“That’s how I met Nicole. Do you want to hear more of the story Kan?”

“Yeah I do Aunty Jane. I want to know more about you.”

“Ok, but let’s continue after the bath. Your face is starting to look red and we don’t want you getting injured more than you already are.”

The both of them got out of the bath and grabbed their towels to wipe themselves. Before wiping herself, Jane helped Kan dry off. After drying themselves off they put on their clothes and headed for Jane’s room.

“Kan go and stay in my room. We will continue our story in there but first, do you want anything to drink?”

“Can I have a glass of milk Jane.”

Jane headed of towards the kitchen in the back of the clinic while Kan headed for Jane’s room. Kan arrived at Jane’s door and entered it. He sat on Jane’s bed for a while but he started to doze off and eventually fell asleep on Jane’s bed.

……

“Mmgh.”

“Are you awake now Kan?”

“Oh, sorry for falling asleep Aunty Jane.”

“It’s ok Kan. Now where were we at in the story?”

“You met an injured man who was carrying Nicole, who was also injured.”

“Ok thanks Kan, so when I had met the both of them it was in the middle of the night in a secluded area. I had not expected to meet anyone but I did. The man left Nicole in my care and left immediately and what I could see from the situation, I think they were being hunted. The man left so the people following them wouldn’t find me or Nicole.

Nicole was still a little girl, around 8 or 9, and seeing the injuries on her body I vowed to myself that I would do anything to heal her. That night I did whatever I could to heal her.”

“How’d you heal her Aunty Jane? Did you you use herbs to heal her? Early you said traveled around using your medicinal skills but didn’t you learn from Doctor Frank.”

Kan was curious about why Jane had lied early. Kan had seen in Jane’s eyes earlier that she was lying about something when she was talking about selling her medicinal skills. Kan couldn't hold back his urge to unveil Jane’s secret and decided to question her.

Jane didn’t know how to answer him and was silent. After thinking it over, Jane decided that she couldn’t lie to Kan so she might as well tell him about it.

“You’re so observant Kan. This is a very big secret of mine and only a few people know so can you keep quiet about it?”

“Ok Aunty Jane, I won’t tell anyone. I pinky swear on it.”

Kan raised his pinky finger up towards Jane and she did the same and they swore on it.

“Ok let me get back to the story. I have special healing powers where I can use mana and cure physical injuries to a certain extent.”

……

“That should do it. Why does such a young girl have injuries like these? Whoever did this is a terrible person.”

I healed Nicole and stayed up the night to watch over her since I knew she and that man was being pursued. I wanted to make sure I would be able to grab her and get away at any moment but eventually I fell asleep. And when I woke up there was a cold sensation on my neck, it was a knife.

“Who are you!? Where is John!?”

“Wait! Wait! Wait! That man left last night and left you in my care. All of your injuries have been healed by me.”

Nicole didn’t believe me at first but after looking at her body and seeing that all her injuries were gone, she eased the blade off my neck. Even though she eased it off my neck it was still at a distance where I was still in danger.

“Who are you and how did you heal me so quick? My injuries were severe and I could have easily died...And...and thank you.”

After all that questioning filled with hostility I thought that this girl dangerous but when she thanked me, she also had a kind heart that could differentiate between good and evil. My body eased after hearing her thank me.

“My name is Jane and I am just a wandering person who helps cure people with injuries. And the reason you were healed so fast is a secret of mine that I can’t tell you.”

Nicole heard me out and realizing that I held a secret, she did not question me about it. She stepped away but she was still wary of me.

“Umm, do you know where you’re going to go, if not why don’t you travel with me.”

I had asked her if she wanted to travel with me because when she had backed away, I saw in her eyes confusion and anxiety. I realized that she was still just a little girl who is now all alone and so I asked her. She didn’t say anything but she did nod her head which I took as a yes.

“Ok, let’s introduce ourselves again. My name is Jane Fallen and I hope you enjoy your time with me and you are…”

“Nicole Blaine.”

She said her name and nothing else. After we introduce ourselves to one another we left the area. This would be the beginning of our time together.

A few days later we finally reached a small town. For the few days we were together, I had constantly tried to speak to Nicole but she would not respond but I didn’t give up. I knew she would open up one of these days.

Before we entered the town Nicole had covered herself from head to toe to the point where no one would see her face. We then headed for the town gate and the guards checked our items and let us in. We both walked around and eventually found an inn where we could rest up.

“Hey Nicole are you fine with a single bedroom.”

“Sure, i’ll sleep on the floor.”

It was the first words she had uttered in a while and I found them to sad to bear. We both went up to our room and dropped off our gear. Nicole took a small blanket and put it on the floor. She was ready to sleep on the ground but I didn’t let her.

“Why don’t you sleep with me Nicole. It’ll be much warmer for the both of us.”

“No thank you.”

She had rejected me. Just remembering it again peeves me, I was being kind to her and she wouldn’t accept it. I got irritated so I decided to force my kindness onto her. I grabbed her and forced her onto the bed in my embrace.

“You are sleeping with me no matter what.”

Nicole tried to struggle out but she was still just a young girl so she didn’t have the strength to resist.

“Struggle all you want. From now on you are sleeping with Big Sister Jane.”

Eventually she gave up on struggling and accepted that she was sleeping with me that night. Nicole soon fell asleep and this time I knew she was truly asleep. For the past few days we were sleeping outside she would pretend to be asleep but I knew she was always watching the surroundings to make sure we weren’t ambushed.

“John...John where are you?”

She spoke in her sleep that night. I vividly remember her calling out for John because her voice was filled with sadness and the weakness of a little girl unlike her usual strong persona.

“It’s ok Nicole. Don’t worry at all. Big Sister Jane will take care of you until you find John.”