the Boy in the Book

Chapter 4 ~Yakov's Lighthouse~

Chapter 4

Arisa found herself in a very comfortable darkness. She was warm and oddly comfortable, and the heavy weight of sleep made her feel sluggish. She felt so wonderfully well rested and relaxed, but she found that she couldn't seem to remember much of the night before. She felt as though she had had a great fright. It was like she was waking up from a nightmare that had already faded from her sleeping mind.

She remembered coming home from the village and helping the cook. She remembered writing to Ezio. But what had happened next? Had she just gone to sleep? Was she in bed right now? But that couldn't be, for the bed she was in was warm and comfortable and nothing like her hard pallet and rough wool blanket.

She breathed in a familiar scent that she couldn't quite place.

Reluctantly she opened her eyes. Bright sunshine fell across her face and she blinked in the bright light, rubbing her eyes. The first thing she saw was the large and plush quilt that buried her in warmth and comfort. She lifted her head and looked past the blankets at a small quant room with a small window and wooden desk in one corner. The room was round and the window looked out over a beautiful view of the sea, giving Arisa the idea that she might be inside some kind of lighthouse. Arisa realized that she didn't know where she was.

With a rush all of her memories from the night before came flooding back. The wolves... The terrible wolves had invaded the village. Arisa clumsily pulled back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the downy bed. She stood up to quickly and felt dizzy and confused. Her hands shook at the very memory of those wolves.

"Where am I?!" She said, looking down at her clothes. She was still wearing her ratty dress and apron, but her red cloak, dagger, and boots were gone.

She heard steps coming from somewhere below. They were getting closer. She glanced around the room looking for some kind of weapon or escape, but the door opened before she could think of a single plan. Arisa stared with wide eyed fear and anticipation…

But was utterly relieved to see, of all people, Yakov. He stood there in all his messy red headed glory with a bowl of something piping hot in his hands.

“…What are you doing?” he asked, giving Arisa a strange look.

“I… I was confused... I still am confused…” Arisa replied, sitting shakily down on the bed.

Yakov held out the steaming bowl and Arisa’s nose filled with the scent of brown sugar and oatmeal. She took it and wolfed the bowl down in moments, ignoring her burnt tongue.

“Hey, slow down, you’ll choke…” Yakov said, smirking slightly.

“So, where are we?” Arisa asked, glancing out the window.

"We're by the Rueful Sea on the other side of the forest." Yakov replied like it was absolutely nothing.

"The WHAT?!" Arisa replied, nearly dropping her empty bowl.

Yakov smirked yet again.

“You heard me.” He replied. “Don’t worry, we’re safe.”

“What about the rest of the village?” Arisa asked, eyes wide in shock.

Yakov’s smirk faded instantly.

“… Dead.” He replied, causing Arisa to gasp.

“All of them?” she whispered.

Yakov barely nodded, staring at the floor. He remembered the screaming… oh how he remembered it…

Arisa slid off of the bed and onto her knees. Everyone she had ever known was dead, and now she was alone.