Caspian

The Stranger

She was falling. Amethyst could feel the cold wind as it hit her skin. And it even became colder when she finally dropped into the water. The freezing water enveloped her. It was cold. So cold.

But not as cold as my father’s heart, she thought.

And she just let it be. Then, she struggled for a bit when she started lacking air. However, she remembered that this is what she wanted. Thus she let herself fall deeper, deeper into the water until she no longer felt her limbs and the water began filling her mouth. After a while, she felt nothing, her mind started to stop working. Gradually, so thus her heart. But when her heart was about to finally give up beating, a blinding light from above came shining towards her. Amethyst thought she was seeing the most blinding shadow and believed it was death coming for her until she felt something warm touched her hand. And before she realized it, she was quickly being lifted out of the water and was carried offshore.

The stranger who helped her immediately tried to revive her, pumping her chest, but she paled all the more as minutes passed by.

“Please wake up.” He expressed as he patted her face a couple of times more, hoping she starts breathing again. Feeling her pulse weakening, he cursed loudly. “Sh*t!”

After trying for a while, he finally felt the last light of her soul is coming out.

“No.” The stranger voiced out as he suddenly felt frustrated without understanding why. “I don’t know who you are. But you can’t die, my lady.”

So the next thing he did was unthinkable. He never thought he’d be doing it for someone he did not even know. Closing his eyes, he held his hands high enough and red flames started to form on them. Skillfully, he formed the flames into a tiny ball of light. Then he opened the lady’s mouth for it to serve as an entrance. The ball of light started to float and directly entered her. It flowed deep down until the woman glowed with a blinding light of red flames, filling her completely till it exploded. When the light lost its glowing radiance, the woman slowly began to wake up. She coughed out the water that filled her lungs when she almost drowned. Slowly opening her eyes, he gently moved away the lost curls of hair from her face. That’s when he saw the most beautiful, deepest hazel brown eyes he’d ever seen in his entire life. This lady is really beautiful to be put into words. Just as how he had assumed when he first saw her at the edge of that cliff some moments ago.

“You’re safe now.” The stranger said as he became conscious of his appearance, he then slightly turned away to hide his face. The least he can do for now is to not scare her.

Amethyst was still out of her trance. And so she blinked a couple of times to check if she was dreaming or something. She clearly remembered that she jumped off the cliff and she knew she was going to die.

“Am I already dead?” She blurted out that instant. “Is this the world for the dead?”

He slightly chuckled at her question, equally surprised and amused, but was not meaning to offend her. “Does it look like the world for the dead, my lady?”

So she looked around and rummaged through the surroundings. From afar, she saw the cliff from where she jumped off. Her face creased for the lack of understanding at the moment.

“I did not die?” She asked again in dismay after realization hit her.

“Obviously.” The stranger answered and so she lowered her head and tears started to fall from her eyes.

“But why?” Amethyst uttered as she began to sob.

The stranger’s face wrinkled too as he turned to look at the lady who’s now bawling in front of him. “Well. That’s new. I thought you would thank me for saving your life.”

“You don’t understand.” Amethyst said softly as she continued to cry. “I should have been dead by now. Why’d you save me?”

The stranger was I bit startled by her question. He was also asking himself the same question. He wouldn’t usually involve himself with humans and their actions. But when he saw this woman jump off that cliff, he didn’t even think twice before diving into the water to save her. Something about her draws him.

“You shouldn’t have saved me.” Amethyst reiterated as she wiped her tears. “I deserved to die.”

“Why?” He asked curiously.

“I am useless. And a failure.” She answered surely. “Besides, no one would care anyway.”

“I would.” He immediately responded.

Amethyst was a bit stunned at the stranger’s reply. She felt an unexplainable warm feeling as soon as those words reached her ears.

He would care? She thought.

“You don’t know me. Why would you?” She asked openly.

This is the first time that she actually stared at the stranger kneeling in front of her. He was a big man with a very good physique. But she can only see the silhouette of his side profile, as it was already dark and he was wearing a hooded cloak. So she can only trust the moon’s light to at least help her grasp the features of this man who saved her life. And honestly, even if it was her first time meeting him, she felt safe and secure around him. Unfathomably comfortable.

