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© Alana K. Solomo, 2025
ISBN 978-5-0067-7692-0
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Chapter 1.
Unusual images
– What a wonderful house! Whose is it, dad? – sounded the clear question from nine-year-old Anna.
The head of the family flinched as if struck, realizing his mistake. He quickened his pace, trying to lead his daughter away from the house they were passing by for the first time.
– Dad, why are we in such a hurry? We went out for a walk while mom is busy with lunch! – the girl persisted.
Tormented by anxiety, the man hurried to leave this marvelous place. Frustration over his own carelessness gnawed at him. Rage bubbled inside. When only the peak of the roof remained in sight and the blurred reflection of the windows still flickered in the distance, he suddenly stopped and looked around. The thought that they could have been seen would not leave him in peace. But above all, he wanted to instill such fear in Anna’s soul that the mere memory of this place would send her fleeing.
As she crossed the road between the quiet streets illuminated by streetlights, the girl noticed a pair of eyes watching from the window of that very house. Their bluish gleam and alluring beauty captivated her. And although she didn’t know who was in the window, warmth emanated from the house, causing her to smile involuntarily.
– Dad, why don’t you answer? – Anna asked again.
At that moment, the calm and composed man transformed into a cold, harsh beast. His eyes shot lightning. Barely holding back, he jerked his daughter’s hand roughly, so that she gasped in surprise.
– Listen, Anna, our walk here is a huge mistake! You know we don’t go like this! I beg you, don’t come here again! Not with friends, and especially not alone. No one has lived in this house for a long time, and who knows who could have occupied it while it decays! – Herman cut her off with fury.
– Okay, Dad. If you ask, I will do just that, – the girl replied.
– And also, not a word to mom about us being here. She will scold you! You know you have to listen to her? – he added after a pause.
The girl nodded, while the man continued to mull over the dangerous situation he had put himself in.
– What a careless fool I am! My wife won’t forgive me if she finds out! The main thing is that Anna stays quiet, and I won’t say anything myself! – he mumbled under his breath so loudly that the girl kept glancing at his face.
The memory of that day is etched in my mind like a photograph, and years later it suddenly resurfaced. How I longed to see the silhouette in the window, the one who was watching us! And why was it forbidden to go near that house? What warmth was hidden behind its walls that I felt from a distance!?
Over the years, my interest in that house did not fade; it only intensified. From afar, I always stole glances in its direction, hoping to see someone nearby, and since then, all my thoughts have been connected to that building.
At fourteen, quite young, I became passionate about psychology, developing my intuition and spending a lot of time reading books. Reading was a true pleasure for me. My thirst for knowledge was limitless. I dreamed of becoming all-knowing so that I could answer any question at the right moment!
The only person who shared my passion for knowledge was my loyal friend Lina, my support and stronghold. After all, true friends are always few.
Lina was gentle and fragile, while I was a feisty girl with scraped knees, often making her worry. She forbade me from playing with other children, knowing that one of them would inevitably end up crying.
– Don’t go near her, she’s harmful! – she told the neighborhood kids, knowing my unruly nature.
A person with a pure soul, an angelic gaze, and a soft voice, she never got upset, never scolded, and never shouted, except at me, sensing that one of the cheeky boys would soon get it.
– Oh, you’ll get it one day from a bully just like you! – she told me.
But strangely, I never faced any resistance. All our kids kept their distance and even feared passing by.
At a young age, I learned a lot. At fourteen, I learned what loss was, what pain was. The only person who understood me was leaving, and I felt it so acutely that I began to dissolve in her grief. Lina was diagnosed with a serious illness that was rapidly shortening her life.
Physical pain recedes when emotions fade. We are powerless over these processes.
Most often, I approached her house and, listening carefully for any sound of crying, quietly opened the metal door, secured with two sturdy locks, and slowly stepped onto the creaking floorboards. In complete silence, I entered her tastefully furnished room, which always had fresh flowers, curtained windows, cream-colored wallpaper that blended with the cozy interior. The soft furniture added a sense of lightness, and the chandelier and dresser with a crystal globe, inside which winter and Christmas were hidden, did not overwhelm with their bulk. The room was simply furnished and seemed like a paradise for a girl suffering from illness.
