Liar! one of her sisters blurted out from the table. Sara has been with us picking tomatoes! We have asked her for you, and she told us that she had not seen you all day.
Her mother's hand shot up again, and the third slap exploded against Dana's cheek. The girl groaned and snuggled against the wall.
Answer back! Who was with you?
Don't lie, Dana, said his father's voice, watching everything aside. She is your mother. She cares for you. Furthermore, she has suffered so much thinking that something bad had happened to you.
But Dana barely heard it. He only had in his ears the screams of his mother.
Can you answer at once?
The girl was still trembling. The woman grabbed her by the collar and shook her.
Answer back! Who was with you?
Dana couldn't take it anymore.
Kai! she screamed. I've been with Kai all day! Everyday! She felt suddenly so relieved that she didn't notice the strangeness in her parents, brothers and sisters. But her mother shook her again.
And who is that Kai? She wanted to know.
I ... I already told you once. He is my friend. My ... my best friend. A boy my age.
Her mother released her, frustrated. Why do you lie to me? she asked, and this time the tone of her voice was not threatening, but hurt.
I'm not lying! Dana exclaimed in surprise. It's true! Kai He's been coming to see me at the farm for a long time. Her gaze scanned the room. Someone must have seen him! He's a blond boy ...
She is lying, said one of her brothers, but her mother growled.
You shut up! Do not get into this.
Kai doesn't exist, the eldest sister said then. She has made that up. Do you not realize? She's always around talking alone. And then she says she talks to that Kai.
Her mother's face shifted to an expression of doubt and looked at Dana. But she now felt like a victim of a family conspiracy.
I'm not lying! she cried angrily. Kai exists, I see him every day, and I don't speak alone! Anger had drowned out any kind of remorse.
Kai doesn't exist, Dana, her older sister repeated. It's just something that you have invented.
Is not true!!! Dana howled; and without being able to stay there for a moment more, she turned and ran out of the house. The door closed with a thump behind her.
Inside the dining room nobody dared to move, until they heard the barn door open and close. The mother breathed, relieved.
Now she knew that Dana had not escaped again. She then proceeded to talk to her eldest daughter.
Next time, let me take care of these things, understood? she scolded her harshly. The girl did not answer, and silence reigned over the dinning room. Suddenly, nobody wanted to have dinner anymore.
---------------------------------------------------
Inside the barn everything was calm. Only a few muffled sobs could be heard coming from the upper floor.
Dana had taken refuge in her favorite corner, upstairs, next to a small window that showed her a beautiful piece of night sky.
The girl used to hide there often; there was even a blanket she left to use when she stayed there a long time.
YOU ARE READING
The Chronicles of the Tower -1-
FantasiThe wolf's valley . . . this is a translation. and possibly one of my favourite series of books. . . "They named her Dana and she grew up with her siblings. They never treated her as someone special. Although, they could all see that she was somewha...
