Sometimes, the silence within the four grey walls of my dusky room daunts me, but I'm used to it.

"Though people like to surround themselves with other people, the truth is that unless you can connect to your true self, you cannot connect with others." This is what I remind myself, every time I find myself alone and abandoned, locked away from city life.

Almost every night, I find myself crying on the soft, fleecy cushions until they are submerged in my salty tears. I cry so that this silent vast of empty space is filled with some sound, even if it is of me crying.

———

It all began one hapless night.

-

Night had fallen fast upon the Heartfilia mansion. No more than an hour ago, the sky was brightly painted with shades of red, orange and yellow but all the colours had quickly drained out, leaving only a black Matt canvas with no stars to be looked upon.

Tonight seemed anomalous and far more piercing than ever before. The temperature had promptly dropped in a blink of an eye.

The biting cold chilled my fingers into clumsy numbness, while the icy particles seeped into my toes and spread painfully throughout my feet as if it were my bare feet on the frozen tiles rather than my furry slippers.

My mother and father had both left the mansion quite a while ago, for reasons that I'm am utterly unaware of. However, my elder brother Noah did in fact care to enlighten me with his "innocent plans" for tonight, which I wish he hadn't.

As half-starved as I was at this very moment, I voluntarily decided to order from outside and not trouble Franco, our very own chef. As jovial and perky he is during the day, he can indisputably be the complete opposite, when he's valuable sleep is interrupted, which is the very reason I'm ordering.

Time was immensely flowing like cement and the mansion felt emptier than a crypt as each second flew by.

I checked my phone for the 100th times in the past thirty or so minutes and there were still twenty minutes until the food was due to arrive.

Unexpectedly, I heard the living room door smoothly slide open, only to reveal Oliver, one of the many workers who worked at this mansion. An expression of perspicuous shock was evident on his face.

My father had restricted any workers from entering the private family rooms, which include the living room that I was currently in.

I never actually followed his so-called 'rules' myself and it didn't bother me if the workers chose to do the same behind his back.

"You look like you've seen a ghost Oliver", I chuckled as I realised his mouth was still hung wide open.

He briskly straightened his posture and quickly masked away his sudden shocked expression. He then took a few steps towards the couch I was bluntly laying on and quietly responded, "Ms Mia, I apologise for my sudden intrusion I - "

"You do know you can cut the formalities when you're with me? It's not like I can do much in this house anyway". He slightly chuckled at my informal response and nodded his head in return.

On the spur of the moment, a harsh knock was heard clearly from the main entrance door, followed by the ear-piercing sound of the displeasing bell.

"And that would be my long-awaited dinner!" I childishly clapped both my hands, while detaching myself from the warmth of the red leather sofa, to which Oliver shook his head, while lightly sniggering.

"Would you like me to collect your food for you, Ms Mia?" He shortly asked.

"Mia would be fine. And yes pleaseee."

I carefully watched his every step and noticed how he glided like a waiter in a five-star restaurant as his footfalls made no sound.

As he reached the double finely polished, handcrafted wooden doors, he abruptly scanned his security card before the scanner and patiently waited for one of them to shift and open.

As soon as one of them were wide open, I saw a sudden wave of panic flash across his face but he quickly masked it away.

Strange.

"Does this residence belong to Mr Heartfilia?" A deep voice asked from outside.

I steadily made my way towards Oliver and every footstep I took revealed more men dressed in fine maroon coloured suits, which justified Oliver's sudden panic.

"I apologise, but that is confidential information, which I am in no position to give out but can I help you with anything else ?" He spoke honestly, but there was a hint of fear evident in his voice.

Oliver discreetly motioned for me to stay behind the door as if he already knew something that I didn't.

Through the slight gap between the door and the hinge, I distinctly saw the man with ash blonde hair unroll a pale yellow scroll, as he resentfully began reading.

"Ms Mia Heartfilia, the daughter of Mr Wilder and Mrs Camila Heartfilia has been prominently selected by the S.S Federation to play an eminently salient role as part of a secret operation with ninety-nine other adolescents. Ms Mia is to be ready by 7:30 am sharp, with all the required luggage. Any actions taken against this contract may result in up to 3 years sentence in jail."

As the unco, tall man finished reading the clap track, he cautiously rolled the scroll back and retreated without wanting a single answer, as if he was certain about the outcome and knew there was no going against it.

Oliver and I stood there, shocked. Constantly replaying the scenes that had just occurred before our very eyes. Mentally grasping around the words that had just left the mans wretched mouth.

So many questions were flooding my mind at once, that it was becoming difficult to even see clearly.

Did I have a choice? What was going to happen now? Did my father have the power to stop this?

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