Recently, the hope for Lina’s recovery had begun to fade, like a dying candle in impenetrable darkness, and one day, at her doorstep, I was met by Lina’s older sister. She trembled with grief, and tears were streaming down her face. That’s when I realized that my friend would never hear about new fairy tales again.
The loss of a person around whom your thoughts revolve is a heavy trial at any age. The heart becomes covered with a veil of sadness, and then it gets even worse. Over time, you realize that the sooner you let go of the thought of losing a loved one, the easier it will be. After all, if you live with the loss, it may never release you, and you will become a prisoner of negative energy and dark thoughts. Those who have left must be released with ease, for you will meet again, in another form and in another dimension.
I was a foster daughter, a quiet shadow in my parents’ home, obedient but with a spark of stubbornness in my character. My love for my parents was pure, like the first spring flower, and it blossomed with every glance from them, with every word, every breath. Their attachment to me also grew year after year, and my love strengthened, like the roots of an ancient tree, penetrating deep into the heart.
The life gifted to me by my family was wonderful; they surrounded me with care and attention, helping me to grow and develop, nurturing the personality they prepared for the future.
I knew nothing about my real parents. How many sleepless nights have I spent trying to understand what could have made them abandon me? Where was that line beyond which I became ‘unwanted’? But, perhaps, this mystery will remain unsolved forever. The years faded the sharpness of my desire to meet them, leaving only a faint echo of curiosity.
– Mom, did you know my parents? – i asked one day, and the woman’s face froze for a moment in a mask of astonishment.
At that time, I didn’t attach any importance to this question. But after a while, the question was asked to my father. Unlike my mother, he did not flinch and answered that he had only seen them once!
– What is the purpose of these questions, Anna? You weren’t interested before, – asked Herman.
The embarrassment touched my cheeks. An unexpected feeling of guilt stabbed at my heart, though it was unclear what I had done wrong.
– I’m just curious, who are those people who betray… – I replied, looking my father in the eyes.
Herman and Sania exchanged glances, and an unpleasant chill ran down my spine. Somewhere deep in their anxious hearts, they understood where their daughter’s conversation was leading, but preferred to stay silent, changing the subject.
– We saw them only briefly, just once. And then they disappeared from our lives, and we became happy. So, dear, don’t think about it. It’s the past, there is no road back. We are happy together, aren’t we? – Sania asked.
Anna nodded, feeling as the question echoed in her head, finding no answer.
– Why did I see shadows out the window back then? – I asked aloud.
They pretended not to hear my question. After all, all questions about the past meant nothing to them. I continued to look at my parents, but my thoughts wandered somewhere far away.
Sania and Herman watched me, seeing how a child turns into an adult who asks uncomfortable questions.
– I’m a little scared for Anna. After all, she is our daughter, and… you know, she is strong in her… – Sania began, but didn’t manage to finish.
– It’s better to leave everything as it is, Sania. Be quiet and don’t raise suspicions! – Herman cut her off.
– We need to consult the chief. Maybe there is a way to return us to… – she stopped again.
– When will you stop bringing trouble?! Sit quietly until Anna reaches the truth! If she finds out who we are, we will all be in trouble! – Herman raised his voice loudly.
– Who gave her those figurines, Herman? – Sania whispered quietly.
Herman shrugged, silently denying his involvement, and headed for the exit. His thoughts were collected, his gaze focused. He didn’t want to interfere in Sania’s affairs, but he couldn’t let the situation drift either, knowing her impulsiveness.
Our eyes met for a moment. I, like a lost one, was trying to gather my thoughts, pretending not to be interested in their conversation. But every word, every movement did not escape my notice. The desire to learn something about my real parents was immense.
– Anna, please come here! – Sania suddenly asked.
I obediently got up and approached her. German, almost at the door, froze. He sensed that the conversation might take an unpleasant turn and decided to wait for it to end.
