Dedicated to SecretKeeperMD, thank you for supporting me since the very, very beginning! You go, girl!
On first instinct, my head snaps back violently, and I let out a guttural scream. Electric currents are flowing through my body, tingling nerve ends, making my blood boil, my skin crawl. The pain seems to last forever as my eyes are squeezed shut. Then, finally, the pain starts to subside, and I open my eyes slightly, my eyes taking in the night sky above me as if it were the first time, my breath coming out in loud pants.
All energy I had left drains out of my body and I collapse against the Watch-keeper, who was supporting me so I didn't do a belly flop onto the ground. He releases my arms from his steady grip, but doesn't let me go, which I savor.
Then it dawns on me who he is, and what he supports. Wariness complements my movements and I pull away from him roughly, ignoring the disequilibrium that surfaces when I don't have anything to cling to anymore. My desperate attempt has little to no success. Promptly, the world tilts, and I sink to the ground, feel myself falling. Thereupon, I am caught and scooped up by two sturdy arms, bridal style.
It's him. The same Watch-keeper.
I look up at his helm, and see a replica of my face in it, as he watches me from behind the darkened glass. I see the exhaust taking over my features, and eventually I close my eyes, giving up the fight.
For now.
*
I open my eyes to a ceiling that's higher than my own. I turn my head left and right, panic rising in my chest, as I don't recognize my surroundings.
White, white, white. Everything's white.
And it's completely silent in here. That's not how I wake up at home, with two young siblings.
I sit up, throwing the bedspread off of me as if it has a contagious disease. I leap out of the foreign bed, almost knocking over the standing lamp next to it.
What happened? Where am I?
It hits me like a bullet to my chest. I abruptly remember the Watch-keepers, the confrontation and the electric shock I received.
This must be a hospital, then.
I was taken here after I got shot, to rest.
That must be it.
Right?
I make a 180, surveying the room. And that's when I notice the mirror. It's huge, taking up almost an entire wall. I don't know how I could've missed it before. I narrow my eyes at it suspiciously. Why would there be a huge mirror in a hospital room? I take a look at the interior again.
One single bed, one standing lamp, a bedside table, and the enormous, unfitting, rectangular mirror.
I tilt my head to the right, looking in the mirror questionably. Something isn't right about this.
Then reality stuns me. The anxiety that was merely lurking before is now consuming me as a whole. I pad over to the door on my bare feet, angst building up inside me with every step I take.
I grab hold of the cold brass handle to the door, turn it, and pull, but nothing happens. I turn the knob again and push, instead.
The door doesn't budge.
Trepidation comprises me. I tug at the door until my hands feel sore, desperately willing it to open, but nothing happens.
Reality comes crashing down.
I'm locked in.
I suddenly understand why a huge mirror is plastered against the same wall the door is placed in.
It's not a mirror. It's a window. At least, it's a window for the people on the other side. On my side, I perceive my reflection; on the opposite side they're watching me as well.
A million things cross my mind at once, while my claustrophobia sinks its teeth into me and refuses to let go.
How will I get out? When will I get out? Will I get out?
I bury my hands in my hair, as the room begins to spin around me.
Where am I? What do they want from me?
I tug at the long tresses hysterically, backing away from that side of the room. I bump into the bed, but barely notice it.
Savage thoughts embrace my mind, rationalizing violence and deceit, everything and anything so I can get out.
I am going mental, that's the first thing I can take for a fact.
My eyes waver over the room, my eye vision blurry with despair. All of a sudden, I see the standing lamp and an idea strikes me like a match.
I stalk over to it, courage slowly employing me. I grab ahold of it, adrenaline pumping through my veins. When I lift it, its cable is ripped from the socket, and snakes across the tiled floor while I clasp the slightly hefty lamp in my hands and make my way back to the two-way mirror. I'm single-minded, determined, and raise the lamp higher, preparing to strike.
I plant my feet firmly on the ground, and am about to swing with all my might when the door bursts open.
"Inmate, what do you think you're doing?"
Out of surprise, I awkwardly jump in the air and drop the lamp. It crashes to the floor, making both the Watch-keeper and myself wince. My eyes swivel nervously from the broken lamp to the new presence that fills the room. As always, the Watch-keeper, whoever it may be, is wearing a helm. At the moment, it's bothering me more than usual. I am being watched, spied on, and observed, feeling more exposed than ever before, and everyone else has a protective barrier around his or her head.
And so, out of all the things there are to say, all of the questions running through my mind, I state:
"You look ridiculous in that helm."
From his stance, I can tell the Watch-keeper is taken aback. On spur of moment, I wonder if it's the same Watch-keeper from before, the one that carried me. I examine his build, trying to compare it to the memory I have of him, but I can't really tell.
"What?" he stammers.
"You heard me. It's just kind of weird that you're wearing a helmet inside. I mean, I understand that you wear one when you scan the houses, but inside? If you ask me, that overdoes it a tad bit," I ramble.
When I take in the way the Watch-keeper slightly tilts his head out of confusion, I want to crawl into a corner and disappear forever because of my awkwardness.
But then, an unexpected thing happens; a loud, comical laugh echoes throughout the room, the sonance encircling me.
As soon as it stops, I want to hear it again.
I stand there, baffled, with a slight grin tugging at the corners of my mouth, when he says: "You're absolutely right. Not only does it look absurd, it's also astonishingly hot in here," he claims with a chuckle.
I can't mask the grin now, even if I tried my hardest.
"It's you, isn't it? You're the Watch-keeper from before."
He doesn't reply, but I don't need his confirmation; I recognized his voice.
Somehow, this revelation makes me feel more at ease with the unfamiliar situation I'm in.
He tenses suddenly, turning rigid, as if someone chastised him.
"I should go," he falters, "I'm not allowed to talk to the inmates." He takes a step back, and turns away from me.
"No, wait!" I run up to him and pull his arm, so his head is facing me again. "I—where am I? Why am I here? Why can't I leave? Please—don't walk out on me here," I say, agony captivating my voice. "I want answers. Please ..."
It comes out feeble and unconvincing.
He watches me for what feels like an eternity firstly, before shrugging me off and leaving me on my own. Just before the door slams shut, I can hear him say:
"Don't touch the lamp. Someone will come and clean it up in a minute."
_________________
A/N: Hello lovelies!
So? What do you guys think about these new developments in the story? What do you think will happen to Rune?
Let me know what you think in the comments down below, and/or do me the favor of clicking that 'vote' button!
I love you all for the amount of support I'm already receiving, just a few days after I published the first chapter!
Have a wonderful day!
xx
A