Chapter One (or as for the more creative: Strangers and cows)

You have been on a long journey; the heat was too much. You didn't drink at all and that's how you ended up like this. What did you expect anyways?

Dark. Soft. Too warm. Light. More light. I can't see much. My eyes don't work again yet. Tired. My whole body feels so heavy. No, not my body. I scream as I suddenly open my eyes and look into the eyes of a stranger who is sitting on top of me. He looks back into my eyes.

-Hm. He says.

-What's seven plus six? He asks me.

I stare at him completely irritated, a bit absent-minded and he stares back.

-Who are you? I ask.

He smiles. Then grins. Turns away and smirks.

-Well, who am I? I'm just a fellow person that picked you up since you were lying on a meadow in the burning sun, surrounded by cows!?!

While he spoke, his smirk turned into a mix of rage and confusion and he almost screamed at me.

His face with the small and hectic eyes and his evil grin, as well as his thin and smaller body reminded me of a demon somehow. He turned back to me and came closer, sat back down on me and said:

-I'm Amaimon. Who are you?

And then he just smiled. But it was a warm and kind smile. But I hesitated.

-How can I trust you? I asked. His smile vanished.

-You see, kid. I picked you up, I saved you! You'd be dead if it wasn't for me, idiot! How can you not trust me!? He screamed at me. High pitched screaming.

-It's not like I am going to eat you! He paused.

-Not yet at least. He silently added.

-I'm sorry. Thank you for saving me.

-Yeah, you should thank me.

-Thank you.

-Yeah, shut up, I get it.

I sat up. All the time I had been lying in the bed. Now I could actually see the whole room.

-You live in only this room? I ask.

-Yeah, got a problem with that?

-No, I'm sorry.

-Yeah.

-Amaimon…

-Why?

-Why what?

-Why did you lie on a meadow? You are funny walking with the cows like it's nothing!

-But we made a deal.

-Who did?

-The cows and I.

-Do you have a fever?

-No. I mean it.

-You're funny. But I think the heat was too much for you. Heat strokes aren't funny. And you're completely sunburnt.

-I'm telling you; I'm not joking!

-Well, whatever. Sleep! I'll look for something you can eat.

He went outside. And came back.

-I forgot. There's water on the table beside you. You should drink it.

Then he left.

I lied back down. And sighed. I looked around the room. The window was open and through the curtains there was a bit of light and soft wind was blowing outside. It looked all so comfy. I sat up to drink something. Then looked at my own body. He was right, it was completely burned by the sun. But somehow it didn't hurt. What I wondered too is how I got into those clothes and how not even my feet were dirty. For a small moment, I fell asleep. It felt good. Then I stood up, even though my body felt numb. I tried walking towards the small kitchen in the corner of the room. It was really messy, just like what you'd expect upon seeing Amaimon. I stumbled and fell. I couldn't move. I tried hiding, crawling over the floor to escape as I heard steps outside. Second floor. Steps. Coming closer. One, two, three,… And me, I was sitting in the corner, almost not breathing, wishing simply to escape. I closed my eyes. I crouched down behind the door.

The door opened. Someone entered. He was probably looking around. He was looking for me. I covered my face with my hands. The door closed.

-Hey, brat. He sat down in front of me and gently took my hands away from my face. I was scared. I looked at him. And started crying. He looked at me, his head laid to the side. Then he took me in his arms and lifted me up. He took me to his bed and lied down, still holding me in his arms. I just cried while he stroked my hair.

-Hey, stop crying… What's your name?

-Gideon. I cried and before I knew it, I fell asleep.

When I woke up, it was darker outside. I almost fell asleep again because it was so warm and comfortable. Then I realized that I had been sleeping beside Amaimon the whole time. He woke up.

-What time is it, brat? Have you calmed down?

Before I could answer he looked at the time himself and stood up.

-You want to eat something? I nodded. He went to the fridge and looked for something and then took out food that seemed to be from the day before. He heated it up and put it on the small table. I watched him while sitting on the bed.

-Come here, Gid! He said. I stood up and went to the table.

-Sit down.

-Thank you.

-Mh.

We sat there quietly and ate.

-Something wrong?

-No.

-Good. He quickly finished eating and went to wash the dished I finished too and wanted to help him but he sent me to bed.

-You should sleep.

-Ok.

-Tomorrow I'll have more questions for you.

-Uh-huh.

-Ok, go sleep. I'll be there soon. He went to take a shower in the small bathroom of his. I went to bed. He came back and sat down beside me.

-Cute… I want to keep you… He murmured. Then he lied down beside me.

-You are still awake, aren't you?

-Yeah.

-How old are you?

-Twelve.

I wanted to ask him how old he was but I didn't have the courage to.

-Twenty-six.

-What?

-I'm twenty-six.

Fourteen years older than me.

-Where did you run away from? He quietly asked. He now was so calm it scared me. I don't know why but I just got closer to him, snuggled up to him and stayed still. He looked at me.

-Are you ok?

No answer. He sighed, patted my head.

-Well, just tell me tomorrow, ok?

I nodded and closed my eyes. Then I fell asleep.