29 Chapter 7 Dead end (1/2)
Orion woke up to soft sheets, and the morning light that trickled in through the blinds. Anna was still sleeping soundly, hair a cloud, and her bare body wrapped with the thick blanket. He looked over at his sleeping beauty before moving to the living room to find a quill pen.
He composed his last words on a parchment, before heading out that early morning to ask Ma Lari for the name of their area.
”Good day” He greeted, and the old lady's attention was caught.
She put down the bucket she was holding to attend to his needs ”Hello dear”
”Does this place have a name?”
Ma Lari tilted her head,”why do you ask?
”My companion would need to locate this place.”
The woman didn't respond for a while. ”This place isn't known to all, and it's for a reason.”
”Please, I don't know how else she'd locate this community without knowing the name. I'm not so sure if that will be enough, but...”
”This community was named after the first person that settled here. Sirsis is the name.”
After her words, silence briefly followed before she decided to speak up again.
”You're right about the name not being enough to locate this place. Different routes could be either long or short and it all depends on luck.”
”You're not Sirsis, are you?”
”I am his great-granddaughter” Orion calculated how fourteen cottages were all that was available for the generations that once lived in the hidden area.
”If you're wondering why we're so little. It's because everyone else left to start their private lives elsewhere.”
”That makes sense” Orion turned back. that was all he needed to know. ”Thank you for your hospitality. Goodbye.”
***
Anna yawned with eyes still glued by the remains of sleep while her hands searched for Orion's body, but all it could feel was vacant sheets and the parchment that was left behind.
She jolted as she grabbed the parchment, lips quivering with widened eyes scanning the note it contained.
: Anna, I'm sorry. While writing this, I didn't want to think about how you would feel, but it was inevitable. I was fighting to put the quill down, and race to your side again, but I considered how unsafe that would be. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you face to face that i'm leaving.
My presence here in the community could bring immense grief. So, that's why I decided to leave without you knowing because your tears would've held me back, and I'd keep stalling my responsibilities.
I don't want Vikckson looking for me again. I don't want you, and everyone else in the area to be harmed. Believe me when I say it, I've never thought of having a wife and a family before. You changed my view of things, you were the bright hues my eyes longed.