Female reader

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I had just stolen some supplies and grain from the storehouses, and ran through the woods of New Prentisstown, trying to move as quickly as I could without making much noise. As you may know, the forest is filled with lots of dead leaves and twigs, perfect for making snapping and crunching sounds as you stepped on them.

I had the army of New Prentisstown on my heels; though I don't see why you would have half your army go after one measly little girl that "couldn't do anything but chores and healing." I scowled involuntarily at the memory that one of the captains had said as I eavesdropped on one of his conversations. Um, excuse me, Captain-whatever-your-name-is. I've got your so-called effing "President's" army hot on my trail. You still think that girls can't do more than chores and healing now?

I could hear the river in the distance, and slowed down to a walk. I could take a drink of water from the river for a few minutes, then start hurrying back to Mistress Coyle and her camp.

Mistress Coyle had long left me to my devices. She thought I was too wild to be taken in and given orders (which I was. She learned that the hard way.). She let me roam free, working on my own and at my own pace, helping her in my own way. I clutched the stolen goods closer to me, not daring to drop anything. Mistress Coyle would have my head, no matter how wild I was. There were even some lines someone like me didn't dare cross.

I was just about to reach the river when I heard hooves galloping along behind me. And by the sounds of it, they weren't far behind, and would be here any second. I groaned quietly, picking up my pace again and feeling the air burn my dry throat. I saw an outpost that I assembled myself, one of many that I built in the shadows of the night in case I ever needed shelter or a hiding place. Mistress Coyle knew where they were, and if I didn't come back anytime before sunset, she'd send out people to each outpost to collect anything that I didn't deliver.

I quickly threw the supplies up into the trees branches, hearing a soft "thud" as it hit the platform. I quickly climbed up after it, and laid low on the platform, waiting for the men to pass. A moment later, I saw two men on horseback cautiously walking under my platform, peering around. I almost snickered at how dumb they were, and was glad the female population wasn't affected by the Noise germ.

I kept watching them as they moved past my platform, and as soon as they were out of earshot and sight, I let out a breath I hadn't known I was holding. I waited in a few more moments in silence before making a move to throw my bag down and jumping down after it.

As soon as my feet hit the ground, I was tackled to the ground by a heavy figure, knocking the air out of me. I lay on the ground, not moving for a second, trying to regain my breath as best as I could with the figure on top of me. I turned my head slightly to see who my attacker was, and saw that it was none other than Davy Prentiss Jr. himself.

I narrowed my eyes. A deep hatred for him resided in my heart. One of my best friends before all this was a little Spackle boy, and he was such an innocent thing. Always playful and asking me to play; you couldn't say no to him. But then one day, they decide to band the Spackle, as if they're nothing more than sheep! How dare they harm my best friend?! I couldn't do anything that time, and there is nothing more irritating and soul-crushing than to feel powerless, to feel like you can't do anything to stop what you hate.

Davy's weight lessened, and I assumed he got up. And for a moment, he did. But then a sharp jab in my lower back told me that he wasn't going to let me go for a while. I discreetly moved my hand to my hidden belt, where it held my small pocketknife my dad gave me before dying.

"What do we have here?" Davy sneered. I tried my best to not just jump up immediately and sock him right then and there in the jaw. I had to bide my time, wait for the right moment to strike. "Pa's gonna be happy I caught ya." he added gleefully.

He took his knee off of my back. Big mistake. I rolled onto my back and shot up as fast as I could, lunging at Davy and giving him a good punch. He staggered back, rubbing where I punched him, and slightly wincing in pain. His wince looked more like a look of loneliness as I looked closer.

"Leave me alone and I won't say anything. You better not either." I told him.

"You're in no position to bargain, doll." his wince turning into a small, cruel smirk. "I'm the one with a rifle and a pistol and you've got nothing."

I scowled. "Don't call me that. I've been taught to fight since I was a kid. You're the one that should be concerned for their life."

Davy laughed, shaking his head. "You've got it all wrong." He picked up his pistol and loaded it, cocking it in my direction. His finger rested on the trigger, ready to pull it at the slightest thing. "So you'd better shut up before you say the wrong thing."

Before he could register anything, I rushed forward and tackled him to the ground. I kept my knees on either side of him, pulling out my pocketknife and flipping open the knife. I held it above his neck, ready to slash down and end his life. End his life and put an end to my grudge.

But I hesitated. I stopped all my movement and just froze. Was this right? Could I kill someone else? Could I even kill? I shook my thoughts away. Now was not the time.

