Chapter 3: A new Dawn

As I slowly awoke and came to my sense, I blinked away the morning sleep fogging my vision and prayed what I saw was not what I fell asleep too. Last night I had left to make my way to where I currently was, Cynthia following me closely in step. I made it all the way to the correct part of the house completely by myself in silence, but at the last leg of my journey I had forgotten exactly which door led to my room and walked past it. I remembered that Cynthia stopped in front of the correct door and called me back to it. “It’s this one, Christina.” Even now, the morning after, I was still flustered by my own small error, as well as continually irked that she called me Christina. I tried to correct her as I walked past her into my room telling her to refer to me as Lady Revallia once more, but she only gave me an amused look, before wishing me goodnight.

Thinking back to the exchange in bed, I wondered now if Lady was even the correct title. Technically I was the only Revallia in the kingdom now, so I was the lady of our nobility. But at the same time the words of so many others continued to ring in my head. ‘Your name and nobility don’t mean anything now.’ That couldn’t really be true, ours was a proud house going back generations! You couldn’t just wipe that out in a matter of days! Even if nobody else knew it, I knew it.

I sat up in bed and knew that I was indeed where I had fallen asleep. The room I had been given was nice, the bed more than large enough for myself, and of very good quality. There was a large dresser and mirror for examining myself and my outfits. There was a small, cushioned chest at the end of my bed, a nice, upholstered seat in the corner next to a moderately sized window, and a large carpet draped nearly the entire room, saving my feet from the cold floor. Though I was used to seeing some sort of furnace or way to heat the room, this room had none. Despite the room living up to my expectations, I was not ready to treat it as a permanent place. There had to be a way out of this entire situation, all I needed to do was find it.

As I was lying in bed, one thing came to my attention very quickly: the lack of an attached bathroom to the bedroom. This frustrated me, as all my previous dwellings had such a feature. And right now it was especially problematic because I badly had to pee. I had fallen asleep very early last night, not spending too much time with my own thoughts on this entire crazy situation, so I had woken up very early. It seemed the only option for me was to try to leave and find a bathroom on my own. Surely that couldn’t be to hard, right? The only thing causing me pause was the idea that I might run into either of the Southgards or Cynthia. I truly had no idea what they had planned for me or how to escape it, but I wasn’t going to deprive myself of my needs until that point. The pressure on my bladder was quickly turning into painful cramps, and it became clear what I really needed right now was to use a bathroom. Besides, it was barely after the crack of dawn, surely nobody would even be awake yet. I rose from my bed and could feel my needs turning desperate fast, so without further delay I set out.

I wandered through the halls of the Southgards home, hurriedly trying to find the facilities to relieve myself. Wandering hallways, descending up stairs, looking over balconies, all while trying to be as silent as possible just in case any doors nearby had anyone inside of them. Afterall I still didn’t want to run into anybody. I quickly realized something that annoyed me to no end in my search: every single door I tried was locked. Each time I turned on a knob or pushed on a handle, the door would not budge. Why would the Southgard couple leave every door locked? Even if I had passed a bathroom I wouldn’t have been able to get into it! As I continued my search to roam around my need to pee grew more and more, I started to get desperate.

To be honest I was getting quite frustrated. After yet another locked door I stomped my foot in frustration and let out a small groan of annoyance. Mr. Southgard couldn’t have told me where a bathroom was when he was telling me how to get my room? It was completely absurd that with a house this size there were none close to me that weren’t locked. But I continued to try to find one anyway; there had to be at least one in this house. As I continued my search I stumbled across a very nice set of double doors in the center of the second floor. Maybe this was the entrance to a master bathroom? The pressure building in my abdomen was now all that I thought about and even the slightest chance it could be a bathroom was enough for me. I slowly approached the door, took both handles in my hands, and prepared to open them.

Suddenly before I could try the doors I felt the instant presence of a hand on my shoulder. Being so sure I was alone this entire time the sudden entrance of whoever it was made me jump out of my skin. I jumped back in reactionary fear and involuntarily let out a small yelp. I turned around to see it was Cynthia in front of me looking as amused as ever, clearly she had either been awake for a while or rolled out of bed in impeccable fashion. “Good morning Christina. Those doors are to Lena and Rowans master bedroom; you don’t need to be going in there. Why don’t you come with me? Breakfast is ready,” she said, slightly turning around but looking over her shoulder to see if I would follow. Upon the mere mention of food I also realized just how hungry I was. I went to bed last night without any dinner, and nothing had been brought up to me. But out of hunger and relief, I definitely needed the latter much more.

