Illusive Eden - He Pretends He's the Hero

The world had already shrunken of gleam and heat. The eery and frosty darkness creeping through the pores of the shell. Neva rubs her arms, chilled. She sneezes, the temperature dropping to a freezing point of water.

"We'll go home straight, then I'll take her to a nearby clinic." He says, their cottage not far off.

The girl had to get off of those, cold and dripping clothes. He didn't word out, the provoke of anxiousness his heart fenced, would he send Neva home alone in the stranger of a countryside.

Neva sneezes for the umpteenth time. "Bless you." He murmers softly, he's now afraid she might've snagged a cold.

They were closening to emerge out of the woods. The moist vast open fields, and warm litted cottage houses in their line of sight.

A bright glare from a flashlight blinds their eyes, he ceases his strides, having Neva still too. There were three people ahead of them, tormenting the vision, blaring light burning the eyes.

And in the approaching moment, the wanderers sprints towards them. Neva feels her heart skip a beat, clutching hard onto Rhett's arm—endeavouring to appear meager, surpressing herself behind his large frame.

The flashlight, now tremulous, swaying here and there—the radiance quivering along their gallop and stumble.

Rhett could discern two men, and a woman. He knows, they bring no terror, so he whisper to his wife. "It's alright, they're no harm."

Two middle-aged men and a woman, before them, huffing and panting. He recognised the slender men of them to be blind, as the other man grabbed his arm as they ran, a white cane in the hand of the aforesaid man, the fanatical of a flashlight allowing to perceive his eyes which gazed elsewhere.

The chubby woman bends her back forward—hands on her knees, gasping for air.

Neva in a safe cover behind Rhett, peeks a glance at them.

The shorter plump of the two men raises his bright flashlight to Rhett's face, scrutinizing him. Rhett displeased of such manner, frowns, his grim eyes and intimidating aura igniting fear in the heart of the assailant.

He promptly lowers the flashlight, gulping down the nervousness, still with a hint of vague dread, he opens his mouth, perceiving the girl in his arms, and the woman stealing secrete glimpses behind him.

"T-the girl, is she our Anna?" He queries, stuttering a good deal. As he finished with the probing, the woman beside him had already steadied her breathing.

She stands upright—in a tight posture, getting her dizzy, dimmer flashlight flickering at the girl's face, having her close lids tremble.

"She is! She is our Anna!" Aloud she announces, a bright smile on her face.

"Why do I not hear her voice? What happened to my daughter?" The distressed looking man says, his dull grey eyes lowered, brows creasing deep in worry.

"We found her fallen through frozen pond in the woods." With Rhett's declaration, follows terrified gasps, hovering round the air.

Neva calmed standing behind him, she sinks her teeth in the wet vermillion—as she's threading eyes with Rhett.

"Oh my deceased father!!" Cries out aloud the woman, turning heads. She had closened and had a better glance at Anna. Her face terrified.

"Brother Lonan, what will us do? Our dear Anna looks extremely cold and pale!" She exclaims, addressing the blind man.

The said Lonan's face contours a horrified demeanour, his face draining of warm hue, all too anxious to speak.

"She's fine for now. Where do we take her?" Rhett asks, a little irked as they blunder to make haste. The poor girl needs to be warmed up and needs immediate treatment, she's cold and shivering awfully.

"We–our house is near, come let us take the child there." The plump man sensing no danger from the tone of such sure man, shuffling with the words declares.

"Show us the way." He glances at Neva, affirming with the eyes, agreeing with the silent words.

"Sure do sure do." Mutters the woman, turning on her heels and guiding them the way.

The plan had been: to bring Anna to the cottage. And they would leave soon after. But here, they are in the parlor of the little house of whom they regard as Mr. Barlowe.

The couple were apprised, insisted to have a rest for a little while. They felt greatly indebted to them, had if them not been strolling through the woods, Anna would have probably not survived.

They were seated on the red—plaid worned out fabric sofa, leaned up against the wall. Sipping noiselessly—the warm black tea offered to them.

The sweetnes of tea powder, and a strong aroma of ginger hitting the nostrils—as the vintage cup is raised for a sip. Rhett had barely flavoured the little spicy and sweetness of tea, sipping it prior to Neva after examining it for any faults to sense toxin.

