Ivy felt drawn to the stone. She felt eager to see exactly what it was and at the same time, wanted to retrace her steps. The closer she got the grave stone, the more eager she felt.
The sun was about to set, clearly stating she had been in the maze all day and hadn't eaten. Halfway to the grave stone, she felt her stomach grumble. She placed a hand on her stomach and remembered she hadn't eaten because of fear.
"I must be damned to have not eaten." She cursed herself.
Damian just arrived. He arrived rather earlier than normal. Nanny Feng welcomed him with May by her side.
"Welcome back. Is there an emergency?" Nanny Feng asked concerned.
"No. I just felt an uneasy feeling and decided to come back." Damian said and walked in while they trailed after him.
"That's good to hear. It's nice to have you home early once or twice." Nanny Feng said with delight written on her face.
"Thanks." He said without concern. His attention was rather absent searching for Ivy. "Where's the girl?" He asked.
"Now that you mention it, I don't really know. I haven't seen her all day." Nanny Feng said earnestly not wanting to mention it.
"Maybe she's run away." May suggested.
"How can she run away under our noses? Besides, there's no way she can run until she's paid her debt." Damian said confidently.
"I'll check her room then." May said and left them with the stick in her hand.
(By the way, May always carried along what looked like a stick. Everywhere she went, the stick was always with her and she had the habit of accompanying Nanny Feng everywhere just fir protective reasons.)
May checked Ivy's room but didn't see her. She went to the balcony but she wasn't there. There she stood and surveyed the area for any sign of her. She spotted Clover, Layla and Anisa going towards the maze bushes and then it dawned o her that something was off between them.
"Did you see her?" Nanny Feng asked.
"No, but I did see something." She said.
"What?" Damian asked with his legs crossed on his chair, his elbow resting on the arm of his chair and his chin resting on his knuckles.
"It seems to me that the girl has gone to the maze." May reported and Damian's eyes went wild with rage. He quickly got on his feet and marched out without saying a word.
"How did you come across that?" Nanny Feng asked confused.
"I saw Clover, Anisa and Layla going towards the maze bushes in a hurry. My guess must be correct." May defended herself.
"Flora's grave stone's there. Damian hasn't gone into the maze since she died and I'm not sure she's going to be comfortable with the sight." Nanny Feng pointed out.
"Let's hope he doesn't miss his way." May said.
"He can never miss his way in the maze as long as the grave stone's there. It's like he has the sensors in his head." Nanny Feng stated.
"Let's hope so."
Ivy held onto her stomach tightly. She stopped walking because she felt a cramp in her stomach. She tired to move but couldn't. It caused her pain.
"I can't... " She fell on the floor. She felt dizzy and tired. "I hope someone finds me." She closed her eyes slowly.
'Flora!' someone called.
'What?' she answered.
'I love you.' he confessed and she blinked repeatedly not really convinced.
'Do you really mean it or you're just bluffing again?' she folded her arms.
'I mean every word.' he said.
'Then let's finalize it then.' she agreed.
'From partner to lover.' he stated.
'Don't think I'll go easy on you.' she chuckled.
Ivy struggled to open her eyes like they wouldn't open but she eventually opened them and saw herself on her bed. Her eyes wandered round the room and caught sight of Damian.
She quickly sat up but then fell back on the bed. There was a needle fixed to her veins connecting to a tube. Her eyes traced the tube to the almost exhausted liquid in a transparent bag. It was an IV drip.
"What happened?" She asked bit quite recalling what happened after she passed out.
"Why are you so foolish? Why would you go into a maze and you have no direction of the way in or out?" Damian asked furiously.
"I... I... "
"You passed out. The doctor said it's due to hunger." He said and stood up. "You might've starved yourself purposely to gain my pity or you're just too foolish to understand things." He accused.
"I didn't know. Why do you have to be so cruel to me? It's not my fault you have a maze in your garden." She spat out angrily.