The Kingdom Of Xänýurãn

Chapter 1

Ophelie POV:

Go after him!

The voice echoed in my head along with my feeling mixing together. I imagined, just for a second what my life would be like  without Henry. Hell. Only Hell. I needed him, as a godfather yes but also as a brother, as a friend, as family. I needed him. With that I flew the door open and ran into the woods.

It was dark outside, I couldn't even see where I was putting my feet. Fortunately I left the lights switched on in the house, so the light was pouring outside, helping me see just a little, but enough. I ran when I could, pursuing the path that led to the main road. Our actual house was standing a bit behind the road, in a way that you couldn't see it when you drove on the road. A small stone path led to it, but again, if you weren't that close you couldn't see that either. The trees all around hid the place in such a way, I didn't know why but I felt safe. Henry always liked this kind of place, hidden and cosy, so I wouldn't really be surprised if our next one was the exact same. And because Henry wouldn't always leave and get out running, I had no idea where he was or where he'd go.

I continued looking around, slightly worried.What if something were to happen to him. I would NEVER forgive myself. A chilly wind blew on my face as I entered the back forest. The car was still parked in fort of the house, so I thought he wouldn't go to the road. Instead, I cut through the path and dived directly into the forest. Its was completely dark now and I had to keep my arms in front of me to avoid bumping into the trees. I was scared, yes, but the determination to find Henry was much bigger. I knew that I would start feeling paranoid soon. I went by faster and stopped when I felt something move by. Silly, silly me why the hell did I not get a torch or something ? I tried to calm myself, thinking that it might just be a bird.It might just be a bird but it might just be a big mean wolf. There you go, I told myself, you are paranoid again.  And the icing on the cake was that I felt observed... And all of it just to find a godfather who does probably not love you any more. I told my inner voice to shut it then I did the one thing I needed not to do. I screamed.

-"Henrrrrrryyyyyyy" I mentally facepalmed myself. Of course he wouldn't answer, he doesn't want to see me any more. Well, at least he would know I am here."Henry I don't know where you are and I don't know if you still want to hear me but I need to say it...I am soooo sooorrrrryyyy" I screamed the last part hoping he would actually hear that. Just that, was enough.I opened my mouth to scream again some incoherent words when I saw a shadow moving on my right. I turned swiftly, and smiled.It was him, I knew it. And when I discerned a human shape I didn't wait any longer and started running towards it, opening my arms ready to hug him. And I stopped dead. I was wrong, that wasn't Henry. My eyes widening in shock, I took one hesitant step back. He took one step forwards, and stepped into the moonlight.

In front of me stood a man, looking around the same age as Henry, the same height and the same corpulence, but he wasn't Henry. He had long dark dirty hair falling on his shoulders and a very pale face. He got a small nose dividing perfectly his totally symmetrical face. He had black eyes, not only his irises. The outline of his eyes were painted black too. He looked a bit like the Winter Soldier, but way more scary. I opened my eyes to ask him why he was here and who he was when he smirked. The smirk turning into a grin and the grin turning into a smile, a big scary smile.The whole time I felt something hovering on my consciousness, on my mind, but I didn't react. There was something wrong with this man, but I couldn't make out what. I don't know how much time we stood there, staring at each other, until he took another step. And I took another back, and hit a tree. I felt like a prey and this man didn't inspire trust. And he leapt forward.

I screamed and dived aside, just in time. I didn't have time to catch my breath that he caught me by my ankle. Note the comparison. I fell to the ground and  yelped, then pulled on my  ankle, trying to break free. His other hand caught my right knee and I cried out, not because I was hurt but because I was scared. I wriggled under his grasp, trying to break free but he only held stronger. I was done. I had no idea what this stranger was gonna do to me but I was frightened. He, on the other side looked completely normal, calm, steady and composed; he was used to doing that. The thought of it only shocked me more, and sent shivers through my body. I didn't notice I was crying until I heard sobs leaving my mouth. He smiled more softly, as if he told me not to be scared, then he brought his thumb to my forehead and put it right between my eyebrows. I had no idea what he was doing and too scared to ask.

And then he pressed, and I cried out. My head felt as it was going to explode. I screamed, my voice breaking down, at the pain in my flesh. I felt like he was diving a knife if my forehead. My eyes were closed now, but I was still screaming. My brain was falling apart, and I saw some of my best memories, me and Henry on the beach, with him trying to teach me how to swim. Henry and I at the amusement park, Henry and I cooking, dancing, reading, cleaning the house, I remembered that everything was fun with Henry. Then I saw him standing in front of me, smiling. He was in the light, everything around him was white, it was a memory. Then he opened his arms, inviting me for a hug, then he blew me a kiss, then he waved at me, the way he did when he got me to school the first day, then he looked at me and mouthed I love you, then he lifted a piece of wood and rammed it in the head of the Mean Winter Soldier. The last thing I heard was my name, but it was pronounced by Henry, and it was more than enough for me.