Chapter 5

..The world is scary,filled with too many types of people.Some mad while others misunderstood.....but the question is which category do we fall into?

"Ok Mirai would you like to have

some tea with us?"she asks gently making it quite hard to decline.

Although anyone in my shoes would jump right at the offer if you actually think about it, especially when you've been malnourished for as long as I have.But even with her kind gesture I still feel uneasy.Something feels fishy.

I open-well at least try to open-my mouth still not sure whether to decline or not when something catches my eye.Right behind this tall lady that I still don't know her name stands a girl peeking through the curtains staring right at me.I can't really see her clearly since she is standing behind the shadows.She makes eye contact with me for a few brief seconds boring her blue eyes into mine as I stare back before she submerges back into the shadows the same way she came.

Nicodemus and his wife seem to notice my change of attention and both turn around to look at the direction I was looking at but of course see nothing.They both look at each other before turning their attention back on me.

"Is everything alright Mirai?"asks Nicodemus with his eyebrow rised as he sends me a quite confused look.

No everything is not alright.

"Yes"

I lied.This place is nerve wracking.For people I just met they were being too nice,to say that this place isn't creeping me out would be blasphemy.And the girl in the shadows doesn't really help matters either.

"Ok then"Nicodemus says making his way to where I suppose is the dining room with his apparent wife trailing behind him.

She turns her head at my direction to the place were my feet are still planted and tilts her head to the side before gesturing her manicured nails at the direction of the dinning room.

"Are you coming or not?"she asks

I attempt to decline the offer but the surge of hunger that rambles in my frail body beats me to it.I nod my head furiously obviously knowing that hanger has won the battle that I had waged in my system.

But I can't help myself.

I'm hungry.

Only God knows if this will be the last decent meal I will ever have.

She smiles warmly and continues her way to the dinning room.

"Come along then"she says in a single song tone.

I trail behind her as she leads me to the dinning room but I feel eyes boring holes through my skull,I turn around and catch the same blue eyes stare at me behind the shadows but this time the owner makes no attempts to leave her position.

I snap my eyes away just in time before the tall woman turns to me,she flashes me another warm smile and continues to lead me to the room.

The hall way leading to the dinning room is quite and a little dark because of the dim lights.Although our walk there is brief I can't help but think that it's some sort of passage to another world.

When she steps into the dinning room she gestures me to follow.I don't know why though,after all I followed her all the way here I don't think there's any chance of bailing now.

Once I step into the room I am greeted by the enormous dinning space with a large dinning table right at the heart.

Wow this is way bigger than my aunt's sorry excuse for a dinning room.

"Ouch"I mutter once accidentally hit my knee on something hard.I look down on reflex but surprisingly don't see anything in sight.

"Watch your step dear"says the tall woman.

"Oh how stupid of me,I forgot to brighten the lights my apologies"comes an almost mechanical male voice out of nowhere.

I hear hands clapping at a far direction and the lights immediately brighten up and the room comes alive revealing it's true beauty.

Even if I would love to stare at the enchantingly beautiful room that seems way too embellished for a mere dinning room what concerns me now is eating.

"Ah Onyx you fixed the lights,I knew you could do it"says Nicodemus cheerfully.

"Yes sir thank you for your good faith,my apologies for not brightening the lights in due time"replies the mechanical voiced male

"It's alright mistakes happen"replies Nicodemus

I take my time to scan the man at the far right end of the room.He is far more taller than the tall lady here herself.With a lighter shade of skin,he seems well built and very muscular.Scary even if I might add.

"We had a little electricity trouble,but it's all good now"says the tall woman with a small hint of embarrassment in her voice.

I just nod in response and she seems to regain her former composure after that in seconds.

"Come on sit now"says Nicodemus who is already sitted

The woman guides me to a seat and sits opposite me near her husband.

Nicodemus gestures for the young man to come to him and the mechanical like man obeys.

Again I scan him out of pure curiosity as he walks over to where we are.I notice that his gait is very flawless seeming obviously perfect-too perfect-his locs are braided together into a low bun.His facial expression is without a doubt expressionless making his handsome face look a little dull and intimidating all together.He is dressed in an all black attire giving him a more grim look.

Maybe he's a servant

Once he gets to where we are sitted he halts and faces Nicodemus.

"Yes sir?"

"Please tell the chef to get us some green tea and maybe throw in some deserts while he's at it"says the stout man before dismissing him curtly.

I raise my head to look into the servants eyes just for a brief second before he leaves.Somethimg seems a little off about him.His eyes look a little steely and his face up close look way more grim and expressionless from a few seconds ago.He looked human,spoke like a human but yet something about him seems so unhuman.