"I'll cut you, Prentiss. That'll shut you up." I snarled.

Davy didn't say anything. At least, not something I would expect, anyway.

"Beautiful." Davy suddenly muttered.

I looked down at him, seeing his face hold a completely different expression than his usual smirk or egotistical smile. His face held so much innocence, so much pain of being unloved. He looked as if he had de-aged 10 years, as if every care and thought in the world disappeared from his head and he didn't know anything except what he saw.

You don't have to do this. The voice in my head whispered.

I inwardly frowned and shook it away. No. Shut up. I have to.

I closed my eyes and tried to force my hands down, but no movement came from me. I opened my eyes, and Davy's face now slightly looked scared. Like he was actually scared for his life. I almost scoffed. He tried to hide it, which wasn't that bad, but his eyes and Noise gave him away. His eyes, his beautiful brown eyes, shone with nothing but pure fear. His Noise buzzed with horror, and I saw the many scenarios of me killing him in his Noise. He was scared for his life.

I dug deeper into his Noise, feeling him flinch under my scrutiny. Then I found this tiny little pink bit, a little piece that pulsed with...love. Love for who?

Me.

I didn't say anything. I couldn't say anything. Why would he love me of all people?

"But...why?" I asked him.

His Noise showed all of it. It blurred through his memories, but it was like time slowed down and everything stopped moving, his memories becoming stories and scenes like in a dream.

His Noise flashed back to the first day he saw me. The day he saw me from the shadows of his own room. I was running from one end of the town to the other, gathering supplies and food for Mistress Coyle and the other healers. He watched from the shadows, seeing a girl dedicated to her work and doing her best to help out in the few ways she could.

His Noise showed the time I was stopped by the sentries posted outside of the healing house I was stationed in. They kept asking me questions and accusing me of things I didn't do, and it took everything in my power not to beat them both up right then and there. Davy's Noise showed that he felt the same way and silently vowed to himself that he would keep an eye on me when he could, making sure I wouldn't have to handle that again.

His Noise panned to when I was caught by his father, and how I stood bravely while his father glowered at me and reprimanded me for the incidents that I apparently caused alongside the Answer. I was surprised that Prentiss Sr. hadn't put me in jail with the other women yet. Davy stood quietly and obediently next to his father, not looking at me in fear of lashing out at his father for insulting the girl he loved so dearly.

His Noise stopped at yet another memory, one that showed me fending off some soldiers from killing a wounded horse. I saw myself screaming at them. Screaming at them to eff off, screaming at them to leave the horse alone, screaming at the wind to hear my plea, and most of all, screaming for help. Just help of any kind, in any form. Davy watched from the shadows, wishing he could defend me. Just wishing, for freedom of any kind. He clenched his fists from his spot, trying his hardest to refrain from rushing out there and holding the soldiers out at gunpoint, one arm around me and the other holding up his pistol.

And then his Noise finally ended at today's incident, where I attacked him and he thought I was beautiful. I felt there was more, more memories, more to the story, just...more. But I didn't press it, dropping my knife and sitting back in shock. I felt tears in my eyes, and I felt them fall, leaning back against a tree. Davy watched me carefully, unsure of what to do.

I dropped my head between my knees, and closed my eyes. I was unsure of what to do too. I didn't know how to handle these kinds of things. I know I felt something, I just couldn't place my finger on it. Davy moved next to me and I felt his eyes on me.

"I mean it though." he said suddenly as he leaned back against the same tree as me, our shoulders brushing against each other. "I thought you were the most beautiful girl I had ever laid my eyes on."

I stayed silent. I was afraid I would say the wrong thing. I only raised my head and turned to look at him, seeing his eyes close up for the first time. They were a beautiful shade of brown, playful and mischievous, still holding a bit of that boyishness to them. He gently brushed a tear away with his thumb, tenderly holding the side of my face.

"Beautiful." he repeated.

I leaned against him, closing my eyes, and felt him wrap an arm around me protectively. Even though he had done all of those horrific things, I knew deep down he wasn't bad. He was only carrying out orders. And deep down, I felt that he could get a second chance from me, and I silently forgave him as we sat on the forest floor in silence.

Okay that didn't quite turn out the way that I hoped it would, but it's late and I really want to sleep.

Part 2 of Christmas Doll will be coming out in a few hours, after I've gotten enough sleep to know what to write without falling asleep and trying to stay awake.