Chapter 15: Two Perspectives
1685 Words
"I was just thinking, on our way here from the last settlement, I spotted a small town. We should check there, too, don't you think?" asked Leah.
Aven stood. "Good eye. Where did you see it exactly?"
"North of the settlement." She stood as well. "Are we going there now?"
"The sooner we find her, the sooner we go home." He looked at her with a smile.
"Well," she said, stepping to the edge. "Let's get to it, then."
She slowly moved one foot over the edge, the sole of her boot brushing grains of sand off the the cliff. She leaned forward, leaped off the mountain, and fell as she watched the ground below slowly approached.
Leah smirked as the wind resistance blew back her hair.
"Always trying to impress, are we?" said Aven with a smile, leaping down the mountain and falling.
While Leah continued to fall, transparent blue flames formed and spread from her head to her feet. She stopped falling and flew slowly with the wind. The familiar sound of an eagle echoed, and Leah spotted it in the distance, flying in the same direction they were heading.
"Do you even know where you're going?" Aven said as he caught up with her.
"I suppose, no," she said, turning her gaze from the eagle. "Go, I'll follow, like always."
Aven looked ahead and flew faster. "Whatever makes you happy."
-
Aven and Leah flew across the land, going from trees and plants that were still thriving, to a dry scorched landscape.
"At least not everything is destroyed." Leah looked down at the passing hills.
"Why don't they live where there are more trees and plants?"
"Maybe, they're unaware of it," muttered Aven beside her.
Leah nodded. "That'd make sense. Changing the subject, that white-haired woman. . . do you two know each other?"
"Why are you asking?"
"It's difficult to look for someone here, why go that extra mile?"
"Leah, if you know what I do, you should be aware that if I have a mission, I'll do whatever it takes to complete it."
"I understand."
-
Leah and Aven were still making their way towards their destination.
"Looks like I can see the city from here. It should be close by." Leah scanned her eyes across the field. Several buildings surrounded by a wall.
"There, that's the one." She pointed towards it and descended.
"I don't know how I missed it." Aven descended after her.
Leah strode towards the town's wall, looking at either side of it with an intrigued gaze.
"Should we knock?" asked she as she halted in her steps.
Aven headed past her and towards the door. He raised his fist near the door, hesitating, and knocked on the door gently.
"I doubt anyone would be there to answer," said Leah.
Aven looked over his shoulder, knocking on the door a little harder. A slot opened, a man's eyes peering at them.
"What do you want?" he asked with a serious tone in his voice.
"Hey, this is my sister, Leah." He gestured to her. "And I'm Aven."
"Fair enough, but what do you want here?"
"We're looking for someone. I was wondering if maybe you know an individual, a young woman who has white hair?"
"I might have. . ."
"Oh, did you? Is she here?" Aven's words led Leah to step closer, standing beside him.
"No, unfortunately, she went somewhere else."
"Do you know where?" Leah asked.
"A settlement that's quite far from here."
"I'm not really concerned about the distance, do you know the exact location?" Aven said impatiently.
The man sighed. "I think you should come inside and talk to the doctor."
"Doctor?"
The guard opened the door; Aven and Leah entered.
"Just a warning, if either of you cause any trouble, anything, I won't hesitate to take action, do you understand?"
Aven nodded. "Understood."
"Good." The guard glowered at them. "Follow me."
He led them into the town, down the road surrounded by buildings on either side. The town's people stopped what they were doing to watch the visitors. Some with curious looks, others with suspicions.
"Don't need to worry about them; they rarely see visitors."
The guard brought them in front of a large house. "Here it is."
Due to years of maintenance, the paint on the wood was in good condition. The plants that surrounded it embraced against walls. The guard stepped on the veranda and knocked on the front door. Rhythmed footsteps sounded from behind the door. The door opened, only to be greeted by an unshaven middle-aged man leaning on his cain. He looked at Leah and Aven with a narrowed expression.
"These two have some questions," the guard said, scratching the bridge of his nose.
"Who are they?" Wallace asked, his gaze flitting between them.
"Greetings, my name is Aven and this is my younger sister, Leah," said Aven.
Wallace frowned. "What brings you here?"
"We've traveled a long way from home." Aven paused, meetinf the older man's gaze. "I was told by him that a friend of ours has been here, however, she's no longer here, could you help us find her?"
The older man sighed. He turned to Leah, with his deep-set eyes staring blankly at her for a moment, and turned to the guard.
"You interrupted me while I was doing my work." He lifted his chin, looking at the guard. "How many times did I tell you to not interrupt me?"
"My apologies," said the guard, eyes trained on the ground.