The woman seems to notice me stare and chuckles lightly.I turn my head towards her but she seems unfazed.

"Meet Onyx our personal butler,Onyx meet our guest Mirai"she introduced

Onyx however only spares me a quick glance and gives a curt nod before walking away.

Scary...

I think I just felt my blood run cold

"Onyx isn't human if that's what you're wondering"says the woman

I knew it!!

"He's far more.....um special"she says grinning.

Just say he's a robot already

I've heard of those things,robots but I never actually thought they actually exist.Never in my whole life have I thought I would ever meet one.

Although I don't ask her any questions I let my mind wonder to the possibilities of just what he might be if not being a robot.

"So Mirai"says Nicodemus bringing me back to reality

"Where are you from?"

"Iru....I'm from Iru"

They both share surprised glances at each other before turning back to me.

"Iru...as in Iru village?"asks the woman

I should seriously ask her for her name already.

"Yes"I reply

"That place still exists?"asks the woman chuckling a little bit like as though I just cracked a joke.

I stare at her oddly from her strange outburst.She seems to notice and immediately composes herself from the laughing fit.

"I'm just kidding,I'm joking"

I think I just walked into a mad house.

"But still that place is a little deserted how did you even get here?"

Deserted?

How could she even think that?....true we don't have visitors and much social amenities but we still have a few and that's better than none at all.I mean it's not like we live in huts and run around with nothing but leaves as clothes, we're not ...

"Mirai is everything alright?"asks the woman snapping me out of me thoughts.

They share another glance and a look of unease flashes through their faces.

I think I might have been scowling.

Finally the food arrives and I feel my mouth water.Onyx sets the plates and serves the food then leaves. Immediately he's done I launch at the food with no ounce of shame in me.I choke a little bit and the woman offers me some of the green tea.I take a big gulp but spit it out on the cup

It's hot,very hot.

Why would anyone drink something so hot?

"Careful"says the woman handing me some water

I take and gulp it down.

"What did you mean when you asked if Iru still exists?"I ask once I'm fully composed.

She is about to open her mouth when we hear some argument outside.

"We'll be right back"Nicodemus says leaving the room with his wife trailing behind him.

Well since they left all this food I might as well help myself.

Even after I've eaten way passed the normal human satisfaction the couple still haven't come back.They seem to be very trusting towards strangers,what if I have poisoned their food?Well there isn't really much food left to poison,heck there's nothing at all.

I look down at the empty dishes in front of me feeling a little guilty now.

I might have went overboard with the eating,I hadn't even noticed how much I was eating till all the food was gone.They're probably going to think I'm a glutton by the time they come back.

But it's not my fault,I was hungry.

They probably know that right?

The curiosity in me seems to make my mind wonder to where they might have gone.

I get up and snoop around heading for the way to the living room.Once I get close enough to the entrance I hide a little as I spy on the scenario taking place.

I spot the couple alright but their backs are turned to me and they are talking to a girl who I can't see clearly since they are blocking her with their frame.

How convenient

The girl seems like she should be around my age.Her voice sounds shaky like as though she's been crying.

The couple try to get close to her,to give her a hug maybe?but she backs away

"You can't control my life"she says coldly before running upstairs beyond my sight.

At this point I don't know who to feel sorry for whether the girl or the parents.On one side the girl could be just like me.Angry,sad and misunderstood.And the other side her parents could just be.... parents simply trying to love and take care of their bratty daughter or both.

They both sigh bitterly and turn around.

I immediately hide some more but don't go very far so I can still hear and see what's going on.

The woman turns to Onyx and says something that I fail to hear.

"I found her trying to escape through her window....... again"replies Onyx in a bored and tired tone

"And she crushed her tracking chip......again"he continues showing them a tiny looking device that has been crushed in his palms.

A tracking chip,why would she need that ?

"Oh God"groans Nicodemus

"Thank you Onyx please go check on her so she doesn't do anything stupid again"says the woman as she massages her temples like as though she's trying to get rid of an incoming headache.

"Yes ma'am"says Onyx before heading upstairs.

They start to head towards my direction and I instantly run back to the dinning room and sit pretending like I just finished eating.

The woman walks into the dinning room feigning a bright smile and if I didn't know better I will simply think that everything is alright.

"Ahh you must have be terribly hungry,you literally finished all the food"says the woman chuckling heartily.

I nod my head a little bit feeling a little awkward at this point.

"Would you like for us to bring you more food?"she asks

I shake my head declining the offer.

