The Kingdom Of Xänýurãn

Chapter 3

Henry POV:

She remembers. It's time...

Ophelie POV:

I couldn't eat much of that pizza in order to avoid car sickness. Henry put all the boxes in the truck, (I am thankful he actually did mine too while I was sleeping), packed the rest and got in the truck. One of the things I didn't like was leaving the car here but Henry said we would come back to get it tomorrow. It was dark outside, another day passing by, I told myself. Henry watched a movie while I slept. Even when I tell him to focus on the road he tells me he can do both before returning to his movie.

I woke up to the truck coming to a stop. "It's been an hour, Henry told me, I need a break." He jumped out and went inside the building, probably to get himself coffee.I was gonna ask him to get me a hot chocolate but didn't, scared I will throw it out on him. I look around me and noticed we parked the car in a motorway. There were a few cars in the parking, but no one around. But a swift movement caught my eye. There was a shadow, behind a car, and was turned... looking at me? I freaked out. Who was he? The guy from the forest?  But if Henry was not giving me answers about what happened back in the forest, who was gonna do it? Maybe this man was the Mean Winter Soldier and I could ask him. I don't know where I got the courage to get out of the car but I did. It all seem silly to me, and I knew it was dangerous. When I was about to close the door behind me I saw a brown woollen hat, on the driver seat. The memory of the pain in my head when he touched my forehead came back to me and I grabbed the hat, putting it on my head. At least my forehead was now protected...

The cold enveloped me when I started walking towards the car, a few feet in front of ours, but hidden by other vehicles. I rubbed my hand together, trying to warm them and breathed, looking at the white cloud coming out of my mouth. It really was cold. The shadow moved, going from the car he was standing to one further behind him. Was he scared of me. No, he was trying to escape... but I would get my answers, no matter what, so I ran after him. Car after car, he finally moved to the end of the parking ...and to the forest behind. It was dark outside and the street lights were not lighting the back of the parking and the forest. There were big trees, but pretty thin. I didn't know exactly but I think there were birches. I started running after him. The further I went in the forest, the more the thin trees were replaced by big trees with huge trunks. I then saw him hiding behind a tree. I slowed down seeing he wasn't moving any more. I couldn't see him, but he was behind that tree, I knew it. I took a small step towards him again and jumped when I heard a crack. I felt something  rise inside me... it felt like I was gonna die of fear. Silly me, I walked on a branch. Tipical.  I took another step forward and I knew I was close. Two more steps and I could reach him. I lifted my foot to take another one when Henry's voice echoed behind me.

-"Sophia! What are you doing?"

The man didn't wait for another opportunity and ran further in the forest. I stood there, wondering if I should go after him when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw Henry. A very angry looking Henry.

-"Are you out of your mind?!!!" Oh yes, he was mad..."What the hell are you doing, huh? Pursuing a man you don't even know in the forest!??!" So he knew, I thought. He saw the man. He gripped me by my wrist and dragged me to the car. Once we were back in the light, I saw him clearly. He was RED! Like a tomato. I have never seen him that mad. Okay, maybe when I dropped his phone in the toilet on purpose because he wouldn't let me go to a friend for a sleepover but I was 7 and it was slightly different. He was definitely angry. I thought of an excuse but of course I had to say:

-"Well you weren't willing to talk about what happened in the forest so I thought I might ask him." Very well, you just told him your whole plan you idiot! Contrary to what I was waiting, he calmed down and hugged me.He caressed my hair. " Do you really think that man was the same one" I had a second to think of what he said then he continued."What would I do if anything happened to you? I don't know who that man in the forest was and I don't know what he wanted from us but when I put you in bed and went to look back for him and he wasn't there. I didn't want to talk about him to you because I don't like the idea of you being in danger. But why would you think he was the same man? You think he was following you?" He looked at me, clearly worried. I smiled softly and shook my head and said "Paranoia". We got back in the car and buckled up. Before starting the engine Henry turned to me and said:

-"I want you to promise me that you would never, ever try to do something to put yourself in danger." I nodded at him but he didn't seem satisfied. He shook his head "That means no more going to the forest alone, little Missy, no more following strangers," he lifted his eyebrow "seriously I thought you were smarter than that," he said more to himself, "no more going out without telling me, no more hanging out with boys, no more talking to guys, no more looking at boys, no more going to friends to stay over, no more eating too much pizza, no more..." I couldn't listen NO MORE, I burst out laughing, only to be met by I chocked but frowning Henry. "I-am-not-joking, I'm serious"

-"Even for the pizza and the boys?" I asked laughing even harder.

-"Most likely for the pizza and even more for the boys" I had never thought I would see a jealous Henry, but I got jealous and overprotective at the same time. He lifted his pinky finger and smiled"Promise?" I gave him my pinky finger and smiled back "Promise..."