“Because I think everyone deserved to be cared for and to be loved and protected. That includes you. You deserve that too.” He said as he turned to look at her intently. “And I don’t need to know you in order to know that.”

Amethyst automatically smiled weakly when she heard what he said and for the first time in a long time, she felt a tinge of happiness within her that created a spark, something she hasn’t felt for a long time. Funny how she’d feel this kind of joy in the presence of a complete stranger. Somehow, deep within her, she felt something incomprehensible have captivated her. And it has drawn her to this man.

“Thank you.” Is all she replied as they both fell silent afterwards.

They stayed like that for a while, both of them staring at the night sky beautified by the stars and the soft shining of the moon. It was indeed a sight to behold.

“It’s beautiful.” Amethyst said afterwards, breaking the silence. Looking up, she smiled gently. “I can’t believe I am seeing this right now after what I’ve tried to do.”

“You are seeing it differently now because of what you’ve tried to do.” The stranger beside her responded. “You see things differently after near-death experiences, my lady.”

“Agreed.” She replied. Then as the night progresses, Amethyst began to feel the cold wind which made her chill as she was still soaking wet.

“You’re cold.” The stranger said when he noticed her winced.

He then realized that she was indeed still wet and her bulky dress is probably filled with too much water. Thus, he opened his bag to see if there is something he can offer. Alas! He saw that his extra clothes were also wet. Shaking his head, he just concluded that his clothes would still be better for her to use. It would easily dry compared to the bulky dress that she was wearing. He decided to take it out and squeeze them firmly to remove all the excess water out of it and held it out to her.

“You have to change your garments into this. Or else, you would get sick.” He offered. “My clothes would dry off quicker.”

Amethyst was a bit surprised with the offer but as obedient as she was, she nodded in understanding and took the clothes. “But where do I change?”

The stranger looked around and saw from his vision the old cabin which is not too far from where they are offshore.

“Let’s go that way. There is an empty cabin there where you can change and maybe stay for the night.” He said and she agreed.

So they began to walk towards the cabin. Amethyst still felt weak and exhausted. She’s been running all night for miles and her legs were trembling, not to mention the blisters on her feet. Still, she tried her best to catch up with the man walking in front of her and stumbled on her bulky, soggy and wet dress.

“Sorry.” She automatically said when she fell on the ground and tried to quickly get up only to fall again.

“I can help.” He offered and hurriedly went to help her stand up. Then he suddenly carried her without permission and started walking again like she weighs nothing.

“Put me down. I can walk.” Amethyst demanded after recovers from her surprise when the man carried her.

“This will be faster. Besides, the cabin is almost there.” He answered and then there was silence again as he continued to carry her.

Amethyst took the opportunity and started to check him more as she tried her best to decipher how he looked like. Too bad the moonlight is not the direction they’re taking and so all she saw was shadowed features and his firm jaw. Still, only a glimpsed of his face. She then gave up and sighed.

As for the stranger who silently carried her, he was preoccupied with his thoughts.

Her scent was something different. I had never smelled it before and somehow it’s also utterly familiar, the stranger thought. The scent even filled him so much that it slowly made him out of control. Good thing they reached the cabin in no time or else he might explode. He carefully let go of her just outside the door. He then checked the old cabin to make sure it is safe before he led her inside.

“Go and change. I will wait here.” He said. He was about to walk away when he felt a hand on his arm which made him stop as he slightly turned to her.

“Please don’t go.” She said softly. “I…I am…afraid of the dark.”

He didn’t think about that. If only he has a way to make fire and get some light into the room without scaring her, then he would do so. But she was watching him carefully since earlier and didn’t want to do something out of ordinary.

“Okay. I’ll just be here.” He answered and looked away.

“Thanks.” Amethyst responded as she began to undress and remove her bulky gown. It was a bit sticky as it was wet and it became difficult for her to remove. Thankfully, she succeeded after a few more minutes. She then started to wear the clothes that were offered to her. Actually, the shirt was already enough to cover her up as it was too big for her. It fell right down her thighs until it covered her knees. Then she folded the sleeves and fixed a bit of her hair. She then wore the pants but it kept falling so she decided not to wear it anymore.

“Done.” She said and so he slightly turned and checked. “This keeps falling off.”

He slightly chuckled as she returned his pants. She looked so cute with his shirt on. So delicate and fragile, her soft wavy curls sprawled over her face as she started fixing them.

