Chapter 4: Donati's Broken Voice
The sky was dark.
Heavy clouds, thick and furious, smothered the stars.
Cold, relentless rain poured over Arya's small, exhausted face.
Her feet were soaked and covered in mud — each step made a wet, sucking sound beneath her.
Her little hands had turned blue from the cold.
Donati walked ahead, silent.
His footprints quickly swallowed by the wet earth.
Every now and then, he glanced back at Arya — his tired, battle-worn eyes filled with quiet worry.
But he said nothing.
He was breaking, inside.
When they finally reached a ruined, abandoned shelter, night had fully fallen.
The sky was pure black, and the rain heavier than ever.
Donati gathered what little dry wood he could find and lit a small fire.
The flickering yellow-orange flames threw long, trembling shadows onto the cracked, broken walls.
The fire's crackle mixed with the sound of rain, creating a strange, hollow harmony.
Arya sat close to the fire, knees pulled tight to her chest.
Her long hair was drenched, sticking to her pale, weary face.
Her eyes were wide, tired, yet too restless to close.
Donati crouched in front of the fire.
His eyes stared into the flames, hollow and distant.
The orange glow lit the scars and deep lines on his face.
His hands trembled on his knees.
Then…
A whisper escaped Donati's lips.
So quiet, as though speaking only to himself.
But Arya heard it.
"Eric… do you want a donut…?"
His voice cracked with sorrow.
Full of loss.
His eyes shone in the firelight — a silent tear rolled down his cheek.
Arya stared at him, motionless.
For a moment, even the cold and hunger faded.
That name…
Eric…
Donati looked up at the rain-filled sky.
His lips quivered.
He whispered again:
"You always loved them… damn you… where are you…?"
Arya didn't say a word.
Just watched.
A strange ache stirred inside her — part sadness, part fear.
Silence.
Only the sound of rain.
Only the fire.
Arya slowly leaned her head against the cold wall.
But her mind was restless.
Thoughts… questions…
Who was Eric?
Why was Donati so haunted by him?
Why did Arya keep hearing his name in dreams, in quiet murmurs?
Sleep
Her eyes shut.
Dark, twisted images formed in her head.
A field — endless, black.
A sky, blood-red.
The scent of death.
Wet earth.
A man…
His hair white as snow.
Eyes like the abyss.
Hands drenched in blood.
A bitter, broken smile on his lips.
He called out:
"Arya… child of darkness…"
Arya panicked.
She ran.
Her feet sank into mud and blood.
But the voice followed:
"Don't run… you hear me… even when awake…"
A heavy, cold voice.
Full of power… full of pain.
Arya screamed.
She woke up, gasping.
Her clothes soaked with sweat.
The rain still fell.
The fire was out.
Donati lay sleeping a few steps away.
Peaceful, unaware.
But in Arya's ears…
The dark voice still whispered:
"We are getting closer…"
Arya shivered.
She hugged herself tightly.
Staring into the night.
Her heart pounded like a war drum.
Something inside her was awakening.
Something she did not yet understand.