Ariadne screamed to life, her mother was beside her and her dad,the man she has not set her eyes on in years. She looked into her mother's teary eyes and her father's confused ones and she could see a hint of relief in them.
"Where am I?".She asked absentmindedly.
"Don't speak, we need to call the doctor".her mother said as she left the ward.
"You've been in coma for three days, the doctors tried to revive you all to no avail".her dad said.
'so all these while I've been dreaming not knowing that I'm actually in coma,what if I spend a whole day in the castle then I'll be unconscious for the whole year. I'm scared right now 'Ariadne thought.
"I'm fine, we can go home now "Ariadne said.
"I know but we have to do the necessary things".her dad said.
"Dad my mates would have been in the castle by now while I'm being confined to this fucking hospital bed".
Malcolm was relieved that at least she recognized him enough to call him dad but he was surprised that she would say such a naughty statement, he swallowed in order not to lash out at her. He doesn't want to cause more havoc than the one already on ground. he waited patiently for his wife and the doctor. 30 seconds later he grunted he hated silence even when he's with his daughter he last saw eight years ago.
"How is college?".he asked not expecting a response.
"So you can ask?I thought you forgot about me, who told you I'm in college?".Ariadne replied rudely. At first, he was embarrassed but he gathered up an excuse before she could continue.
"It's all about work".He paused."I work for money, I work for your future".
"Damn it,my future my foot!Don't tell me you work for my future, my future is already planned out and you are not on the list. not anymore. she said coldly. "I thought mom said she's going to get the doctor,she should be here by now".she said lifting her body up.
Malcolm stood up and left the ward,she didn't care that he was her father. the words she spoke to him hurts badly he couldn't ignore her.Who would ignore his own child.
'She thinks she's feisty and confident'.Malcolm scoffed and walked briskly to the doctor's office to sign the papers. Hours later they got out of hospital.
* * * * * *
"Mom,can you hear what the doctor said".Ariadne blurted out.
"I heard ,what about it?".
"Mom,I have to be in school".
"The go ahead".Natalie said sarcastically.
Ariadne knew it was all sarcasm but she be in school and the darn doctor said she has to stay at home for a week. 'who does that?'.Jackie her dog bounced on her lap and begged for her attention. Ariadne stroked his fur, stood up and went inside. She suddenly felt hungry.Her dad was probably in his hotel or his house down the lane. she thought of what happened at the hospital, she knew she was annoyed but who wouldn't be. He promised he's gonna come check up on her every summer break but he never fulfilled his promise.
Ariadne took her phone and dialed her best friend's number, it took a while for it to be recieved.
"Adne,where are you?".Her best friend, Hilary asked.
"I'm fine".
"I know, where are you?".
"At home, why?".
"I'm coming".
"Wait, you can't...". Hilary hung up the phone, what happened again. It had been rumored that Hilary and her twin brother, Horace was taken from the castle by the adopted parents. Ariadne continued thinking, smiling at good memories while sighing at bad memories.
"Adne".there was a knock on the door and it had jerked her back to life, she knew it was no other person than Hilary.
"Come in".Ariadne said lazily.
"The door is locked".Hilary banged the door again. Adne stood up, opened the door and welcomed Hilary
'How was the castle?was it really haunted?'...Ariadne was still thinking about the question when Hilary started crying in front of her dressing mirror. Ariadne was alarmed.
"Hilary?"
"Pamela, Herbert, Nick and 24 others are dead".
"What?What happened?".Nick had been Hilary's boyfriend since fifth grade, Herbert was Pamela's new boyfriend or rather a sex buddy and Pamela was their third friend.
"They went to the castle and never returned".Hilary broke into tears again.
"Why didn't you go?Who survived it?".
"My parents didn't want I and Horace to go so we stayed back at school while others left and a teacher came back and said. They are all dead".
"This can't be true...No!No!!No!!!".It was Ariadne's turn to burst into tears. No one consoled one another, they wept themselves out.
A YEAR LATER.
Ariadne got to school,parked her car beside a new car,the car was odd,she's never seen it,she was surprised when a hot guy alighted from the car.His eyes were hazel, he was putting on a blue polo shirt and a black jeans with navy blue sneakers to match, he looked around until his gaze settled on her. She was one of the numerous drooling on him. He was the first guy she'd ever drool on. He looks familiar but she can't remember where she ran into him.
"Hey pretty".The stranger said as he walked up to her.
"Hey".She answered quickly.
"I'm Terence"He checked her out before continuing. "I'm new here or are we both new year?".
"No".She was running late for History.
"Then you can show me around".He said with slight arrogance no matter how he hid it she could tell he was from a noble birthplace.
"How about we do this later?".she said and skidded off, she wasn't ready to be anyone tour guide. After class ,she saw him flirting with different girls. he's quite popular among the girls. Hilary got a new play toy for her sexual life and she got very close to Horace.