Immortal Ash

Chapter 6

The forest murmured, bowing not so much in subservience as in proud indignation. A hurricane seemed to be raging in the pine tops, in which the bright scarlet was tangled. But the evening was actually windless.

In the noise, the groans were clearly distinguishable, though the forest was far away: a dark, gloomy ridge on the horizon. The moaning was not of trees, nor of beasts, but of those whom it was better not to meet. The forest had already taken its prey today and would take more. Those who dwell in it are insatiable, especially if there is no one to curb their hunger. And Igor was convinced that they were hungry.

He decided to go through the private sector again, even though he could take a cab. Maybe he was tempted by the air, which that evening he wanted to drink with greedy gulps. Maybe it was because old memories had awakened in this place and the image of the one he hadn't saved had become too vivid again. Or because Igor, obeying not the call of the forest, but a premonition, went to ward off trouble.

The street was deserted and quiet, as it had been during the day, with only the occasional lazy quacking of dogs hidden behind fences. The locals had not yet returned to their homes. It was not surprising: souvenir shops worked till night, restaurants - till the last customer, and these customers were becoming more and more numerous with each new summer day.

Once again everything was quiet: the barking and the noise of the forest were silent. But the silence seemed wary, lurking, like a beast ready to jump out of ambush in the next second. Igor involuntarily touched his chest, remembering how he lay pressed to the ground by the strong paws of the wolf and felt his hot breath. The memory was so sharp that he squeezed his eyes shut. But the picture only grew brighter. Again, as then, he smelled the odor of blood that drowned out the scent of herbs and honey, saw the dead old woman with her throat cut, heard the desperate cry of her granddaughter, the blond beauty. The girl's death cry also remained a bleeding wound in his heart: the faithful wolf guardian did not protect his mistress, as Igor had not protected the one for whom his soul was still moaning. The wolf's instincts failed him: while he was pressing his paws on Traveler, preparing to cut his throat, the real killer came out of hiding and slaughtered the girl. What happened to the child, her daughter, Igor did not know, because he saw nothing else.

He has long searched for those who belonged to this family, and, not finding, more and more fell into despair: did the killer did not spare the little girl and the line was interrupted? But recently came to the right trail - Lera's grandmother. And although he was late again - the grandmother died - but there was her granddaughter.

Igor was just approaching Lera's house and involuntarily looked into the yard. It was dark, apparently, the mistresses had not yet returned. It is quite possible that the girl after school helps her aunt in the city and they return together. Tomorrow is a day off, Lera doesn't have to go to school, so they will probably stay late. Igor went on his way, as suddenly he heard muffled crying and reacted instantly: he pushed the unlocked gate, took out his smartphone from his pocket and lit up the yard.

He saw Lera sitting on the porch steps. The girl had her face in her knees, and with her arms wrapped around them, she was sobbing deeply.

"lera?" as gently as possible, so as not to frighten her, called Igor. She fell silent and, seeing him, hastily jumped to her feet.

"Do not be afraid, I will not hurt you. We have already seen you this morning, remember ...

"I remember," Lera interrupted and hastily wiped away her tears.

"I was walking to my room, I heard crying and couldn't pass by."

"I... I'm not crying anymore," she answered in a ringing voice and sniffed loudly.