It's completely dark and I can't see a single thing but I can feel the cold ground from where I am sitting. I stood up and tried to search for an opening, or a window or some door that will help me see through the darkness but there's none. I stood up and touched the wall while walking cautiously. One thing that I noticed is that I'm in a small and rounded place. I tried jumping to raise the roof but it seems like it's too high for me. Perhaps it's already evening that's why I can't see anything. Where are Tom and Sebastian? How did I get in here? The only thing that I remember before I passed out was when Chles put us on a sleep through her mysterious flute.
"Sebastian," I called him wishing he's somewhere near. I know that he'll look for me because he needs me alive. My right hand illuminated just as when I mentioned his name. I used it as my light to see my surroundings and I was right. There's nothing in here except me and the roof that is too high for me to reach. I am trapped in here and that's for sure.
The last time that I felt confined because I can't escape a situation was on my shrink's clinic. I need to sit for an hour talking to her about everything. It doesn't feel liberating at all. It resembles this place. The dark and cold walls was like the tragedy that binds me from the outside world. I am certain that the doctors made me forget few things about the incident. I just don't know what but I am sure that I am missing a puzzle piece.
My situation right now is not that far from what I felt when growing up. I felt isolated and hugely different from others. My parents knew that and that's when they decided to change my name. At first, I strongly disagree with them but I was pushed by a constant shame and you just want to crawl your way out. The entire school knew what happened on that day. My teachers felt pity for me as well as my classmates. My friends left me alone. They said that their parents doesn't want them to be friends with someone who is involved in an incest relationship but we are not blood-related in the first place. He was just adopted by my grandparents. People judged me too easily and I have to deal with it at such a young age. I am diagnosed as someone who has PTSD and depression for years. Thanks to all the medication and psychotherapies that I went through I was finally climbing out of the pit that I have fallen into.
Although sometimes I still have vivid flashbacks, nightmares, I avoided being in an intimate relationship, panic attacks that seems to occur whenever there's a stressful event and up until now I still feel hopeless about my future. I guess that I have a permanent scar on me.
The crest is still illuminating and I started wondering why. Does it have anything to do with saying his name out loud?
Suddenly I heard footsteps. I saw a faint light from the distance slowly approaching my cell. As it gets closer, the light grew stronger. The moment it reached the door, I can clearly see everything. It's like the sun came down to fetch me but I don't feel hot at all. Then I saw him, he's not a cyclops nor an ogre. He's made of rocks and his body is literally glowing like Christmas lights.
"Get out... please." I'm surprised that he can talk! I reminded myself that this place is full of bewilderment. He looked down on the floor while signaling me to stand up. He seems so afraid of me despite our differences. He gave the impression of being a inhibited type of person. I stood up and walk behind him. He glanced at me to make sure I'm following him. He doesn't seem like a dangerous creature to me so I might as well introduce myself so I can somehow get his trust and maybe ask him about Sebastian later.
"I'm Quinn. What's your name?"
I offered a handshake. He doesn't look like a threat to me honestly.
"I-I'm uh... golem," he awkwardly reached for my hand, barely tapped it.
We walked down to what looks like a tower while not speaking to each other. His personality is hugely different to his size. A big guy like him appears intimidating but he's quite the timid type. After a few minutes of walking down to this spiral stairs, we reached the exit. As soon as he opened the door, I saw a girl in a black medieval dress with a mint green hair waiting for us. Looking prim and proper with her hair in a bun. Her eyes are the color of iron. She stares at me for a second and walked away. The golem followed her so I did too.
We are walking to what seems like a factory of jewelries. The cyclops are busy working that they don't bother looking at me in my pajamas. I clearly don't belong to this place.
I heard my stomach grumbled as soon as we entered a huge kitchen. Cyclops wearing chef hats and apron. Am I just dreaming because this is extra level of weirdness. They cook in couldrons and it smells pretty good. I wonder what kind of food they are eating that it smells great.
The girl opened another door at the end of the kitchen and it revealed a dining hall. Long table, a wine fountain, a buffet, servers and flowers. Of course since they are making jewelries, the place is full of shimmering pieces. Chles is sitting at the end of the table, smiling at me. Her blue gemstone necklace caught my attention. The golem and the girl stayed at the door while I make my way to Chles. She gives a different aura this time.
"Please, have a sit."
She pointed the chair from her left so I sat there. You won't believe that she's the same old lady who scared the life out of me at the forest. She look stunning with her green eyes. No wonder Sebastian acted that way when we encountered her earlier. I'm really curious about their relationship. They both showed resentment to each other but at the same time they look good together.
The servers started to bring the food. I wonder why the sudden change of treatment I get from her. I'm starting to feel nervous because I know she's going to ask something in return.
"What is this place called?" I asked abruptly.
"You're in Moonfall, a world for witches and warlocks," she said with a smile.
Witches and warlocks. I tried to convince myself everything will get back to normal.
"I know you're feeling ravenous so enjoy the food while it's fresh," she said. "That's Chicken Tikka Masala, Eton Mess, Scotch Egg with Curry Mayo, Fish and chips, Berry Trifle and Lemon Pudding. I heard that it's a popular dish in your world. If you want something else, just tell me I can make it for you."
I don't think these foods are from my country. I haven't tasted some of these but everything looks appetizing.
"Thanks for the food." I said. Half of me doesn't want to eat because this might be a trap but my hunger is much stronger.
I started eating and I noticed she's not taking anything even a bite. I wonder if she put poison on my food.
"Why are you not eating?"
"That's not the kind of food I like but don't mind me. I'll just sit here and wait 'til you're done."
She's a witch after all. What kind of food do they eat? It's awkward when she's just staring at me while I'm consuming every single piece of food there is on the table. I haven't eaten anything aside from the ramen and the chocolate drink Sebastian gave me. How many days have already passed? The question that I should be asking right now is that where are Sebastian and Tom? They're my key to get out of this mess but I'm pretty sure Chles locked them up somewhere in this palace just like she did to me.
"Can I ask where are Sebastian and Tom?"
"Oh wow, you look very concern. Are you already friends with them? Sebastian is really good on getting people's trust, isn't he?"
Nope. He used brute strength, threatened me and forced me to have a contract with him. I can still remember the eerie face that he made when he was strangling the life out of me on our room like he's done it a million times and he doesn't care anymore.
"Finish your food first and then we'll talk." Chles said.
"Thanks for the food again, I'm done eating. Can I take a shower too?"
"Sure but what's with the black box thing that you tried to blind me with? The one where there's a flash of light that came out?"
She's definitely talking about my camera.
"Oh, that thing is called camera. It is used when you want to capture a moment and then it will become an image that you can have forever."
"Forever, huh, there's no such thing as that, little girl."
Even for a creature like her, she knows that forever is just is an exaggeration. I stare at her and noticed that she look exhausted and she touches her temple from time to time. Is she suffering from headache? She appeared strong when she attacked us.
"I'm terribly sorry. I just don't feel good," She stood up and called the girl who came with me here. "This is Violet and she will accompany you to your room. I have to excuse myself."
I'm sure that there is something wrong with her right now. I have a lot of questions and I thought I'm going to get an answer from her but she just left me oblivious of why I am here. She acted like I am supposed to be here in the first place.
"I'll show you where the bath is," Violet came to me and I followed her again.