FIRST SIGHT

Elisa

I opened my eyes, and the sudden burst of sunlight attacked my eyes. I closed my eyes and reopened them slowly, waiting for them to adjust to the light.

I stared at my environment, which was strange and different. I was on a bed, in a room filled with antiques.

This wasn't home, this wasn't home with Mama.

I rose to my feet, my head heavy and my entire body weak and tired. I held my head and stood up, my legs wobbling. I walked up to the window, wondering where I was and why it sounded so awfully quiet.

I froze as my memories returned to me in a rush.

The curse, my mother sprawling on the floor. The blood moon's chosen one…. the fog and the shadow that had grabbed me.

I rushed to the door and pulled it. It was locked.

I am in Blackthorn Manor.

I pulled the handles and banged loudly on the door.

“ Let me out! Who's there?”.

I choked on my screams and coughed violently. I held my throat as I wheezed and slowly sank to the ground.

“Someone please let me out,” I managed to say between raspy breaths.

The doors suddenly flung open, and a woman came in with a tray. She seemed to be in her mid-forties and didn't have a smile on her face.

Instead, she looked annoyed as though I'd been a menace to the peace of the Manor.

Her red hair fell to her waist in thick curls, and her chilling dark green eyes stared at me for a long while.

“ Screaming isn't going to help you”, she began as she set a cup of what looked like tea and cookies before me.

She seemed ordinary, and I wondered if she was just a servant. She had this aura about her that a regular servant would have, but there were rumors too, that all the Duke's servants had fled the Manor.

He had been a terror right from birth.

I looked at her as she straightened up and turned to go. I reached out and held her sleeves.

“ Please let me out of here”.

She turned to look at me, her face unreadable. She managed a smile and stared at the tonic.

“ If you don't drink that up pretty soon, it'll be your body that'll be let out. Hmm?”

She walked out, shutting the door behind her.

I coughed again, my eyes blinding with tears. I remembered the later incidents of last night before I passed out.

Those eyes…. Was that the duke?

My cough intensified, and I reached for the tonic. If it were poisoned, it would be much easier for me rather than be used as another ritual.

But I doubted they'd give me the easier way out. I drank the tonic with shaky hands, and halfway through it, the cup fell from my hands and shattered.

My hands shook and I heaved, trying to catch my breath. I felt very weak and slowly slid to the floor.

Someone let me out. Help me, Mama. Rowan.

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

I had healed pretty fast. The tonic had helped ironically.

The same woman came to my room every day with a cup of tea and some food. She didn't say more than a sentence.

“ Eat, you'll need your strength”.

And I recovered, strong enough to move around and hum to myself. There was nothing much to do here except sit down and worry about my fate.

I hadn't seen the monster, nor had anyone told me about my fate.

The door creaked open, and the same woman walked in carrying a tray.

I watched her as she set down the tray, expecting her usual line, but this time she said nothing. She just searched my face quickly and hurried out the door.

I grabbed the plates and began to eat. As I picked the last cookie, it suddenly hit me.

I didn't hear the door lock click. Usually, I was locked in here and everything was provided for me, my bath essentials and food, but this time I didn't hear the lock click.

I stood up, my heart pounding fast, and slowly approached the door. Maybe this was a trick, but at least I could try.

I pulled the door handle, and the door opened. I froze momentarily, then I took a deep breath and looked outside. No one was in sight; everywhere seemed deserted.

This was it, my chance to escape from here somehow. I closed the door quietly behind me and glided through the hallway, which was polished and clean, as if people lived here.

Well, I had no time to confirm that. I needed to find a way out of here as soon as possible.

The only thing I had to trust to save me at that moment was my instincts.

I navigated every turn and curve I made, hoping to see something, anything. I heard the sound of rushing water and rushed quietly towards it.

Soon, I burst out into a garden, the cool wind hitting my face. I paused and took in a deep breath.

The garden was beautiful with this lovely water fountain in the center of it. If it were in a better time and place, I could have explored it and reveled in the beautiful sight.

But right now I had to leave. I scanned my environment. There were walls at the far corner of the garden with creepers on them. I didn't know what was on the other side of the wall, but at least I had to try.

I had to try.

I hurried to the wall and grabbed onto the creepers, using them as a rope to hoist me up.

At first, they didn't help, but soon I got the hang of it. I climbed up, my heart pounding so loud that I could hear it.

I had to do this so I could be free.

I was halfway into my climb on the wall when I felt a presence. Then I heard small, steady footsteps approach me. I lost my footing and slid back down to the ground, heaving.

There was someone in the garden with me.

I turned around to see who my attacker was. I'd rather die right now than go back into that Manor.

I was stunned to see the man who stood before me. He towered above me with an impressive height and intense dark eyes.

He was beautiful, just beautiful in a way that stole your breath away.

“What do you think you're doing?”

If I was worried about his beautiful face stealing my breath away, well, it was because I had not heard him speak.