CHAPTER 6: Cold-blooded
She opened her eyes swirling and as soon as she finds her bearings, abruptly stood up. She opened and closed her mouth as she felt her throat dry.
Hopping out of bed, she made her way to the table that contained a bottle of water and a flask, without minding what was inside; she picked up the bottle of water and gulped down on a goal.
"Thank heaven…. I'm safe at last" She inhaled deeply, but something was off. Why the sudden cold, and why was she wrapped in this thick pullover, everything around her was cold and disturbing to her comfort.
Swirling her eyes around, she tried to understand what was happening, why these sudden eerie feelings and she espies to her front but was scared as she felt a vortex of darkness swallowing her, the remaining strength in her was nothing compared to this force, she vituperates as the force keep pulling her more and more, and it was as if she were being cast out from a place of light to a bottomless pit covered with darkness.
"Hello?" Her voice trembled. "Who's there?".
There was a thunderous outbreak, and she clenched her two ears as fear and horror took over her, her lips trembled in fear, just when she thought she was saved now.
Slowly, he saw a pair of blues eyes emerging from the darkness, the sight of it made her draw in a sharp breath and made her hide her eyes with her hand. It was beautifully terrifying, should that be used to describe it.
"Stopppp… Ppleasssssssss" she trembled and stuttered, her voice groaning, crawling back, fears and terror, her heart accelerated as the eyes kept coming towards her, she felt like her heart was about to explode, she could feel her pulse leaving her when she felt a cold grip on her hand making her squeal in terror!
"SAVE ME..." She heard his voice and she froze.
Wait….what?" She quavered, but he was slowly releasing his grip on her and gradually he disappeared.
"Wai.....t." She screamed, trying to catch a grip, but her eyes fluttered open, she was sleeping on a bed, her hands hanging in midair.
She rubbed her eyes before swirling around the room. Furthermore, she blinked heavily, she had been sleeping for days; her face looked thinner, her skin paler and her lips dried. Moreover, she looked sick, as if she will die from starvation.
"Where on earth am I?
She was confused, who was that in her dreams and why was the dream repeating itself? Why now? And what did he mean she should save him? Why her, of all people? And why did she keep dreaming of those blue eyes, and why always in darkness? Too many dreams for her and she needed time to process it.
She remembered how she got lost in the woods, the torture, the attempt to escape, and the rescue. She runs her hand through her hair, all this pain happened in a few nights, but thank Heaven she's safe. Now she thought of it, who was that man that saved her, and why did he look like he was up to something? With a heavy sigh, she sits up with the bedsheets covering her. Twisting her neck, even though she felt some pain there. She is still confused about what to do.
The morning sun shone through the window, and she realized she must have slept the whole day.
The door swung open, and the elderly lady came in. She snubbed her as she faced her windows "Remember you are a stranger, behave yourself" Her subconscious mind jibbed in, and immediately she smiled at her; trying as hard as possible to hide her anger.
"I'm sorry about last night" she heard herself apologize.
"Don't worry, Miss, I understand"
She did…she gushed at her.
" I will help you prepare; by the way, you can call me Rhoda," she told her.
"Mamie Rhoda"
"No Ma or anything, just Rhoda, that is the rule." she deliberately added that last part because she sees the surprise in her eyes, and she knows she was ready to ask more and more questions.
She nodded her response to address her as Rhoda. She assisted her to take her bath, and when she sat in the dressing mirror watching as Rhoda combed and styled her hair, her mind traveled back to the previous dreams, she was thinking about the crystallized blue eyes, "SAVE ME" She heard herself whispers.
Likewise, she shook her head, it's just a dream. I don't have what it takes to save anyone." She muttered.
"Your tea is ready Miss" she heard another voice, turning around, her eyes met a young girl of her age probably older than her or the same age as her. She examined her from head to toe, and she shrugged.
"Another tea" Her eyes shows suspiciousness. "No! Thanks."
"That's fine, is not like yesterday's tea," Rhoda said and beckoned to the lady serving the tea to leave. She understood her reasons.
Her gaze fell on Rhoda as if reading her mind." Can she trust her after what she did yesterday; No! Never." She is not here to drink tea and have merry, she needed to escape this place as soon as possible. Who knows, maybe after all this Royal treatment, they will unleash whatever they have been hiding, and this place gave her an eerie feeling.
