My eyelids slowly creaked open, and a searing pain shot through my head, making my temples throb relentlessly. The air around me was a strange mixture of warmth and chill, sending shivers down my spine despite the soft bed beneath me. Blinking against the dim light, I tried to make sense of where I was. Shadows flickered against the walls, twisting the furniture into ghostly shapes. Everything felt distant, like I was looking through fog.
I attempted to sit up, but a wave of dizziness crashed over me, forcing me back against the pillows. My breaths came shallow and quick. My mind was clouded — memories slipping just beyond my grasp. How did I end up here? What had happened to me? The questions swirled, but the pounding in my head made it impossible to think clearly. A small breeze stirred the curtains beside the window, carrying the faint scent of something floral, unfamiliar yet oddly comforting. On the table next to me sat a glass of water and a closed book, its title hidden in the shadows. I wanted to reach out, to hold something familiar, but my limbs felt heavy and untrustworthy.
Then the door creaked softly, breaking the silence like a fragile promise. Two women entered. One moved forward with confidence and grace. Her hair was styled in a neat bob, framing a face that smiled warmly but held a certain sharpness in her eyes. She wore a bright yellow blouse that seemed to brighten the dim room, paired with a tailored black skirt that made her seem both kind and commanding. The other woman lingered near the door, quieter, with eyes that took in everything — calculating, watchful.
The woman in yellow came closer and sat beside me. Instinctively, I recoiled slightly, my heart pounding as unease settled in my chest. But then she smiled again, gentle and reassuring.
"No need to be afraid," she said softly. "It's good to see you're finally awake." "How are you feeling? I hope the pain isn't too much," she asked, her voice calm but firm, like a lifeline thrown in a storm,I didn't answer. My throat felt dry, my mind spinning with questions I couldn't voice. " My name's Amilia Grant ..." she said, nodding toward the woman standing quietly by the door. "And that's Jessica, my maid and friend." Jessica gave a small wave, then stepped closer. There was something about her — a quiet intensity that made me want to look away.
I tried to pull together my scattered thoughts. I remembered leaving the orphanage. The streets. The fall. And then... nothing. How had I gotten here? Why was I here?
"Hey, are you listening?" Amilia's voice cut through the fog. "Hmmm…" I murmured, meeting her steady gaze.
"What's your name?" she asked again. I stayed silent. Fear clung to me like a second skin. The question felt like a trap.
"I understand you're scared," Amilia said, her tone softening. "But you're safe here.
" I swallowed hard, my silence stretching between us. The word "safe" slipped from her lips like a fragile promise, but it felt like a lie to me. Was I really safe? The terror that had lodged itself deep inside whispered otherwise.
" Please, tell me your name, where you are from and How old you are .." she continued.
The truth hit me like a cold wave — I didn't know. The last birthday I remembered was my sixth, just before Mom died. After that, time felt like a broken mirror, shards scattered and unrecognizable.
"Ma'am…" Jessica interrupted, tapping Amilia's shoulder gently. "Can we talk for a moment?"
Amilia rose and motioned for Jessica to follow her to a corner of the room. They spoke in hushed tones, their voices low but urgent. I strained to catch what they said, but only fragments reached me.
"...don't think we should keep her here…" ,"...responsible for her condition… accident…", "...she looks strange, not answering… what if she's trouble...", "Jess, she's improving…", "Sir will be back soon… what will he say?", " I'll take care of that... don't worry..."
Amilia returned and sat beside me once more. "You're still in shock, I apologize if my questions are intimidating you ..." she said kindly, brushing a stray lock of hair from my forehead. "Rest now. I'll bring you something to eat soon."
Jessica stayed behind a moment longer, her eyes narrowing as she stared at me. I met her gaze, and for a heartbeat, I thought she might say something harsh. Instead, she turned and left, closing the door softly but with finality.
Alone, I felt the walls closing in, panic rising in my chest. How would I get out of here? How would I find Miss Cathy again? Questions circled like vultures. A sharp pain flared in my head, stealing the breath from my lungs. The darkness of sleep claimed me again, pulling me away from the cold uncertainty of this strange place.