9 Chapter Eight: The appearance of the... village girl?

Mathew P.O.V.

While walking down the road, I noticed a faint sound coming from a dark alley. I stopped Rege from walking by holding his wrist and tugging on it a little.

"What?" Rege looks at me a little confused and concerned.

"Shhhh." I gestured him to be silent by placing my finger on top of my lips and closing my eyes.

"What is it?" he whispered.

What was that. I thought to myself and concentrated on what and where that sound was coming from… It was the sound of a girl crying! I head over to the dark alley where the weeping sound was getting louder and clearer. Rege followed a few steps behind me letting me lead.

In the dark shadows of the alley I was able to see the silhouette of the young girl crying in the corner. As soon as we saw her, both of us immediately rushed over to see what had happened to her. Rege had his hand on her shoulder shaking her a bit while asking "Are you alright what happened?" I immediately stopped him when I smelled some sort of iron in the air… wait… is that, blood?

"Rege stop I think she may be hurt, Bad."

Rege stopped and looked up at me gesturing what do we do now?

I walked over to the little girl and bridal carried her to bring her out of the dark alleyway. If we want to treat her wounds we first had to see it.

When we had come to the part of the street where it was faintly but lit up by the street lights I set her down and looked to see where exactly she was hurt. I looked to see where but didn't see much since she was crying in the fetal position. This is gonna be hard.

"Hey, if you want it to stop hurting you have to show me the wound." I said in the most comforting and smooth voice I could muster up. After a few seconds she had calmed down and tilted her head to look at me. I gave the most reassuring smile I could in hopes that she would open up and trust me.

"It's alright I won't hurt you." I then sighed in relief as she nodded her head and brought down her knees so that I could see where it was. I felt my eyes widen as I saw the wound just below her collar bone and her top practically soaked by the blood that came from it, still fresh.

I did my best to stop the bleeding but she still needs medical treatment. I looked at Rege and he nodded his head. I carried her again and letting Rege lead the way back to the church.

I guess the trip to the library would have to wait. I also wanted to research about something.

OOOOO

When we had finally gotten back to the church, I immediately headed towards Sister Isabella's room and practically banged on the door. I tried not to use to much strength but hearing as to how loud it turned out… yeah.

I heard some tumbling sounds coming from inside before the Sister had opened the door. She gasped at the sight of the little girl and gestured me to follow her. We were dashing through the halls, and me, impressed at myself for not slipping or tripping anywhere.

When we had arrived at the door of the church clinic, Sister Isabella was rushing as she tried to open the door, practically almost dropping the key as she did so and bursting inside turning on all the lights.

I had set her down on the small bed and was told to wait outside if not go to sleep. I obediently followed and sat down on one of the chairs just outside. Rege along with Father Joshua soon came rushing as well with the Father going into the room and Rege being told the same, to stay and wait outside.

OOOOO

The night had ended with the sister telling us that we did a good job, me with stopping the wound from bleeding and Rege by handling the situation without panicking. Afterwards they had told us that she will be just fine, bedridden for a week or two but fine, and let us go without punishing us for being outside at night and just told us to go to sleep.

It had been a tiring Second… night. I wanted to go to sleep but couldn't as I kept thinking about almost everything the entire night.

I hope she'll be alright.

OOOOO

I was woken up in the morning by Chris and Albert, my two roommates, jumping on my bed and me asking about what happened last night. Trust me, they are more annoying than flies buzzing around your ear in the middle of the might when you're just trying to sleep.

In one sweep step I was able to push/shove them both off the bed and land on the floor, pretty amazing if I do say so myself. And after a few minutes of trying to shut them up and getting ready for the day, I walk out of the room and head straight for Rege's.

On my way I decided to stop by in the clinic. Maybe even to ask her why she was there and how she got that badly hurt. It puzzled me the entire night on what anyone could have had against her. I mean, she's just a little girl if not the same then no older than me I presume.

I stopped in front of the door and thought about what I should say first. Should I try to get friendly with her first? What if she doesn't like me? Who is she even? All these questions roamed and circulated in my head.

I've decided, I'll just go straight on with the question. Alright I'll just knock and-

"C'mon are you going to come in or what?!"a voice from behind me said while opening the door and suddenly pulling me inside.

Wait I'm still not ready!!! Ahh what do I do, how should I react. I came back to my common sense after probably staring into space for a few minutes.

