Chapter 2

On the quiet road there were footsteps. They belonged to two person: a young boy who didn't look like a native and a girl with similar age. However it was somewhat strange: even if they were similar in the terms of age, the young boy looked like a curious little animal that just started to explore the world. He looked everywhere excitedly. However the young girl next to him was different. Her pace of walking neither slow nor hurried, seemingly calm and collected. She gave off an unusual feeling: like a moth to the lamp, someone could be attracted to be near her even though she looked somewhat dangerous. Although it wasn't merely this: she also looked distant and in a way: sad.

The two of them walking together was a quite strange view to a spectator.

'Ehm... young heroine!' -said the boy indefinably.

'Hmm?' -the girl turned around. It was Amber.

'Should I REALLY wear this mask?'- asked the boy.

'Of course.- she said.- Did you thing I was fooling around?'

Amber saw the question in the boy's eyes so she added:

'It's on you to protect you from unnecessary trouble.'

The boy was even more confused.

'Unnecessary trouble?' -he asked.

Amber was flabbergasted but almost immediately started laughing, however in her laugh you could hear self-mocking. 

It was really funny. This guy really wasn't local!

'It cannot be you don't know the Wanted List! -she said. -My face is everywhere in this town yet you don't know...!'

This was the moment when the boy realized there are posters everywhere. And on the posters there's the face of this person in front of him. He was so shocked he couldn't say anything in that short minute.

However Amber saw this in his eyes and a mocking smile creeped onto her face.

She didn't know why was she disappointed.

Was she waiting for a different reaction from him? Why?

However it didn't matter.

Amber removed her mask and said to the boy:

'I'm a wanted criminal. Do you still have the guts to call me 'heroine'?'

The boy was again rendered speechless.

He didn't know what or why but this story was somehow out of place. Something wasn't right. But he couldn't express is in words. Then suddenly he asked:

'You... were you framed?'

Amber couldn't believe her ears. After a few seconds she answered:

'You really are different.'- And she meant it. Because nobody has ever asked her this question. They would accuse her, target her and no one was curious what the truth was.

'In this world nobody has ever asked me if I was framed. -she said.- They took it as a fact and blamed me. People are just like this: if you're not pleasing to their eyes, they'll hurt you in every way. Even if you have a hundred mouths to speak -she turned to him- they will not believe you. You'll be the bad and they'll be the good. Ridiculous. -she mocked. -My closest relatives detested me and didn't believe what I said. Yet a stranger like you is convinced I was framed...'

It seemed Amber's mood was a bit better as she said to the young boy:

'Young one, what is your name?'

The boy was startled but soon enough he smiled.

'Christian. -he said.- What about you, young heroine?'

'I'm Amber.'

After saying these they didn't speak during the time they were waling on the road. Christian was curious where will Amber bring him however he didn't ask thinking he'll just know it later.

Not long after they arrived to a house. It was in a very bad condition and was obvious no one can live in it comfortably: the windows broken, the walls dirty and moldy and, the roof in some places torn. Even the garden was in a similar condition: the grass yellow and way too long, and too many weed...

Christian was shocked.

'Heroine, this is...'

Amber smiled.

'This is my home. -she said.- Come in.'

As they stepped into the house Christian thought it was much better compering to the outside. However it was still a bit heartbreaking seeing the young girl walking inside confidenty and familiarly in this remoted place. She was calm as always like she wasn't affected at all although her eyes resembled a dead person's.

Yes. Every time she stepped into this house she could feel her departed family in a way. It was like her mother will walk out of the kitchen and ask her to come and eat or her brother will play pranks on her... But it will never happen again and she knew it too well.

And then they reached a room that was in the end of the aisle. Amber looked at Christian with a questioning look.

'Dare take a look?' -she asked.

Christian opened the door slowly and had a strange feeling like he shouldn't see what's inside. But it looked like young heroine wanted him to open it so he just did it. 

As he looked inside he was dumbstruck. There were three candles ignited in front of three figure that were drawn with white chalk. They were three people's outline.

'Heroine, this...' -Christian didn't know what to say.

Amber smiled and walked to the window forward.

'Want to hear a story? -she asked.- Although it's not a delightful fairy tale and don't contain a happy ending. After hearing it you can decide wether to stay or leave. I'm not going to stop you. It's your decision.'

Christian removed the mask and said seriously:

'Please do tell.'

Amber sighed.

'When I was younger... I used to live in this house with my father, mother and older brother. We were so good I felt overly lucky to have such a family. And sometimes I felt I didn't deserve them.' -At this point her voice became slightly sorrowful.- 'But every time you dream; you have to wake up.'- After a short pause she continued.- 'In the family I was the one who often went out shopping ingredients to our dishes because mum often didn't have time and I easily found my way in the mall. -she glanced at Christian- It was like this on that very day.'

'Amber, my dear, could you please buy these?' - a middle-aged woman said to the teenage girl. The girl looked at her mischievously and said:

'Of course, mum. Will brother come as well?' -The middle-aged woman smiled and patted the young girl's head.

