Chapter 2

I woke up with a splitting headache. Slowly peeling my eyes open, I couldn't move much, but as much as I could I looked around. It seemed like I was in some sort of room, but everything was dark. The furniture that I could see, the walls, and the curtains on the window, were all dark. But outside seemed like daytime. There was some beeping noise that irritated me and I slowly tried to look down my body, something was connected to me and I realized I might be in a hospital bed, but the room didn't seem anything like a hospital.

Usually, hospitals were blinding white..

How did I get here? Sure I remember getting attacked by that beast of a wolf and walking for forever, suddenly I remembered the last second before I fell into the blackness. The face of an angry man looking at me.

He probably got me here, how thankful I felt for him now, even though he did look pretty pissed off.

I was so deep into my thoughts that I didn't hear the door open and a middle-aged woman suddenly stood before me, scaring the crap out of me.

'Finally, you are awake.' she smiled.

I looked her up and down stopping at her face, she was beautiful, to say the least. I don't remember anything before a month ago, but I'll bet my penny she is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Her hair was long chocolate brown, styled in a sleek low ponytail. Her features were sharp and feminine, eyes big, round and blue. Plump lips and perfect skin.

'Where am I?' I croaked.

'Why, you are in Arcadia.' she nods. ' One of the men found you just at the edge of our territory and you were so badly wounded he brought you to me.'

'Okay.' I stiffed a little smile.' How long was I out?'

'A couple of weeks, but you are healing quite nicely, so a couple more days and you will be discharged.' she walks around the bed to check the monitor, and when she's happy with what she sees she turns back to me.'May I ask you what are you doing so deep in the woods and how did you got attacked?' she asks seriously.

'Would you believe me if I said I didn't know where I was going?' I asked her truthfully.' I was looking for a different village than the one before and went far too deep into the woods thinking it was a mere forest.' I sigh.

'How about the attack?' she questioned.

'It was a beast I have never seen before. He looked like a wolf but sure as hell ain't one.' I let out a puff of air.'The wolf was scary, red eyes still haunting me.

'Hm, that's interesting.' she murmured. ' Anyway, our community is a little different than you're used to, we have different laws and rules and so it happens that you gonna have to be questioned by the second in command, to know your real intentions. We are very secretive people, you see.' She looked at me sadly.

I nodded in response to let her know I understood.

'My name is Vivien, by the way, what's yours?' she gave me a half smile.

'Meg.' I whispered.

'Okay, Meg, I'll let people know that you're awake and we'll go from there. Though I dear to say you are a very lucky young woman, not a lot of humans would survive such injuries.'

'I guess I'm not normal.' I murmured.

'I'll be back in a couple of minutes with someone, you rest until I'm back.' She looked at me the last time before she left the room.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and got more comfortable in the bed, what else could I do?

After a short while, a man walked into the room. Looking strong and confident, a strange aura lingered around him. As I looked closer at him I decided he couldn't be any older than twenty-five. He was tall and handsome, muscles everywhere I looked. His hair was short and ashy black, eyes green and inviting, though at the moment it held some humor in them. After a couple of seconds, I recognized the person before me.

'You were the one who saved me!' I near yelled, my throat screaming at me in an instant.

'Yes, indeed I am the one and only.' He smirked.'I'm Deimos, nice to meet you, Meg.

And so the questioning began. though I didn't have many answers, I tried to be as truthful as possible, didn't have much to lose anyways.

After what seemed like a few hours he finally stood up from his chair and nodded.

'It seems like you are no threat, but cannot leave anymore now that you are here.' I hear him sigh.'The people here are much more different and you will soon learn why. But don't worry little one, we'll find a place for you with us.' he gave me a little smile.

'Thank you,' I answered. 'Thank you for saving me and letting me stay here. I really don't know where I'd go.

I was a little upset when he left, thinking about everything. Both doctor and he kept saying that the people here are much different, but I couldn't understand. How different can they be? I mean humans are all the same no matter where you go, that much I knew.

I guess my only option is to wait and see.

***

Days went by in a blur after that. Vivien coming and going, me just lying on the bed thinking about the life I had. Well, didn't really have a life if I'm honest, my memories were lost to me and I didn't know how to get them back. On my last day in the hospital, Deimos came by to visit me and with some good news too.

'So I have found a little place for you, just outside the main town. The people still don't know you and they are a little careful of outsiders, so I think it would be for the best for you now, to stay there until we start to trust you.'

'Do you think it will take long?' I cracked a smile.

'We gonna have to wait and see, little one. But you don't look like a threat so I doubt it will take long.' he smiled.

It annoyed me how he kept calling me little one. I mean, yeah I was small compared to others, more malnourished maybe, but still, it irked me deep inside.

'Okay,'I took a deep breath.' What now?' I asked sitting up in bed.

'Now you dress up and I'll take you home.' he put a bag of clothes in my lap.' Don't take too long, I have a business to attend.

I only nodded taking the bag in my arms and walking into the bathroom. I quickly changed from my hospital gown into the clothes he brought me. It was black leggings, a hoodie that was too big, and a pair of runners, that actually fit me perfectly.

I walked out of the bedroom and turned to him.

'I'm ready.'

'Let's go.' He stood up and led me out of the room. it was the first time I left the room I was in for three weeks. It was refreshing. As I looked around I realized that the hospital was mostly covered in dark colors and I turned to Deimos to ask him.

'It's for the patients. While the color white looks clean and all, with the dark it's easier for them to open their eyes for the first time. Much more like for yourself.' He smiled.'You know when you wake up after some sleep and you're met with a bright light and you can barely see anything because of it?'

'Yeah I get it, it's rather nice of them to think it.' I nodded in approval.

We walked through the entrance doors and I was met with sunshine. It really felt like a real spring now, it was warm and beautiful outside, with flowers everywhere your eyes land. It was a pretty sight after so long of being bedridden, though I still felt the pain in my back, it was minimal and doctor Vivien said I will heal completely after a couple of weeks. Though I'll have some nasty scars forever.

He led me through some paths covered by large trees and I never felt more at home. It was beautiful here. The were a couple of houses there and here, but I could see the main part just ahead, though he led me on a different path away from there.

'Some people choose to live further away from the turmoil of the village, the ones who want more privacy.'He said. 'Come, your cabin is just up ahead.' He nodded forward and I followed.

Not long after we stepped in front of a little house, truly a cabin. it was tiny, yet it looked cozier than anything. He unlocked the door and stepped inside, me after him. He stopped in the middle of the room what seemed to be the heart of the cabin.

'It's nothing much but has everything you need. Don't leave your cabin today, get some rest and settle in. Tomorrow I will come to get you in the morning to meet everyone and assign a job for you.'He smiled.

Deimos took my hand and put the key into my palm, smiled once more, and left through the door we had just come from.

I took a deep breath and looked around, in the big living space I stood now, was a small kitchen, a fireplace with a small loveseat and an armchair, and a table with two chairs standing beside the window. There was a small bookshelf pushed further down beside the door which I assumed was a bedroom. I walked through to the door and opened it, indeed it was a bedroom. The room was small, but it still held a large double bed and a dresser. I walked around the room to another door that was leading into the bathroom. It was spacious enough, with a shower, toilet, and a sink. There was a big mirror hung above the sink and I walked toward it. I looked into my reflection but didn't recognize the girl that was staring back at me. My hair was long and pearl white, now a messy bush on my head. My face was beautiful, yet tired. My skin was fair, without imperfections, soft plump lips, and big sky blue eyes that now held terror. I looked like a scared kid.

And at the moment I felt like it. Though I didn't know my age nor my real name, I was ready to find out.