Thud.
Pain shot through Violet's body.
"Ow!"
A high pitched squeal pierced through the morning air.
The doors burst open. "Milady! Are you all right?"
Violet's dark purple eyes fluttered about, trying to make sense of the carpeted ground she was sprawled upon.
The maids that had burst into the familiar room--her very own bedroom, Violet quickly realized--helped the dazed little girl get up and immediately began checking her for injury.
Little?
Violet looked up at the maids inspecting her skin for bruises. Why were the maids towering over her?
"It looks like you're fine, milady," one of them finally declared. "Since you're up already, do you want your breakfast now?"
"I, uhm, yes," Violet replied, flustered.
The maid nodded and sent one out to get breakfast. She firmly grabbed Violet by the shoulders and guided her to the closet. "I'll help you get dressed now. What would you like to wear? Your new dresses arrived from the tailor earlier this morning, would you like to look at them now?"
"I, uh, yes?"
"Of course." The maid lowered her head deferentially. She raised it and made eye contact with another maid. "Sarah. Would you please get the clothes?"
With an acknowledging curtsy, another maid left.
The maid pulled out a tray of sparkling jewelery. "What would you like to wear today?"
"I, uh--" Violet stopped and suddenly sprung forward, grasping at a dainty golden necklace with a teardrop sapphire pendant. "Oh, I remember this! Daddy for it for me when we went to Itonesia! I lost this years ago!"
She brushed her thumb against her engraved name fondly. She then furrowed her brow. "Why is this here?"
She peered up at the maid questioningly. Her eyebrows furrowed some more. "Faith, are you wearing makeup? Why do you look so young?"
"Uh, milady?" Faith stammered back.
This time, Faith looked flustered as Violet viciously rubbed her sleeve against the non-existent makeup on Faith's face. Violet stared unpleasantly at her clean sleeve with a frown as she tried to make sense of it all.
"Milady--" Faith called out again.
Violet looked up and saw a short figure hidden by the reflection of Faith's back in the mirror. Violet hurried pushed her out of the way and clambered to the mirror.
Violet landed in a half-seated posture in front of the mirror, hands gripping the mirror tightly.
Wide, unblinking, purple eyes stared back at her from the mirror.
What is this!?
A face that was both familiar and unfamiliar reflected back to her. This shouldn't be possible and yet, it seems that it was. A dream?
The edge of the mirror digging into her palm suggested otherwise.
"Milady, are you okay?" Faith asked timidly.
"Leave! Don't let anyone in here!" Violet screamed, eyes never leaving the mirror.
"Of course."
Faith immediately bowed and left without another word, leaving Violet to stare at her own reflection in silence.
Violet's head spun. What happened? If this isn't a dream, then... could it be the... other life she lived was a dream? Violet touched her neck which still ached with a phantom pain. No, it can't be. The experiences seemed more real than any dream she had ever experienced.
But then what could be the explanation for all of this? She should be dead. Why is she not only alive, but many years younger?
Could it be...
Violet's mind flitted to something absurd.
Time travel?