'You and your brother are like two identical eggs.' -she said teasingly. Suddenly they could hear a voice behind them. It belonged to a young teenage boy who has black hair and eyes just like his little sister and mother. However his hair was a bit strange like a cockscomb.

'Muuuuum! -he said seemingly suffering.- How can you put HER in the same grade as me?' -he said arrogantly. The young girl was instantly annoyed and replied:

'Are you refering te ME with that hair of yours?' -she mocked. 

'Of course.- he said while he dug into his hair.- But I know you're saying these things because you're envious of my fabulous hair.' 

The girl felt like both laughing and crying at the same time. 'Yeah, right.' -she thought.

'Pffft. Idiot.' -she said while shrugging. The boy was seemingly not convinced and shouted:

'If I'm an idiot, then you're TWO idiots!'

In the room there was a middle-aged man reading newspaper near the window. He couldn't listen to his children anymore so turned to the young girl and said:

'Little one, you shouldn't be bothered with an idiot like this. Go and buy the things for your mum.'

The girl's brother couldn't bear the injustice he suffered and shouted: 'Daaad!!!'

The girl smiled and answered to her dad:

'I'm going now, will be back soon!'

Amber felt a bit out of place when she thought about this moment again.

'They said: 'See you soon, dear!' But that was the last time - I saw them alive.'

Yes, that's right.

If she had come home earlier that day, her family wouldn't have been killed like that. If she had had enough strength she could have avanged them much much sooner and she shouldn't wait 10 years to come near the culpit.

But the reality is cruel. The people that should have been alive were dead. The people who should have been killed long ago were still alive and kicking.

Amber sighed and continued.

The culpit that night first noticed some strange noises and movements behind him.

It was a young girl. She struggled to walk straight than collapsed and stated crying desperately. It was a pityful scenerio that could move a person's heart. However this man felt a strange, sadistic pleasure watching the girl howling in pain on the floor. At the same time he knew he have to kill this one too to avoid unnecessary future problems so he turned to the girl and said gently:

'Little girl, you look so much in pain. Don't worry. I'm going to help you. See my generosity!' -The girl struggled and this annoyed the old man. He suddenly raised his knife and shouted:

'Little girl, you shouldn't blame this old one!' -as he wanted to stab the girl, they could hear the police's siren. 

'F*ck, the police is already here?!' -the man said.

The girl reached out to the blood in front of her and annoited it to her face. At that moment she swore she won't die until she avenged her family.

'Don't you dare run.- she said in a horse voice.- Just you wait! I'll avange them!'

The old man could only laugh hearing this.

'Pffft. We'll see.' -he answered than jumped out of the window.

'Soon after the police arrived but they didn't do anything. -Amber turned to the speechless Christian.- In this situation I was clearly a victim but they questioned me like I was the culpit. Isn't it funny to question a 12 years old child?- she mocked.- People started looking at me with suspicion and fear like I'll cut them half in the next second. They didn't ask me, they didn't care about the truth.' 

'2 weeks passed and I became aware my uncle and aunt asked the authorities to put my name on the Wanted List. 'Cruel?' 'Unfeeling?' No; it's 'people'. At that point I thought if the world turns against me, should I stay loyal? NEVER.' -she paused and looked at Christian. He didn't say anything just looking at her while she spoke. But somehow this silence wasn't so bad. She smiled.

'But after thinking it through, everything became clear: it was somebody's scheme all along. And you know what? The person who executed my family isn't the person behind. (Not like just because of this I'll spare him.)

'Then.... -Christian asked hesitating.- Is it 'HIM?'

Amber smirked.

'Heh.~ Clever. And because you're clever; let me tell you another story. Once upon a time there was a man with two heads. Although they were in one body it was like you were seeing two different people. One was kind, while the other was 'such a miracle'. He could speak, eat, etc. but couldn't control the body. -she sighed and glanced at Christian.- Maybe you think it's so absurd and one can't live like this. You're right. Not long after the man became 25, he hang himself. Why? Because he couldn't bear anymore.'

'Don't you find it strange? A person with 2 heads who most likely didn't care about other's opinion -because he'd lived till 25 and didn't kill himself much earlier-.... suddenly commit suicide? It was because the head at night when no one was around would say:

'Mate! They've hurt you. Hust US. Why not just kill them?'

'THAT person is just like the head. Very manipulative. However.- Amber smirked.- I'm not an ungreatful person. After what HE did to me, of course I have to return the favor.' -she said.

Christian hearing this was sweating very hard and felt a bit uncomfortable. Amber saw this and looked at him with eyes that 'said': 'What is it?'

Christian said:

'No, nothing. Just this sentence's so grotesque, it's a first in my life I don't know wether to laugh or cry.

Amber smiled.

'Do as you wish. But it's better for you to know I'll defenitely take revenge. If you want to persuade me, it's useless. And now answer: go or stay?'

Christian looked in the eyes of the young heroine and said smiling:

'Stay.'