Seeing Cynthia annoyed me, as did her use of my first name again after telling her repeatedly to use otherwise. And the information that breakfast was already being served told me that all the others in the house were already awake, and my assumptions earlier had been wrong. Everything compounded to weigh on my mind and increase my stress, but I ignored it all, it didn’t matter, I was going find my way out of this and get back to normal I reminded myself. But first thing first, “Where are the bathrooms?” I demanded from Cynthia. “I need to use one now before I eat.” A part of me wondered if such a simple demand would trigger her disapproval, and I held back a shiver in my spine as I remembered her demeanor last night. But Cynthia’s constant look of smug enjoyment simply continued on her face. What was it that caused her mood to constantly be like this anyway? Why did she always look like my actions were the most entertaining thing possible?

Cynthia nodded a small amount and started to walk, motioning me to follow, and having to pee so badly, I begrudgingly did. “I’ll have to open one up for you, as I’m sure you noticed you can’t open any of the doors in this house except your bedroom.” I looked at her person, but I didn’t see any keys or anything like that. How would she be able to open any of the locked doors?

Very close to where we had been, Cynthia arrived at one of the many doors I had in fact tried earlier, and when I saw her reach for the doorknob, I tried to assertively warn her. “That door’s locked, I already tried it.” But even as I said it, she simply turned the doorknob and the door opened freely. Cynthia stepped aside to grant me open access to the bathroom she had just opened. The smugness on her face made me want to punch her. “I said you wouldn’t be able to open any of the doors, but they’ll all work fine for Lena, Rowan, myself or any other members of the staff, without the use of a key.”

“What?” I looked at Cynthia like she had just spoken a made-up language. “What do you mean you can open it without a key?” I wasn’t sure what I really expected from the woman who had done nothing but irritate and unnerve me since I had met her, but she simply smirked at me in familiar fashion, then turned around and walked away. While her abrupt and unexplained departure was confusing and felt almost out of character, it was still a blessing and ultimately didn’t matter. I rolled my eyes at the entire situation, turned into the bathroom, and shut the door behind me.
As I was using the facilities I tried to imagine what exactly she meant when she said everyone but me could open doors. It couldn’t possibly be magic could it? I had always heard stories of magic, but nobody had of course had ever really seen it. Some people said they saw it on vacations to other kingdoms, but I didn’t really believe them. Even then it was always things like floating stuff, fireballs, or fancy illusions right? If I was being honest with myself I truly had no idea, but the likelihood seemed so low that I refused to believe it. After I had finished relieving myself I pulled my underwear back up underneath my skirt, but as I did I realized something. They were just a tiny bit damp.

I cursed at myself, but more importantly I cursed at Cynthia. With how badly I had to pee, her startling me before must have caused me let go a tiny amount. This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened to me, but it was more frustrating to the fact, that as of yet I didn’t have any more clothes. My current dress that I had been wearing since being escorted by the authorities was already feeling slightly gross to still be in, and with this on top I was going to be extremely uncomfortable. But at the same time, I had no idea where to get more clothes. Surely there would be a way for them to collect my old wardrobe. A decent amount of my clothes had been one of the few things I was able to take from my family’s estate and keep with me, so I was certain it was possible. Although the idea of asking anyone in the house to make sure to collect them made me uncomfortable. ‘I shouldn’t even have to ask’, I thought to myself. Attempting to let the issue of clothing go for now, I quickly sucked up my pride, washed up and headed out of the bathroom.

Upon opening the door, I found a small pile of clothing at my feet with a note folded up on them. I knelt down to read what it said. ‘Some clothes for you to wear. After you put these on, please join us downstairs in the dinning room for breakfast, - Lena’. After reading the small note I picked up the folded set of clothes, and carried them back into the bathroom to unfold and get a proper look at them. The clothing was clearly Silencian, and not any style I was used too. It consisted of a very basic pair of pink underwear, white knee length socks, a slim fitted white shirt with black horizontal stripes, as well as a pair of blue overalls. I stared at the outfit in front of me for a second. There was no way I would ever wear this; the style was so beyond anything I would normally wear and beyond that it looked childish! But beyond my general disliking of the clothing in front of me, it worried me that Lena had chosen something out for me already. Suddenly the likelihood of getting my old wardrobe back seemed much slimmer.