"Sorry we took too long we had some .... businesses to attend to but don't worry my husband is finishing up"she says still smiling.

Even though the explanation wasn't needed especially to a stranger who already knows she's lying, I guess that explains why her husband isn't here.

She reaches for the center of the table and presses a tiny blue button that I hadn't noticed was there the entire time.

Soon after two woman dressed in a typical maids uniform just like the ones in the movies walk in and swiftly pack up all the dishes and dash out in a flash.

Once they're gone the woman looks at me smiling a little.

"So"she says finally ending the awkward silence.

"You obviously need to freshen up I'll get someone to lead you to your room and get you some new clothes....I'm sure I'll have something in your size"

At this point I can't help but feel a little self conscious,I must look really filthy.

Neithertheless I just nod my head in compliance

She presses the blue button again and another maid comes in.

"Yes ma'am?"she asks meekly

"Take her to one of the guest rooms and get her some fresh clothes" the tall woman says

Even at this point I still don't understand why they're being so kind to me,it feels so unreal...too good to be true

The maid nods in understanding and gestures to lead me to my room.

I turn to the tall woman

"Th..th..thank you uhh..."

"Ada,my name is Ada"she says gently cutting short my stutter

I nod feeling a little embarrassed that she knows I was thinking of what to call her.

The maid proceeds to leading me away from the dinning room to the living room then upstairs.There are two flight of stairs leading to the upper floor,one at the left and one at the right both made of fine marble.She randomly chooses the one at the left.The strong feeling of déjàvu hits me like a strong gush of wind and I instantly remember the cross road I had to take in order to save my life.Just then the thought of what might have happened to me if I was caught flashes through my mind.I shudder at the thought.

The maid leads me to a massive hallway then shows me to a room before giving me a small key.

"There's a bathroom inside"she says

"I'll bring you some new clothes in a few minutes"she continues

I nod my head and she goes away.

"You made a mistake coming here"comes a female voice from behind startling me.I turn around and face who ever may own the voice only to come face to face with the girl in the shadows.

You

"Do you even have any idea what you've done by agreeing to stay here?"

I squint my eyes as I look at her from head to toe.

Yep it most definitely is her,same blue eyes.

She leans on what I

presume to be her room door frame as she reciprocates the glare.

"If I were you I'd leave while I still have the chance"she says coldly

I raise an eyebrow in disbelief

Is she trying to scare me?

The girl in question is the spitting image of Ada only that she is lacking the height of her mother and has sharp blue eyes.

Even her hair is in the same locs but unlike her mother her hair is packed in a messy high bun and wrapped in a bandana.She isn't dressed as elegantly as her mother either,she has on a grey tank top and a turquoise mini skirt with a small slit on it.Her aura is tough and intimidating unlike her mother's who from what I've seen is more elegant than tough.

It literally feels like I'm looking at the same person but from a different angle.

I squint my eyes at her

"Why do you say that?"

"It's best you don't know"she says turning her back to me as she proceeds to enter to her room

"Don't say I didn't warn you"she says before closing the door leaving me to be engulfed in the total silence.

Should I be worried?

I shake off the thought and proceed to entering my room.Once I get in I lock the door-the last thing I need is for that weird girl to sneak up on me from behind.

I turn on the lights which reveals a large room.Its spacious no doubt but very plain,for rich people I was expecting more.The walls are white, the bed is white,the sheets are white,even the curtains are white.

I know I sound ungrateful but I was expecting more than a mere white room especially from rich people like Ada.

Well at least I won't have to sleep in the alley tonight

The rain seemed to have gotten worse making the atmosphere really gloomy,I'm not even sure what time of the day it is.

I go to the window and look outside seeing the big gates embellished with fancy designs and the little garden,I can also see far beyond into the city.I can see everything just a little smaller than it really is.

This place is really far away from the city.....

But why?

A knock on the door brings me back to reality and I go to the door hoping it's not that girl again.

"Here are your clothes"says the familiar maid as soon as I open the door

"Thank you "I reply taking the clothes.

The maid smiles at me

"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes,you know your way around to the dinning room right?"she asks

Dinner so soon?

"Yes I do" I reply

She walks to the girl's door and knocks lightly.

There is no response so she knocks again.

"Jasmine your mother wants you down stairs for dinner"says the maid softly

"Get away from door now"replies the girl who I believe is named Jasmine

"Jasmine"replies the maid softly

"Leave now"yells Jasmine startling both the maid and I.

The woman sighs and walks away.

I take a look at Jasmine's door before I close mine.

This place really is a mad house,it feels wrong to stay here, maybe I should leave. I'll do that tomorrow.