Keeping my eyes shut, I can’t stop the tears from streaming down my face. I choke on a sob. I’ve been found.

“Hey, you’re going to suffocate if you cry with a mask on like that.” I feel my mask being pulled away from my face. I don’t fight it, knowing that I’ve been caught. I don't say a word.

“I,” a whisper. “I promise that I don’t want to hurt you.”

Through my crying, I manage to open my eyes.

“There you are,” a smile shining back on me. “It’s okay, it’s okay. There, there.”

“Go ahead and let it out,” the same hand that had removed my mask patted my shoulder. “I know that sometimes a good cry is necessary for feeling better. I’ll sit with you, and we can talk when you’re ready.”

All I had the strength to do was nod back. With the weight of everything that had happened recently, maybe crying would do me some good. So, I let it out.

------

“There you go.” Another tap on my shoulder. “Are you feeling any better?”

I muster up a smile and a nod. A stray tear fell, and the hand moved from my shoulder to my face to wipe it away.

“Wonderful! Then, I think some introductions are in order.” The hand moves from my face to grasp my hand, with a smile and a shake. “I’m Isabella, nice to meet you.”

“Hi,” I mutter, barely shaking her hand in return. She is laying on her side, just beyond the bed skirt, holding it up with her other hand. A good fifteen seconds go by. Her gaze is intense, but not in a threatening way.

“Well, you know my name, it’s only fair that I get to know yours.” She huffs, but smiles. She had to be ten or maybe eleven. The sky held in her eyes was sassy, but sweet, and her raven hair fell into ringlets, framing her face. She looked so familiar…

That’s it. My eyes widen.

She is the spitting image of Jasper.

Well, if Isabella is as kind as her brother, she is worth getting to know. But can I trust her while still in a building that’s looking for me?

“Hello? Ma’am? Are you going to answer me?”

“Yes, yes, I am sorry about that. Uh, my name is Sophia.” Sorry Isabella, I can’t tell you my real name quite yet.

“Well, Sophia, it is lovely to meet you ! You must be hungry, I know that I always am after a good cry. Shall we get you something to eat?” She seems very cheery for a girl who just found a stranger under her bed. Although I want to preserve myself, this is Jasper’s little sister I am talking to: I want to make sure she’s safe.

“Uhm, Isabella? Aren’t you a bit worried that I was hiding under your bed?” I ask sheepishly.

“Oh, no!” She smiles and gently drags me out from under the bed, her body facing away from me as she fiddles with something on her night stand after standing up. “You may have been a surprise, but surprises are some of my favorite things to find! Now, what would you like to eat?”

Honestly, I am hungry enough to eat a house, but I know that I shouldn’t eat anything too heavy because of my wounds. Was I really shot and strangled? Did I actually make it up the top floor of the building? How long ago did Thomas offer to take me to dinner? Is any of this actually real? “I’ll just have some broth and bread, if that is okay?”

“Aren’t you...” Isabella starts confidently but fades as she finally turns to face me. Now in the light she can see my condition. “Hungry?” She cokes out. I make eye contact then shift my eyes to the ground, too embarrassed to let this little girl know that I'm hurt.

“Oh. My. Gods. What happened to you?” Isabella was holding back tears as she scanned my body. After a while, she grabbed my hands in hers and gingerly rubbed my wrists, making me look back into her eyes. “Are you in pain? You look exhausted?”

“I… am.” It all hit me like a ton of bricks. The room is starting to swirl, and I don’t know how much longer I can stand. The floor is looking pretty nice right about now.

“Then, why don’t you lay down.” She guided me to her bed and helps me lay down. “ I’ll have someone bring you some broth and bread. You rest.”

Isabella looked at me as I was falling asleep. Suddenly, a horrified look overcame my face. “Isabella,” I choked. “No one…”

“It’s okay, Sophia.” She stops me. “I know when to keep surprises a secret. At least until you’re rested and have some food in you.”

------

I didn’t mean to fall asleep, but the bed was so warm and comfortable. And I was so tired. And Isabella was stroking my hair like a mother would. The last thing I saw before passing out was Isabella smiling down on me, looking as if a long lost family member had returned.

------

“Hey, Sophia?” I feel a gentle shake.

“Hmm?” My eyes have yet to open.

“I’d love to let you sleep more, but you should really eat.” A young girl’s voice is firm in my ear. I jolt into a sitting position and frantically look around. The room is dark and unfamiliar.

“Where am I?” She puts her hands on my shoulders to settle me.

“Calm down, Sophia. It’s me, Isabella. You are still in my room. It just got dark out is all. You’re safe.”

My breathing settles as I remember that Isabella was offering me solace in her room. “Thank you,” I manage to get out. “How long have I been asleep for?”

“Oh, you know,” Isabella looks away from me. “A couple of hours?”

“That long? Really?” I couldn’t believe it.

“Yes, I came back from requesting your meal, and you were sound asleep. You looked so peaceful that I couldn’t dare wake you up. So, I let you sleep. Then, my brother called me down for breakfast. And now here we are. I have your breakfast,” Isabella smiles, then chuckles. “However, the chef did laugh at me when I requested ‘broth and bread.’”

Her laugh is infectious, causing me to let out a hearty chuckle myself. “I can only imagine that it is not a common breakfast request.”

“Exactly,” she chuckles again. “Here, come eat.” She turns on a light, revealing a table with a bowl of what smells like chicken broth and a roll that smells like ciabatta. Heavenly. I thought I might drool.

I slip out of her bed and follow her to the table. “Thank you, Isabella. This means the world to me.”

“Sure, Sophia, I am happy to help!”