" Your food is ready"
Now her tummy suddenly growled, she needed food.
They led her into another hallway and her eyes widened as she took notice of how there were different rooms in the hallways, and soon they arrived at the stairs that lead down to the bigger parlor in the room. She swirled around trying to understand where she was and what type of building this, not that she was from a lower class, but she was getting scared and scared as she surveyed the glamorous house.
They stopped at a larger door and Rhoda pushed it open, revealing a beautifully decorated, well-suited dining room, the kind of grandeur and elegance that speak Royalties.
She could tell the moment she stepped into that room, and she wondered who exactly abducted her and the kind of business he or she was doing.
She stood there looking around the room, she opened and closed her mouth as she didn't seem to know what to say.
Rhoda urged her to take a seat as she went to serve her breakfast. She wobbled to the other side, where Rhoda was serving the dishes. She stood and watched as she scooped a big portion of her plate with the other side dishes she displayed. It looked delicious and inviting, and she had been starving for days. Without minding if it was poison, she took the right seat and instantly jumped on the food.
She began stuffing more and more food into her mouth, the food tasted extremely well. Even though she tried to eat as a civilized person, she ended up making a mess, and she eats like she will die tomorrow. Her eyes whirled and landed on the grilled chicken, and she grabbed it, cut a huge amount, and stuffed it inside her mouth.
"If I must escape this place, then I need to eat to have enough strength to survive"
She was lost in her food that she didn't notice that Rhoda already left her alone but was startled when she heard the cracking of the door.
The door cracked open and there he stood, the most dangerous aura she had ever felt. He stood there, his gaze fixed on her, and her heart froze immediately he took a step forward.
She fidgets with the chicken in her mouth. She blinked a few times in fear, the gaze was threatening and made her feel scared.
Likewise, she was too carried away that she didn't know he was already standing closer, and she flinched as she felt the strange and scary feelings clouding her.
"What is your name?" His thundered in her ears and sent chills down her spine, and she choked on her food, coughing out loud. This is the scariest and most deadly question she ever heard.
Lie to him, don't tell him your real name, make up a name.
My name is Mell," she was surprised at how easily she said her name.
"Don't start acting smart," his voice echoed in the entire room, and she flinched.
"Mell… Like short from Mellisa " her lips trembled and her heart pounded so hard, he wasn't buying it.
" So, how much were you paid?"
"Huh?" Mell got thrown off by the questions. "It was volunteering work sponsored by the Minister of Health in cooperation with the Government."
Oh, no, this was the last thing she needed now, someone doubting her words. What's so difficult believing her?
He hit the table, startling her and making her choke on her food. She couldn't imagine any worst thing happening to her now, aside from choking to death from the food she is eating.
She managed to look at him but averted her face immediately due to the deadly aura emitting from him.
"Speak up" There was rage in his voice, no trace of warmth in it. She squealed in terror.
"Of all paying jobs, why choose to be a spy?" The man's tone becomes even colder, harsh, husky, and deep.
Mell already trembling not only because of how intimidating he sounded but how he was able to fix his eyes on her all this while without blinking, his gaze intensifies the terror in her heart and makes her wonder if the man is reading her mind.
"I.l… I'm not an S…py." she stuttered, her voice almost breaking down, her throat dried up, and now she was thirsty.
Quickly, she grabbed the mug of water and gulped it down in one goal.
He hit the table again, and she abruptly jumped up, her heart now pounding so hard, she could tell the situation was getting worse and she was helpless.
"Sit" he commanded, and she trembled to sit, her hands were shaking, and she could feel the sweat falling freely from her face.
"I believe today is enough for you to decide how much of a lie you will concoct to save yourself because I will soon show you what it means to be a spy." His voice was hostile, his eyes glimmered dangerously, making her wish to shrink or probably disappear.
She swallowed hard, whatever lump hanging in her throat, and forced out a response.
"I'm not a spy and I will never be." She shook her head, but the man was already on his feet and nonchalantly walking out of the large room.
She wiped the tears streaming down her face. "What just happened here?" She asked no one in particular.
She couldn't believe someone could be this scary and intimidating, "What is he? Probably the devil's son or what; did the devil reincarnate just to scare innocent souls, or was he paid to represent the devil in human form?"
"Are you okay" a voice startled her