I woke up in my room, the soft light filtering through the curtains. My head throbbed slightly as I carefully sat up. Silas, who had been sitting at the edge of my bed immediately leaned forward to help me.
"How are you feeling?" Silas' voice filled with concern. "Why did you suddenly faint?"
The memory of the woman in the wedding gown flooded back, sending a shiver down my spine. Fear crept into me again but I forced myself to stay calm. I couldn't tell Silas what I had seen. I wasn't even sure if it was real or just a hallucination.
"I'm fine," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. "I just… I don't know. Maybe I was tired or something."
Silas looked unconvinced but didn't press further. "You should rest some more," he advised gently.
"No, I don't want to sleep. I'm afraid I might have nightmares."
Silas's expression softened. He took my hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "You won't have any nightmares tonight, I promise."
Something in his voice, the quiet certainty, made me believe him. Despite my earlier fear, exhaustion weighed heavily on me. I lay back down and Silas stayed by my side. His presence a comforting anchor in the storm of my thoughts. True enough, as the night enveloped me, I fell into a peaceful sleep. Free from the haunting visions of the horror room.
I woke up the next day to find ten missed calls from Yue. I quickly dialed her number, and she picked up almost immediately.
"Aurora! Where have you been? Why did you suddenly leave the school and not answer my calls?" Yue's voice was a mix of worry and frustration.
"I'm sorry," I apologized, trying to sound as normal as possible. "I wasn't feeling well."
Yue seemed to calm down a bit. "Okay, but you should have told me. I was worried sick."
I put her on speaker and headed to the bathroom to wash my face and start my morning routine. As I brushed my teeth, Yue began talking about the booth.
"You won't believe it, Auri! Our booth was a huge success. We raised a significant amount of funds to donate to the charities. Everyone loved it!"
"That's great," I answered, but my mind wandered back to the horror room and the creepy woman I had seen. I needed to know if anyone else had experienced something strange.
"Yue, did you notice anything weird in the horror room yesterday?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"Weird? No, not really. Why?" Yue's tone was puzzled.
"Nothing, just curious," I quickly replied. I don't want to alarm her.
I finished my morning routine, my thoughts still swirling around the mysterious woman. If Yue hadn't noticed anything, maybe it really was just my imagination. But the fear I felt was all too real and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I decided to keep my experience to myself for now, I don't want to scare Yue with what might have been just a hallucination.
I decided to skip school today. I was still processing what had happened yesterday, and I couldn't bear the thought of facing another traumatic experience so soon.
When I opened my bedroom door, I was surprised to see Silas standing guard outside. "Silas, you didn't have to do that. I'm perfectly safe inside our home."
Silas, ever dedicated to his duty as a butler replied, "It's my responsibility to ensure your safety, Aurora."
I sighed but couldn't help smiling. "Thank you. But you can relax a little."
He nodded, though I knew he wouldn't let his guard down. "Your grandfather is having breakfast in the garden," he informed me.
"Thanks." I headed to the garden, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the lush greenery. My grandfather sat at the table, sipping his tea.
"Good morning, papa," I greeted him as I took a seat.
"Good morning, little one." he replied with a hint of concern in his eyes. "How are you feeling?"
I put on my best act, looking a bit downcast. "I'm not feeling too well. I think I need something to cheer me up."
He smiled knowingly. "I suppose a little shopping might help?"
My eyes lit up as he handed me his black card. "Thank you, Grandpa! This is exactly what I needed."
He chuckled. "Go enjoy yourself, Aurora. Just don't buy the entire mall."
I laughed. Shopping was the perfect distraction, and it would help me push the eerie memories of the horror room further into the back of my mind, at least for a little while.
Silas accompanied me on my shopping spree. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not. On one hand, he was incredibly efficient, not even breaking a sweat while carrying fifteen shopping bags, some of which were quite heavy with sandals and shoes. On the other hand, we were drawing a lot of attention, especially from women.
It wasn't hard to see why. Silas' strikingly handsome face and his towering 6'6" frame made him impossible to ignore. He moved with a quiet grace, his focus entirely on me, following my every move like a loyal dog.
"Silas, you're attracting quite the crowd," I murmured, feeling a bit self-conscious as we walked through the mall.
He glanced around briefly, then looked back at me, his expression neutral. "I apologize if my presence is causing you discomfort. Should I wait outside?"
"No, it's fine," I said quickly. "I'd rather have you with me. Just… don't look so serious. Try to relax a little."
Silas gave a small nod but didn't seem to change his demeanor much. I couldn't help but smile at his dedication. Despite the attention, I felt safer with him by my side.
I turned around to face Silas. "I'm getting hungry. Where should we eat?"
"Are you craving a particular type of food?" he asked. He seems ready to provide a recommendation.
I thought for a moment and remembered the Japanese cuisine I had enjoyed with Yue last year when we visited Japan. "I'd love some kujira," I said, thinking of the whale meat we had tried.
Kujira, or whale meat is a traditional delicacy in Japan. The meat is typically served in various ways as sashimi, lightly seared with a touch of soy sauce, or in a hot pot with vegetables and tofu. The texture is unique, tender yet slightly chewy, and the flavor is rich and savory. It's a cross between beef and tuna.
Silas shook his head gently. "I'm afraid that delicacy isn't available outside Japan, Miss Aurora. It's quite controversial and only served in traditional Japanese restaurants there."
I sighed. "Okay, then what do you suggest?"
"We could fly to Japan to satisfy your craving. It would take about four hours from here."
I couldn't help but laugh. "No, that's too much trouble just for lunch. Let's keep it local."
"Very well. How about Wolfgang's? A good steak should do," Silas suggested.
"Perfect," I agreed. "A steak will do for now."
We made our way to Wolfgang's, Silas still carrying the shopping bags effortlessly.