I looked again at the note attached to the outfit. ‘After you put these on.’ That didn’t leave a lot of room for interpretation, but surely she wouldn’t force me to wear something I didn’t want to, would she? I considered my options for a moment and decided I would deal with the situation on my own terms. I quickly changed into the new underwear that was included to replace the slightly damp ones I was currently wearing, as well as the white socks. As for the shirt and overalls, I left them on the bathroom counter. Content with my own decision, I looked at myself in the mirror and nodded. I then quickly left to go to the dinning room. Luckily I had a very good idea of where I was going and was extremely content to be able to find my way there myself.

As I followed the map in my head to my destination I considered if it was a good idea to even be going to eat with the rest of the house. I thought back to last night, everything they had told me. . . I didn’t want to continue those conversations. But at the same time I was hungry and needed food. If worst came to worst, I would leave to my room and eat in peace. I now had that small sanctuary, and I wasn’t afraid to use it. I also briefly considered the fact that this was their home, and if they wanted to see me they would find me just like Cynthia had this morning.

As I finally approached the dinning room, I saw the 3 familiar faces I expected to see: Lena, Rowan, and Cynthia. They were all sitting around enjoying some tea or coffee and eating some light breakfast pastries. Something that interested me more was Cynthia lounging in one of the chairs mirroring the other two, sipping tea and smiling genuinely at the conversation. I had assumed Cynthia was some sort of butler or handmaiden, but she was eating with the Southgards as if they were close friends or family.

As I stood in the doorway it took barely a second for my company to be noticed. “Ah there you are Christina, please come sit down.” Said Rowan with a friendly smile. Lena then pulled out the chair that was next to her for me to sit at. I slowly approached and sat down. As I sat and pulled my chair into the table I moved it a small amount more to my right, away from Lena. Even the tiny inch or two of extra distance made me feel slightly more relaxed.

“Here, you must be starving, please.” Lena said as placed a bagel from one of the platters onto my plate. She then also started to take a pitcher of orange juice and poured it into the glass that was sitting in front of me. I looked at the food in front of me, I was starving, and it did look rather good. Though still not at ease with the entire situation, I eyed the company at the table as I took my first bite. The food was amazing, I could feel the rich texture of the butter on the bread, and everything tasted sweet and sultry. I continued to eat, the distraction of the amazing food being an extremely welcome one that was able to take me out of my own head. I wasn’t sure just how much of my enjoyment came from how long it had been since I had last eaten, but I savoured the experience anyway.

After I had finished eating my entire bagel, I wiped the crumbs off my mouth and reached for the drink Lena had poured for me and took a large sip. It was only then that I realized that the others were waiting for me to finish. I paused for a moment, gathering myself, and suddenly Lena started to address me. “I’m glad you enjoyed Christina, but we should talk about-”

“My name is Lady Revallia.” I said forcefully interrupting her. I’m not sure if it had been the food, or the sleep, or my pure frustration, but I suddenly found myself full of spirit as I asserted myself in front of all three of them, even Cynthia.

Lena looked taken aback by my interruption, exchanging nervous looks with the other members of the breakfast. She was silent for a moment as it was Rowan who spoke up after her “Please, Christina, if you’ll just let us-”

“Lady. Revallia.” I spoke over him, leaning back, and crossing my arms while doing so.

Rowan sighed, clearly running out of patience, and not enjoying being spoken over. “Christina, behave.” He warned, clearly about to continue his speech, but once again I was not having it. Everything from being escorted last night, the doors, the bathroom, the clothing, I realized I had had enough. I was at my wits end and I would not be playing their games.

“No, I wont!” I said standing up in my seat. The harsh sound of the chair squeaking against the floor only emphasized my speech. “I won’t ‘behave’! I am a Revallia, and I demand respect!” My temper flared as I continued to speak. “And if that respect isn’t given I will leave!” I said pointing to the door.
“Christina. . .” Rowan said once more, his patience very clearly wearing thin.
I ignored him and continued anyway. “Because I am free to do so, just as I was free to chose to leave last night, and just as I was free to refuse to wear those clothes you sent me.” None of my words were planned but they all came pouring out without a second thought, only getting louder and louder. “I am nobility. I don’t know what strange culture you’re from-” I said ramping up to my final point.

“Christina!” Rowan stood up as well hitting his palms against the table, but his outburst didn’t slow me, and I kept talking over him.

“But I am not yours to control!” I finished. By the time I was done emotion had taken hold of me completely and I was basically screaming my words to them. My face was hot, and I could feel myself hyped up on the adrenaline of the situation. But it felt right, every last thing I had said.

