I pulled up to the old house and sighed. It was finally mine but I wish it wasn't. Up until last week it had belonged to my parents but due to a careless driver I had been orphaned at the tender age of 25 and all their worldly belongings had been passed onto me. I was set for a while what with the insurance money, my inheritance and now owning real estate but I would give it all back if it meant they were still alive. Again, sighing heavily to myself I got out of the car and made my way inside.
It was an old house, built in the post-war period when housing was suddenly a priority for families. Over the years they had fixed it up and put their own personal touches here and there. The old wallpaper had seen better days but that could wait, what I needed now was some rest and I slowly made my way upstairs, past the washroom to my old room. Or at least I would have gone there had my Mother not turned it into her sewing room. I looked down the hall to the master bedroom but I knew I couldn't sleep there yet, not with all their things still lying around. "Some other day," I mumbled to myself as I grabbed a blanket from the hall closet and made my way down to the living room and the couch.
As much as I needed to sleep, I just couldn't. The funeral had been a few days ago, I had given up my cheap apartment and had moved my meager belongings out and they were currently still lying in the boxes that were scattered throughout the house. I just didn't have the strength to start to unpack yet. Maybe tomorrow if I felt better but I knew deep down that I'd probably just start only to spend the rest of the day moping around.
It was then that I heard a sound from outside of the trash cans being knocked over. The house was in the suburbs and there was a heavily wooded area not too far away which meant there was always trouble with raccoons and other vermin that came under cover of darkness to scavenge for food. I threw on my bathrobe, grabbed a poker lying by the fireplace and crept outside to confront whatever furry creature had decided to come dining on my parents, well technically now my garbage.
The moon was bright enough that I could at least see as I approached the cans slowly, the last thing I wanted was a face full of angry, rabid raccoon or worse yet a surprised skunk at this point but what I found was not what I expected. It was a girl. A naked, whimpering, frightened, dirty girl that was currently rooting around in the garbage obviously looking for something to eat. My voice died in my throat as I saw this and maybe it was just my current emotional state but instead of being angry or scared I just felt pity.
Clearing my throat to get my voice back she heard me and froze in fear. She scuttled back against the garage door and curled up as small as she could make herself. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. My name's Will, " I said as calmly as I could. It was only then that I realized I was still holding the poker in my hand and I quickly dropped it on to the soft earth where it landed with a quiet thump. "Look. See?" I said holding up my hands to show I wasn't armed. I noticed she was shivering and cursed myself that she must be cold. Taking off my bathrobe I held it up to her so at least she could be warmer and cover herself up a bit.
I advanced slowly on her, trying not to scare her while I held out my bathrobe to her. When it was within reaching distance she slowly reached out a hand and snatched it and wrapped herself inside it. Strangely enough she just used it like a blanket, trying to cover as much of herself as she could without actually trying to wear it. I didn't think much of it at the time and that maybe she just wanted to cover as much of herself as she could.
I held out my hand to her, "you can come inside and get warmed up. Take a shower and get cleaned up and I know I don't have much in the fridge but I'm sure whatever it is would taste better than the stuff you've been digging through." She looked at me like she didn't trust me and honestly in her position I would have agreed but the promise of food and warmth was enough to make up her mind and she took my hand, I helped her up and we went inside.
Once inside I got a better look at her and I'd have to say she looked a lot better when I could hardly make her out. Her hair was matted and filthy, she was covered head to toe in dirt, scratches and scrapes. Her feet were actually bleeding and left small smears of blood on the floor when she passed but she hardly seemed to notice or care. And it's not a good thing to say but she stank like you wouldn't believe. I had a hard time breathing near her without trying to gag. Motioning to her to stay I went to the kitchen and grabbed an apple out of the bowl and gave it to her. She devoured it whole, ripping into the fruit with a savagery that only spoke of a deep, gnawing hunger. She even ate the core and seeds like it was normal. Seeing how quickly she ate it I figured that another was in order and gave her that as well. It too followed the first one down although a little slower than the first.
"That's good for now, how about we go upstairs and you can take a shower and when you're all cleaned up you can have some more." She seemed uncertain but then she nodded and I led her upstairs to the bathroom. I gave her some towels and turned to leave when I heard her speak for the first time.
"Twilight Sparkle," she said in a surprisingly clear voice.
"Sorry what was that?" I said turning to her.
"My name is Twilight Sparkle, " she said with a small smile before casually dropping the bathrobe and starting the shower. Blushing furiously I closed the door behind me and went back downstairs.