"Umm… I'm Rege it's nice to meet you... I mean I'm Matt he's Rege. It's a pl- plice to meet y-! Ahh- I meant to say pleasure then thought nice but, uhh…" I look at Rege for assistance but just frowned when I just saw him laughing.

I want to hit him so badly.

"Don't mind him he's just nervous." Rege says as the girl nods her head in agreement.

At that moment I just wanted to disappear. Never in my life have I ever been so humiliated, I blame it all on him.

"By the way, my name's Victoria." She holds her hand out for Rege to take.

"As he had already said, I'm Rege, short for Reginald. Can I call you Vicky?"

"Sure." She smiles at him and vice versa.

"If I may ask, how did you end up… y'know." I said making myself non-invisible.

"Matt, you don't just ask a girl that question." He hits me in the shoulder.

"Ouch!" trust me it really did hurt. We both turn our attention to Victoria who was trying to hold in her laugh."

"What?..." We both say in synchronization.

"I'm sorry for laughing but- it's alright. Can I just tell you tomorrow?"

We both look at each other first then nodded our heads. When she laughed again- I was taken back for a while. She did not only look a lot alike but exactly like the girl in the orphanage, a short brunette about 14 years of age. Could she possibly be-

"Matt, you alright? C'mon lets go. It's our turn to help out in the kitchen.

I came back to myself with Rege waving his hand in front of my face and Vicky giggling.

"Yeah sorry."

I turned around pulling Rege's wrist and walked fast towards the door while using my other hand to wave goodbye.

As soon as the clinic was out of sight Rege started playfully punching my shoulder and teasing me about how I had practically fell in love.

It was annoying how he wouldn't stop even if I had denied it with all my being.

OOOOO

"Hey Rege, mind getting the bell peppers for me. They're in the second box to the right."

"Yeah sure lover boy."

He walks over to the boxes and gets a few bell peppers in his hands.

"Don't call me that." I said as he hands over the bell peppers.

"Don't call you what?"

"That!"

"That?"

"Damn it Rege."

"Alright alright I get it yeash. Don't have to get that mad."

"I swear Rege if you do it one more time I'm gonna… I'm gonna… put more bell peppers in your bowl."

"Ooohh so scary." He says in a mocking tone.

"I'm really gonna do it Rege."

"… no please don't I'm sorry."

"Thought so."

I notice something move near the door entrance and tilted my head to have a better look. Is that… Victoria? In a split second I saw her looking at me but the next, she turned on her heal and ran away.

I just shrug it off. She must have been looking for the father then when she saw me, wondered if I knew. Wait?! She was standing up?! I thought that the sister had told me that she wouldn't be able to do so in a few weeks?

I quickly lay down the knife, removed my apron, and rushed through the kitchen. I was already a few steps away from the door when i suddenly bumped into someone. i fell flat onto the floor and a slight throbbing on the back of my head.

"Woah there, are you alright Matthew?"

"Huh?" I look up to see Father holding out his hand to help me up.

"Father! I am so sorry I just thought that-" I said rushing through my words

"Slow down boy, it's alright I don't bite." I once again looked up to see Father's smiling face and calmed down.

"Now then." Father Joshua looked around to search for someone and when his eyes focused on Sister Angelica's.

"Mind if I borrow the boy for a moment."

"of course father, just remember to bring him back before dinner."

"I'll be sure keep that in mind." He said while flashing a smile.

"Now then Matthew, follow me. You might just need some fresh air."

I nodded my head and obediently followed behind him. We reached the garden and stayed silent for a few minutes to take in the scenery and air. He then turned around to face me and asked.

"Now then, tell me. What is bothering you?"

"huh?" I looked up at the father a bit confused.

"You know what I mean; it's alright to tell me." Then I remembered what was bothering me, the reason why I was out here in the first place.

"Well father, I thought that Victoria would be bedridden for a few weeks but then I saw her standing by the kitchen door."

"What? Sh-she was?! W-well I'm sure it's just the trick of the eye."

He said surprised and a little confused. It was only when he was able to put back his "good faced mask" that he continued.

"Now how about we get going back, don't want to be stuck with leftovers now do we."

I nodded my head and continued to follow behind him towards the dining hall. He's hiding something and I'm going to find out what.