Chapter 4

Four days had passed since Catherine left my house. It is a cold day and I am still curling up in my bed. Today's the tenth anniversary of my coming into this human world. I can't help the flashing back of the memory from that day. 

After crossing that passage that connects my world and this world, I found myself in the middle of the thick woods. I can still remember the feeling when the cool air touches my skin. The atmosphere here was quite different from where I originated. My feet kept walking for days without food and water. I could feel my knees were shaking and my stomach rumbling in so much hunger. My sight was getting dim. I didn't know if I would survive.

"Help! Help!"

I tried to shout when I sensed activities not far from where I stood with knees shaking intensely. My strength was slowly weakening and my voice was too shallow to be heard. I fell with my face right to the ground covered with thick dried leaves, eyes half-open, hands extended halfway upward, one leg bent to the side and the other was straight like a fallen warrior. I heard footsteps getting near and nearer. I saw a silhouette of a man. I can't feel any harm from the aura of this stranger, so I let my tired eyes shut and I've fallen into a deep sleep. 

Warm. I could feel the warmth against my skin. I opened my eyes and closed again when a dazzling ray of sunlight from an open window welcomed my sight. I covered my eyes with my palms and slowly got up and sat with my back on the headboard of the bed. My pupils slowly adjusted to the light until I had a clear vision of where I was.

It's a medium size bedroom. The single bed I was on was covered with a pale pink mattress, printed with tiny white flowers. Same with the pillows and the thick blanket. I've noticed that I was already wearing a light green pair of pajamas. I roamed my eyes to see what's more in here. On my left was a white bedside table and a lampshade. I also saw the window where the rays of sunlight enter. The curtains which match with the mattress covering are neatly kept to the sides. I glanced to the other side and saw a closet and a door on its right. The walls are painted with plain white as well as the ceiling. If not for the window and the closet, I would think I was in a hospital. I was startled a bit when the door opened. A fine middle-aged woman entered with a tray of food. She was smiling at me.

"I'm glad that you are already awake. You've been sleeping for two days straight."

"Two days," I repeated. "I've slept that long?" I asked myself.

Her eyes could tell that she's a soft-hearted woman. I could tell through her gestures that she's a refined woman as I watched her place the food on the table at the end of the bed.

"You must be very hungry now. I prepared you sweet potato soup. It will help you regain your strength." 

I showed a faint smile and looked at the food. Its aroma was enticing and looking at it made me realized how hungry I was. I crawled carefully to reach for the food. I got excited upon looking at the well-served food. I ate like there's no tomorrow and didn't notice that I was already slurping. I blushed when I realized that I was not alone.

"I'm sorry," I said embarrassingly.

"Just continue. I understand." She all smiled at me. 

I thanked the woman when I finished the food. She's Margarette and wife of Martin, the man who rescued me. The couple treated me very well. They raised me like their own child until their last breath. I felt like I belong to them…and I belong to this world. I've learned that they are from the other town and moved from one town to another hoping to find their lost daughter until they settled here in New Land. They sent me to school using their lost daughter's identity. Hence, people knew me as Adele Brown or Ms. Brown.

My first two months here were a struggle. Having the ability to read people's minds was not always a gift, it's rather a curse. I remember one instance while I was waiting for Martin just outside the school premises. I saw a man standing across from me. An ordinary person would never suspect that he was up to something evil. But his thoughts were clear to me. I can read minds. The man was waiting for his supposed victim. A woman crossed the pedestrian lane, going in the direction of the man. I knew she was in great danger but I cannot shout and tell her that she's about to get killed by that man. Besides, I didn't know if she would believe me, he was her husband after all. A day after, I went to school and heard the news that Mrs. Henderson, our teacher passed away. She was murdered by yet unknown suspect. I had the urged to tell them it was her husband who killed her. But how will I explain? Would they believe me if I told them about my ability? That's absurd. I felt guilty that I was not able to help her. It doesn't end there because, in the next few days, more and more crimes had been seen by my mind before they happen. It was a real curse that overwhelmed my younger self. 

Years passed and my foster parents still hoped to find Adele. They don't want to give up but their age was slowing them down 'til they became sickly. Sorrow made them aged fast. The first one to die, three years ago, was Margarette. She was sixty-three years old then. Just last year, Martin followed leaving me a favor. He begged me to continue searching for Adele.

"Look for her. Promise me you will." He said coughing hard and gasping for breath.

"I promise that father," I said as my eyes welled up tears.

I promised him that I will look for her, no matter what. So I ended up teleporting to the nearby towns where I think she possibly stays. But how can I possibly find her? I only got this half heart pendant with me. The other, as what Martin told me, was worn by the five-year-old Adele when she vanished. 

I take a deep breath and end mesmerizing about those days.

"I'm going to find you, Adele." My eyes glow with hope and positivity.