Fractured

Is this really me? I can’t even remember what I looked like. In this mirror, is that really my image?
This girl that I see, if I saw her walking by, I wouldn’t know what to expect from her, she has such a run-down appearance. She is very pale and has quite the scrawny appearance…not so much a look of starvation, but she is very obviously too thin, and she’s not exactly tall. Her black hair is ragged. Her grey eyes are filled with confusion. She wears pants and a t-shirt, but they are full of grime, to the point where I can’t even tell what the original color was. They are also torn in places, and seemed to match her hair. To top it all off, she has cuts and bruises everywhere, some gashed would even reopen if she moved wrong.
Is this really me? It doesn’t seem like me…maybe I got so beat up from Rothan’s men. That must be it. This isn’t me.
I still don’t understand, though…why does Rothan want me dead? What on earth could I have done that caused this mess? I wish there was someone else who knew my past…
…Well, Hunter knows…but he won’t tell me anything. Heck, I still can’t really communicate with him. He can’t read my language, apparently. I don’t think Hunter will be much help to me. Hmm…wait, I wonder if he has anything else that has to do with my past though. He had that letter, after all. It’s not very likely, but…it’s something. I can’t just sit here, I need to at least try to understand things.
“Anna.”
Huh? Oh, Hunter is calling me, I should go.
“Anna, we should go back to the village for a bit. If we don’t explain to Maya and Aaron why I need you to stay with me, they’ll get suspicious, especially Aaron. We can’t tell them the truth, obviously, but we can’t ignore them.”
Yeah, that would be bad. Aaron already doesn’t trust me, and I’ve experienced what happens when he thinks someone is dangerous. But then, maybe he was right. Maybe by instinct he knows that I’ve done something bad.
Was it bad, though? Rothan is the enemy, right? If he wants me dead, then wouldn’t I be on Aaron’s side? This doesn’t make sense.
“Anna, I know you’re confused. Trust me though, it will be much better if Aaron doesn’t know who you are. They don’t seem to understand that you are on our side.”
Why not?
“Come on, let’s go.”
I guess there is a reason I wanted myself to stay with Hunter, if I really am in so much danger. It’s extremely confusing to get to his house. It’s very well hidden. Plus, the place is a mess, I doubt people would know anyone even lived there if they did find it. Of course, the fact that Hunter knows who I am and doesn’t want me dead is a bonus.
Oh, the main part of town. Aaron’s house isn’t too far away. What is Hunter going to say to explain this situation? Apparently others can’t know the truth.
“Maya, let me in.”
“Oh, Hunter. Yes, Aaron and I were wondering what became of you. You’ve been gone for almost a full day, what happened?”
“That will be explained, along with any other questions you have, once we get inside and Aaron is with us.”
“Oh, yes, of course. He is in the usual room.”
Well, he is, but someone else is there too. I don’t recognize him. I wonder if Hunter knows that? No, that’s ridiculous, Hunter can’t sense things like I can. Well, we’re at the door. Hm? Why didn’t Hunter open the door? Oh, he’s kind of mad…
“Maya, why didn’t you tell me that Ethan was here?”
“What? Oh, well, I didn’t think it was important, I mean, it is just Ethan. What’s wrong?”
“Great, just what I needed… Maya, we’re leaving. Tell us when he leaves. We’ll be in town somewhere.”
“Wait, Hunter, why can’t Ethan be here?”
“Let’s go.”
Sheesh, Hunter really doesn’t make a habit of explaining things. He just decides on something and leaves, never mind what others think. Never mind how I feel about being drug around everywhere for reasons that I only know of about half the time.
Ok, we’re in the town square again. I wonder if I’ll get an explanation.
“Sorry about that, Anna, but Ethan would’ve recognized you.”
Oh, great, another person to add to the list of people that I need to avoid.
“Hunter, wait!”
What? Oh, Maya followed us.
“What is it?”
“I’ve told Aaron that you wanted to speak with him alone. Oh course, he hasn’t got a clue as to why Ethan can’t be there, but he will speak with you.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
All right, we’re back in the house. There’s Aaron, and Maya’s with us still. I can’t sense Ethan nearby.
“Hunter, what’s so special that Ethan can’t be here?”
