Chapter 3
Just then, a faint rustling sound came from somewhere outside the window.
Instinct took over.
“Ghk!”
The pain stole his breath, but there was no luxury of dwelling on it.
He seized the revolver, loaded a round into the chamber, then forced his battered body toward the back of the door with every ounce of strength he had left. Pressing himself against the wall behind it, he took a slow, steady breath and waited.
Annette had dozed off beside the man’s bed.
She stirred at the stiffness in her neck and slowly opened her eyes.
Six o’clock.
With one unconscious stranger occupying the bed and another intruder asleep on the sofa, she’d had nowhere comfortable to sleep, so she’d awakened earlier than usual.
The Sister must be worried.
The moment she was awake, she headed for the orphanage. She had considered going alone, but timid Karen would surely panic if she woke up to find herself by herself, so Annette had reluctantly shaken her awake and brought her along.
Before leaving, she glanced once more at the sleeping man.
He won’t wake up… will he?
After receiving a painkiller injection the previous night, he’d slept as though dead. Even if he did wake, there was no way his injured body could accomplish much.
Nothing should happen while she was gone.
As expected, the Sister had already finished dawn Mass and was busy preparing to wake the children.
Running an orphanage meant mornings were always hectic, and Annette knew that well. That was why she had come first thing.
She explained the soldier’s condition and reassured the Sister once again that there was no need to visit the house until late afternoon.
Fortunately, Karen happened to have the day off and volunteered to stay behind at the orphanage to help watch the children. The village festival was approaching, and there was plenty of preparation to do.
The children will probably be delighted to skip lessons for a day.
Leaving the orphanage, Annette stopped by the pharmacy to buy painkillers, bandages, and other medical supplies before visiting the grocer for food.
Walking along the river that ran through Newmir, she drew in a deep breath.
Fresh air warmed by the spring sunshine filled her lungs.
Cherry blossoms bloomed in glorious clouds overhead, while clusters of delicate marguerite daisies brightened the roadside beneath them.
Spring has finally arrived.
Her steps were light as she admired the scenery.
Karl will probably win the festival’s making competition again this year.
Karl was the pride of the village.
“There isn’t a straighter or finer young man anywhere in town.”
Mrs. Masher’s firm declaration came back to her.
A straight, honorable young man…
For some reason, that thought immediately summoned the image of the handsome stranger lying in her house.
Her leisurely pace quickened.
Carrying groceries in one hand and the medicine box in the other, she quietly cracked the front door open.
She set the medicine box on the dining table—
Then noticed the bedroom door standing open.
Did I leave it open?
Without thinking, she walked toward it and gently pushed it farther.
Through the narrow gap, she saw an empty bed.
The blanket lay crumpled on the floor.
The door creaked open.
Elliot prepared himself to subdue whoever entered.
A small, pale hand gripped the doorknob.
A disguise?
Before he could finish the thought, someone much shorter than he’d expected stepped into the room.
His surprise lasted only an instant.
He lunged.
His arm locked around the intruder’s neck, and the barrel of his revolver pressed against the person’s temple.
The paper bag in their hands slipped free.
Apples, oranges, and several vegetables spilled onto the floor, rolling in every direction.
Elliot stared blankly at the utterly unexpected “weapons.”
Then, suddenly—
That scent.
It was exactly the same fragrance he’d smelled in his dream.
His fighting spirit faded by half, though he refused to let it show.
Keeping his voice low, he asked,
“Who are you?”
Perhaps because he hadn’t spoken in so long, his voice emerged rough and hoarse.
The person he’d ambushed sounded equally shaken.
“Ah… I… um… My name is Annette.”
He almost laughed.
Did she think he was asking for introductions?
Pulling himself together, Elliot tightened the arm around her throat.
The closer she was, the stronger the scent drifting from her golden hair became.
It was warm…
Comforting…
Completely out of place in a situation like this.
He forced himself not to be distracted by it.
Oblivious to his thoughts, the woman clutched the arm around her neck with both hands and hurriedly explained,
“You collapsed on the road yesterday, so I brought you home. I only went out for a little while to buy medicine.”
He looked down at her.
She was trying so hard to speak clearly, yet her whole body trembled despite her efforts to hide it.
After a brief hesitation, Elliot loosened his grip.
The sudden release caught her off guard, and she staggered forward.
As she slowly turned around, he finally saw her face.
A young woman with beautiful eyes the color of clear aqua.
Once he had roughly judged that she posed no threat whatsoever, the pain he’d managed to ignore flooded back all at once.
He frowned.
Immediately, the tiny woman stepped closer and gently supported his arm.
“Are you all right? The painkillers are helping, but they said it would still hurt a lot. You need to lie down.”
Elliot looked at the woman trying to drape his arm over her shoulder.
Did she truly believe she could carry him all the way back to bed?
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
The man who had been pointing a pistol at her only moments ago obediently leaned against Annette as she helped him back onto the bed.
As she pulled the blanket over him, their eyes met.
For an instant, she thought she saw him smile.
But the expression vanished just as quickly, leaving only the same unreadable face as before.
They said he wouldn’t wake up yet…
Carefully avoiding looking at his bare upper body, Annette kept her gaze elsewhere.
Once he falls asleep again, I’ll give him another painkiller.
She lifted her head.
The man who had been watching her with those cold gray eyes only seconds earlier was already asleep again.
Thank goodness.
Annette picked up the revolver hanging halfway off the bed.
She slipped it into its holster and placed it carefully on the desk.
Then she quietly gathered the scattered groceries, returned them to the paper bag, left the room, and gently closed the door behind her.
Sitting down in the living room, her thoughts became tangled.
She needed to find out where he’d come from.
Should she ask him?
Simply ask where he was from?
Would he answer honestly?
Should she report him to the police?
Karl would certainly insist she report him today.
She’d warned Karen to make sure Karl kept quiet, but if he decided to act on his own…
The police could arrive at her house at any moment.
But…
What if Karl was right?
What if the man was a deserter?
“No…”
The whisper had been quiet.
“But… no one…”
Yet she had heard it clearly.
Most injured people begged for help.
This man had pointed a gun at her the moment he woke up.
Despite being in such terrible condition, he remained desperately on guard.
That wasn’t normal.
But those eyes…
She remembered those gray eyes.
Cold.
Proud.
Desperate.
Like the last flicker of a candle about to be extinguished by the wind.
Elliot was running for his life.
The knife struck him before he even realized anything was wrong.
It happened so suddenly he didn’t feel the pain at first.
“…Why?”
He stared in confusion at Major Benderf.
Only moments earlier, hadn’t they been casually discussing what to have for dinner?
The hand gripping Elliot’s left shoulder tightened.
Then the knife in Benderf’s right hand plunged into his side a second time.
Only then did Elliot realize something was terribly wrong.
Everything happened in an instant.
The major’s eyes, staring directly into his, were filled with murderous intent.
“Die.”
Benderf whispered the word.
Elliot tried to shove him away, but agony ripped through his abdomen, draining all strength from his arms.
He struggled desperately to escape and stumbled backward, crashing to the floor.
The charging major lunged after him.
Elliot barely rolled aside in time.
Acting on pure instinct, he lashed out with his foot.
The kick sent Benderf sprawling backward into something hard.
A sickening crack echoed through the room.
His leg.
“Urgh!”
Benderf cried out as he clutched his knee with one hand.
Even so, he forced himself upright and began crawling toward Elliot once more.
His leg’s broken.
Good.
There was no time left for anything else.
Ignoring everything but survival, Elliot forced himself to his feet…
…and ran..
