Midnight

Chapter 1

 It was a cold, dark night, “Maybe just before dawn” – She thought to herself…

She tried to stand up, but felt pain in her right leg, it was too dark to see so she let her hand browse the place of the pain. Her hand touched warm and wet place, just above her knee, and the pain grew stronger.

“Must be blood.” – She thought again.

She looked up, at the sky. The stars had begun to fade out at the skyline, but still was so dark. And the piercing wind didn’t helped to make the situation better. Wrapping her hands around her, trying to warm up a little bit, while the wind whispering to the trees around her, was still restless. As an angry friend.

“I need to go… Go now… Somewhere” – She muttered, grabbing to the nearest tree, helping herself to stand up.

Sliding a hand at the wound again, gently tapping her leg a few times – “You will be strong enough. No one will help us here “.

She moved her foot, the pain was strong, but her will was stronger. Helping herself with everything around that she could find, she began moving forward, through the narrow path in the woods.

Slowly, as it’s been hours, she found herself at a lake. Wonderful, calm lake, as it was glowing with a gentle white light. “Better to stop here for now.” – She thought to herself again.

Getting closer to the shore of the lake, looking at the calm water, seeing a blurry reflection, of what appeared to be her own face. And she couldn’t recognize it either. From the moment she woke up at that path, she had a strong headache and no memory about herself, no memory about her life, no memory at all. Just the feeling that she must be moving, must go NOW… So, she did…

“Do you know who I am?” – She whispered to the reflection, and as no answer came back, she muttered –“Of course you don’t.” and put her hand in the water, as to chase away the damn reflection, guilty, that she can’t remember.  

The reflection didn’t know who she was, but her disturbance at the surface of the lake showed something else. The Moon was still shining, like giving a last breath before dying so the Sun can live, a long ray of light, playing through the water, showing a “Path maybe?” – She was fascinated by the light. Going all the way to the next shore of the lake, at the end she saw it. A young stag, whit long, oh so long antlers, pure white in color. Stood there, watching at her. “Wait…” – She thought “He can’t watch at me… Right?” But the stag stood there, and the feeling that he’s watching her didn’t go away.

“Alright then” – She said. “I will go there”. And she stood, trying to see a way around the lake, to go to the place where the stag is. The pain in her leg keeps reminding her that she isn’t dreaming.

“Now chasing a damn stag, who keeps LOOKING at me…? What’s wrong with me? “

 But the lake was calm again, and it seemed that the wind here is calmer too, like he didn’t wanted to disturb the rest of the beautiful lake too. There were high bushes and trees around the lake, “As they protect it” – She thought. Slowly she reached the place she saw the stag.

“Of course, you aren’t here. “ – She laugh at herself angry.

And yes, the stag was gone. “Maybe it was just my imagination…”

But at the point she was, she saw light, or at least one light, seemed to be coming from not so far away place, deeper in the woods.

“What do I have to lose?” – She said to herself and moved towards the light. “I keep chasing things all night. I’m so tired.”

Sadness came to her, whole body started to hurt, like never before, she could barely move her legs now. “No, I must continue” – Biting her lips, while thinking this and moved forward, trying to ignore the pain.

It seemed that the trees were talking to each other. Everything was trying to calm her. “Well, that can’t be, right? My imagination again.”

She found herself on a path, this time it seemed a man-made path, the light was closer, and she started moving faster. Coming closer and closer to the light, her heart speeded up, she was energized. Almost there.

Around the next corner, she was in front of a house. A small wooden house, with a big lantern. Burning brightly in the almost gone night. Chopped woods stood around the house. An axe too. And a neat bench with “A book maybe?”

Around her everything was still, no sound, no voice, nothing disturbing the silence around her.

“Well, this is it.” – She thought and knocked at the door.

At first nothing. No moving around the house, then she heard a really loud noise, falling things, a curse, and then the door cracked open. Before her stood a man, with a ridiculous night hat, pointing to one of his sides, bare legs, with long socks, and a burning candle, that looked like survived a war. Apparently the young man hit the table trying to find the poor candle.

He stood there, shocked. It was still a night and at the door was standing a girl. Pretty one, with a long dark hair. But seemed to run away from something… Or someone. Had a bruises at her head, and seeing by the dim light a really nasty wound on her leg.

He moved from the door, gently showing her that she can come in. Looking as a thief around her back, just before slamming the door.

“I- I’m so sorry to disturb you at this hour, sir. I didn’t knew where to go.” – She started. Trying not to show how tired she was. But as it seemed the young man did noticed that.

“It's okay, m’lady. And sir I ain’t. It’s still late. You look like needing a rest now. Let me show where you can do so. We will talk in the morning.” – And he led her to a room. “It’s my father’s room. He’s on a hunting party, and ain’t returning for the next few days. You can rest here now.”

She looked at him as he was a hero, or something. It made him feel embarrassed.

“I – I will leave you the candle, m’lady. Rest well. See you in the morning.” – And he shut the door behind him, as he left the room. She thought that was a bit quick, but she felt safe. For the first time this night, she felt safe.

Lay in bed and sleep came so fast. She wanted to think, to try to remember. But now all that happened just slammed her and she fell asleep instantly.