My head pounds.
I blink open my eyes.
Above me I see a wooden ceiling.
I slowly sit up, then give a hiss as a fire-like pain stings my back and arms.
I quickly lie back down and try not to cry.

The more I wake up, the stronger the pain gets.
A sob breaks through me.
My head.
My back.
My arms.
My legs.

They all scream with pain.
Then I see a blurry shape above me and feel cool hands flip me over onto my stomach.
Cold relief flows through me as the person presses a wet cloth to my burning back.
I sigh and feel myself slip back into unconsciousness.

                               ***

Something cold touches my lips and I part them.
A cool liquid flows into my mouth and down my throat.
I swallow.
A soft hand flickers across my forehead.
"My sweet child." a kind voice says.
I slowly peel back my eyelids.

A woman in around her early thirties stands over me. She has long dark green braids and green eyes. Her skin is dark, but not at brown as my own.
"How are your burns?"
The pain is definitely not as bad as it was when I last woke up.
"Better." I croak out.
Then I realize what she said.

"Burns?" I ask.
She nods grimly.
"Very bad burns, my dear."
I try and remember how I might have possibly attained such burns, but anything past the time I first woke up, is blank.
"Are you my mother?" I ask.
She frowns. "Do you not remember?"
I gently shake my head.

"No I am not your birth mother.
But I wish I was. You may call me Marmie if you wish." I can see pain in her eyes.
"Okay. Umm...what is my name?"
She taps her lips.
"I am not sure, but I will call you Lyla if that's ok."

I nod but still don't remember anything.
"Now you need rest. You hit your head quite hard when you fell."
"How did I fall?" I ask, scrunching up my nose.
Marmie frowns.
"Better left for a different time."
Confused, I say nothing.
"Are you hungry?" she asks after a minute.

"Yeah." I admit.
She fixes me a warm broth and I am able to drink half of it.
"Very good. You hadn't eaten in a while."
"When did I hit my head? I mean how long was I unconscious?"
Marmie bites her lip.

"Today was the fourth day since your fall.
Now that's all I will say. You need your rest." she bends down and kisses my forehead, then tucks the covers around me gently.
"Goodnight my darling."
"G'night Marmie."

                              ***

It has been a week since I first met Marmie. We have become close to each other. My burns are starting to heal, but I still don't remember anything.
This morning I wake up to the smell of bacon.
My mouth starts to water, so I open my eyes and sit up.

My torso, and arms are both wrapped in wet bandages.
My (use to be pants) are now singed knee-length shorts, and I wear a baggy tee-shirt that was Marmie's.
Marmie herself stands in front of the stove on the opposite wall from my bed.

The house we are in is made completely of wood logs. Like a little cabin.
There is a room for Marmie and a lavatory down a little hall near the front door. Surprisingly, there are no windows in the cabin, that I have seen.
Tap, tap, tap!
I jump as I hear a knock at the door.

Marmie turns around quickly.
Her face is filled with unease.
"Quickly! Into my room!" She whispers, helping me up and through the door.
She tells me to lie on the bed before turning and fleeing back to the kitchen, shutting the door tightly behind her.

"Arabella?"
I hear a man's voice call out.
"Coming, dear Charlie!"
I hear the door open and the man's footsteps as he walks in.
"How are ye?" He asks.
"Fine. How about yourself?"
"I am good. Did ye hear 'bout the Zink house?"
"Oh yes. Tragic thing."

"Aye. Burned down to the ground.
And there twas a little lassie in it."
"Two, I heard. One is in the hospital the other dead. Very depressing. Do you happen to know who the deceased girl was?"
"It... it twas one of Azibo's lassies."

"What!......Oh no..."
"Are ye all right? Ye look pale."
"I...oh dear Lord. What have I done!"
Marmie's quick footsteps sound through the hall.
The door opens, and Marmie stares at me with a new and frightened insight.

(MWAHAHHAHAHA.......lol hope you like it....)