Emilia
"Are you feeling any sort of pain?" Dr. Jones, the Grey family's physician, asked as she examined me. She had stopped by the house this morning at Mrs. Grey's request to check on my well-being.
I was reclined in a chair in an unfamiliar room filled with medical equipment. The space could easily be mistaken for a small clinic. I shook my head in response to her question, my eyes wandering around the sterile environment.
Dr. Jones nodded, her kind eyes studying me carefully. "What about rest? Are you having any trouble sleeping?" She leaned in, checking my pupils - first the left eye, then the right. After a moment, she pulled away with a slight frown. "You clearly are."
She placed her tools back in her bag before taking out a prescription pad. "Let's try temazepam. It will help you relax and sleep much better." Her pen scratched against the paper as she wrote out the prescription. "It should be taken twice daily."
I nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and unease. "Okay..."
She tore the paper from her pad and handed it to me. "Take care, Emilia," she said with a reassuring smile before walking out the door.
"Thanks, doctor," I replied, forcing a smile as I watched her leave the room.
Once alone, I let out a light sigh and stood up from the chair. I made my way out of the medical room and into the hallway, trying to find my way back to my bedroom. As I strode along the empty corridors, a sudden chill ran down my spine when my eyes landed on a familiar door - one I had come to know all too well during my time here.
Ignoring the unsettling feeling, I looked straight ahead and continued on to my room. Once inside, I shut the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment as I tried to calm my racing thoughts.
Feeling tired and emotionally drained, I threw myself onto the bed, arms outstretched, and stared up at the ceiling. My mind began to drift, pondering my strange new life in this house and all the unanswered questions that came with it.
A sudden knock on the door snapped me out of my reverie. "Come in," I called out, sitting up straight as the door swung open. A man entered, carrying a huge box in his arms.
"This just came in for you, ma'am," he said, his face impassive.
Curiosity piqued, I stood up and walked over to him. "Who is it from?" I asked as he handed the box to me.
"I don't know, I was just asked to deliver it to you," he answered.
I took the box from him, offering a smile. "Thank you." He simply nodded and walked away, leaving me alone with the mysterious package.
Who could have sent this? I wondered, noticing a card attached to the box. I carefully opened it and read the message inside:
This is my way of saying thank you for accepting to accompany me to the event.
_Lucas R.
A grin spread across my face as I read Lucas's name. I was so engrossed in the card that I almost didn't notice when Nina walked in.
"An admirer, huh?" she said, a curious smile playing on her lips. "Who's it from?"
"Lucas," I replied, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice.
"Hmm," Nina murmured, her tone amused and slightly concerned.
I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "We're just friends, Nina," I said, moving to place the large box on the bed and opening it.
My eyes widened as I saw the contents. "It's a dress," I breathed, pulling out an elegant pink gown. Along with it were jewelry, makeup, and shoes - everything one would need for a lavish party.
"Wow!" Nina exclaimed behind me, her voice filled with awe. "That's a lot for just one party."
I held the dress against my body and turned to the mirror. "It's gorgeous," I whispered, admiring how the soft fabric fell against my frame. It was far more elegant than anything I had ever worn before.
Nina's voice broke through my reverie. "So, what's this? Do you like him?"
I shook my head, uncertain. "I don't know. Maybe. He's been nothing but nice and sweet to me." I turned to face her, a question nagging at me. "Do you think he feels sorry for me? I can never tell the difference."
She smiled, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes. "I think he likes you a lot." She paused, glancing at the dress. "And I also think you should be more careful, Emilia."
"What do you mean?" I asked, confusion and a touch of defensiveness coloring my tone.
Nina shook her head, clearly deciding not to push the issue. "Never mind. Mama and I are heading down to the store to get some groceries. I thought you might want to come."
My face lit up at the prospect of leaving the house. "Of course! I'll be down in a minute," I said, smiling broadly. Now that I had received my first paycheck and fleeing was no longer my primary concern, I was allowed to step out of the house once in a while. It felt like a small taste of freedom.
Nina nodded and left the room. I quickly freshened up in the bathroom, tying my hair into a neat bun before hurrying downstairs to the kitchen.
"What took you so long?" Mary snapped as soon as I entered.
"Oh, uh... sorry," I stammered, taken aback by her harsh tone.
"Let's go," she said curtly, and we all started walking outside.
As we stepped out, I noticed a guard leaning against a shopping van. "You two get in," Mary ordered, and Nina and I climbed into the back seat. The guard took the driver's seat while Mary sat in the passenger's seat. As the engine roared to life and we pulled out of the gate, I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face as the wind rushed through my hair. It felt exhilarating to be outside, even for a simple errand.
After about fifteen minutes, we arrived at a sprawling shopping mall. I discreetly pulled out my phone and texted Amber our location, hoping we might be able to meet up. As we entered the mall, Nina's voice cut through my thoughts.
"What exactly can we get here anyway?" she whined, stomping her feet dramatically.
Mary's eyes flashed with irritation. "Keep whining and that's all you'll get," she snapped, glaring at Nina.
I frowned, wondering what had gotten into Mary. She seemed even more on edge than usual.
Nina hissed under her breath and grabbed my hand. "C'mon Emilia, let's go get some ice cream," she said, pulling me away from Mary's sour mood.
We made our way to the ice cream store, laughing and chatting as we explored the mall. It felt nice to act like normal young women for once, even if it was just for a short while.
As we wandered through the mall, licking our ice cream cones and window shopping, I couldn't help but feel a sense of normalcy that had been missing from my life. We giggled and made sarcastic jokes about the overpriced items in the designer stores, playfully trying on ridiculous hats and sunglasses.
After a while, fatigue started to set in. "What now?" I asked, feeling a bit tired.
Nina let out a light sigh. "Let's just help Mama and James with the groceries," she suggested.
We made our way to the grocery section, our earlier levity fading as we remembered our responsibilities. Suddenly, my phone began to ring. I pulled it out, grinning when I saw Amber's name on the screen.
"Em, oh my god, I've been so worried about you," Amber's voice came through, filled with concern and relief.
I smiled, warmth spreading through me at the sound of my friend's voice. "I've missed you too, Am. Did you get my text? Are you here?"
"Yes, I'm at the bakery section," she answered, sounding a bit unsure. "I think it's called Paul Bakery or something."
"Give me a minute," I said, turning to ask Nina for directions. But before I could speak, I felt a large hand press against my stomach. "What the-" I gasped, shock coursing through me. I didn't even have time to look at the person's face or react before they vanished into the crowd.
My heart raced as I spun around, trying to catch a glimpse of whoever had touched me. The bustling mall suddenly felt oppressive, filled with potential threats. I clutched my phone tightly, Amber's worried voice still coming through the speaker.
"Emilia? Emilia, are you there? What happened?"
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "I'm here, Am. I just... I think someone just grabbed me. They're gone now."
Nina appeared at my side, her face etched with concern. "Emilia? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
I shook my head, still scanning the crowd. "Someone touched me... a man, I think. It happened so fast."
Nina's eyes widened, and she immediately began looking around as well. "We should find Mama and James. Come on."
As we hurried through the mall, my mind raced. Was it just a random creep, or something more sinister?