced the night air, echoing from a distance. Suzette clung to Xander, her confusion mingled with fear.

He had extinguished the flashlight, leaving only the faint illumination of the moon to guide them through the obscurity.

Once more, the ominous sounds pursued them from behind, and Xander's instincts took over. He clutched his little sister's hand firmly, a sense of urgency driving him to yell, "Let's run from here!"

Without hesitation, they sprinted away from the source of the menacing noises, their breathless escape accompanied by the relentless crunch of leaves and the ominous crescendo of gunshots drawing nearer. Suzette clung to her brother, her heart pounding as they raced through the dimly lit forest, their destination uncertain.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion shattered the night, and Suzette felt herself enveloped by a cocoon of warmth and protection. Her vision blurred as she succumbed to unconsciousness.

...