NALA POV
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, running through the day in my head, the tension at the dinner, that masked rider, and the questions that just wouldn't leave me alone. I was exhausted, but my brain wouldn't switch off.
Why was the masked rider even helping us? What did he want? He said he'd give me answers tomorrow, but that didn't feel like enough. He seemed so calm and in control, but maybe that was all just for show. What if he had some hidden agenda?
I tossed the covers off, too restless to just lie there. My body was begging to crash, but all I could think about was the rider. He had swooped in and saved us, but something still didn't feel right. Why was I so conflicted? I knew I'd have to wait until tomorrow to figure it all out.
The waiting was driving me nuts. I kept staring out the window, praying for sleep, but it wasn't happening. The sounds of the night made the silence feel heavier. Would tomorrow help me make sense of all this, or would it just confirm my worst fears about him?
My mind was racing, trying to figure out what he was after. I had no idea who was really on my side, was he a friend or an enemy? All I could do was wait, and that was pushing me to the edge, each heartbeat making my anxiety grow.
I eventually fell asleep for a bit but kept waking up, still loaded with questions. I felt like something big was about to go down, something that would change everything. Tomorrow was going to reveal the truth I desperately wanted to uncover.
When I finally woke up, someone was softly calling my name, like a distant whisper breaking through my dreams. As I opened my eyes, the sunlight warmed my eyelids, pushing me to wake up completely. I blinked a few times, trying to adjust, and then saw Daniel standing next to my bed. He looked all lit up by the sunlight streaming into the room.
"Oh, Daniel, it's you," I said, my voice sounding thick and sleepy. It took a second to get my bearings and figure out what was happening. I tried to sit up, but I was still too out of it to move quickly.
"Good morning, sister," he said with a cheerful smile, his voice warm like the sunshine.
"Good morning," I replied, rubbing my eyes to shake off the lingering sleepiness. My mind felt sluggish, and I stumbled to make sense of it all. "I thought you were already awake."
Daniel's gaze softened as he stepped closer, concern in his eyes. "I just came back to check on you," he said quietly. "But you were still asleep when I walked by."
I blinked a few times, trying to fully wake up. My room was calm and serene, but something in my head was telling me it was time to get moving. When I glanced out the window, I noticed the sunlight pouring in way brighter than I expected, almost as if the day had taken off without me.
"What time is it?" I asked, still groggy as I tried to make sense of everything.
Daniel tilted his head slightly, a relaxed smile on his face. "It's almost noon," he said casually like it was just a normal thing to mention.
I froze. Those words hit me like a ton of bricks. "What?" My heart raced, and the sleepy fog lifted all at once, replaced with panic. "Noon? I've been asleep this long?" The fact that the morning had barely started in my mind while the day was slipping away hit me hard.
I jumped out of bed, still feeling heavy with sleep, and raced to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I got dressed as fast as I could, my thoughts spinning. I couldn't shake the Mask Rider's words from yesterday, how he promised to answer my questions.
Where was he now?
Dressed and ready, I hurried to find Daniel, but before I could even ask him, I blurted out, "Have you seen the Mask Rider, the guy who saved us?"
He shook his head, looking a bit confused. "No, I haven't seen him. Why?"
"Oh… okay." I tried to sound calm, but the disappointment was creeping in. The Mask Rider said he'd give me answers. How could he just vanish like that?
I turned from Daniel, feeling the weight of his silence. My heart felt heavy, and the conversation left a weird ache in my chest. I hurried down the hallway, the cold stone floor echoing my quick steps. As I made my way through the grand hall, my eyes darted around, hoping to find someone who might have seen him.
I spotted a maid coming my way, arms full of linens, and stopped her. "Excuse me," I said, trying to keep my voice normal even though urgency slipped into it. "Have you seen the Mask Rider?"
She looked up at me, confusion on her face. She furrowed her brow like she was trying to remember anyone with that name. "Who?" she asked, sounding unsure.
"The guy with the mask on his face," I said quickly, my nerves starting to show. "The one who saved us yesterday."
She just stared blankly, shaking her head slowly. "I haven't seen him."
Frustration bubbled up inside me, but I forced a smile to hide it. "Thanks," I said, cutting her off before she could say more. I moved on, looking for anyone who might have a clue about where he had gone.
