“What is the matter?” Aedrean asked while I screamed my throat raw. He stood there, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion and concern.
“You-you-you were dead!” I accused. I scrambled backwards, trying to put as much distance between us as possible. How could it be that he was alive? Whelp, I was never, ever, never coming in this forest again. This, apparently, was the place where dead people got up and walked away.
“No. I am not dead. Look. See? I breathe. My heart beats.” He said, taking in big gulps of air to show me. I was sure it was meant to calm me down, but it didn’t. If anything it made me tenser.
“Pleasedon’thurtmepleasedon’thurtmepleasedon’thurtme.” I chanted. He could’ve been a vampire. They could breathe. Only if they thought about it, but still. Vampires could breathe.
Aedrean laughed. “I am not going to hurt you. Whatever gave you that idea?” he said. I only kept chanting. He sighed and sat down next to me. “Let us start over. Shall we?” I still kept up my quiet chant. He sighed again. “Well I am Aedrean.” He said, holding out his hand as if he wanted me to shake it.
“I know.” I finally whispered. I didn’t move any closer to him. I didn’t take his hand. I only squeezed my eyes shut, as if that would make it all go away. Sadly, I knew it wouldn’t.
“You do? Have we met?” Aedrean asked, still holding out his hand. After a moment of nothing on my part, though, he let it fall back to his side. “No. we haven’t met. I think I would remember you. You saw my history, am I correct? Are you a healer?” he asked, his voice was full of hope and excitement when he said the last part. I said nothing. “I do not understand. What is wrong?” he asked, a little exasperated. I still said nothing. “At least tell me your name so we are not at such a disadvantage on my part.”
I was silent for a moment, then, “Feight.” I said it in a whisper, barely working up the courage to say it at all.
“Ah. Feight is a lovely name.” Aedrean said kindly, making another attempt to calm me down, put me at ease.
“But you were dead! I saw you die! How are you here?” I suddenly burst. I finally looked at him and instantly melted. The smile he was currently giving me was . . . indescribable.
“Yes. I was dead, but I was brought back to life, Feight.” Aedrean said calmly. He gave me a look full of patience. “Now will you answer one of my questions? You do not even have to say anything.” he asked kindly.
I nodded.
“Are you a healer? Or do you know?” he asked slowly, making sure I understood.
I blinked at him. I was still in shock. Major shock. “Like a doctor?” I asked, unsure of what he meant.
“Something like that, just different.” Aedrean said. He shifted until he was in front of me. I eyed him cautiously, I was still afraid. And why shouldn’t I have been? Just yesterday this guy was dead.
“Then what is a healer?” I asked, confused.
“A healer is-” Aedrean started, but was cut off when we both heard a snap and something fell from a nearby tree. We both snapped our heads in the direction we heard the noise and caught a glimpse of a bird falling. Aedrean got up went to it. He came back with a beautiful blue bird with a broken wing. “Here, take it.” He said, holding it out to me.
YOU ARE READING
Body in the Woods
FantasyFeight Alex never thought she was anything special, never dreamed she could possibly be anything but what she is; some random middle class girl. No one of importance. That is, until she finds a body in the woods and everything changes. A hidden past...