Back in the hot kitchen, the temperature kept on rising, as the harsh scolding contributed to the high temperature.
"I don't know if you are dumb or it's just your stupidly acting up, how could you beat up a guest, not once but you slapped her continuously, " The head chef ken said His voice loud enough to know that he was angry.
Erin stood, utterly stuped, self regret, blame. None of these were visible in her composure, her eyes held on response to the questions thrown at her.
"Do you know the implications of your doings? Not only have you placed yourself in a tight corner, but have also jeopardized the haka events, the media was there!." tossing the net from his hair, he breathes out the words.
Still she said nothing, staring blankly at him. Her lashes heaved up and down.
The quietness indicating the response for her was driving the man amidst even more. The kitchen was still as water, the concentrated air sugerd, directing to her.
"Can't you say anything!" he yelled out, which made the rest of the staff wary.
Her soft voice, built-in calmness, "What do you want me to say, that am sorry, and that I know the gravity of my actions."
Frustrated to the core, he fled up, "Yes Erin, yes, if you had admitted your mistake back there, maybe the slightest hope of her forgiving would be there.
"I do admit my mistake of not teaching the bitch a hard, well-deserved lesson. I was being considerate. "
When the word admit flowed from her, relief broke out in the kitchen, hopefully that she had finally dropped her pride. But as the rest fell from her lips, then it was a lost task.
He raked his gloved hands through his hair. "Talk to her, Caris. Get the words through her." Giving up, he left the kitchen, stepping aside to only see Marin and Arya coming. He sight out, shaking his head.
"What took you so long?" Erin whispered, as both of them drew near her.
"Nothing" came a blend word for Marin, dismissing the idea that something went wrong along the line.
Finding another way, Caris said, "Why don't you take a few days off, at least to allow the matter to die down, am sure the news is all over social media. You too, Arya. " He added.
"Ok." she agreed smoothly, causing the man to worry about her.
Taking the step to continue her job, the hand was raised to stop her.
"Now Erin, your beak starts now, I am sure Marin and I, along with the rest of the staff, can handle the cooking without you. "
The staff slowly nod their head in agreement, including Marin as they resumed their pro their tasks, watching them leave.
Catching a cab home, they departed, far away from the fates of Vincent's, who was still there in the corridor smoking his time away.
Both girls retired to the bedroom, possibly tired, while waiting for the storm heading their way.
Facing the ceiling with her eyes closed as her long lashes dusted on her face, the delicate breaths evaded her lips. The thick blanket shedding her from the cold breeze passing through the thin lid of the windows.
There Arya was back in the lonely corridors, her pale night gown swept the frostiness of the ground. Her bare feet peddled away, back to the scene.
But instead of the music which should be reaching the corridors, it was quiet, apart from the continuous current ruffling her hair and the whispers of hushed voices in the air.
The difference was visually clear, her sight was restored back in an instance, she immediately shielded the bright light from entering her brown eyes, because she was not prepared.
She saw a young man, and a girl seated on the floor, deep in their conversation that they failed to notice her presence or could notice her presence.
Getting a better view, she found the girl turning her head to look at her, but to her surprise the girl jerked her head back to reply the question of the men.
She was forced to recognize the girl as herself not too long ago, maybe two years ago because of the cane in the girl's hand that had a blue tip, and the head curved in a love shape. The can was a present from a friend.
Her brain could remember collectively that she had no cane when she followed Marin to the gala hall, which meant that this person could not have been her present self.
She was definitely sure that she had not crossed paths with the stranger before now. Surely she would have remembered sitting with a man with strong personality.
Confronting the puzzled question, she walked to the pair. The girl merely smiled at her.
"You're finally here." She spoke, breaking the gaze from the man, who still did not turn to look at her.
And the way she spoke, it seemed like she was waiting for her to show up.
"Who are you? " She said her question was answered. This was not her.
The girl kept on smiling at her, "I am you. Your future represents your past."
She was shocked, was her thoughts now readable, "You can read my thoughts. "
She smiley shook her head, and still the damn person did not look at her, he was just mute, could he not see? Taking a turn on the person. She held his shoulder to have him face her.
She was taken a gasp back, not sure why the face was a mirror reflecting her face, she insensitively withdrew her hands, taking a step back.
The girl appeared not to be surprised at her reaction, which was normal. "I am you and you are me. Sliding images can't part." her voice hypnotizing, not bothering about the face.
Crack upon more cracks from on the mirror face, light coming out from the breaks. She took in a sharp intake of breath as the mirror shattered in pieces; the particles gushed out, some flying in her eyes, making her yell in pain, the pain cutting through her soul.
Consciousness returned to her body, covered in sweat which tickled down her gown, turning it wet.
Her breaths were uneven, as her brown eyes were wide open to resume the darkness in them. Her hands shot up to her eyes. That we're wet. Tears rolled down.
'why was she crying? ' the voice in her head said.