Living in Fear

Chp 6

Nathaniel woke up the next morning.

He had found an inn and paid to stay the night. He kept thinking about Girl. She was so fascinating. She had this twisted playfulness to her that made him want to find her again.

He was also surprised at her side of the story and her reasoning as to why he was hired to kill her.

He quickly got ready for the day and left a gold piece for the maid as he walks out of his rented room.

He walked out of the quaint inn and looked at the small town. He had never been here or even have heard of this place.

Just then, two young children, both girls, ran past him, giggling loudly. They both gave him an odd look before waving and running off.

Nathaniel raised his eyebrow, that certainly was strange...

"Excuse me," a soft voice said from behind.

Nathaniel turned to see a teenage boy looking at him nervously. "Yes?" he said.

"Are you new here?" the boy asked.

"I arrived yesterday." Nathaniel explained, "I needed somewhere to sleep for the night."

"Are you staying for the festival tonight?"

"Festival?"

The boy nodded, "It's where we celebrate the birth of the family."

"What family?" Nathaniel asked confused.

The boy looked at him incredulously, "The Family, sir. Everyone in this town and the human one down the path. We are all one big family. The Mother of the family will be there, I'm sure she'll love to meet you."

Nathaniel curiosity peaked and he found himself following the Now not-so-shy boy to a small cottage. In the kitchen of the cottage was a tall woman with wavy light brown hair and brown eyes. She was thin, but look stronger than the average woman. She was stirring a pot that had a delicious smell filling the air around them.

"Mom!" the boy called, "We have a newcomer!"

The woman immediately stopped what she was doing and made her way to Nathaniel.

"Hello dear," she said, "My name is Rew. Welcome to the Family. I bet you met my son, Sander.

Nathaniel nodded, "I have mam. I am Nathaniel, but I'm afraid I won't be staying for long. I need to find someone."

"Well I know a lot of people," Rew said lightheartedly, "What's this mysterious person's name?"

"She now calls herself Girl."

Rew's eyes widened and she gasped. "Girl?! Why that good-for-nothing, snobbish brown-noser! How dare he do something like that to her!"

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, "Am I missing something?"

"That selfish king finally did it!" Rew steamed, "She was only trying to help!"

"You know her?!" Nathaniel asked bewildered.

"Do I know her?! Of course, I know her! She is the reason all of us are here! She saved so many people and brought them to shelter. She's the mother of the family!"