The Man who looks like Alfred

I woke up the next morning abruptly. It was starting to be unbearable to have all those nightmares only to wake up in sweats not knowing what you even dreamed about.

Just as I was laying back down, there was a light knock on my bedroom door.

"Come in," I groaned. 'What time is it?' I turned my face towards the bookshelf where the alarm clock stood. '2:00 p.m? Dang... guess I was pretty beaten up after all...' I was an early morning girl, so that was quite unusual for me.

Alice walked in the room and sat on my bed. She observed me for a second. A worried look on her pale face and her brows frowned, she looked like she was trying to see through me. Alice always had that ability to look at you in the eyes and make you feel you couldn't hide anything.

"I want you to tell me truthfully if you're actually ok since you got out from the hospital yesterday. No lies," Alice didn't stop looking into my eyes, and it made it more intimidating.

"What are you talking about? I am in the greatest shape I could be after a car accident, it's no big deal, I'll survive," I couldn't stand her deep gaze.

She looked away, troubled, and sighted, "Than just tell me what the hell happened this morning."

'This morning? How do I not remember being awake?' I was confused. "Um, and what exactly happened this morning?"

Alice gave me the 'unbelievable!' look, "You just came downstairs, touching all the walls like if you never saw the house, and then you saw me, outfaced me like you hardly remembered who I was, said my name, and just fainted with no warning!"

"Sleepwalking exists you know," That was the most plausible excuse there could be... what else?

"I know what sleepwalking is, and that was nothing like it"

I rolled to the side and closed my eyes. That discussion topic was to complicated for my tired brain.

"OUCH!"

Alice pinched me as hard as she could. She got up from the bed and pulled my arm, "It's not time to sleep anymore! Change in sports clothes and come with me."

"And why would I possibly do that?" I pulled back my arm to evade her grip, but obviously she was way stronger than me.

A small smirk crossed her face, "I'll train you! It will make you do something and recover better, and it's fun."

When Alice had an idea, you couldn't get her to change that idea, you had no choice.

"Fine" I stood up clumsily and went to check what was in my wardrobe.

For a few hours, my friend thought me a few moves for combat training. The goal for the day was to be able to fight at a beginner level. Only after a few moments, I was already breaking in sweats, out of breath, but Alice kept pushing me. 'Dunk, kick, leap back, punch' I was slowly getting better.

"Okay lets try a small combat. You need to anticipate the attacks and react according to it. Don't hit the head, and finally, try finding a purpose for what you are fighting for, something you can focus on and concentrate your force" Alice took her training jacket off and positioned her body with her fists up to her breast, "got it?"

I nodded and imitated her posture. Alice punched towards me as I dunked, stood up, took her arm and locked it on her back, as she made me trip with a leg trick and then I fell face towards the ground, rolled to the side to shift the upcoming attack. Are bodies were in a perfect coordination making the combat look like a dance. Little by little, a fire was raising in me, I wanted to win. I doubled of efforts remembering what I was fighting for. I was now full of rage. I took my fist and swinged it hard on Alice's stomach. The punch made her jump back in a shock, and she fell on the ground. I stopped everything. Alice sat up coughing, her arm on her chest. I stood there, eyes wide open and terrified about what I just did. After she gained her breath back, she looked up at me with confusion. I thought she was going to throw me some insults and lecture me about the training that is supposed to be what it's called: a training, even though I obviously deserved it, but she didn't. Instead, she smiled at me and said in amazement:

"It's been since a very long time since someone succeeded to take my breath away like this, you really have a talent!"

"But I hurt you! I don't want hurt anybody only because I could loose my god damn control during practice, and certainly not you of all people!"

"You won't hurt me, I know it"

"I just did"

Alice rolled her eyes and continued, "You have great potential that you shouldn't ignore just because you're scared of hurting me. I can help you control yourself. Start with telling me on what you were concentrating on when it happened."

I looked away, sadness taking over my emotions, "I... um... about my parents; making them proud, how they could still be here today"

Alice sighted with empathy, "Look, you decide if you want to continue the training or not, but you know my opinion and I guaranty that I can help you. You just need to trust me."

"Okay, fine," I gave her my hand so she could stand up, "c'mon, let's go"

We headed back to my house and ate. It was already 6 p.m. when we finished cleaning up. We fooled around for the rest of the afternoon.

Alice and I both woke up at 10 p.m. at the sound of a very familiar sound, 'what is it with the doorbell lately?!'

We glanced at each other, questioned. We hurried downstairs to open the door, where a man stood on the porch of my house, well dressed as a gentleman... 'Wait... Is that the same guy as last night?!' I was startled, my jaw dropped.

"Well, nice to finally meet you girls. I was eager for this day to come," the man spoke calmly with a British accent.

Looking at him clearer than the night before, I thought he looked a little alike to Alfred the Butler, in 'Batman'.

"Seeing from your reaction Miss. Greenstone, I deduce that you didn't expect anyone's company tonight; or perhaps, you didn't expect to see me," he said the last word like he knew something or tried to make me understand something.

I shut close my mouth. Both me and Alice didn't move a hair, waiting for something to happen.

"Oh! But where are my manners! My name's Simon Onyx, and I believe I have something that belongs to you," Simon reached out to his coat pocket and took out something wrapped in a beautiful white cloth with golden edges, "Your mother gave me the order to give this to you a month before your 16th birthday. Don't loose it or give it away, you must take care of it. I'll be there when you need me."

Before I could say anything, he put the object in my hand and walked away. The object in my hand was a little heavy. I opened the cloth, and a precious stone appeared: an Emerald. A beautiful, tear-dropped-shaped heavy emerald. 'Well that's odd, why would my mother give me a green stone?'