The Borrower and Her Bean (complete)

Part 5

Part 5

Henry had woken early his mind still fixated on the little sprite that was inhabiting his house. For the last few days, he had also been sleeping terribly. The Nightmares that for some time seemed to have disappeared had returned. Deciding to take his mind off the terrors he plodded down the stairs. The morning's soft light was just popping up over the trees and the moon and stars could still be faintly seen. Looking around he decided to do some work in the garden, this always had a calming effect on him. He noticed Kal sniffing around a vent in the wall and wondered, had Kal found the miniature people the last time he barked at the wall. This time he just wagged his tail and sat nose pointed towards the vent.

What could it hurt to check it out he thought to himself as he laid down on his stomach in the grass and peered into the cavity? There he could see with the sunlight lighting the space a little room, There was a pocket mirror on the wall, a Matchbox halved with clothes hanging in it like a cupboard, and a box lid decorated with decoupage pictures of roses and flowers. The room was a surprise to see but what made his stomach quiver with pleasure was the sight of his little sprite. She was nestled into the box lid cocooned into layers of fabric. Her little head poking out of the mass of blankets her hair a mess about her face.

He laid there for what seemed like an hour just watching her sleep, it was peaceful. Kal had lost interest at some point and started chasing a rabbit around the yard which caused her to wake. A smile pulled at his lips as he watched her rub her little eyes and swing her legs out of the bed. Standing up in a night gown that must have previously been a barbie's gown, she stretched her small body on display for his eyes to see. He felt slightly guilty for watching her but he was fascinated, that was until she started moving towards him. He knew he could not move quickly enough for her to not see him so instead rested on his elbows.

The moment she saw him he knew, her body went ridged with fright and her chest increased its small breaths as if she was going to hyperventilate. Hoping to calm her he said with what he hoped a nice smile "Good Morning" He watched as she struggled he could see she needed to run but her body betrayed her. "Please don't run, I just want to talk." He watched her debate with herself, laying his head lower as if trying to make himself smaller he rested on his hands "your safe, the vent is mortared into the brick. Can we talk? I'll start" his smile softens as he watched the little sprites shoulders relax. "Introductions might be in order; my name is Henry" at that his puppy bounds over licking at his face. "And this crazy bear is Kal"

Melina could not believe that he had found her room, yes it was true that the vent was fixed to the wall. The only way he could reach her was by using a sledgehammer so even though her heart was hammering, and her legs felt jelly she moved back and sat on her bed. Her bean, Henry started chatting away, she loved the deep cadence of his voice. "I'm so sorry I scared you the other day, was just so surprised that you even existed........I mean I don't even know what your are or what your name is or how long you have been here or how you survive......." Her bean seemed to be getting worked up, his voice increasing in volume, and speed, that even if she wanted to answer him, he could not have heard her.

Thinking of a sound that might break through his deep voice she returned to what she knew would soothe him. She started to sing "Hush now my darling be still now just smile, rests as your kissed by the sun. Still, and just listen to my little lullaby and I'll tell you a story, I'll not run." She watched as amazement filled his face, and he stilled to listen. With a soft voice he breathed "That was you? that I heard in my dreams? You chased my nightmares away?" he seemed to struggle to not keep talking and instead bit his lower lip. She smiled at the cute face he made trying to be still and not ask but wait.

Her nervousness was not as bad with his face being this close, it was more like when she was sitting on her sill, or on his pillow watching him. Her face coloured as she remembered the night she spent caressing his cheek. Breathing in, she swallowed her fear, and said "My name is Melina, I'm not a sprite, I'm a borrower. We live in the cavities of your home and the other muse's in this row. How we survive? Well I can't give away all our secrets." She almost laughed at the pout that formed on Henry's lips. She watched as he made himself comfortable resting his chin as he subconsciously hummed. His face had better colour, and his blue irises were clear except for the dark circles surrounding his lower eye lids. Had he been having the night terrors again?

Breaking the silence, she braved her own question "Yes it was me.... I like looking at the moon and stars at night from your windowsill. When you came home, I couldn't resist still going there when you were asleep. My lullaby seemed to help you when you would cry out in your sleep.... Are you feeling better?" her concern warmed his face as her bean answered "Yes thank you, but I must have sacred you too much when we met........ my nightmare is back and I guess you haven't been coming to my room anymore." This made Melina sad her chest squeezing at the though of her bean not sleeping because she was not there. She looked down wondering if she would ever have the courage to be that close to him again now that he knew she was real.

Henry could see he had made her sad with his last statement, hoping to lift her spirits he said "I really liked what you did with the figurine. I could never get the lines that perfect and the colours you chose where beautiful." He watched her face colour under his praise and a small smile lift the corners of her mouth. "And thank you again for helping me when I was sick, do you think I can meet the others who helped?" She frowned at this question chewing on her lip she said, "I don't think they would like that, I would even be in trouble if they knew we were talking" He could not understand why they would help him and yet forbit her from talking to him. "I'm sorry, I don't want to get you into trouble but I like talking to you." She smile at that comment her face fully looking at his.

Just as she seemed to be relaxing enough that he thought he could ask another question he heard small voices. They were calling out to Melina as they got louder and louder. "Lina where are you, you missed breakfast" the little boy walking into the room followed by his exact replica. Lina as the boys called her froze, unsure of what to do as she looked at Henry. Looking at the boy she put her finger to her lips then pointed. The pair turned simultaneously and froze. Henry lifted an eyebrow a smirk forming on his lips as he formed a question "I wonder are you two responsible for my game being hacked?" 

A/N thank you for reading :)