Dialogue with Them

Transportation Like a Roller Coaster

The car halted midway up a hill, with a vast expanse of primeval forest stretching out behind it. Shrouded in a cloak of white mist, it was unclear why they had brought me to this secluded spot.

Climbing out of the car, my legs felt as if they no longer belonged to me. Only by leaning on the car door was I able to steady my footsteps.

As the rain intensified, the exposed, fragile skin of mine began to redden, the weight of the rain pressing down until breathing became a struggle. My raincoat and backpack were both inside the Ford, and I hoped that no one would discover the broken car door and mischievously rummage through my backpack, taking my belongings.

There was a period during my schooling when I was collectively bullied by the entire student body. They never played pranks to my face; instead, they took away the things I needed or cared about from places I couldn't see, ensuring I felt their torment even in their absence.

Thankfully, since Uncle Trevor stormed into the school and roared in Principal Green's office, they finally began to rein in their behavior.

Frederick approached with an air of grace, pausing before the pitiful sight of me wishing I could shrink behind his car's trunk, a hint of embarrassment on his face. He raised his hands in a gesture meant to show he meant no harm, "Are you alright? I hope our recklessness hasn't caused you any injury. Ahem, actually, we have better ways of communicating; it was just... too impulsive. You ran so fast, so we had no choice but to chase after you."

I took a few steps back, trying to maintain a distance from him, and managed a strained smile, "I'm alright, classes should be over by now, I suppose. I should head home so my family won't worry."

"You live alone, don't you?" Frederick's words came out too smoothly, and only after he spoke did he catch himself with a twitch of his mouth, realizing his mistake.

Cursed telepathy, transmitting my experiences to him in an instant, I curse you.

Then Frederick's expression grew even stranger as he muttered, "Sometimes, it's just impossible to control."

William pointed towards the primordial forest, smiling, "It's time to go in. Emily and the others know we have a guest."

Frederick reacted with unusual swiftness this time, saying to me, "I hope you don't mind." Before his voice even faded, his hand had reached out, and before I could clearly see what was happening, I found myself on his broad back. He lifted me up, his body slightly bent, then with a powerful leap, he jumped three meters high over the railing, his feet landing on the trunk of a roadside tree, as gravity around us seemed to vanish completely.

Frederick's hand transformed into something akin to an animal's claw, but the speed of his run was so fast that I thought I must have seen it wrong.

With one hand bent backwards to firmly grasp the fabric around my waist, I could see he was making a concerted effort not to offend me, which finally gave me a semblance of safety.

He spoke in a tone that was both normal and polite, yet his voice carried an unintentionally seductive, silky quality. "You can hold onto my shoulders. I run quite fast, so if you're afraid of getting dizzy, you can close your eyes."

My feet were suspended in the air, and I believed that if Frederick's grip loosened for even a moment, I would surely fall and suffer a catastrophic fracture along with a concussion. In a bit of a panic, I placed my hands on his shoulders. His shoulders were broad, and through his clothing, I could feel his firm muscles. His body heat was intense, a temperature that seemed beyond the reach of ordinary humans.

With my eyes open, Frederick had already leaped down from the tree. Unless one experiences it firsthand, it's impossible to fully describe the sensation, a feeling unlike any mode of transportation you've ever used.

I observed the green ferns beneath his feet gently unfurling their fronds to welcome the rain from nature, in a world devoid of light. The entire forest transformed into a vast botanical maze, dotted with many ancient trees that I couldn't quite make out clearly.

This place was far removed from the town's urban area, far from all tarred roads, far from human habitation. The sound of flowing river water was the only sign of life in this secluded spot.

Frederick continued to run forward.

Every scene passes in a silent, ephemeral whisper, leaving me staring wide-eyed, overwhelmed by dizziness. Shades of green, varied in depth, morph into a viscous, tumbling mass before my eyes, churning incessantly—a sensation that stirs an urge to vomit within me.

Rain and wind howl past my ears, my long hair whipping wildly into a tangled bird's nest, while coldness seeps in silently, claiming dominion over my entire body.

