We walk inside following Mason into a huge, beautiful dining room. The table could have easily sat a huge family feast of at least fifty but tonight is set for just the six of us. Normally I would have stopped to stare and take in the magnificence, but my focus is solely on the piles of wonderful food. I can acknowledge that the tension, that had been briefly broken earlier by jokes at my expense, is now back in full force and conversation stalls awkwardly around me. I hardly take notice though fully focused on the amazing food. It is a little hard for me to remember how many days it's been since I last ate the crap our "employers" called food on the cruise ship, but I absolutely can't remember the last time I had such delicious food. I try my best to eat with manners that don't reflect how famished I feel but all I want to do is stuff everything in my mouth. With the effort of restraint it takes a minute before I start to pay attention to everyone else's conversation, as I refocus on everyone else, I catch Mason watching me out of the corner of my eye which seems like it might be important, but Mykayla's voice redirects my attention.
"Brady enough questions about what has been happening here, I want to know more about what happened to you while you were gone." Mykayla demands coolly I feel like her voice holds another emotion as well, but I can't quite get my finger on it she doesn't quite sound like she's just across the table from me.
"There really hasn't been much happening for me. I mean mostly I just played music and hung out in the sun." Brady says then tries to divert back to what was happening on Kongkea, "I mean it sounds like there has been a lot more interesting stuff happening here to y'all, like did I hear you guys saying something about a gorilla?"
Mykayla shot Boomer and Boz a look that would have killed, if her looks could kill. I try to process this information because for some reason I feel like something about that sounds familiar and important, but I find that I am unable to do so. I can't make any thoughts string together anymore. I can recognize lightly that I am very full but really all I can think about is that wonderful bed in that room Mykayla showed me to. I stand decisively my thoughts consumed by bed. For some weird reason though as I stand the floor isn't where it should be anymore causing me to stumble nearly faceplanting into a bowl of fruit which really doesn't look like a very good pillow at all.
"Whoa, Bella you good?" I vaguely make out Mitch asking and realizing a bit belatedly that his arm wrapped around me is the reason the fruit is not currently my face's pillow.
"I'm Fine Brady," I giggle watching the kaleidoscope around me a little annoyed I can't find him, "I am fine the floor and walls are the ones moving. You should tell them to stop." I feel my face scrunch, suddenly the kaleidoscope of colors doesn't feel so good anymore and I close my eyes wishing it would stop.
I really wish the world would stop moving. I lean into Mitch's solidness grateful that he at least doesn't seem to be spinning.
"Bella... Bella... Bella!" Mitch's voice gets more insistent until I give him a groan in response, "This is important I need you to focus a minute,"
I manage a slight nod in response to that regretting it as the world heaves around me, but I still manage to pry my eyes open wanting to make him happy.
"Bella, have you slept at all since they showed up?"
"Um Nope." I answer proudly causing myself to cringe at the volume and brightness of my own voice. I let my eyes slide shut and rest my head back on Mitch's shoulder wishing everything wasn't quite so loud and bright.
"Well, that explains that." Mitch mutters, "Come on let's put you to bed." he sighs beginning to half carry me down the hall despite me whining as the movement causes the rocking to intensify.
I hate him I determine as he continues pulling me along down the hallway. I crack my eyes open as I feel him shift and am grateful to see it isn't as bright anymore but then feel panic rise as I see his hand - a hand reaching for a dark wooden door built into age darkened stone...
"NO!" I push out of the arms wrapped around me digging my fingers into the cold stone wall to hold myself upright. "NO! I WON'T!" I try again shaking my head trying to make sense but that just makes the spinning worse and now there's ringing and I don't remember... I can't... Where am I?
Arms reach for me trying to grab me and I fight... I don't know why I am fighting... Why am I fighting?
"Bella!" The voice is strong, and male, and stern... and I push out against it... I don't know Bella... do I... Am I Bella... I can't remember... Who am I?
I whimper and feel pain radiate up my back... the wall... the wall is solid... solid is safe... isn't it... so why does it hurt?
I can't remember... it's dark... when did it get dark... oh no... when did my eyes close?
"Bella," That name again, that voice still male, but it is gentler now. Hands gently hold my hands, they are pulling me now, but they pull me away from the hurting, so I follow their lead somehow comforted by their warmth.
"Bella," the voice is murmuring, "This way Bella, just a little farther. It's okay..." I can hear the voice continue murmuring but I don't know what it is saying. It sounds nice though. He sounds nice. I hope Bella is nice too.