Blasius and I reconvened that morning and came to the conclusion that it would be a good idea to tell Menas and Silva. Even though we didn't want to get their hopes up, we thought they should be up to speed with our discovery as there was no point in keeping secrets. Menas was still acting unusual, but better compared to yesterday considering he had eaten his breakfast and was slightly more talkative. After showing them the hole in the ceiling, both him and Silva had agreed that we should test it out and see if it could help us escape.
"It's too small for all of us to go up there, but it's big enough to be something similar to a ventilation system," I explained.
"Without proper lighting, how do we figure out if it will be useful?" Silva asked.
We all sat there thinking of how to navigate figuring out exactly what the hole in the ceiling was until Blasius speaks up, "Amicia, you said your visions include remote viewing, is there any way you could use that?"
"I could try. Sometimes it doesn't work though."
"It's worth a shot!" Silva enthused.
I nodded along and made by way back to the main room. Due to the fact that using my clairvoyant abilities used a lot of my energy, I decided it would be safest to use it while laying or sitting down. With that in mind, I made my way to my bed.
I took a few deep breaths and closed my eyes, thinking about all of the things I wanted to know. What did the hole lead to? Was it a secret passage? Could it be of use to us? Would it help us escape?
When I opened my eyes I was still in the same room. Blasius, Silva, and Menas had all disappeared though, so I decided to check out the hole. Before I walked in the bathroom, I stopped in my tracks. There was someone already in there.
"Don't be shy, come in," the unknown voice allured. Although I didn't know who she was, she voice was inviting and comforting, as if I knew her from somewhere. When I stepped in the room, even her presence felt familiar. "You may not know me but I hear about you all the time."
I smiled, "Good things, I hope."
"All good things, my child."
Despite my usual nervousness meeting new people, I felt like I could talk to her for hours. I wanted to talk to her for hours. I could tell there was so much she had to say, but I couldn't stay here for long. Perhaps I would meet her another time, whoever she was.
"So you're here about the tunnel."
"Tunnel? Is that what it is?" She nodded in response. That was a good sign. It had to lead outside of the castle, right? This could be how we escape!
"When you wake up, pass on my greetings, if you will."
"When I wake up?" I wondered why she was speaking of me leaving so soon, "I want to stay longer."
"I don't want to be a distraction to you and there are things you need to do. I am glad I met you, you're exactly what I had hoped for. You seem like a suited young woman, Amicia."
"Thank you," I responded. Suited for what, I wasn't exactly sure, but I was glad she liked me. I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride knowing that I was someone she thought well of. If only I knew who she was to make me feel like this.
I eyed up the woman curiously, who looked nostalgically familiar too. Her dark hair was short and curly, reaching no further than her chin. The eyes that gazed benevolently into mine were coloured a dark brown similar to her hair. I knew these features from somewhere, they were strikingly parallel to a face I couldn't picture and that bothered me.
"Why do you look so familar?" I asked.
She chuckled, "Take a look around and you'll recognize me."
I turned my head side to side, squinting as I inspect the walls surrounding me. The unknown woman just laughs, this time louder and with a hint of amusement in her voice, "Not here, my child. You'll have to wait, but you'll recognize me eventually. It's unfortunate we'll never get to meet in person."
Her voice trailed off as she said the last part and I can sense the sadness in her. I felt it all around me, seeping into my own skin and inspiring anguish from within. I wanted to meet her, I wanted to know who she was, I wanted her in my life. She had such a nurturing presence, so similar to my own mother's.
I took in a sharp breath as the world around me started to fade. I didn't want to go yet, I wanted to stay with her. She recognized the feeling of panic with one look at my face and began to comfort me, "It's okay, you may not be able to see me but I will always be around."
"Before I go, I want to know your name."
"You can call me Rose,"
When I opened my eyes, I realized I was no longer in the bathroom but in my bed once again. "Rose," I whispered quietly, looking around. I knew it was ridiculous, but I sort of expected to see her in there. Or I had hoped too, at least. 'I will always be around,' her voice echoed in my head. She meant in spirit. The woman had explicitly told me we would never meet, but I wanted so bad to see her.
Once I focussed my eyes, I saw all three of my friends standing around the room watching me. They seemed as if they had questions, but were waiting for me to adjust, which I definitely needed the time to do.
I hadn't noticed until now, but I felt weak and tired, a common side effect with my visions, especially when they were voluntary. I took a few deep breaths, calming my racing heart. When I finally felt well enough to begin talking, I told them what I knew.
There was just one thing I couldn't get off of my mind: who was Rose and why did I see her?