Chapter Two
"Hey there, are you alright?" a soft voice called from a distance. Brock could barely move. He was lying on a soft mattress in room where a calm breeze was flowing in from outside. He struggled to open his eyes, and light flooded in from a nearby window, practically blinding him. A figure moved slowly over towards him, but his blurred eyesight prevented him from focusing on the person. He felt a hand reach for his forehead.
"Well, it looks like your fever has finally gone down," a girl’s voice said cheerfully. Brock perked up. A girl?? Oh no! Instantly, as he realized who had found him, he felt his whole face grow hot. No, no!!! Not now! He tried, but he knew that he was blushing crazily.
"My goodness!" the girl murmured, "It went up again!" Then she stopped and analyzed the situation. "Wait, this isn’t like the fever you had before… are you.. blushing?"
"Ah, well…" Brock replied weakly, "I tend to do that from … time to time." He tried again to open his eyes, finally succeeding. He looked up at the girl. She had a kind face, with radiant flowing curls of chestnut-ebony hair and her dark amber brown eyes shone with a quiet glow that gave her a look of serenity. Brock was so overcome by her beauty that he almost fell off the bed, but she caught him at the last moment.
"Y-you’re s-so b-b-beautiful!" Brock stammered. He slapped his hand over his mouth. There I go again! he thought, she’s going to smack me for sure! He covered his head with his arms, awaiting an attack. But none came.
She giggled. "You’re cute," she said, "but why are you hiding? I’d never hurt anyone." He looked up, surprised. She doesn’t hate me? Why? "I’m just glad you’re ok. For a while there, I was worried, Brock," she said. Worried? About me? Wait… how does she know my name? She must have known what he was thinking because she added, "oh, I saw your name on the inside of your backpack." She pointed at his huge backpack lying by the foot of the mattress.
"Oh," Brock replied, look at it. He turned to her. "I really would like to thank you for saving me… uh-"
"Marian," the girl replied happily, "and don’t you worry about it. People always come here from time to time in your condition."
"Really?" he asked. "That ridge must not be very secure."
She hesitated. "Ridge? Oh yes, that’s it. People… always get hurt there." She cocked her head to the side and smiled. "But I always try to treat them the best that I can."
Brock felt the bandage that was on his head. He felt a twinge of pain and winced.
"You must have hit your head very hard!" Marian said, motioning to the bandage. "But it’s nothing that a nice meal and good rest won’t cure."
Brock looked at her in wonder. Wow. She really is something. Never in all my life have I met such a dedicated and kind soul! He felt his face begin to flush again.
Marian laughed. "That must be your little way of thanking me!" she giggled.
"Uh, yeah, I guess so!" Brock said, scratching his head bashfully.
Just then, he heard a muffled sound, coming from somewhere far away, yet he felt as if it was so close. Brock…Brock…It was so garbled that Brock had trouble making it out. He looked around, spooked by the noise, but as soon as it had come, it faded into the forest’s silence.
Marian looked at him. "Brock? Are you okay?"
"Um, yeah… I’m fine," Brock replied quietly. Marian appeared unchanged by the noise. That’s strange, Brock thought. It’s as if she hadn’t heard it at all.
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