The Dance Of Fire

Chapter 8.

To be honest, he was upset with her behavior back then. But he kept saying to himself that she didn’t know him yet. They were still strangers to each other. She had no choice but to leave. Maybe his approach was too direct. She was still young. Those were all the excuses that he was making. In reality, he was being rejected. Nahara didn’t want to have anything to do with him. And he didn’t know why. There were feelings he could see in those dark eyes. But only a moment later, everything would be gone together with her. He stepped out of the car and walked to a nursing home. Her old social worker was residing there. Spending the last few years of his life in peace and harmony, as the sign on the entrance said. After sharing his name with the receptionist, he was ushered to the back garden. There were a couple of other people there with visitors and family. But the person he was looking for was sitting in one of the gazebos. He recognized him by having some papers and folders in front of him. He was sitting in a wheelchair. His fragile body seemed thin like paper. But the pale blue eyes still held the spark of life. He watched him as he approached him on the grass.

-Mr. Dalton?-he asked, shaking his hand.

-Just John for you.-the man answered with a low voice. Einar smiled.

-My name is Einar. I believe my assistant already spoke with you on the phone.-he said, taking a seat on a wooden bench. The man nodded his silvery head.

-You were asking questions about Nahara.-he confirmed. Einar was the one to nod his head this time. -Is she in trouble?-the man asked suspiciously. Einar stood his gaze.

-Not that I know of. But I do have a feeling that she needs some kind of help.-he said. They looked at each other, trying to guess what the other person was thinking about.

-Why are you interested in her?-John asked him directly. Einar smiled again. Should he tell him the truth?

-I met her by accident just a month ago. And to be honest, I can't stop thinking about her.-he admitted.

-If you want her safe you will forget you have ever met her.-the old man warned him. This made him think harder.

-Why do you say that?-he wanted to know. John wasn’t going to tell her secrets to anybody. Especially not to the man in front of him. He was a stranger.

-I only want to keep her safe. That was all I have been trying to do through the years. So take my advice and stay away from Nahara.-he repeated. Einar was still calmly sitting.

I'm not the kind of man that will do what others tell him to. I like to find out things for myself. And I can assure you if there is anyone out there to hurt her I will find them and make them pay.- his voice was serious. There was something in his words that was serious and dark. John could see in his eyes that he had meant it.

-You have feelings for her.-that wasn’t a question. Einar didn’t answer. The old man took a deep breath and looked at the papers in front of him. -I have known Nahara since she was five years old. It was I who insisted over the years that she started and continue her dancing classes. It was the only constant thing in her life that mattered. And now she can't even dance.-he was bitter about it.

-What happened?-he had to know. The man looked ahead of him as if going back in the past.

-Everything was going well for her. She was a beautiful dancer. Every time I could spare, I would go and watch her. She was amazing. Talented. We had such high hopes for her. The first time she got injured was when she was 12. After getting to her last foster family. An accident, she said. She fell down the stairs. Broke her ankle in two places. Was out of it for two months. She slowly came back. But soon there were other injuries. A busted lip. Bruises. A blue eye. Escalating to a broken rib. And she would have an excuse for all of them. Rough play with the kids. Playing soccer. I was about to pull her out but it wasn’t easy anymore. She was getting older. The places I could place her weren’t that many. Nobody likes older kids. They are more trouble than they are worth. But she assured me she was fine. She wanted to stay. -his voice was hard. Bitter. Disappointed. He was upset with himself.

-She broke her leg again?-Einar said. The old man looked at his hands.

-I was called to the hospital. I was still her social worker. And when I had seen her I cried. It was the first time I cried. She was…-his shaking hand touched his forehead. He was having trouble speaking. -There wasn’t a place in her body that wasn’t hurt. Cuts, bruises, 3 broken ribs, 4 broken fingers. And her leg again. The bastard broke the same leg in the same place. She looked at me and she knew. She knew even before the doctors had told her. She knew she would not be able to dance ever again. The tendons were injured. The leg was weak. She couldn’t jump, couldn’t hold herself, and she still refused to tell me who and why. What was the point she said? It was all over now. He had gotten what he wanted. To do that to a 14-year-old girl is beyond me. I just couldn’t believe it.-there was hurt and tears in his eyes. Einar squeezed his hands into fists. There was anger in his heart. Pure rage and a call for revenge. But there was a detail that he was not about to miss.

-That happened 3 years ago. She told me she was 21 years old.-he noticed. John gave him a small smile.

-It was the last thing I did before I retired. I wasn’t about to send her back to that place. So they could just finish the job. I went to the system and changed a few numbers on her birth certificate. There was nobody alive to prove me wrong. Her mother was dead. Her father was never accounted for. And suddenly she was 18. Allowed to move away. Get a job. Find a place of her own. She stayed with me for a while until she was able to settle down. But her foster parents knew what was happening. Those bastards are probably threatening her even now. But soon she will be 18 for real. Just another year and they won't be able to do anything about it.-he said proudly. Things became so much clearer for him. Her visits to them. Her fear. And she was young. Much younger than they told him. -Who was it that hurt her?-he was asking for a name, but John didn’t know.

-It wasn’t them. She wasn’t at home when it happened. The police came and made a report but they never found them. It could be anyone. She had been in so many homes. Met with all kinds of crazy kids and people during her life. It could be anyone of them.-he was guessing now. Einar wasn’t going to give up.

-For sure, you must have some idea. Who was hurting her?-he wanted answers. But the old man couldn’t give them any.

-Only Nahara could tell you. I have asked her so many times. Begged her to let me know. Promised her that she would be safe. Nothing would work. She is alone. Scared. Vulnerable. And she would not accept any help.-his voice was sad. Defeated.

-She doesn’t trust anybody.-he noticed. John nodded his head.

-She doesn’t trust men.-he added. And those words were the truth.