"I thought it's important; it's about the white haired girl they brought in the other day."
"Really?" the older man said in surpise, turning his gaze to the siblings. "You can leave them with me. Off you go."
The guard nodded and walked off the veranda.
"And I was serious about the interruption!" Wallace called out; the guard frowned. "This is the third strike of our little game. Now you have to work double for a week."
The older man placed his hands on the head of his cane, a cocky smile on his face.
"Fine, I will!" the guard said irritably, marching away.
Aven and Leah turned to the older man.
"Don't mind that," uttered Wallace. "Are you looking for your friend?"
"Ye-"
"Yes," Leah said before Aven.
He frowned at his sister. "Do you know a white-haired woman, or not?"
"Let's talk inside." Wallace gestured for them to come in.
Aven sighed. "Okay."
As they entered into the lounge, they spotted a small girl walking with the one housekeeper. They seemed not to notice the new company.
"What's your little friend's name?" the housekeeper asked gently.
"Perry," the girl replied.
"Wow, that's a nice name."
Leah watched as they walked down the hall with an intrigued gaze.
"I know a private place where we can talk." The older man limped towards the one room.
-
The older man entered into his office, Leah and Aven in tow.
"Take a seat there." Leah took a seat as the older man sat across from her.
Intrigued, Aven slowly paced around the room, taking his time to look. He moved towards the bookshelf and took a book out. He opened it and started turning the page.
"Aren't you going to sit down?" Leah said to Aven, a soft tone in her voice. Aven turned to her and closed the book to put it back.
"I'll stand. We're not going to stay long." Aven walked towards the doctor. "And your name is?"
"Godwin. Wallace Godwin."
"You're a doctor?" asked Aven.
"Formally, however, I still practice it. If needed."
"Interesting to know, so, about my friend."
"You want to know where she is?"
"Yes, if you will."
Wallace stared at him with his piercing eyes. "You like it here?"
"It's a decent place."
"That's not what I mean," Wallace said as he sorted out the things on his desk. Aven looked at him, puzzled.
"This planet, what do you think of it?"
Aven crossed his arms. "What type of question is that?"
"Let's just say I know your friend and I know that you're not from this planet. Are you?"
Leah sat back, a nervous look on her face.
"Don't worry, I'm not concerned about what you are or where you come from." Wallace smiled.
"You know who we are, but you don't show any hatred towards us?" asked Aven, puzzled. "Maybe, you're afraid."
Wallace chuckled, shaking his head. "No, that's not it. If I had any fear or resentment, your friend wouldn't be alive."
"He's got a point, Aven," said Leah. "Do you know where she might be?"
Wallace let out a sigh as he looked down in thought.
"Hang on." He opened the drawer of his desk and took out a sheet of paper, placing it on the desk and strolling his finger across it as he leaned in for a closer look.
"Is that a map?" asked Leah.
"This is exactly what it is, my dear."
Aven stepped closer. "Will this map show us where she is?"
"Not exactly," Wallace said, taking a pencil out of the desk and drawing on the sheet, "however, it'll show you where she's headed."
He turned the map towards Aven, gesturing for him to look.
Aven placed his index finger on the sheet, turning to Wallace. "Is this where she's headed?"
Wallace nodded.
"How long will it take?" asked Leah.
"About two to three days, but I'm sure it won't take longer than a day for people of your particular talents."
He sat back and took his cane.
Leah narrowed her gaze. "How do you know so much about us?"
"Do you see how old I look?"
Aven picked up the map and looked further.
"Have seen how this place looked before everything?" asked Leah.
"I witnessed it, yes," Wallace replied.
"How was it before?"
Wallace's eyebrows shot up.
"Let me just say that it was before her time," said Aven.
Wallace nodded slowly. "I see."
"Why is it that your kind age so fast?"
The doctor chuckled. "I can ask the same thing about you with your long-term aging process."
"Are you sure she'd be there?" posed Aven.
"Yes, I mapped it out myself."
"I'll take your word for it. Thanks for your help, I appreciate it."
Aven looked at his sister. "Let's go, Leah."
With a sigh, she stood.
"I wish you luck." Wallace stood.
"I was wondering, did she mention anything about what happened?" asked Aven.
"Oh, that reminds me, she has lost all memory of who she was and what happened to her. I doubt she'd remember you."
"Oh," said Aven, looking at the floor with a thoughtful gaze.
"Don't worry, I'm sure when she sees you, she might remember who you are."
"You may be right. We should go, Leah." He looked at Wallace. "Thank you for all your help."
Wallace nodded calmly. "I'll walk you outside."
- Writer