I kept walking down the hallway, my footsteps getting more erratic with every step. The urgency was overwhelming; I couldn't stand the thought of being left with more questions. At the end of the corridor, a guard was stationed by the door, standing straight and alert. I approached him directly, my voice firm as I asked again.
"Have you seen the Mask Rider?"
He looked at me, his expression unreadable, and then shook his head. "No, princess. He's not around."
Disappointment washed over me, but it was quickly replaced by confusion. Where could he be? He had said he would give me the answers I needed, answers about why he had saved us, not just once but twice.
I paused for a moment, the cold stone walls feeling like they were closing in on me, and the weight of my unanswered questions pressed down hard. I thought today would be the day everything made sense. I thought I'd have some clarity by now. But instead, I was left standing in a silent hallway, full of uncertainty.
My heart was racing, and I clenched my fists at my sides. Where had the Mask Rider gone? Why didn't he keep his promise? What was he hiding?
The tight knot in my stomach wouldn't go away, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was seriously off. Something I just didn't get.
It was getting pretty late, and the masked rider still hadn't come back, which made me feel uneasy. I rushed down the long, brightly lit hallway, my footsteps echoing on the stone floors as my heart raced. I reached Daniel's room and knocked quickly, not even waiting for an answer before I went in. He looked up from where he was sitting by the window, a big leather-bound book in front of him. But when he saw the panic on my face, his calm demeanor changed to worry.
"Daniel," I said, trying to catch my breath and shutting the door behind me. "I'm confused. Yesterday the masked rider who helped us kept asking him why he did it. He promised he'd explain today, but now… now he's missing." I ran a hand through my hair, glancing back at the door like I expected him to walk in any second. "What if he's gone to get other guys who will betray us, who will kill us?"
That nagging uncertainty had me on edge, and the weight of fear felt heavy in my chest. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched or hunted. I turned to Daniel, my voice shaking. "Why don't we just leave? We could get out of here before he comes back. Before it's too late."
Daniel stood up from his chair and walked over to me calmly. He was my rock, but right now, his reassurance felt far away. "Nala," he said softly yet firmly, "I don't think we should run. We don't know enough to judge him. He's saved us twice, and I believe he's a good guy. He might've just gone for a walk or something. Let's not jump to conclusions just yet."
I bit my lip, torn between his comforting words and my lingering fear. The masked rider was still a mystery, and I couldn't shake the nagging doubt in my mind.
"But what if you're wrong, Daniel?" I asked, my voice getting louder with worry. "What if he's just pretending to be a hero, trying to trick us into feeling safe? What if he's gone to get the real bad guy who'll finish what he started?"
Daniel stepped closer, urgency in his voice and doubt in his eyes. "You're right, Nala. We should probably leave now before he shows up. We can't hang around any longer."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, but I knew we had to get out of here. The air felt thick with tension. I quickly nodded, pushing my fear aside as I moved toward the door. We needed to escape whatever danger was waiting for us. Without thinking twice, we dashed through the maze-like halls of the castle, our footsteps light against the stone floors. The cool night air was refreshing on my overheated skin as we finally reached the entrance.
Just as we were about to step outside, the heavy door creaked open, and a few guards walked in, blocking our way. Their armor glinted in the dim light, and their serious faces made it obvious they weren't here for a friendly chat.
"Where do you think you're going, princess?" one of the guards asked, his voice steady and authoritative.
I hesitated for a moment, trying to keep it together. "We… just wanted to take a stroll," I said, forcing my voice to sound calm, even though my heart was racing. "It's way too quiet in the castle, and we just need some fresh air. We won't be gone long."
The guard scrutinized us for a second, clearly not buying my story. Another guard, taller and with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward, his eyes cold.
"You can't leave. You've got orders to stay put," he said firmly. "It's too dangerous out there, especially at this hour."
I felt a knot form in my throat. The pressure of their authority was overwhelming, and I could see the same uncertainty reflected in Daniel's eyes. The situation was slipping out of our hands, and our chances of escaping were fading fast.
"But why?" Daniel asked, his voice getting a bit sharper. "What's happening? We're not a threat."
The guards exchanged looks, but the scarred one stood his ground. "No one's allowed to leave. It's for your safety. Just head back to your quarters."
I glanced at Daniel, my heart dropping. The freedom I'd hoped for seemed tantalizingly close but totally out of reach. With no other choice, we slowly turned back down the hallway, the guards keeping a close watch on us.