I can't discern how many miles he's run; time and distance are concepts too elusive for my current state. Resting my head against Frederick's broad shoulders, I gasp for breath with difficulty. Fatigue and pain roar through my veins like the lightning speed of our movement, an unrelenting storm within me.

At last, he slows down, gracefully and steadily stepping over the giant fern leaves, running onto a manicured lawn littered with puddles, the empty expanse of grass as smooth and level as if it were carved from the earth itself.

Ahead, the lawn rises to reveal clusters of villas, like a scene from a fairy tale, where human ingenuity nestles buildings within the deep forest at an elevated altitude, a hidden gem of architecture amidst nature's grandeur.

Frederick, carrying me on his back, enters the foremost three-story villa.

The villa's door stands open, its porch smooth and welcoming.

Frederick strides quickly into the living room, where he gently sets me down on a beige sofa. My head throbs painfully, my vision blurred, but as my body sinks into the soft cushions, a wave of relaxation washes over me, making the discomfort all the more apparent. I'm cold, my clothes soaked with rainwater, clinging tightly to my body.

"She's not doing well; I think we should make her comfortable," Frederick's voice resonates, though it's unclear to whom he's speaking.

I close my eyes, trembling continuously, wanting to hug myself and curl up to preserve the meager warmth within my body. Having never endured much hardship, accustomed to treating myself kindly, my pampered body is utterly unprepared for the assault of wind and rain.

A hand gently touches my forehead, its warmth so comforting that I instinctively press my forehead closer to it.

"She's soaked through. We should get her changed into dry clothes now to preserve her body heat," a stranger's voice, close and imbued with a gentle kindness, suggests. With a hint of hesitation, he adds softly, "A warm bath would be best under these circumstances."

"I don't think I'm the right person for that," Frederick says, his voice tinged with annoyance.

I hear William unable to suppress a chuckle at this.

Nonsense, if any man dares come near me to give me a bath, it doesn't matter if you're human or not, I'd stab you with a knife all the same.

Now it's Frederick's turn to laugh uncontrollably, apologizing as he does so, "Sorry, I couldn't help it. Her thoughts are quite amusing."

"Frederick," someone sighs, calling his name in a beautiful voice—a woman's voice, soft and warm even in its disapproval. "I'll take her for a bath, this poor girl. You men need to learn to care for women."

"Sorry, Mother," Frederick quickly corrects his demeanor, apologizing sincerely.

"Perhaps your apology is owed not to me." Emily approaches me, and I open my eyes warily to look at her. She is stunningly perfect, with skin so pale it's almost ethereal, chestnut-brown hair cascading like waves over her shoulders, and a delicate face that carries a friendly expression, making anyone who sees her believe she is a genuinely kind woman.

I attempt to lift my heavy body from the soft embrace of the sofa, but lacking the strength, I fall back. Emily, holding a blanket in her hands, shakes her head as if disapproving of my futile attempt to assert strength. She wraps the blanket around me, then bends down, her arms slipping beneath my back and knees, effortlessly lifting me up.

My hands dangle limply in the air as she moves, and a wave of darkness sweeps before my eyes.

Yet, this vulnerable position instinctively makes me want to struggle. Emily immediately calms my restlessness. Her warm hand strokes my hair, and her voice, soft and low like a lullaby, reassures me. "Child, it's okay, you're safe."

All my unease is smoothed away by her warm actions. While my mind tells me that everything is far from over, my body betrays my reason, curling up and nestling into Emily's embrace through the blanket.

"We should find her some clothes," Emily suggests. "The milk series of summer clothes I ordered last week are still in the wardrobe; she'll like these colors."

That gentle voice speaks again, "Frederick, tell me everything."

"Alright, Father, things took an unexpected turn. I couldn't find a safe answer, and when our eyes met, her experiences flooded into my mind. It's as if I could hear her thoughts and feel her emotions."

Frederick's voice fades as Emily carries me away from the living room, up the spiraling staircase to the bathroom on the second floor, distancing us from the ongoing conversation.

The house is adorned with glass, vast windows everywhere, with warm beige as its sole theme. Through the windows, I can see the overcast sky and the deep green grass outside, while the sound of rain softly beats against the earth's heart from afar.