But it wasn’t a single second that had passed from my final words leaving my mouth that Cynthia also stood up to meet me, but it wasn’t even to meet me, that would imply we were equals. She moved her hands in an elegant motion, and suddenly the lighting in the room changed as ethereal purple waves appeared around both of us. “Christina Revallia, enough.” As she spoke the strange purple waves pulled my chair back underneath me, and somehow wrapped themselves around my wrists to force me to sit once more. But it didn’t stop there; in the same moment I could feel something wrap around my chest holding me to the back of the chair and stopping me from standing. The experience felt like someone was physically moving my body but there was nobody there, and the bindings around me didn’t exist until they suddenly did.

From the second I could see and feel the weird happenings around me I was suddenly reminded just why I had been so terrified of Cynthia last night. I would have screamed, but before I even could the purple aura wrapped its way around my mouth, and suddenly I found myself gagged with some sort of thick leather like fabric. I still attempted to scream behind it but not even a single sound made its way through. I tried to wrest my body forward against the bonds, but it was to no avail. It was completely pointless to try to free myself in anyway. All of my spirit and rebellion instantly drained away. The heat in my face got pulled down into my chest, and fear gripped my body. My plan had been to leave, to show them they had no control over me but now here I was, not a minute later, completely powerless.

In mere seconds the strange purple waves faded out of existence. Cynthia put down her arms and gave her vest a quick tug to straighten it out and turned over to the Southgards. “I’m sorry Rowan, I know you didn’t ask but…” Rowan who looked extremely tired, using his hand to hold up his forehead, simply waved off Cynthia’s worries.
“No, no. By all means you made the right call Cynthia. She doesn’t understand the situation she’s in, and if we are to be honest and fair she needs to.” The diplomat took in a deep sigh and continued, looking unhappy about what he was about to do. “Christina, yesterday you faced the consequences of your reckless and childish actions. You were given two options, and without even listening to those options you signed yourself away. You gave up your choice.” He spoke making consistent eye contact with me, and I was completely unable to do anything but listen. “Staying with us, as we told you last night, means that we are in charge of you in every way, and we have our ways to enforce this control as Cynthia has so elegantly shown. Now all we want to do, is to help teach you how to be more reformed, and in this case that means teaching you the lessons you failed to learn in your privileged upbringing.”

Rowan moved around the room to me as he was talking, and then sat leaning against the table in front of me, though still frustrated he was looking at me more earnestly now. “We expect you take these lessons to heart, and if you don’t there will be punishments and you will lose more of the privileges given to you.” He spoke more about punishments, and privileges, my imagination failed to provide me answers as to what he meant. What privileges did I have here that they could take away? “There are house rules we will teach you and expect you to obey, and you will live a much more . . . supervised life. It will be different, but you will be comfortable. . .” He trailed off, but then looked back at me much more focused.
“Which is much more then can be said than if you went to prison.” Prison. The idea had been pushed so far back out of my mind I had forgotten that was supposed to be my original fate. Even as scared as I was of my current situation, even thinking of myself in such a place made me break out in a cold sweat. “Christina, I want to help you, we want to help you, but for that to be possible, you need to make your own choice here.” Rowan breathed in heavily, as if preparing himself for his own words. “So I’m going to offer you the option to choose again, and if you so wish, let you out of the agreement you signed.”

As he said this Lena, who was still sitting down next to him opened her mouth in surprise. “Rowan . . .” She protested to her husband, but Rowan simply raised his hand to Lena silently, asking for her patience. Lena responded to this by keeping quiet, but she had a look of dedicated worry on her face. I myself was completely unsure what to even make of the situation and being completely unable to do very much of anything, I simply sat. I was completely still, making no attempts to wrestle with my bindings, just sitting in the same position of leaning forward against my bonds every so slightly and waited.

“Now,” Rowan continued after a moment, “I have told you what will be expected of you here, what you can know your life will be like. Because I truly believe you have no real understanding, let me explain to you what your life will be like if you decided to reject this instead.” He turned around to address Cynthia behind him “If you wouldn’t mind assisting in my description with a visual aid?” Cynthia nodded and quickly moved to take up one of the breakfast platters and push everything off of it, the food that was there simply being scattered onto the tablecloth and some rolling onto the floor. She took the silver dish in one hand and held it aloft, showing it to me in good view. Her other hand she lifted and started to move it again in elegant gestures. Once more a glowing purple aura descended around her hand and the reflective surface of the plate. Her fingers moved this time around the side of the tray, pulling at them in such specific ways that it looked like she was playing a harp, or maybe directing an invisible puppet with incredible precision. As her movements continued an image started to emerge from the reflection of the plate. I saw myself, sitting in a small cold stone room, nothing but a single tiny window and a frankly horrible looking bed. My red hair was tangled, dirty and faded, and I was wearing nothing but simple linens. All I was doing was sitting in a small corner, curled up into a ball with my knees against my chest staring down at my feet. I looked like a street beggar locked in cage.

