'Hidden in Plain Sight'
Hidden in Plain Sight
“Clara!” Kries screamed out over the water.
He was soaked and couldn’t hear or see anything.
“See anything!” yelled Alexis.
“No… you?” Kries yelled back.
Alex shook his head in dismay. They had been searching for hours in the storm for Clara, and hadn’t seen any sign of her.
“Kries, we are taking on too much water, we have to head out of this storm!” Alex called out.
Kries knew it was true; he would be no help to Clara if he let the storm capsize the boat.
“Fine! Head home!”
His heart broke,
to afraid to think about what could have happened to her. Alex came into his room an hour later, to see him leaning against the open window. He approached Kries calmly and carefully.
“We will find her. I don’t know how just yet, but we will.”
He patted Kries’s back reassuringly.
“The how, is what I’m worried about Alex. She was so excited to go sailing. It seems it doesn’t matter how hard I try to keep her close, as she is ripped away from me at any given time.”
He bowed his head, saddened by the truth of what he said.
“Beast, you could not have changed what happened tonight any more than she could have. It was an accident, and though it seems that it happens a lot, it only seems that way now because it wasn’t long ago that you two went through so much. Stop looking for the reason as to why bad things happen, as there is no reason, and start looking for a way to fix it. You two will have things happen your whole life. Best start accepting it now, and find your fiance.”
With that Alex left Kries to his thoughts.
'Alex is right. Clara is the most important thing in my life. I have to find her.' Kries thought to himself.
He refused to go to sleep until he knew what to do. He stared out the window into the night. He was listening to the waves, when he heard it. A beautiful flute was playing a song of hope, and love. It reminded him so much of the same song he had heard Alex listening to, outside the inn in Romania… 'Itna!'
“Why did you shout Itna?” Emery asked curiously as I ate my stew.
“I’m sorry I didn’t realize I had shouted it. You know who Itna is... I’m assuming?” I asked.
“Of course. What Hatfield doesn’t?”
He continued to smoke,
playing the flute off and on in between.
“I figured. Well I don’t know if you know this, but he can speak to me through my thoughts and me to him.”
He pondered on this for a moment.
“I did not realize that, no.”
“I've found most don’t. It was a surprise to Kries and Alexis as well.”
With that he continued playing, almost as if knowing that he wasn’t the only ignorant one made it alright, when it wasn't before.
'Itna?' I thought, 'It's Clara.'
'My dear! Of course I know it's you, the wedding is tomorrow! I am so excited for you two! I will be there of course. I am in a ship headed there as we speak.'
Clara paused for a second to think to herself.
'This is great news. I can tell Itna where I am and when he arrives, he can tell Kries and I can be home in time for my wedding!'
'Itna, there was an accident on Alexis’s sailing boat today. I got knocked off during a storm, and they weren’t able to find me. I want to tell you where I am and have you write it down so you can help them find me as soon as you get home.'
'Are you all right? Yes, tell me where to find you,' he thought anxiously.
'Yes, I am staying with a man called Emery Hatfield.'
'Emery! Did you say Emery?! I haven’t been able to find him, and I have been looking for a long time. Where are you?'
'We’re at a lighthouse. The lighthouse is hidden from view by two cliffs that block it from the ocean view. Opposite the ocean side is a grassy meadow leading away from the lighthouse and up to a dense forest that stretches as far as I can see. Emery calls it the secret lighthouse.'
Itna couldn’t believe it.
Emery had been hiding in the same place as the last spot they saw him. Emery was a lethal weapon, and a great help to Itna... when he cooperated.
'I know exactly where you are. Do not say anything to Emery about me coming to get you. I mean nothing at all Clara. This is very important. I will bring Kries and Alex, but you must promise me that you will not even look for us, so as to not alert Emery.'
'Oh thank God! I promise. I won’t act like anything’s any different. Do you think I will be home in time for my wedding?'
'Good. And dear it wouldn’t be your wedding without you, so I would say yes. Now let me go for now, sleep well, and I will see you tomorrow.'
'Thank you Itna, goodnight.'
'Goodnight.'
“What are you thinking about? You have been silent for some time. Were you talking to Itna?” Emery questioned, instantly becoming suspicious.
“I was thinking about Kries, and how much I want him to find me... not that your company is bad, I just.. am use to Kries being next to me when I fall asleep.. so it’s kind of hard.”
I looked down,
completely avoiding Itna as a subject. Emery almost forgot he had asked about Itna.
“I know how you feel. There was this woman that I loved more than anything. We use to sleep in the same position next to each other every night. The day the wedding came, I was so nervous, but so excited I could barely stand it. And right before I said I do, she ran. Now, at first I thought she was running from me. But I was attacked from behind. She was running from the demons. She had heard that a wife of another Hatfield family had been torn apart by a demon and yet she had still consented to marry me.”