Girl of Steel and Stone

Chapter 15

Chapter fifteen

I was back from the Dining Hall for lunch for fifteen minutes and playing mindless games on my laptop when someone knocked on my door. I hoped it was Jared. I was so bored right now I wanted to go into the city, even if I still limped a bit.

But when I opened the door it wasn't Jared waiting for me. Or one of my friends for that matter.

It took me a few seconds before I recognized him.

'What are you doing here?' I asked, incredulous.

He didn't look at all like the Roan Thorn I knew. He had lost most of his muscles and he stood a bit drooped, as if he was tired of life. His cheeks had sunken in and his hair was dirty and knotted. I could see the bones in his shoulders under his jacket.

Usually a cocky grin would have appeared but now he just watched me. His eyes didn't look at all like I was used to. Their dark chocolate color wasn't rich and twinkling but dull and flat. And full of remorse and sadness.

'Hey 9,' he said in a soft voice with a little hesitant smile.

Okay....

'I'll repeat my question, what are you doing here?' Yeah, I was suspicious. So what? Passing or not, that guy was a total asshole. A few weeks in a village couldn't have changed him that much, right?

'Can I talk to you for a second? In private?' he said, sounding unsure of himself.

I blame it on the surprise.

''Kay, come in.' Like I said, I would never had done that if I wasn't really, really surprised.

'Thanks,' he said with a little genuine smile.

This was weird.

I gestured to him to enter the living room while I locked the door. He watched the move with pain in his eyes, before turning and entering the room. I followed him and sat across him on the fauteuil while he was on the sofa.

His clothes were dirty so I guessed he had just come back. He must be hungry. I shoved a chocolate bar from the pile on the coffee table towards him. Jared had bought them for me. He looked at it like it was God's gift. Like I said, hungry.

But what was so important for him to come to me immediately instead of immediately eating and washing?

Once he was done wolfing down his chocolate bar he offered me an apologetic stare before self-consciously looking down at his clothes.

'Maybe I should have changed first,' he said.

'And eaten,' I added. 'Eat as much as you want, you need it more than me anyway.'

'Thanks.'

'You want to use the shower?' I asked. He couldn't be comfortable in those itching clothes.

'I'll shower once I'm done.'

'Well than, start talking,' I said, motioning him to begin as I sat back and crossed my arms over my chest. He squirmed uncomfortably.

Taking a deep breath he started. 'I was sent to Jarran.'

Those five words were enough to make me bolt upright. 'Did you see my brother? Dominic? Goes by...'

'Nico, I know. Yeah, I saw him.' His voice was raw with enough emotion to make me take a second look at him. His fists were balled and his jaw tight. 'I saw him every fucking night. That boy has nightmares, you know. I don't know what they're about, but he would be calmer if I was near.'