We arrived at the village at almost at the start of the hours of the dog. The children were happy and went hugging their own mother. I watched as their mother's figure embraced them; her clothes a gown from ancient England with an apron hanging on her neck. She has freckles tracing her cheeks and nose. Loose and stray hairs hang from her tied bun.
"Mother! Mother!" Daisy called as she looked back at me.
"This is Nina." Daisy said. "Mother, she lives in the sky.
The old woman looked at me and smiled.
"Hello, dear. I'm Hamelin."
She extended her hand out at me. I smiled and took her calloused hand with mine. Our attention swiped back at Robert when he gently pulled his mother's hem.
"Mother, Daisy keeps on complaining that she's hungry," Robert reported.
"No, I'm not!" Daisy barked.
Hamelin laughed and scooped Daisy up in her embrace. She went and open the door of their house.
"Come, dear. I have prepared supper." Hamelin said.
I smiled and nodded before silently following them inside. Their home was simple and enough to house a family. The roof was of stacks of hay piled and tied securely above. Chairs and table are of a wooden product and a lonesome window stayed open with a plain white laces. I sat on one of the chair as I watched the children do their routine. Robert went and get a pile of water for Daisy to bath while Ruth helped out with her mother in doing the table. As I saw Hamelin holding a number of plates, I stood up and handed her my help.
"Oh no, dear. You are our visitor. Relax yourself for a while," Hamelin said.
"It's okay. I'd like to help," I said and carefully grabbed the plates from her hands.
"And besides, I don't like being idle." I laughed as I placed the plates on the table.
"Thank you, dear."
Hamelin smiled before heading to the kitchen, a few meters away from the table. As I helped Ruth, she looked at me and giggled; causing me to smile. She ran back to her mother as she gave me those meaningful stares. Daisy shrieked and came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. She shivered and went behind a curtain for a change of clothes.
Later on, Hamelin came back with a soup on her hand, as well as the other two children. They sat the soup carefully.
"Where's Daisy?" Hamelin asked her children.
"I'm right here!" Daisy beamed as she rushes over the table.
"Come and have a sit, dear."
Hamelin urged me to sit down. I nodded and pulled a chair beside Robert and sat. We all sat quitely as Hamelin clasped her hands together as if praying. When I noticed it, I did the same and closed my eyes. I took a peak at Robert and saw him sincerely praying. I wonder who they're praying to. As if on cue, a voice rang inside my head.
"Dear god, we thank you for the blessings. And for letting Nina fall so we could meet her. Since the village chief took all the others away, they were lonely. But now that Nina is here, they were so happy. Thank you also for mother's good condition. May you keep us away from starvation and in harms way."
My eyes opened out as I realized it was Robert's voice. I watched as his mouth moves, whispering voices that rang inside my head. My heart hummed for this family.
"Time to eat," Hamelin announced.
I held the spoon and scoop some soup from the bowl before putting it in my mouth. We all ravish our share in silent before I saw the children yawn. They must be tired.
"If you're sleepy, you can go to bed now." Hamelin said
"How about you Mother?" Robert asked.
"Mother will sleep after washing the dishes," she answered.
Robert nodded and urged his sisters to sleep on their room. I watched as they disappeared behind the curtain. I stood up and grabbed the plates, and so did Hamelin. I followed her towards the kitchen as I held the plates as carefully as I could. I handed it to her as she placed them into the sink. A pale and a dipper sat beside the sink full of water.
"I know who you are," Hamelin muttered, causing me to look baffled.
"You are her. Oh, how long has it been since the last time I saw her? Maybe a few millennium years?" She said.
My brows furrowed at her statement.
"Miss Hamelin, if you don't mind me asking. What do you mean by I am her?" I asked.
She looked at me with a pale complexion. Her eyes scanned my face before her eyes widened as if she just realized something before dropping her eyes. I could see she was thinking something so deeply.
"Ah, I see. They must have been the cause," she mumbled.
She turned around and did the dishes without uttering another word. I blinked and stared at her back for a moment before sighing. If I stayed any longer in this place, I'll be thinking that she's weird.
"Miss Hamelin, I am just going to take some fresh air," I said before heading out of the house.
I exited the house, slowly closing the wooden door behind me with a soft click.
The whole village was silent. Now that I realized it, there was no one around except Hamelin's family. The other houses look abandoned, and the night air carry an eerie feeling in it. Why was I here again? I felt like I have forgotten something very important. And every time I search for it in the back of my mind, my heart aches. I sighed and started kicking some pebbles off the ground. What am I even doing in a secluded place like this? I don't quite remember how I got here.