Really beautiful. He thought.

He then scanned the room and thought it is a good place to stay for the night as it will get colder soon. He told her about it and she just nodded in agreement.

“You can sleep here.” He suggested as he motioned to the area which he just dusted off. “I will be by the door side.”

Amethyst just nodded and laid down. As she felt exhausted, she immediately fell asleep. She hugged herself to reduce the coldness of the night and the floor.

He sighed when he was sure that she was already asleep. He then went to her and moved the hair away from her face. “Sleep tight.”

In the middle of the night, a deafening scream escaped off Amethyst lips as she cried through her nightmare which had awoken the stranger by the door. He immediately went to her side and tried to wake her up. He felt her forehead and sure enough, she was burning with fever.

“Sh*t!” He cursed as to how human bodies are so fragile. He was worried immediately because he has no medicine to cool down a fever and he doesn’t have any idea how to handle a human fever yet. And she was chilling. So he went outside to look for woods that he can use to start up a fire so she wouldn’t feel so cold. Maybe that would help her.

After gathering pieces of wood as fast as he could, he lit them up quickly on the vent beside the wall of the cabin. It immediately made the room warmer. He went beside her and held out his hand to warm up her cheeks and hands. That’s when he noticed the blisters on her feet. He then sighed as to how he was acting.

Why do I feel so obliged in making sure that this woman is okay?

And why does it feel so right to care for her?

He again raised his hands, snapping it, the red flames appeared again. Directing it to the blisters on her feet, it slowly vanished. How he wished he can also cure her fever this easy. Maybe she somehow felt relieved after the fire warmed the room because she suddenly spoke up and held onto his arm.

“Please stay with me.” She said softly. “I need you.”

And that’s what took him to finally break the last string of his self-control and bring her into his arms. He wrapped her in his warm embrace and kissed her forehead. Perhaps this was taking advantage of a sick woman but he didn’t care anymore. He wanted to have her scent all over him.

“Please be well.” He said as he comfortably cuddled with her on the wooden floor.

It was almost dawn when Amethyst slowly woke up feeling a lot better. And that’s when she realized that she was cuddled into the stranger’s arms. She doesn’t exactly recall what had happened but it actually felt right.

Is this what it feels like to find your soulmate?

That even if only for the shortest time you’ve known each other, you feel like you’ve known each other for a long time?

Several thoughts raced through her mind and for the first time, she was thinking about herself. Her happiness. Her life. Her future. For the very first time, she forgot about her father, her promise to her mother and how she was useless and a complete failure. She just felt wonderful. Very carefully, Amethyst got up to check on the stranger who was sleeping peacefully beside her. Seeing his steady breathing, she smiled. She then noticed the smoke coming from the vent in the cabin. The fire just ran out. She didn’t know how long she was asleep, she even missed the fire. Looking back, she just stared at the man beside her. Now, she can see his tall nose. She was about to caress his face when he also woke up.

“You’re awake.” He said gently as he got up and faced her. “Are you feeling better now?”

Damn eyes! She inwardly yelled.

He was already looking directly at her but her poor eyesight didn’t help her see how he looked like! She just nodded in response to his question.

“That’s great! I was worried when you were burning up with fever. You have to rest more.” He said gently.

“Thank you.” She suddenly blurted out.

“For what?” He inquired.

“For saving my life.” She answered gently. “And for taking care of me. I’ll always be grateful for everything.”

She didn’t notice the traitorous tears which immediately fell off her eyes. Witnessing it, he looked at her softly as he began to caress her face and wiped her tears away. He then smiled and she saw his perfect white teeth. Amethyst smiled back. The attraction they felt at that very moment was so strong that his head slowly leaned down to her until their forehead touched. And he kissed the tip of her nose while she slowly closed her eyes. His lips went to kiss her eyes and unhurriedly, it went down and gently claimed her lips.

It’s her very first kiss. And she gave it to a stranger, her saviour. Sparks began jumbling all over her. Different types of emotions and sensations cluttered deep within her. But she felt good. Amethyst didn’t know that a kiss would feel this good. She didn’t even know how to respond so she just let him guide her as they continued kissing like there’s no tomorrow. And that kissing led to one thing she’d never thought would happen that time.

They made love.

***