– Don’t be angry with us, Anna. We only wish you well and are not hiding anything from you, except… – Sania hesitated, as if searching for the right words.
German’s pupils elongated into horizontal slits for a moment. Sensing that Sania might ruin everything, he quickly approached us.
– Girls, what if we go for a walk? – suggested German, clearly confused.
Four black pupils flared up in his eyes, their shine was unbearable. The desire to cloud my mind, to make me forget everything, grew stronger in him with each passing second.
– Wait, father. I want to hear her out. She has something to tell, right, mom? – I asked, glancing into my father’s eyes for a moment.
German, beside himself with rage, was covered in sweat. He understood that if he didn’t fix the situation, all his efforts to keep the family together would be in vain. Clenching his fist so tightly that bones crackled, he slowly rolled his eyes, and when he opened them, I was scared, as if he was a monster in front of me. Staring at him in disbelief, I asked:
– Father, what’s wrong with your eyes? And then I fell into darkness.
About an hour passed before I came to. The sleep was brief, but there was a fog in my head, heavy thoughts obstructed seeing the situation through a teenager’s eyes. I vaguely remembered what had happened, why I had fallen asleep in the middle of the day; I did not recall any conversation with my parents, nor my father’s strange eyes… I had forgotten everything that had occurred some time ago, and upon waking, I found neither Herman nor Sania at home. The only thing I wanted was to take a walk down the spring street, breathe in the aroma of blooming lilacs, and bathe in the rays of the sun to dispel my distraction and perhaps clarify the situation I found myself in, a situation I may not have even suspected.
Chapter 2.
Strange creatures
Anna walked up the road, winding like a river stream through the narrow streets of the quiet village of Mikhhau. Coming towards her, slightly bent under the burden of years, was an old man, his face etched with wrinkles like a map of a lifetime lived. From his lips came quiet fragments of melody, seemingly a forgotten song of time. He moved with the confidence and calmness more characteristic of a youth than an old man. In his hands, he held a small box that he tossed between his palms, as if playing dice with fate itself.
Unbeknownst to herself, as if enchanted, Anna found herself at the house. Her mind was quiet and serene, like the surface of a wonderful lake.
Breaking free from the stream of thoughts swirling in her consciousness, she discovered herself standing before it – the house, drawing her in like a magnet.
Words could not convey the strange mixture of feelings that overwhelmed her. Her heart raced like a bird caught in a cage, her breathing became uneven. She had always sensed that this house was imbued with magic, just like its ancient inhabitants. Even on the gloomiest day, in the midst of a snowstorm or bitter cold, it radiated warmth, granting her strength and filling her with life energy. It was no surprise that her feet led her here, down a path that deviated from her usual route.
The warmth flowing from the walls, thickly entwined with emerald-green ivy, felt painfully familiar, as if something dear and close was hidden behind them. Not a single leaf rustled, creating a sense of seclusion, as if she had found herself in the heart of a dense thicket. Trees surrounded the house on all sides, hiding it from prying eyes. Timid rays of sunlight filtered through their intertwining branches. There was not a single cloud, and this stillness felt ominous. In a split second, her entire life flashed before her eyes. Squinting, she made out in the distance a group of people chatting animatedly about something. A sweet aroma of lilac lingered in the air. Her mind was clear, which initially frightened Anna, for it was here, at this house, that strange things always happened to her.
Every time she left home, whether for study or just a walk, it ended with her being here, and all her feelings and sensations changed profoundly.
She dreamed of this house, not knowing the reason for her desire, but she knew that entering inside was forbidden. Day and night she dreamed of inhaling the scent of old furniture, feeling the fragrance of flowers planted by unknown hands, lying in the grass of its shady garden.
Something inexplicable had started since her father mistakenly turned the wrong way and they ended up by this house. Since then, she hadn’t been able to find peace or focus on anything more important than this alien, dilapidated house.
– There is a place in life for events where everything happens when you desire it the most but don’t expect it at all. This is the law of the universe, the law of attraction. Call it magic or enchantment – it’s up to you, but however you name it, it will invariably fulfill your wish, the astronomy teacher told her one day.
