I woke up sore everywhere, ears ringing, Annette sprawled next to me half naked, and my body drenched in sweat. I immediately assumed the worst and jumped out of the bed, quickly yet quietly.
Despite my efforts to be discreet, the floor tiles betrayed me, 'creak.'
'Fuck!' The sound was loud, but just enough to awaken Annette from her slumber. Earlier, my mind was occupied with getting out and finding answers, but now the situation called for something different.
Slowly Annette awoke, and slowly I took my time to survey the room. There were windows everywhere but no light penetrating through them, despite that, there was no darkness in the room.
"Rome, your awake...." Annette called out groggily.
Pushing out her voice, I continued my surveillance. In the corner of the room, was a large table with a mirror mounted on it. Along side the mirror was a notebook with illegible words. Beside the bed i woke up from, was a cupboard that encompassed the whole wall with one of its doors slightly open. inside, were women's clothes, dresses, shoes and other fun little things that pointed it to being a female's room.
"Rome! Are you listening to me. Let's talk," Annette said, clearly agitated from being ignored.
"What happened here Annette?!" I said trying to keep my voice levelled with a hint of agitation peaking through.
As she opened her mouth to answer, the door handle began rattling. Immediately, my head swung in a semi circle to face the door and question began running through my mind.
'Who could that be? Are we not in Annette's house? What could happen when that door opens?' As I was rambling on in my mind, the door swung open in a slow but elegant stride.
I don't know what I was expecting, but only beauty lay at the open door. Despite her appalling older age, the air of tranquility and enticement that she carried quickly changed my views.
She wore a long black robe that left no spot on her body visil. Her face emanated a seasoned veteran with a certain spice to her life.
"You can ask me any questions that you have," the woman spoke. A sense of authority but serene calmness mixed within.
I glanced at Annette, who was clearly tongue-tied y the situation playing out in front of her, then glanced back at the lady at the door. That was when I realised, I was fully naked.
x x x x
"Mmm, this tea is amazing Ms. Lee," I said not sure if my statement can fully encompass its smooth, soothing and slightly bitter taste. Just how i like it.
"Really, I'm glad," Ms. Lee said with a smile dawned on her lips.
Earlier, i was excused and given clothes to wear. They didn't have men's clothes, but i made due. I tried multiple times to peak out the windows or simply, try to leave, but all my effort were futile.
Eventually, I caved in and got to tiding myself up. Upon self-inspection, i noted that all expected injuries were missing. A 25 foot fall, no one could have survived that, let alone get injured. 'So how?' I thought to myself.
Pushing my concerns for later, I finally left the room and was greeted by a wide and long hallway. All along its walls were scratches, scribbles and markings, all illegible, but i paid no mind. The end of the hallway opened up to a greenery. At it's dead centre, was a table where Ms. Lee and Annette sat.
Apparently, the greenery was all tea leaves that Ms. Lee had planted and catered for.
After brief introductions, i came to learn that the place belonged to Ms. Lee and that it was under the Church of Dreams and Fantasies. I was never really a believer so i didn't bother with that information but, Ms. Lee did explain though how i got there.