Leaving only Neva to sip the tea awkwardly in silence. The two men accross them, had their senses scrutinizing them. In the hush, homely cottage the crackling of burning fire in the fireplace close by, warmed up their freezing frames.

Anna had been changed of her soaked clothes and cozied up in the bed, she was now in the care of Mrs. Barlowe.

The air in the parlor, greatly ticklish. Mr. Lonan attempts to ease up the surround. "May I know where from Mr. Lei and Mrs. Lei journeyed?" He asks, as Neva tenses up.

"We came far from the northern land, a little town named Barberia." Rhett returns, without much consideration, smoothly faking the words. Neva purses her lips, placing the cup down in it's saucer on the wooden table, which had a floral cover over.

Barberia town, so it's the name she have to repeat if asked the place they belonged from.

"Have not ever heard about it." Calls out Mr. Barlowe, his eyebrows raised in confusion, pulling on his trimmed chin—pairing a great thought.

"As if you must be aware of everything my dear!" Exclaims Mrs. Barlowe, trudging out through the door.

"How is Anna?" Neva queries, thankful of her appearance.

"Oh the poor lass is fine. Is all by the grace of God that he send such keepers in her way." Chirps Mrs. Barlowe, now standing by her husband's side.

"She even asked us to show gratitude of lots." She says, Anna had not been fallen through ice for long, the toll of cold in her body should not be life threatening.

"If it were not for Mr. Lei and Mrs. Lei, I shudder at the fate that would befall on my Anna..." Lonan trails off, his frail form trembling slightly.

"Brother Lonan, you need not worry anymore. Our Anna will be jumping and cheerful in the arriving dawn." Mrs. Barlowe reassures Lonan, having him nod hopefully.

"I cannot put into words of how should we repay you for your kindness." Tears wells up in Lonan's grey eyes.

"It's fine. We just did what we had to." Rhett reacts naturally, while Neva smiles lightly at them.

"Then, we'll take our leave." Rhett says standing up, he glances down at Neva, offering his hand. She accepts his larger one, and arises on her feet.

"Shall we get you some warm clothes?" Mr. Barlowe suggests. The young man has been wearing nothing, but a thin black t-shirt, and the young woman's sweater had been soaked. "It's alright." He then glances at Neva, considering his retort. He could endure the cold but could Neva? Neva, as if reading him through, reasures with the blink of her eyes.

Mr. and Mrs. Barlowe, alongside Mr. Lonan greets them goodbyes, escorting them as far as to their wooden gate.

Sauntering towards their home, Neva glances at the bare arms of his. "You're freezing." She mumbles, grazing his cold arm, goosebumps arising on his skin. He smiles looking down at her, "I have an idea." Neva raises her brows. "Which is?"

The corner of his lip arches in delight, sealing his steps he turns himself to face her, following Neva's alike urcease. She tilts her head, wandering what his sneaky brain's upto. Her little gestures melting his heart, he has the smile bloom on his face as his fingers reaches for the jacket on her, zipping it low.

Neva responds with calmness as he helps her remove the jacket—wearing it himself.

His grin widens, kissing her lips briefly. Spreading about the jacket, he shrugs a shoulder, inviting her in.

Neva chuckles, gladly giving into his ulterior motive. She hugs him, looping him close. "Now jump and wrap your legs around me." He says, sweetly pecking her on the forehead, and down the tip of her nose, earning him a scrunch of the same thin and straight.

She does so, jumping while he catches her frame. She secures her lean legs around his strong waist, and he covers them up with the jacket, zipping it up until he couldn't.

Closer then ever, peacefully warm, the freezing of the second week of January floundering to freeze their heart—he amble towards their cottage house with her in his arms.

"When I said I loved your whines and whimpers while we made love. I really meant it, and I hope to hear tonight–Oww!" Rhett is smacked hard by Neva in the chest with those soft fist, flurrying his shortened words along the frosty breeze, before he could ignite Neva from the heat crawling up her chest—and butterflies erupting the belly.

"You're really crazy!" Neva whines, hiding her silly smile—her burning cheeks in the crook of his neck. Their heart beats cruelly fast, dancing in sync and bliss, embraced by the attached chests. "Crazy for you, crazy in love with you." He returns, eyes glinting brighter than the glittering stars in the sky, smiling dazzlingly, the similar as he did her with her alike exclaim.