And to be honest, our life is nothing short of a miracle.
Anna hurriedly turned off the path, forbidden to her by her parents’ command. A chill of apprehension settled in her heart: if even one curious eye noticed her creeping shadow by the walls of the cursed house, her parents wrath would descend upon her with the relentless force of nature.
That day etched itself in memory as a dazzling shard of magic, woven from unreality and dreams. After the walk, time seemed to scatter into myriads of moments, slipping away from consciousness. She remembered neither the way back nor the events that left a mark on this enchanted day, as if someone had erased those moments from her memory with a snap of their fingers. The only thing she remembered was the eyes that watched her from the window, eyes filled with kindness and warmth.
– Why is the world arranged this way? – she asked Lina, and her voice carried genuine pain. – How much beauty perishes in the shadows, just to shine once in the rays of someone else’s recognition, to conform to imposed ideals, to elevate oneself above others or, on the contrary, to bow humbly. Can’t we just live, radiating kindness, finding happiness in simple joys, without chasing the elusive shadows of perfection?
– Perhaps the time will come when wiser people than we are now will answer these questions, as the world is changing for the better. But for now, seek only the good in this beautiful world, – Lina replied.
Thus, I lived in anticipation of a happy life and wonderful moments yet to come.
As for Anna’s parents, Sania and Herman were hastily preparing for the trip. They hurried as if a whirlwind had swept through the house and rushed out the door, barely having a chance to speak to their daughter.
– Don’t forget to feed the cat, we’ll be back tomorrow evening! – Sania managed to shout to her daughter, who looked after them in surprise, her mouth slightly open.
At that moment, the girl was standing with a glass of milk in her hands. Puzzled, Anna looked at her departing parents, not understanding what was happening.
– I wish I could talk to someone… I really have no one to talk to, – Anna whispered as soon as the front door slammed shut.
Her expression was weary, as it was difficult for a teenager to admit that she was all alone in this vast world. She remembered Lina with sadness, who was probably happily sitting on a throne next to the angels.
Time passed, and Anna gradually stopped tormenting herself with loneliness. Most likely, she even fell in love with it, as one must live in harmony with oneself. The girl found the strength to overcome the fear of being without communication, and after everything she had gone through, a pleasant surprise awaited her. She knew that there were many activities that brought peace to the mind and body… but…
Once, when the sunlight lazily filtered into her room, the silence was shattered by a strange sound coming from the hall. At first, she thought it was the neighbors dropping by for a visit, calling to their family members, but there were no voices. Only silence, interrupted by the creaking of old floorboards under invisible footsteps, and an inexplicable emptiness, as if the house was holding its breath, waiting for something, a ghostly rustle, like the breath of the night, and a strange, muffled thump, as if a huge, predatory cat was creeping from corner to corner in insatiable thirst, reached her ears.
Descending to the first floor, Anna froze, stunned by the unexpected guest. At her feet, standing up on its hind legs, was a baby squirrel. Its little claws made quiet tapping sounds on the floor, and an unusual, almost plaintive squeak was escaping from its throat. Forgetting everything, Anna decided to escort the little forest creature back home, but catching it proved to be no easy task. After three dizzying circles around the house, her attention was drawn to the squirrel’s strange behavior. In his movements was read not so much fear as desperate hunger. The thought of how to feed the little creature firmly seized her heart.
– So what am I supposed to do with you, and most importantly, how do I feed you? – she asked her new friend and was surprised that she was trying to talk to a wild animal.
– I would like some birch juice, Anna! – he squeaked.
– Right now, mommy! – followed her unconscious reply.
Stopping, Anna realized that something strange was happening in the room.
– Now I will feed you, and you will run back home, right? – she said, and her eyes widened in surprise.
– Of course, Miss Anna! – the squirrel again hissed, changing in appearance.
She looked at him in fear. After all, you don’t see something like this every day, let alone in real life!
In the blink of an eye, his eyes rounded, ears and nose took on human features, paws elongated into hands, and his body became male. The squirrel transformed into a man she had never seen before.
