The Hidden Heart

Uncertainty

(Declan's POV)

As I look out the window at the stars, I think about what had transpired the night before. I had been on the road to Edmonston when I heard multiple screams. As soon as I heard them, I knew which direction they were coming from. I spun my motorbike around toward the north and put it into the highest gear. I listened intently for the cause of the scream. Then I heard it, a loud roar. I drove my bike under fallen trees, around rocks, and over brooks with skill greater than the normal person. The roar came from the monstrous Blightling. An almost legendary beast rumoured to roam these woods. I had heard it before but had always avoided it because there was no need to rile it up.

When I came closer to the sounds I saw an outline of a dog. The closer I got, the bigger the dog became. I saw a second head come into view and a small woman cornered up against a tree. When I was about fifty feet away from the monster, I donned my hood, down-geared my bike and turned it off which sent my bike sliding forward. Using that momentum, ten feet away from the beast I jumped up off the bike and drew my sword in the air. I landed and slid under Blightling, cutting open its belly. I quickly jumped to my feet ready for an attack from the beast. It stumbled and tried to strike at me but fell a second later, dead. The smell of its insides came through the air. I remember asking myself what in heaven's name had it eaten to make that awful smell.

I stood over the beast making sure it was dead then directed my attention to the young woman I had just saved. She was very pretty, I might even say she looked beautiful in the moonlight if it wasn't for the catastrophe that had occurred. I looked over at my bike and besides new dents and scratches it looked drivable. I bent down and picked up the girl and placed her gently on my vehicle. Slowly, we made our way to Kittrell where I took her to my favorite inn, The Old Pine. I quickly got a room for us and made sure a maid came with me to help me with the bandaging. We had to move very quickly because she had lost a lot of blood on the trip.

We were almost done changing her clothes and cleaning her wounds when I found a necklace. A necklace that I'm still holding now. It was tucked underneath her undershirt. In closer inspection, I found that it was a locket with the inscription: To Holly With Love, Odelle. I'm guessing Holly is the girl I saved, and Odelle is her mother or close relative. We finished dressing her and I paid the maid for her service. I found a chair and sat in it, where I'm sitting now, looking at the stars waiting for Holly to wake up. I suppose I should try and rest my eyes for a bit. It might take a while for her to wake from her much needed sleep.

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(Holly's POV)

I wake with a start, but immediately regret doing that as a sharp pain goes through my shoulder and side. I groan out in pain which causes movement to my left. I look over and see a young man, quietly sleeping. His apparel looks familiar but I can't quite place where I've seen it before. I look more closely at his face trying to remember where I recognized him.

He has very dark hair, cut at medium length and swept to one side. His jawline is strong but looks as if it was gentle as well like he has a kind smile. He has semi-wide shoulders and looks like he might be 6 ft tall. His arms look strong but he was not overly muscular. The girls back home would probably say he's a hottie. I giggle at the thought of my friends talking about the lads they liked. I try and move my left arm which causes more pain and another groan. The mysterious man at the window moves again and opens his eyes. Wow, he woke up easily. He wipes the sleep out of his eyes and opens his mouth to speak.

"Hello love, Holly is it?" He asks with a bit of a smirk.

"Yea, that's me...How'd ya know that?"

I'm a bit frightened because he seems to know about me while I am still unable to place where I know him from.

"I found your necklace. Figured that Holly was your name. Odelle is your mother, yes?"

"Yes, that's her name," I reply, looking away for a second.

I have many questions I want to ask him. I didn't want to ask so many because I can be somewhat annoying with so many questions. At least that's what people back home said.

"Where am I?" I start my questions off with something simple.

"You are currently at a small inn called The Old Pine. Located in Kittrell." He responded matter-of-factly.

"Ok...Who are you?"

"The name's Declan Brooks, but everyone around here calls me Deck."

He holds out his hand for me to shake. His mouth curves up on one side into a smirk when I lean forward and shake his hand. His hand is sturdy but surprisingly soft.

"Holly Consworth," I say back to him.

He smiles and bows his head a bit. I continue to ask my questions. There's still so much that I don't know.

"What happened? Why am I all bandaged up?" I ask as I look down at my shoulder.

"I found you in the woods near a river. You were unconscious."