“That question is irrelevant. My reason for being here is to explain the situation with this girl. I’ve found out that she’s lost her memories, and she can’t speak for some reason. We’ve been gone because translating her written language took a while, and Aiden got a little too close for comfort at one point. By that time it was late, and we decided to wait until morning to come back and explain all this.”
“So do you know who she is?”
“No, she’s not from around here and she remembers nothing.”
“Ok, well, we’ll find somewhere for her to stay, and-“
“No, Maya. I’m sorry, but Aiden seems to think that she was trespassing on Rothan’s territory. If she stays inside the town, she’ll only endanger others. No, it’s best if she stays with me for the time being.”
“Hm, well, alright, if you think that’s best…”
“Well, if there are no questions, then we’ll take our leave.”
Well, we’re leaving now. I suppose now we’ll go back to his house and wait there until we figure something else out. Wait, is that Ethan? He’s staring at me…it’s kind of creepy…
“Ethan, what is it?”
“What? Oh, Hunter. I was just wondering…who it is that’s with you.”
“This girl? Unimportant, you won’t see her again. If you must know, ask Aaron.”
Gah, we’re running again! But, I know why this time. Apparently, Ethan can recognize me. And his emotion changed…
“Anna, when we get back to the house, you have to hide in your room, understand? Aaron trusts Ethan far more than he does me, and they will both be after you without question.”
More hiding. Maybe though, those two will say something that will answer some questions.
Ok, we’re here, better go to my room. I’m sure it’ll be a few minutes at least before Aaron and Ethan get here, but I would prefer to not take my chances. Oh…I can sense them now… They’re at the door…
“Hunter! You traitor!”
“Aaron, don’t jump to conclusions.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions!? Hunter, you not only have been keeping the secret of Anna’s survival from us, but you actually lied about her! Do you not remember who she is!?”
“I know perfectly well who she is, it is you who has no idea. All you know is what happened from accident!”
“You weren’t a part of that Hunter, of course you wouldn’t understand. She is a danger, especially now, with Aiden the way he is…”
Aiden again. Always Aiden. Why does it almost seem like we are connected?
“Aaron is right, the only way this girl will be a help to us is if she’s dead.”
“Ethan, shut up. Aaron listen, Anna is not the enemy, before she lost her memories she told me that Aiden needs to be defeated. She realizes that he is lost.”
That was an interesting way to word that sentence, it’s almost like…I knew Aiden before…
“Have you forgotten everything? If she truly was on our side, she would be dead.”
“And they tried to kill her, but she survived.”
“That’s the point, she survived. Nobody survives Aiden when he has decided against their life. This whole thing is a trick put together by Rothan.”
“You’re paranoid.”
“And you are in my way.”
“I’m not going to let you through, Anna is our last hope.”
“Don’t make me kill you as well, Hunter.”
“Try it.”
There’s so much tension now, I don’t know if I’m sensing it or if it’s just that intense.
“…Well, anyway, it’s not worth it if you are just going to keep her here. I have better things to do. Let’s go, Ethan.”
They left? Just like that? Hunter doesn’t seem confused though, if he is, I can’t sense it. He’s coming towards me now.
“Don’t worry about him Anna, as long as he doesn’t catch you alone, he won’t be able to hurt you.”
But if he catches me alone, I’m dead. Great.
“I must leave for now, so stay here. You will be fine as long as you don’t leave.”
I suppose he emphasized that last part because of my little adventure before. Well, I don’t really have anywhere to go anyway, might as well stay here. What was it that he said before, though? I realized that Aiden was lost? I know that he was manipulated into Rothan’s control, but…it sounds like I wanted to save him. That doesn’t make sense though, I told myself that Aiden must be killed, and there’s no reason I would have wanted to save him. There must be some explanation…yes, I’ll ask Hunter somehow when he gets back. Oh, wait…what if he doesn’t tell me?
…No, I can’t ask Hunter. I’ll have to find out some other way. But how? Aaron is out of the question, along with all the other villagers. Maybe…what if I sneak into Rothan’s mansion? Surely there’s something there that has to do with me. Is that necessary though? Would it really be safer to go there instead of the village?
…Yes, the villagers know that I’m alive now. Rothan and his men still believe that I am dead. They will be less alert for me, and it’ll be easier to sneak in. I’ll wait until dusk, and leave. It’s settled.