Lost Child

Stumbling Closer to Reality

            That cold, empty voice did not answer my question. Instead, its owner began walking down the stairs. I had no choice but to follow him; he had already told me that he was going to introduce me to some Neighbors after he had finished speaking with Ruth. However, I wanted to know why he didn't answer my question. I hadn't been here very long, maybe only a couple hours, and so much had happened in those couple hours that had left me questioning so many things. I thought coming here would answer my questions. I thought Mr. Ainsworth would answer all my questions. But every time I ask something that seems important, I feel like he avoids answering me. Was he hiding something from me?

I kept thinking as I walked down the stairs, ignoring holding the railing until I heard a forced cough from the bottom of the stairs. I was pulled from my thoughts to see not only Mr. Ainsworth looking up the stairs at me, but Silky standing in the doorway to what I could only assume was the kitchen. They were watching me, focused on me, until Mr. Ainsworth spoke, "Hold the railing Briar." I did as he stated, continuing my path down the stairs. Mr. Ainsworth turned his attention to Silky once I had reached the bottom of the stairs. "We will be out for a bit. I am introducing Briar to some of the Neighbors near the house. We won't go far." Silky nodded her head in affirmation before Mr. Ainsworth opened the door for me to exit the house.

I had been in my thoughts so much that I didn't realize the door was standing open for me. I was still trying to figure out why Mr. Ainsworth wouldn't answer my question from earlier when I felt a comforting hand on my back push me forward gently. I stumbled a bit before finding that I had been pushed out the door. Blinking, I took in everything around me.

This...was something I had never imagined. The College had always kept me inside. I had never really gotten the chance to explore the world beyond the College's walls, nor really experience being outside for very long since all my classmates were afraid of me. Here, I could be outside. There was so much to take in. I could smell the flowers that were blooming nearby. They were pretty shades of red, yellow, and orange. Then there were the grassy hills, the forest nearby. Everything was so..."Pretty..."

I heard the click of the door closing behind me as Mr. Ainsworth's footsteps approached me. "Your mother said the same thing. She found this place 'pretty' as well."

I chanced a look up at him, he was simply looking out at the scenery as well. I wondered what he was thinking about. Mr. Ainsworth seemed to know so much, but yet I was unsure what he was thinking. His voice never gave much away. It was always so cold and empty, but I didn't hate it. In fact, I found...a strange familial comfort in it. It was similar to my own.

After a moment, Mr. Ainsworth glanced down at me. "Well, I shall go call one of the Ariels to come meet you. They are always the closest to the house." He walked away. I followed after him. A moment later, Mr. Ainsworth clapped his hands together, magic surged around them, sending a gust of wind by us and making his already messy golden hair even stranger in its appearance. Then, a staff appeared in his hands. It was strange. It appeared from nowhere in particular. A Mage's magic was truly something to see.

I watched him closely as he began chanting and saying strange phrases I had never heard before. A spell. I had heard the professors at the College talk about this, but since they were Sorcerers, they did not cast with spells. It was amazing to see a Mage doing magic. And sure enough, while watching him, the Ariel from earlier in the day came over to him. She appeared to be angry and was saying something to him in a tittering, mean voice before he gestured to me.

The Ariel looked at me once more. I started to become self-conscious. I had never really had good luck with Neighbors because of my appearance. The Neighbors didn't seem to like me, nor did other people. No one seemed to want me. I hesitated under her gaze before looking down and lifting my hands to cover my horns. As I began this motion, I heard the Ariel call out, "Pick your head up! I can't look at you with you hiding!" There was a strange sound of chimes as the Ariel approached me. I lifted my head as I was told and she was right in front of my face, examining me. "You really are like another Half-Baked. You look like the Robin. You have her eyes!" She smiled at me as Mr. Ainsworth walked over.

There was a somewhat sad smile on Mr. Ainsworth's face as he heard what the Ariel had said, "I think for once we agree on something. She does have Chise's eyes."

Chise...my mom...this Ariel knew "my mom?"

The Ariel looked at me confused for a moment. Her red eyes scrunched up in a weird fashion before she nodded and flew up a bit higher. I felt her small hands on my horns. "Yes! The Robin!"

"How...?" I was going to ask how she knew my mother, but I was cut off by Mr. Ainsworth, "I'm surprised you are touching her horns." The empty voice had a colder tone at that point. Almost as though he was stating something that offended him, but that he found funny. As he spoke with that voice, I noticed the sadness in his smile had faded. In fact, the smile had almost completely disappeared. Was he offended that she was touching my horns?

The Ariel's hands left my horns as she flew over to him and huffed in his face. "You! I hate it when you call on me! I only answer you because of–"

Mr. Ainsworth seemed unphased by her being in his face in such a manner. I'd never seen someone so calm around a Neighbor who was angry before. Mr. Ainsworth merely raised his hand up to her and held it between them. "Chise. I know. I wanted to introduce you to Briar. I know you adored Chise."

The Ariel gave him a glare before she turned her attention back to me. She had what appeared to be a look of pity on her face as she looked at me. Why was she looking at me with pity? I was confused. Was it my appearance? Once more I tried to cover myself up, hide myself from her. She merely flew closer to me before smiling. "You are definitely the Robin's daughter. You should come with me! You don't belong here."

Hadn't...hadn't Mr. Ainsworth said something similar to me at the College? That I didn't belong. Where did I belong? If not here, and not at the College, then "Where...?"

The Ariel seemed surprised by my question before giving a wide grin. Her red eyes gave a creepy glimmer. "Well–"

Mr. Ainsworth stepped forward, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards him. I stumbled at the motion, running into him as he held me. "That's enough. She belongs here. This is her home."

I couldn't see the Ariel's face as Mr. Ainsworth was now holding me in such a position that hide her from my sight and me from hers, but I could hear her voice. It sounded like it floated on the wind, and was part of the wind as she spoke. "You should give her the choice, like you did with Chise."

My mother again. I wanted to know how this Ariel knew my mother, but Mr. Ainsworth was holding me so close to him that even if I spoke, my words would be muffled. Instead, Mr. Ainsworth spoke to the Ariel. "She is still young. I will give her the choice when she is older, for now, she belongs here."

Choice? What choice? What choice did my mother make? Was it what lead to me? If so, I'm not sure I would follow the same path as her. I wouldn't want to cause another person to be in my position, being this horrible monster. Without thinking, as the thoughts of what I was circled in my head, I clutched myself to Mr. Ainsworth more. The Ariel's voice stilled carried through the air like the rustle of leaves. "Does she know that you have her?"

Again...the talk of some woman. What did this person have to do with me? Was there someone else tied into all this? So many seemed to know who I was, and yet, I knew nothing of who I was. I wanted this conversation to be over. I wanted it to end.

It did end. I felt the grip Mr. Ainsworth had on me tighten once more as he spoke, "Leave." The empty, cold voice that for some reason comforted me, frightened me. It sounded crackled and warped. It sounded...wrong. It didn't sound like Mr. Ainsworth at all. It sounded otherworldly and frightening. I hid myself against him, confused by all the new additional questions swirling in my head, and now the fear of Mr. Ainsworth.

After a moment though, I heard the more comforting, calm voice of Mr. Ainsworth return as he spoke to me. "Forgive me Briar. I had hoped that would go better. Why don't we go inside? We can meet some of the other Neighbors tomorrow."

I nodded, but I never looked up at Mr. Ainsworth, for some reason, I was too scared.