~The Tale of Mystery~{Black Butler/Kuroshitsuji: Red Hood Diary- Spinoff}

Ch. 2 ~Mystery, meets Jonathan and his Family~

The girl had walked down the hill and walked through the village, not knowing a thing. She looked all around her at the civilization and had stopped walking in a daze. "Watch it, lass!" a man shouted. She turned around and moved aside as the man who shouted at her, driving a horse pulling a cargo wagon, passed her by. She looked after the man and wagon go by, then looked to her right. 

"Excuse me, miss?" a king young voice asked. She sharply turned around and it was a young man that looked about seventeen years old, carrying two bags of food. His eyes widened a bit when he saw the girl's features and was hesitant to say something. "Umm..." he said as the girl stared at him in wonder and blinked. "A-Are you alright?" the man asked. The girl still said nothing and stared at him with her mouth slightly opened innocently. The man then stretched out his hand to touch her, but she immediately flinched and backed away frightened. He stopped and looked sympathetic to her. "Uhh...Well... Good day, then" he said then walked passed her, heading home.

The girl watched him walked away and then hesitantly followed him. The young man stopped and looked behind him and the girl froze her spot. The young man looked questionably at her. "Why are you following me?" The girl said nothing while her hand grabbed her other arm, looking shy and nervous. "Say something" he said as he sighed. The girl remained silent, but placed her hand on her throat and lightly shook her head. The man slightly furrowed his eyebrows. "You can't... talk?" And the girl shook her head no.

The young man then looked understandable. He walked a few steps toward her, not scaring her. "Do you know where you live or came from?" The girl sadly shook her head. "What's your name?" The girl was still and gazed down then off to the side. "... Do you know what your name is?" She was still but then shook her head. The young man then looked softly at her. "Come on. I'll take you back to my home and we'll figure something out," he said and the girl looked unsure, "At least let me treat you to clean clothing and food?" he offered. The girl then started to follow the young man to his house.

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The man and the girl arrived at his house that looked poor and slightly damaged. Part of their fence was broken, the grass was near dead, and the house looked old but it was small. "Mother, Grandpa!" the man shout out and a few seconds later, a woman came out wearing a faded dress and wearing a shawl around her shoulders. She looked happy to see the boy but then grew surprised when she saw the girl. 

"Jonathan, what kept you out longer?" the woman asked walking to him. "Sorry, mother. I bumped into this girl and... I think she needs help." Jonathan said caringly while looking at the girl who was a few feet behind him. The mother looked at the girl with kindness and softly smiled. "Come, dear, don't be shy." she said and the girl walked to them. The mother gasped lightly when she saw the girl's condition. A short dress with a rip and dirt, and her bare legs and feet also with dirt. The only thing that wasn't ruined was the red cloak she wore. 

"Jonathan, what happened to her?" she asked. "I don't know... and she can't speak either. Mother, she also doesn't know anything..." Jonathan said. The mother looked back at the girl with sympathy and saw the lost and fright in her blue eyes. The mother then smiled. "Well... we'll let her stay, as long as it takes." Jonathan then smiled back at his mother. "Come on, dear." Jonathan's mother said as she helped guide the girl into their home. 

Once they reached inside, there were no lights except the fire place glowing. It was silent, except for the wind blowing outside and the fire crackling. "Where's grandpa?" Jonathan asked. "Oh, he's asleep, Jon." His mother said as she placed the bags of food on the wooden table, then checked on the cauldron, cooking stew. She then turned away and guided the girl towards the wash room. "Jon, set up the table would you, please?" she asked. As Jon set up the table, Jon's mother got the girl set up to take a bath. She washed the girls hair and body and then dressed her in a plain lavender dress. She also brushed the girl's beautiful hair and then lightly placed some hair in the front and the rest in the back. She smiled at the girl, who smiled back small.

Food and cups of water were placed on the table. After Jonathan was done, he stopped when his mother and the girl came out. He stared at the girl that was all cleaned up. She stared back at him innocently and curiously. They then heard someone let out a moan and an old man walked out, stretching. "Hello you two," he gazed at the stranger and raised his eyebrows up, "Ah whose this young lady?" "Oh, this is..." the mother and Jonathan glanced at each other then back at the old man. "We'll explain as we eat. Come now," Jonathan's mother said. Everyone sat at the table and the girl sat next to Jonathan. 

Just at that time, the door opened and everyone glanced to see another woman but slightly older than Jonathan's mother. "Sorry I'm late" she said as she hung up her coat and walked to the table. "No worries, Cassandra." Jonathan's mother said. As Cassandra sat at the table she noticed the girl and her eyes narrowed a bit. "Who's this?" "We were about to tell Victor the same thing... You see, Jonathan found her on the streets and she seemed lost. Not only that but I'm sure she can't remember anything and she can't speak." Jonathan's mother said looking sadly at the girl, who stared at her reflection in her cup.

"So, she's a mute" Cassandra snapped, making Jonathan glare at her. "Huh, she looks like a beggar, or could be a prostitute, perhaps." she said. "Cassandra!" Jon's mother said. "Mary, you never know! She might be making this up!" "Enough!" Jon shouted as he slammed his hands on the table loudly, making the girl jump. "She's not like that! I don't care what you say! She's staying here!" Cassandra looked surprised and then angry. She looked to Mary. "You're letting her stay here?!" "Yes. Please understand we're trying to help her..." Mary said calmly. "Huh!" Cassandra huffed then left the table. "Sister, please!" Mary reasoned. "Let her be, Mary" Victor said who was quiet the whole time. "She'll just have to learn to get over it," he said taking a sip of his water. "Now, let's eat before this food gets cold" he lastly said as they all began to eat.

Jonathan calmed down and looked at the girl who was staring off after Cassandra left to her room. She then looked back and started to eat her food, being starved after she woke up. Jonathan lightly sighed and began eating as well. The whole dinner was in silence.

That was when I met Jonathan and his family. Mary was his soft kind-hearted mother. Victor was his grandfather. And Cassandra was his aunt. It was just the four of them in that poor house...

At that time, Cassandra didn't trust me at all. I wondered to myself why that was...