Nightfire Chronicles 3

Chapter 3: A Hand by the Snow
It was three days after that event and the night was very cold, but Cross wouldn’t mind. He is already used to it. Besides, what keeps him warm is the child’s love to him, the child that was sleeping inside his coat. He had to do that every time they travel to various places to protect her from people that can harm her, hurt her, and discriminate her. Carrying that burden is Cross’ decision. Suddenly, he looked up to the sky, and saw a lonely star along with the moon.
”Oh, the moon is nearing the middle of the sky, something was bound to happen this week…” he mumbled. He then decided to take a rest under a big tree and made fire in front of him. Sitting perfectly among its roots, he extended his usually hidden wings to wrap around his body. “The fate will find the answer, but it’s up to the person that seeks the answer if it’s the truth or not...” he mumbled and resumed his sleep. Dawn broke, and they continued their travel, while they both eat their breakfast while walking. It was a sunny day and birds were flying above them.
Suddenly, Cross noticed something strange and Sheena felt it. “Brother? Are you alright?”
“Something’s wrong…somebody is here…” he said and scanned their surroundings while walking. Suddenly, he stepped on something very odd, and when he stooped down, he saw a human hand sticking out of the snow. Sheena then jumped down and immediately used her hands to dig what beneath the snow.
“Keep digging Sheena!” Cross said while helping her. After a while, they managed to pull from the snow an unconscious boy, about the same age as Sheena, wearing a tattered shirt and pants and barefooted. Both gasped in horror, but Cross gained his composure and immediately wrapped the boy in a thick coat, while Sheena builds an emergency bonfire.
“Why Daniel here brother? I thought we left him back at the Graywood Town?” Sheena asked as Cross keeps him in his arms.
“I-I don’t know Sheena. I ask that same question myself. But what important now is he must live...” he replied.  As they were watching the boy, they rested among the trees there.
After half an hour the boy aren’t opening his eyes, even he is breathing barely, very barely. Cross started to worry and even Sheena. “Brother, we must bring him to a doctor immediately…if we leave now we can find one on the next village…” she said.
He carried the boy in his arms, “We’ll leave then, Daniel is our priority.” And they ran as fast as they can go along the woods, and after some distance, they saw a little cottage. Upon arriving, Sheena knocked at the door.
“Somebody, please open the door! We need help!” An old man opened it and ushered them inside the house, as the boy was immediately attended inside another room by the old man.
“Will he be alright Brother?” Sheena asked, worry in her voice.
“Don’t worry; he’ll be fine I assure you!” Cross replied, patting her hair, but deep inside him he still have doubts. After a half an hour, the old man came out and upon seeing the two, he invited them inside.
“The child is suffering from mild hypothermia, but both of you have done a great job in keeping him alive.” The old man said, as he was putting his things aside. He then introduced himself as Professor Walter Marquis as he offered the two some snacks while looking after the boy.
“Professor, we already met him at the last town. He actually offered us to stay at his house since the people there seemed to despise us strangers. But on what I’m seeing here, it seems that you know him a long time ago. Do you happen to know more about him?” Cross inquired.
“To tell you the truth, he is no ordinary boy…he is a doppelganger.” The two were stupefied…