CHAPTER 21

     

                   Alice laid still, her sleeping look gave off such innocence and frailty that for a minute she didn't seem like the same person whose life had suddenly taken a drastic turn for the worse, from one bad luck to another, as though a couple of gray haired, long nailed, toothless witches had cast an evil eye on her, long strands of hair fell across her face just in the right way, it brushed against her cheeks and the rest crept back along her ears until they fell down on the bed sheets, apart from her face and neck her entire body was enveloped, submerged under  a warm definition of comfort masked in the form of a pink blanket, that looked rather too patronised by floral patterns.

                   The soft breeze touched at her face, it's invisible touch toyed with her hair as it pulled it even further away from her eyes, sensing the pat of the breeze she gently pulled her face up from the bed sheets, but it went back there the following second, her body adjusted under the sheets indicating she was about to wake up, her hands spread across the bed in a stretch followed by a yawn, and with that her eye lids slowly lifted up, what appeared like scarlet curtains dancing to the silent tunes of the morning breeze made what she saw look like a dream, she pulled her palm across her eyes, blinking a couple times more, she breathed out a sigh of relief. 

                   Her eyes finally pulled away from the curtains and glanced round the room, carefully taking in the details, every item intricately placed, the paint on the walls was as white as day light, flawless without a stain, the air smelt fresh and clean, a wardrobe stood directly opposite the bed, she could see her reflection from it's mirror like doors, pulling herself up a sudden sting erupted from her left shoulder, she hissed and held at it with her other hand, taking the effort and sheer will power to lift her body from the bed, pulling away her hair from her face, she stared again at the reflection, there were little bruises on her skin and a cut on her lip that shone a bright red with dried blood, she flinched again putting one leg down from the bed followed by the other, advanced easily towards the mirror doors to take a better look at herself, there might've been more bruises to other parts of her body as the little stings she sensed warned her of them, but it didn't feel like anything serious, other than the cut on her lip and a little redness following the heartless slaps the holligan kidnapper had released on her face repeatedly, she looked okay, but she hadn't rescued herself, someone had come to her aid, she remembered him having given the kidnappers a thorough beating, but then everything went dark before she had the opportunity to see his face.

                  it could've only been one person, only he would've known how to find her, somehow even while she had been kept hostage by her captors she hadn't faltered in hoping he'd be alright, other than him being the only one who knew the truth behind her present condition, he was the only one who could protect her, but this was a strange place, and worse still it didn't look close to anywhere she was familiar with, but again whoever lives here could'nt have had a bad intention towards her, it seemed to be the only reason she was alive and well, she stared at the mirror one more time, taking careful thoughts and rethinking going out the door now, that's when she noticed what she was dressed in, pyjamas ? she questioned, careful not to make a sound, that had'nt been what she wore before now, but then she remembered her clothes having been ripped off her body forcefully, her body restrained as he rummaged her skin with his mouth. 

                " Pig " she cursed at the thought.

                  Finally taking the bold step she approached the door and reached for the handle, took a deep breath and pushed it open, the living room was just as intricately designed, with a bouquet of flowers fairly trimmed to perfection popping out of a vase that looked equally expensive, but just like the room, it was also empty. Following the chirping and bird songs that invaded the room she moved towards the door that led out of the house.

                 The outside was even more beautiful than the inside, the air obviously cooler and smelt divine as it carried the fragrance from the field of carefully planted flowers, she hadn't noticed that there wasn't a step down from the foot of the door, still engrossed by the view of the garden and basically every other thing, she dropped her leg and soon found herself falling on the hard cold tile she had earlier admired.

                  It took a second, and then three, she had earlier let out an unconscious cry right before she slipped, but something held her back, the feeling of a firm hand at her waist, she opened her eyes and he drew her up, turning around, a familiar pair of eyes stared back at her, she could tell he had been worried, his demeanor oozed concern, she hadn't realized how close they stood now, he still held her upperarm, and she had never felt more safe being this close to anyone before, she didn't mind.

                " Are you alright ? " he finally questioned, looking at her as though she were to fall down any minute now.

                  This was hardly the time to allow herself give in to such temptations, she hadn't felt like this before, it was probably because he had been three when she needed him the most.

                " Alice " he called softly, haven noticed how speechless she had grown, without tearing her eyes away from him.

                " Yes " she answered.

                " Are you okay ? " he questioned again, this time giving her a concerned look once again.

                  But she could barely utter a response, at least not before a resonating boom tore away the silence, shocking her back to reality.

                   Maybe it wasn't over after all.