Chapter Three

The morning of whatever event this is soon rolls around, where you could just tell by the way in which Patrick was acting, he was growing nervous. I had been kept away for years and in conditions that most would dem inhumane, which is something he definitely, does not want people to find out about.

I was finishing getting ready for the day in the attic, they had allowed me to shower which meant I was fixing my hair so I looked presentable. The girls had given me some clothes, where they loved to tell me that I could keep them as they didn’t want to touch anything that had been on my body. But I didn’t mind that much, that meant that I had some fresh clothes that I could wear.

I stare at myself in the tiny broken mirror that was on the wall, I don’t look in the mirror much as it only makes me sad to what I have become over the years. My bright green eyes have turned dull in a sense due to the constant abuse and hunger that I endure and feel on a daily basis. My mother constantly tells me that I look too much like my birth father, which only leaves it to my own imagination on what he may look like.

Before I had time to think anymore, Patrick’s loud and intimidating voice begins to shout up the stairs to me.

“This isn’t a fashion show! No one will care what you look like, hurry it up!” He shouts angrily at me, I turn back to the mirror letting out a sigh before walking over to the door of the attic.

Now the time was getting closer to me somewhat being in public again, I was growing nervous on what may happen or what people may say. I open up the door and begin to make my way down to the bottom of the house, my apparent family waiting at the bottom giving me death glares.

“We wanted to wait as long as we possibly could, the less time that we spend with you the better.” Anne says crossing her arms over her chest, before anyone else could comment Patrick, opens the front door.

They begin to file out of the house where I was the only one left in, which wasn’t a new feeling for me. The girls and my mum walk ahead while Patrick turns to me, the annoyance clear on his face as he went.

“Get out, don’t you dare leave my side for a second.” He tells me as I remain on the stairs, I nod my head walking down the final step and out into the fresh air.

It was the most amazing and surreal experience in my entire life, the feeling of fresh air on my skin made me want to burst out in a real smile. But Patrick taking me by the arm and dragging me to the end of the garden stopped me, he only released my arm when we were in a spot that other people would be able to see us.

He turns to look down at me sending me one of his mean looks, I gulp before my eyes drop to the floor as I follow alongside him like his shadow in a sense. I knew he was nervous but deep down, he was enjoying seeing that all the beatings had caused me to be compliant. We soon catch up with the rest as stalls come into view, everyone walking around happily talking and children playing with each other.

The overwhelming feeling for me was fear, I haven’t been around other people that weren’t in my house for years. When we are all together, they only take turns on who can say the meanest insult my way.

“I’m glad you all could make it, especially you, Evermore.” A man’s voice says when we all come to a stop, I was shocked that whoever this man was said my name. “It has been many years since we have seen you out and about, we were growing rather worried.” He says which did make me slowly take a look at whoever this man was, he was sending me a soft smile but when I take a look over at Patrick, he raises an eyebrow which tells me to not interact, where my eyes drop back to the floor.

“There isn’t much point talking to this one, she doesn’t speak.” Patrick says before he ushers us all away from the man, I know he is worried but him acting shifty will not be helping his cause.

We walk for a little while longer until we find our spot facing a stage, where Patrick reaches over and takes my arm so I wouldn’t be able to slip off and get lost in the sea of people. But that thought never crossed my mind for even a second, I don’t even want to imagine what he would do when he found me. After a few moments, a man who I’m guessing is the mayor of the town walks onto the stage.

“Good morning, thank you all for joining us on this most special occasion, I hope you are all enjoying the events and stalls that we have organised.” The man starts his speech smiling at everyone, they all met him with a cheer answering his rhetorical question. “Now we have been very secretive over what will be happening, only because we haven’t been too sure ourselves. But I would now like to introduce you to the man that wants to talk to all of us, please give your warmest welcome to King Axel.” He says pointing to the side of the stage, where a very handsome man smiles and walks onto the middle of the stage.

Everyone cheers and claps once again, while I stand there mesmerised as he comes to a stop right on the middle of the stage. I take a look down at the ground not wanting to stand out, I knew how much Patrick would hate it.

“Firstly, I want to thank you for welcoming us with such open arms, we are from a kingdom a short distance away from here and were intrigued on who our neighbours may be.” He starts to say where his voice sends intense shivers to run down my spine, perhaps I’ve been spending too much time in the attic.

I realise that this feeling may not go away unless I look, so with a deep breath I move my head so I was facing up once again and looking at the stage. The man was scanning the crowd for someone or something, it was as though he was looking at each and every person.

After a second, his eyes land on me where we make eye contact. Instantly, it was as though the whole world stopped and disappeared, he and I were the only people left. But the feeling of Patrick holding my arm even tighter, snaps me out of my trance where my eyes go back to the floor. But I couldn’t shake the weird feeling that whatever had happened between me and that king man, has changed the course of my life forever.

What just happened?