Rowan didn’t even look behind him to see the image of my incarceration made manifest. He simply kept looking directly at me and further explained, “You would be locked away, forced to live years of your life in a tiny cell, given nothing but the bare minimum to survive in terms of food, water and clothing. You would be able to socialize only with other prisoners, and with someone like yourself they would very likely treat you extremely badly.” Cynthia continued to direct her magic through the reflection, and it changed, this time I was in some sort of hallway, there were other girls there exactly as dirty and decrepit as I was, but this time we were all in full motion. The two other girls grabbed me from behind, and another one slapped me across the face. After that they both threw me to the ground, and all of them started ceaselessly kicking me into a pulp. I could only sit there horrified by what I saw. This was something so far out of my realm of understanding, beyond any nightmare I had ever had, it was nearly impossible to think about. Yet all I could do was just watch, unable to look away, and it terrified me to my core.

“There would be very little way for anyone to guarantee your safety, and you would likely suffer a great amount. Every single luxury or freedom you had ever felt previously in your life would be taken away.” Cynthia once more started calling upon images, this time much faster and unrelenting. An image of me eating some sort of horrific sludge like stew, my face having gotten scarily thin, then the scene of me walking around a tiny area outdoors, with fences all around me and guards eyeing me up and down like waiting for me to make a move. Another was of myself and dozens of others all naked, showering in some sort of communal bathing area, with 4 guards standing in the corners of the room watching us all. Then finally one last scene of myself standing facing a wall, my hands on the back of my head as my tiny little room was being torn apart as one guard was searching through my bed and belongings, and another was patting me down. All I could do in witness to all of this was shake my head, trying to remove the images from my mind. A small tear fell from my eye.

Finally, the visions relented, and Cynthia pulled back her hand. The images and the purple aura dissipated as the silver dish returned to being just and only that. Rowan finally started to relax his shoulders and present a gentler stature, but he wasn’t quite finished. “That is what awaits you if you decided that you would like to be responsible for yourself, and be treated in every way like a noble, and an adult.” Rowan then looked over his shoulder and beckoned Cynthia again with his two fingers, somehow knowing exactly what that meant, once more she raised her arms, though this time a quick motion that I myself immediately felt. Suddenly both my bindings to the chair and the leather gag in my mouth released themselves, falling limp around me and allowing me once more to speak and move. But even as I was no longer bound, I said nothing, and other then leaning forward in a sudden jolt from the release, I did not move.

“Now, you need to make a decision Christina. Do you want us to help you?” The words were so gentle and full of kindness, and I looked up to the three of them. Rowan stared down at me with a look of deep caring, his eyes that beckoned me to trust him, to give him control. Cynthia was for once absent of her signature smug look, replaced with what I could only recognize as genuine concern for me? It was hard to tell as any emotion on her face was extremely vague. But when I looked over to Lena, she looked so worried. Looking into her eyes it was like she was begging me to do the right thing. What was the right thing? What did that even mean?

Even though the images were gone, I could not get what I had seen out of my head, being beaten to a pulp, being forced into subhuman conditions, with no privacy or freedom, treated like an animal. Thinking about it more only continued to produce tears, never overflowing out of me, but simply a small steady source of one or two at a time being released out of the possibility of that nightmare.

I closed my eyes and held my head down in some sort of attempt to spare my psyche from these ideas, but at the same time I knew what I had to do. Rowan was giving me a choice, but there was no decision, I could never end up like that. “Please . . . I can’t . . .don’t let that, don’t let them . . .I-” stumbling over my words, my mind was unable to form sentences that comprehended my fear, so instead I settled on using Rowan’s words instead. “Please . . . help me.”