– I am the servant of the gentleman who sent me to you, asking to deliver this letter, – and he rummaged in his pocket.
A few seconds later, he handed her a white sheet of paper, folded several times.
She stood like a statue, unable to utter a word. His movements were quick, making her head spin like a globe.
– Here, I found something else for you! – said the strange companion, extending a small pencil that resembled an ordinary wooden stick.
– What kind of pencil is this? – she whispered, holding the light stick in her hands.
– Review this letter and give a response to the gentleman; he is impatient, – squeaked the little squirrel, sparkling its eyes. – And hurry up, time is money, and it is very valuable to me!
Anna was in a daze, her mind refusing to piece together what was happening into a coherent picture. He had appeared as if out of nowhere, and in every word of his, there was such unyielding seriousness that it was impossible to deny it. Disbelief paralyzed her; it seemed like unreality, a bad dream, and the main question was – why her?
Unfolding the paper, she read the following:
Miss Anna, I beg you to hurry! The heart of our village keeps a quiet aquarium on Karaliokha street ∞. Time is quicksand, do not wait a moment! I.L.
– What does this incomprehensible address mean? And in general, there is no such address in our village; apparently, your master has confused something? – she said.
The squirrel chuckled, and then a slight tremor pierced through him. The strange metamorphoses began again. He stretched upwards, like a young tree, then dissolved into the air, becoming almost an elusive ghost, then produced strange, otherworldly sounds, reminiscent of the whisper of the wind in an empty pipe…
– Please hurry, I need to deliver the answer as soon as possible; it is very important! – he replied in millions of strange voices, merging into one incomprehensible roar.
I raised my hand, and the pencil, like a captured bird, fluttered in my fingers. Struggling to suppress a shiver, frightened by its unusual liveliness, I felt the graphite tip, like a tiny spark, burn my skin. And then, obeying an unknown impulse, it began to dance across the paper, and the pen, as if possessed, traced whimsical signs. In an instant – and beneath the initials I.L., a concise response emerged: “Good.”
A sudden ray of sunlight pulled my guest’s face out of the shadows, and before me, as if nothing had happened, stood the same little squirrel, clearly pleased with the effect he had created. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded toward the door, indicating that it was time for me to follow him.
Like an arrow released, he darted away, leaving me to swallow the dust of his swift run. Casting aside modesty, I dashed after it like a child entranced by the dance of an elusive ball. Soon we found ourselves by a modest earthen mound, barely discernible in the green grass of the meadow – a secret concealed beneath a veil of ordinariness.
The hill, rising above the even grass by no more than three and a quarter elbows, resembled an anthill more than an entrance to a dwelling. A tiny door and a window, each no taller than an elbow, did not match the image of the mysterious place described in I.L.‘s letter.
The absence of a handle on this miniature door seemed like a verdict, dispelling the last wisp of hope for the wonders hidden behind it.
– And how am I supposed to get inside now? There isn’t even a handle, – I muttered aloud, looking at the little squirrel in confusion.
In response, the little creature merely pointed with its paw at the door, remaining standing a little distance away, as if hesitant to enter first or simply yielding the way.
– Are you really going to leave me alone? – I whispered with a pleading look, gazing at the little squirrel.
– Don’t worry, madam, you have been awaited for quite a while! – came the unexpected reply, and the squirrel swiftly turned and disappeared into the meadow grass.
Gathering my will, with a bitter taste of fear on my tongue, I flung open the door as if plunging into icy water.
The sight that greeted me was astonishing. The little room was so tiny that it resembled a mole’s burrow. Tiny windows allowed only a meager amount of sunlight to enter, while a huge, disproportionate chandelier with many small candles emitted a soft, magical glow, reminiscent of a sprinkle of fireflies. Gilded cuckoo clocks, beige walls, and the paintings adorning them created an atmosphere of coziness and mystery. It was clear that a refined and incredibly detail-oriented nature had labored over the creation of this little room. Despite the modest selection of items and colors, the harmonious combination of tones and restrained furnishings filled this strange place with a special atmosphere.