Chapter 13: Water and Land

Sarah Codache

The noise of the crowd outside our house woke me up on this relaxing day. My limbs could barely function, and I couldn't stop yawning. My eyes were half-opened while trying to see what was in the noise outside through my room's window. The clouds were cotton white, and the sun shined bright; its rays were sharp. At this time, I knew that I woke up late. 

From the vicinity of my window, I saw many people standing in front of our house. The clothes they wore were familiar. It was the same as what I saw the last time we were witnessing a fire. Bringing with them a strange black or grey thing on their neck, they were shouting something that I cannot understand. Their voices were mixing, and I felt my head started to become unconscious; it gave me a little pain. 

My eyes stuck with a mom facing in front of them while blocking our house's main door. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips were saying something that I couldn't hear. Her face looked at everyone like she did not know who to face when muttering the words she wanted to say. 

While I was looking at them, I heard footsteps coming outside of my room. The steps were loud as it goes nearer to the door. The steps sounded stern but calm. It was from my sister. 

"Don't show yourself; just stay here." She instructed with a calm, moderate tone of voice. I just stared at her. I did not understand what she was saying, so I continued watching mom outside with these random people that I do not know.

I wondered what they were doing here. Hm, are these people here for some food? They looked exhausted and tired. It seemed like they were trying to look for something that my mom couldn't give.

I heard my sister snorted in the air. "Sarah," She breathed deeply then let out a loud blow. "Stop looking at the window. They might probably see you later on." My sister articulated. 

Her words were unclear when I tried listening to them. Her voice seemed to crack, and I wasn't able to get into my thoughts. I wasn't able to concentrate. 

I slowly turned my back to face her, but she grabbed my shoulder to my terrified surprise, and I can feel that she wasn't happy when doing it. She aggressively threw me back to my bed, and my face slammed into the bedsheets. I reacted. I can feel my arms shaking in pain because of what she did. 

What was she doing? 

I slowly glanced at her with my hair covering my face. "Don't be stubborn! Just. Stay. Here! Do you understand?!" She greeted her teeth as she shouted with one of her fingers pointing at me. She made sure that her words were emphasizing clearly; the words she was saying stressed. I did not respond. Then she turned away and closed the door hard, which created a sharp irritating sound in the ears.

What was going on? I asked myself while randomly watching on the other side of the window. 

The sun rays went inside the room. The light directed towards my face, and I couldn't start staring at the air passing in front of my vision, which can be spotted clearly through my naked eyes. 

The leaves were swaying, and I can hear the birds chirping even though the transparent window was closed. I can't stop but go near the window, open it, and see more of the view.

From there, my eyes spotted a lake right in front of our backyard. I can feel its coldness even though I was quite far away from it. I felt more curious. I was temp to experience more; that was when I found myself walking in that direction. I slowly went down from my room while my eyes were excited.

When I opened the door, the refreshing cold air approached me. My hairs were like floating in the air, as I closed my eyes to feel this lovely touch of nature. 

I felt so glad! A relaxing smile appeared on my face. I immediately ran towards this beautiful garden while raising my arms to feel more of what this nature would give me. 

While I was enjoying the moment, I stopped when I saw a man standing barefooted across the lake. My mood became different as I cleared my vision to see him. When my vision was clear, I saw him looking at me like he was observing my actions. He smiled a bit when he knew that I finally saw him. 

I wondered who he was, so I went towards that unknown man. But, I could not see him at a small distance due to the lake that separated the both of us. 

The splash of the lake's current caught my attention. The water was as crystal clear as a real gem. Then, I looked back to the man with an expression of asking how I could go near to him.

I was surprised by the change of emotion he had. He was casually looking at me, but now, his eyes were delighted, and his lips curved a smile.

"Come closer; the water won't bother you." He encouraged me while staring at my careful actions.

I did not understand why, but my thoughts eventually understood what he meant to say. I carefully stepped my right foot in a bit hesitant of the possibility to get drown. 

When my foot was finally above the waters, the lake shined. With wide eyes, I huffed, moving back because I was startled by what I see! 

I can also see the man whose eyes showed worries as he moved a bit closer towards the lake. Because of what just happened, I was terrified. I turned back and was about to run back home when I felt a force preventing me from escaping! I watched around me as the long branches of green leaves floating in the air and pushed back towards the man's direction. 

I almost shouted in extreme fright! 

The water splashed, and the branches began to disappear when I found myself in front of the man. I laid down on his arms, and I can see his face watching me right above mine. His one hand tightly held mine while the other one was behind my neck to prevent my head from falling entirely on the ground. My feet can feel the branches running through my skin. I was terrified and did not know what to do. 

When the tingling sensation of these branches disappeared, I felt relieved.

I looked straight to the man's eyes with no other emotion felt but conscious of who he was. His eyes were analyzing my expression, especially my eyes. When he was satisfied with what he did, he finally guided me to stand up. And when I roamed my eyes in a second, I knew I was on the other side of the lake.

I thought this was my chance to escape, so I tried to move away from him. But, he immediately grabbed my pulse and made me face him in no time!

His eyes approached mine. I was trying to get his hands off, but his eyes suddenly flickered green. I felt a calmness. I did not know the reason behind this strange feeling, but I felt comfortable. When his eyes went back to their original brownish color, I was not terrified, unlike a while ago.

He slowly removed his hands from my pulse and spoke gently. Now, we were facing each other, and only a foot or feet away. My thoughts blocked out for no reason; I wasn't able to think. 

"I can't believe I finally found you..." He gurgled. He looked straight into my eyes and smiled. His voice sounded differently from those I have heard from other men. 

I shook my head out of frustration of not being able to process things that fast. I did not know how to react. 

He carefully touched my cheek. When his palm reached my face, I can feel the warmth. He was closing his eyes. And now, his palm was no longer warm; it turns just right.

I was staring at his skin when it began to glow. It startled me. It was my first time seeing this thing! 

The plants that surrounded us began to glow; their colors became more lively. 

"Sarah!" The loud and worried voice of my mom made both of us came back to reality. We saw each other's sight before I glanced towards our backyard's door. 

I looked at him back, telling him that I need to go. 

He nodded with a smile. I thought it was a confirmation of saying that I should go. 

"Sarah, where are you?" I heard mom once again shouted. Her voice became more loud, desperate to see me.

I did not bother to face that strange man back. Instead, I immediately ran back home. 

As soon as I arrived, I looked for mom, and when she found me, she hugged me tightly. Her breathing became regular, and her eyes were relieved. I wandered my eyes around the house to look for my sister, but she was nowhere.

My mom moved a bit, which allowed me to see the backyard through the kitchen window. The man was no longer there. The sunlight wasn't bright anymore, yet nature remained the same.

And just right now, my thoughts became open. I was able to think.

Who was that guy?