*************

Lena had been so worried when her husband offered Christina the chance out of the agreement. What if she had actually decided to go to prison? There would be no way the young girl would have survived in that environment. Even behind that, there was a subconscious worry that Lena would lose the girl and her chance at not only giving Christina a family but in finding a family for herself and her husband as well. But Rowan had handled the situation expertly, having Cynthia conjure such images to show Christina the horrible reality that could await her was a masterful stroke. And now Christina had agreed, knowing fully and exactly what she was agreeing too. Lena hoped this meant that she would no longer put up such a fight, and they could focus more on teaching her, shaping her and caring for her.

*************

Rowan nodded, and then moved away from the table he had been leaning against and knelt to place his hand on my leg. “Thank you, Christina, we will help you. We’ll keep you safe and comfortable, and all you have to do is return is let us take control and listen to what we have to teach you.” Lena then also came down to my level as well, instead of my leg she took my hand once more in hers and gently squeezed it to show support. I didn’t pull away and instead just let her show me this small form of support. Finally, Cynthia walked around the table and came around to my side. She started to remove the binds that had held me to the chair from around my waist and removed the gag from around my neck. I didn’t see what she did with them but moments after she placed her hand very lightly on my shoulder, I was free again. I looked around at all of them trying to show me support. Rowan talked about safety and comfort, and even though it wasn’t the way I was used to feeling those two things, I believed him. After a few moments I nodded ever so slightly in agreement to what was expected of me.

This time it was Lena who acknowledged my nod by taking my other hand in hers and getting me to stand for her, though even once I was standing, I couldn’t make eye contact with any of them. Once I was on my feet, she addressed me “Now, why don’t we start off with something simple okay? Can you put on the rest of the clothes that I picked out for you today? There’s a bathroom right around the corner that Cynthia can open for you to get changed.”

Even though Lena’s words were phrased as a question, I knew very well that it wasn’t, she was just being gentle. I remembered the white striped shirt and blue overalls, how against wearing them I was. Now in comparison to prison it seemed like such a minor price to pay. My eyes were starting to relent from gentle flow of tears, but despite that I was still only able to meekly croak out, “I can do that.”

Lena smiled at me, and let my hands go, nodding me toward Cynthia who was waiting for me to follow her. Somehow, she already had the clothes in her hands ready for me despite the fact I had left them upstairs; I just assumed it was more magic. I slowly turned around and followed Cynthia as she directed me to my destination.

After getting changed I trailed back into the dining room where Rowan and Cynthia were both sitting and talking to each other. But as I approached, they both went silent immediately leaving me completely ignorant to their topic of conversation. Wearing the new outfit, I truly felt foolish. My dress had been simple, elegant, fitted, and proper for someone of my age and status, but with this on, I felt small. The straps and front of the overalls coming up so high I felt like I was wearing something too big or out of proportion for me, but it fit me without any issue or feeling baggy or loose, making me feel unreasonable for such a notion. It all almost seemed intentional, like it was designed to make me feel smaller than I actually was.

Lena and Rowan looked at me approvingly, and Lena looking especially delighted like she was pleased at how the clothing she picked looked on me. “Thank you very much Christina, and I hope those feel comfortable! At least much better then being in the same dress for as long as you were,” mused Lena. Feeling myself out more, the clothing was comfortable, but I didn’t say anything. Deep down, I still resented it.

Rowan, who also looked happy at my obedience, then chimed in. “Yes, thank you for listening Christina. Now, if you’re still hungry you can stay and eat, but we think you’ve earned some alone time for a bit. If you like you can also go back to your room, or just wander about the house some. The door to the back garden is open if you like. What ever you do, we’ll come find you in a little bit. Then we’ll go over some more things you’ll be expected to do, okay?”
As he offered me time to myself, I let out an internal sigh of relief. Even if I had to go along with everything out of fear of something worse, I was being pushed to my limits. Escaping them all and being allowed time was a blessing. I was too distraught to be excited, but this was possibly the closest I could get. “I . . . would really like that” I paused before considering myself and my words once more, it felt like I was walking on the edge of a cliff that I couldn’t even see. “Thank you.”

Lena smiled so brightly at my simple addition of a thank you, and I honestly wasn’t sure if I should be offended at her pride at the situation, or if I should just be relieved that, apparently, I did the right thing. “You’re very welcome, Christina, now run along.”

With that I turned around, not even sure if I would go to my room or try and find the exit to the garden they mentioned, but I definitely wasn’t in the mood for anymore food right now. But as I turned around, I got one more beckon. “Oh and Christina!” Lena called at me one last time. I turned around to see what exactly she wanted, almost fearing the worst, but she simply said one last thing to me before allowing me exit; “Good girl.”