Six years have passed. I find myself in the dark again, a subtle light penetrating from an uncovered corner of the window. I have an unpleasant feeling on me, so I open the curtains violently.
I am in a delicate white room. It is small but makes you sleepy just looking at it. Clinging to me, as six years before, is the girl of the caravan. Now she has grown up, but since that man saved us, despite me telling her that we are now grown up, every morning I find her hugging me.
"We're grown up! You don't need to hug me like this anymore!"
"But I..."
Despite this, I can't help but observe her, every time I wake up it is like this. I look at her hair that shines when they are gilded by the orange light of the sky. I caress her hair gently, I don't want her to wake up, it would be embarrassing. Her arm is exposed ... I notice the code that I have too. I kiss her on the forehead and walk away, passing her empty and well-stowed bed.
My name is Oskah, which means Spirit of Fire.
Her name is Seryah, that is, Spirit of the Forgotten Flower.
The days of school holidays are always illuminated by a different light. Today I'm going to go shopping at the market. My father recommended that I take care of Seryah and his home until he returns from the expedition. He should be back today; he has been gone for four days now.
I really respect him very much. If it wasn't for him, maybe I wouldn't be here. Neither Seryah.
I shop at the market; everyone is happy to see me. They ask me how Seryah is; I reply that she is fine. They ask me how I am; I reply that I am fine. They show concern for my father, respect him, say that he will be back soon and that nothing bad will happen to him.
I know, I reply.
I come home, the wind blows, the bell tower rings, and the tower marks half past eleven. I overslept today.
On the way home, I see that the scouts have returned, carrying bags full of provisions and unexpected things from the outside world, everyone is gathering around them and there is a great confusion.
My father must be home already, the front door is ajar. I sneak in quietly to surprise my father and Seryah. I notice that they argue upstairs.
"Is Oskah here?" "No, I think he went to the market." "Then we go."
I hide behind the stairs; their footsteps pass over my head. Where do they go when I'm not there?
I follow them without being seen. Every now and then dad turns to check if anyone is following them. They arrive in an isolated part of the city. There is an old warehouse that leads to an underground area.
The automatic door closes behind him, I manage to get inside in time.
I saw something strange in that situation ... Are they organizing something for me? Do they want to surprise me? Electrified I went down the stairs in silence, the surrounding environment thundering every movement.
"Daddy..."
"You promised me, Seryah."
"..."
I peek curious to see what's happening. There is my father, the man who saved me, and my little sister Seryah, who I don't think her as my sister, standing in an empty room.
Seryah begins to take off her clothes slowly, she cries as she does it. Dad instead lowers his pants, panting.
I do not understand.
"From the first time I saw you, I ..."
My father says, panting.
"And now, I can't think of anything else, it's the first thing I have in mind when I think I'm going to die."
"Daddy ..."
Daddy...
An iron club lies among the junk in the warehouse. I grab it, and without making the slightest sound I hit Dad on the head.
A single dry sound, loud enough that he's never gets up again. Seryah is standing, covering herself and crying like that time. The first time we met.
I tremble and don't know what to say. I look at Seryah's wide, tearful eyes. I would like to hug her, but I can't.
"H-He ... He s-said that ... h-he would tell the p-people ... t-that you were a m-m-monster ... i-if I hadn't d-did ..."
Seryah could not finish the sentence, however much she could. There was no need, I understood everything. Part of me is dead.
I look at that man lying on the ground, with his head open from the wound I had caused him. I stare at him and in the meantime, I pat the bat as if it were a cat. Then I hit him. I hit it, again, again, again, again, and meanwhile I hit that part of me that is dead right now.
To make sure it stays dead.
I take the gun home with me. It is heavy but I have the impression that I will never leave it again. We leave the warehouse closed.
Seryah cries on the bed. I lie down and hug her. We fall asleep between tears and blankets.