I opened my eye to the room I had become somewhat familiar with.
"Ah, my head". I couldn't help but mutter when I felt the throbbing pain in my head.
Then it dawn on me that I was in my room which I didn't remember ever going into, the last thing I could remember was speaking with that man so why was I lying in a bed? Unexpectedly I heard a knock on the door.
"Excuse me, Miss, are you up already?, can I come in?".
I heard Natalia's voice from behind the door, I was still confused but perhaps she may have known what happened to me.
"Come in". I said in a rather hoarse voice.
She came in carrying a tray of food as she walked in my direction with a cheerful smile.
"Good morning Miss, I came to give you your meal".
"What happened...why am I here". I asked when I couldn't hold back my curiosity any longer.
"Oh no Miss, you don't remember what happened? well last night you passed out in Mister Chester's office ".She relayed while gazing at me with concern.
There was silence between us for a while as I struggled to assemble my thoughts.
I was perfectly fine when I had gone to the office, so why would I lose consciousness out of the blue? I know this body isn't weak. I was suddenly brought out of my thoughts by Natalia's voice.
"Miss you need to eat your meal now it's getting cold".
"Natalia I need to speak with Mr. Chester now". I started with urgency.
"He's currently not around now Miss, he left the estate for a business trip and won't be back until next week.....so you should eat now Miss".
I glanced at the meal and in all honesty, I didn't have the appetite for it as my thoughts were occupied with questions.
" Please just have a bite, I'm sure you'd like it".
"I'm not exactly hungry now Natalia perhaps you could bring it later".
"On please Miss, I can't do that, we were given strict orders by Mister Chester to ensure that you are well taken care of and ate properly, so please Miss even though you may not have the appetite please do it for us".
As I gazed at her I could see her distress, I didn't understand why he would give such instructions. No matter the angle I looked at it I couldn't see the rationale behind his words.
He said he wouldn't care if I had died that night, so why was he giving so much attention? The only conclusion that could come to my mind was there might be the slightest chance that he may have known me or my family.
Without any strength to protest any longer, I ate a few spoons of the meal as she watched me in silence.
"Please take it away, Natalia".I said when I had eaten to my capacity.
...
"Look over here Miss, wow it's so beautiful".
I glanced at Natalia and then at her hand which was pointing at a flower. I noted how happy she was in our new vicinity.
l had been in my room throughout the morning but Natalia convinced me to look around the estate with her, I could still vividly remember her words when she saw me sitting silently with my knee raised on the bed.
" Miss you shouldn't stay in your room all day, today is a very beautiful day so let's explore the estate".
l wanted to decline her offer on exploring the estate but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Natalia had been my aid ever since I entered the estate, even when some of the maids looked at me with hostility, Natalia was always different, she treated me well maybe too well, always assisting me with a smiling face, perhaps we got so along because we looked like we were of the same age.
"Hmm, it's nice". I expressed in response to her while trying to sum up all the enthusiasm I could.
"Wow Miss thank you soo much, I've never had the chance to explore the estate because I always worked at the mansion, I've always wished I could look around it and you've made that wish come true ". Natalia relayed as she suddenly took my hands in her hands in the back golf cart where we sat.
We explored the estate for a while longer until we realized it was almost afternoon.
"We must go back to the mansion now Miss".
"Alright ". I said as she instructed the chauffeur to turn the golf cart.
.....
It was raining heavily it looked like I was outside and I could hear voices but I couldn't identify the owners because their faces were blurred. I didn't understand what was happening but I knew what I was feeling and it was fear.
Suddenly the scenery changed, I was surrounded by darkness, and the apprehension I felt before was gone and was replaced with a burning need to possess something I couldn't understand.
I walked in the darkness, I felt someone or something summoning me, I was so drawn to it that didn't know if I was searching for a way out or the medium.
My need to possess it grew by the second as I could discern it compelling me to command it, that it was mine.
Then I saw a light or was it a door and ran as fast as I could towards it, but no matter how fast I ran, I could never see the end of it. At that point, I could only see the light from the door because everything in me believed that outside it was what I was looking for and whatever it was kept calling me to dominate it and I felt equal desire to do so.
Suddenly I gasped as I woke up from the dream, my breaths were rushed and I was drenched in my sweat, I tried steadying my breath and pounding heart.
When I felt I had gained more control over myself I swiftly pulled the sheets and stepped on the cold floor. I walked towards the door leading to the balcony and opened it to let in the fresh cool breeze.
....
"Miss how was your....." Natalia inquired when she walked into the room but stopped in her words when she noticed me sitting on the bed with my legs on the ground while looking out the window which I had opened at some point the previous night.
When I gazed at her I didn't exactly know how to answer her questions. how was I supposed to explain to her something I didn't understand myself?
"Miss are you okay? you look pale". She said whilst walking towards me. She quickly placed her hand on my head when she had gotten a close distance from me.
"I'm going to get a doctor". She relayed as she tried to get to the door.
I had just gotten out of a hospital and wasn't ready to go back into one soon, so I tried to calm her.
"Wait,..... don't go, I'm fine".I said as I pulled her hand bringing her towards me and held her cheek while looking into her eye." I'm fine Natalia so you don't have to worry".
I saw from her face that she had become flushed by my gestures, nonetheless, she still protested in a shy modulation." But Miss, you're running a temperature ".
"It's nothing, now what have you got for me today". I voiced trying to move her mind away from the matter.
"It's....vegetarian chili".
"That sounds lovely ".I voiced with a faint smile.