Of course logically I knew I should stay away from the Clark House but once the rather deep gash in my calf healed I was back.

Alone this time.

“Kira?”

Only silence answered me when I called out the fairy’s name. I carefully ascended the rotting steps, avoiding the holes as best I could. At the top of the stairs I called out again, “Kira!”

There was still no response but there was moss under my feet that I followed to a closed door missing its doorknob. The moss around the doorway was thicker and starting to climb up the rotting wood and a vine of ivy was curling out of the hole where the doorknob should be. I tried to nudge the door open but felt some resistance.

Logically I should have probably left then. But instead I put my shoulder to the door and pushed with all my weight until vines snapped and the door swung open. On the other side of that door was a garden. A large, colorful mound of flowers was blooming in the center with moss and dandelions covering the floor and vines climbing up the rotting walls. The roof was missing and the late afternoon sunlight was pouring in.

And laying on that mound of flowers, his eyes closed, long, dark lashes brushing his cheeks, was the fairy. I stepped as lightly as I could in order to not destroy the beautiful scene. Once I reached the centerpiece I slowly lowered to my knees, peering down at his still, pale face. I bent down over him and pressed my lips to his cold, slightly parted-

(You didn’t kiss me while I was unconscious.

Yeah but... you really looked like Sleeping Beauty or Snow White waiting for true love’s kiss to wake you up. And everyone will think this story is fiction anyways-

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

I want it to be accurate though... Please, Oliver...

Alright. Accurate it is.

I love you.

I love you, too.)

I peered down at his still, pale face and slowly brought my hand up under his nose to feel if he was breathing. My pinky brushed his nose and his eyes snapped open, hazy at first and then sharply in focus. He grabbed my wrist with bruising force. “I’m sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up.”

“You again?” Recognition dawned in his widening eyes, “how long has it been?”

“Uh...” I hesitated, thrown off a bit by the question, “like... a week.” Kira used my arm to pull himself up. I suddenly felt far too close to him and tried to shuffle away only to be stopped by the vines wrapping around my legs.

“I told you not to come back at all. Do you have a death wish or something?” Kira squinted at me, his voice a little thick with sleep as he spoke. The fairy sounded almost human.

“I brought some snacks!” I blurted out, causing him to flinch backwards, eyes widening in confusion. “I mean you’re living in an abandoned house so I thought maybe you-”

“I have everything I need.” Kira waved a hand and the vines around my legs started dragging me back, tearing up the moss on the floor and staining my jeans green. I was tossed from the room, the door slammed behind me, shut too tightly for me to get it to budge.

Logically, I knew I should stay far away from the Clark House but I just kept going back. Sometimes I didn’t even make it far enough in to see Kira before getting forced out by plants. Once or twice I managed to sneak up on him.

Despite his threats he never really hurt me more than a few bruises, scrapes, and splinters.

(I didn’t mean to hurt you at all...

I know, love.)

Weeks passed with me making very little progress on getting to know the strange being.

And then the Clark House went up in smoke.