I walked with my head low as I continue to kick pebbles out of my way. I was suddenly hit by something hard on the top of my forehead causing me to fall on the ground with my butt. I hissed and my hand instantly went to my hip. Well, it hurts. I looked up and a pair of sharp eyes looked down at me. His towering figure is a silhouette under the moonlight as I looked up and met his eyes that seem to be the only thing that shines the most in the night. He clicked his tongue and avoided my poor figure as he went on his way.
Do I know him? I hastily stood up and looked back at him as he walk. His long white hair is tied in a ponytail as it sway together with his numerous tails. A kimono with the color of copper veiled his porcelain skin that glints under the moon. This figure, have I seen this before?
Wait. Stop.
My mind pleaded and my feet unconsciously dragged itself towards the stranger's direction. And I blankly reached out for his back, but before I could even touch his tails, he abruptly turned a hundred and eighty degrees causing me to stiffen in my position.
My eyes widened at his face.
"Don't come near me," he said as his face contorted into disgust.
My heart ached as I watched him, and I felt heavy inside.
Do I know you?
I subconsciously reached out for his face, but he abruptly grabbed my wrist; gripping it tightly. His long nails digging right into my skin. My body was screaming about the pain he cause, but my mind just seem to went numb. And so, my mouth spoke.
"Who are you?"
My faint and soft voice reached his animal ears that elegantly sat on his white hair. His eyes narrowed down and he threw my hand away. He turned back and started walking awy from me.
"Wait!" I called out.
I was just about to run after him, but I stopped midway when someone called out for me.
"Dear, it's late. It's time to rest." Hamelin called as she stood outside the door.
I looked at Hamelin before taking a last look on the stranger's back. I sighed. I retreated back. I must be tired as I mistook him as someone I know. As I reached the door, a melody, soft and sweet sang in my ear. I instantly saw Hamelin froze.
Without blinking, I went back outside. This time, I could assess that my mind wasn't blank, but my body is. My body is moving on it's own accord. I felt someone grabbed my hand, pulling me back into the house, but my body still went on walking away.
What is wrong with me? I can't control my body. I could hear Hamelin's voice, however it was muffled. At the side I could see the children crying and calling out for my name.
I need to turn back.
I tried to fight my body but it seems like it has a brain of its own. Fear registered in my mind. Curses went flying from my mouth as I tried to gain control of my own body.
I was nearing a giant tree with a hole on the trunk.
"Chief, stop!" Hamelin screamed.
My eyes saw a man in his late fifties, standing near the riverbank, with a flute in his hands. His lips kissed the flute's mouth and his fingers danced on the notes. When the melody became even more sweeter, my body went even more rigid that I can't even move my eyes anymore.
Help.
I want to scream, but my pipes seem shut. I can't utter a single voice.
"Chief, she has nothing to do with this."
Hamelin, together with her children ran towards the man in flute.
"Any children of this village will have the same of fate as of the others," the chief barked.
"No. Have you not had enough?"
I could feel the rage fron Hamelin's voice. The warm hand touched my hand and in front of me, a blind Ruth and a limp Robert stood; both are weary and wore tattered clothes. Why are they in that state? They look just fine a while ago. They stood in front of the tree, blocking my way as I continue to walked. I could hear Daisy crying.
"She will come with me," the chief once again announced.
Beside the tree, the river flows.
"Nina, we're sorry." Daisy muttered.
And as if on cue, I was forcibly pushed away towards the river. I screamed. What the hell is happening? I can't move, I might drown. I landed with a loud splash and the air automatically left me when water entered my mouth.
Air.
Someone.
Please, help me.
As I gagged for air, voices started talking inside my mind.
"We're sorry you have meet this fate. We don't want you to go with him. We don't want you to get lost in his world and be deprived of peace. We don't want you to be like us. We don't want you to die the way we did. You need to live, Nina. Live."
They want me to live.
But it seems like it's impossible.
I'm too tired.
As I drifted even more deeper, the mooonlight slowly disappears from the surface.
It's cold.
I have no strength left.
My consciousness is slowly fading away.
I wonder if that stranger is still on the village.
Did he came back?
He looks like, Michaelis.
Air left my entire lungs as my eyes closed, letting mysef drift into the depths.
Who is Michaelis?