~AvilaThe fabric around my waist is pulled tighter, pressing the breath from my lungs."Ow," I yelp as a needle pokes my skin, leaving a stinging sensation in its wake.I look ridiculous. I'm standing in front of a large mirror, staring back at a version of me I don't recgonise.Since my memory has returned to me, I've struggled to relate to the person I see in the mirror. Coming to terms with the fact that this is me has been harder than I anticipated."Apologies Princess, the needle is awfully sharp," the seamstress murmurs, securing the fabric in place with her safety pin.I stare at the dress she is working on. The fabric, on the outside, is light and flowy, but the structure of the dress is suffocating as it pulls at my rubs and presses into my lungs."Stop flinching, dear, and the seamstress won't poke you," Crimson exclaims, brushing my hair back over my shoulder so she can admire the sweeping neckline."This is very uncomfortable," I grit out.When Roel isn't around, Crimson
~AvilaI stare down at the paper in front of me, my scrawlings so ambiguous in nature, anyone watching me would have no idea what I'm trying to convey.It turns out, whatever artistic abilities I had before I lost my life are now gone, because I can't muster up anything half decent.Groaning, I drop the coloured pencil, resting my forehead against the desk.Who am I?The sound of shuffling feet have me whirling around in my seat in panic. Despite being the middle of the day, my mind immediately jumped into assuming it would be Emerick visiting me again."It's okay, it's just me," Vade soothes, stepping into the room. "I wanted to bring you this. Roel asked me to." He holds a pile of books out to me, seeming uncomfortable. He generally avoids me at all costs, so I imagine Roel really had to push him to come bring me some books.I take them gently, resting them on the desk.The way we are standing reminds me of the flashback I had yesterday. We are in a similar position, and instead of
~AvilaI stalk into my room, leaning my back against the closed door.Ugh. What a miserable day.Breakfast consisted of Vade giving me the cold shoulder, and when I went to ask him to spend the day helping me go over some flashbacks I've been having, he brushed me off and disappeared.At this point, I think I need to take a hint and leave him alone.Sighing through my nose, I push off the door, dragging my feet to the bed. I was cornered by Roel, who spent the entire day stuffing history down my throat. I now know everything about all the King's and Queen's that came before me.Something shifts on my desk. The breeze coming through my window lifts it up, causing it to drift down to the floor.Frowning, I stoop down to pick up the piece of paper, folding it open.Avila.Meet me in the gardens this evening. Midnight.E.A shiver rolls through me. Emerick wants to see me again.***I get through dinner without much fuss and excuse myself to my room early. It's not the best idea, because
~AvilaI stare down at the words in front of me, wishing they weren't swimming in my vision.“Been swimming recently?”I jump, glancing up. Roel is pinning me with that cloudy gaze hidden being his thin framed glasses. This is one of many sessions I've agreed to that should inform me about this Territory and how I should rule one day.“No.” I clear my throat.I haven't had much time for anything. My mind has been full of thoughts of Emerick and of Vade, and how I'm supposed to marry the former. I haven't been thinking much about pursuing hobbies that I previously had.“Worked on your art?”“I gave it a try and I’m useless," I drone, flipping the page of the book despite not absorbing any of the information.Roel studies me quietly for a moment. His scrutiny makes it difficult to concentrate on my studying, although at this point I'm ready to accept that this is a lost cause.“Fascinating. It seems this experience has reset your brain entirely," Roel murmurs. He scribbles something on
~AvilaThis morning, I woke to four maids crowding me.They practically dragged me from bed and started dressing me, muttering about how my father returned from business.Once I've been sufficiently dressed in suffocating clothing, I'm dragged downstairs to meet him.Considering how I was prepared in the morning by the maids, I expected my father to be a stuffy, haughty man with too much power and little interest in me.Much to my surprise, he immediately engulfed me in a warm, loving hug and launched into a spiel about how grateful he is that I'm alive, and how sorry he was to be held up on his attempt to return here.I like him already.Now, we sit at the table, enjoying a beautiful lunch that is far more exotic and lavish than anything I've had so far, when my father hasn't been home. I've piled my plate with so many foreign fruits that I have no more room for anything else of substance.“I am so pleased you're back, Av," father exclaims, smiling at me.I see the resemblance betwee
~AvilaI take my seat in front of the desk, wiping my damp palms over my clothed thighs.“Well, this is an interesting situation isn’t it?”The man on the other side of the desk is yet another unfamiliar face. He arrived this morning, and with his presence came a shift in Crimson's behaviour. She strolled downstairs wearing more clothes than I've ever seen on her body with a necklace shaped like angel wings.It didn't take me long to realise this man represents the Angel's through the church, and is here to consult with Vade and I before our wedding.“We appreciate your discretion with Avila. She isn’t ready to come out to the public just yet," Vade exclaims.The minister rests his forearms on the desk, smiling at me. “Of course. Your mother informed me that you have lost your memory, so we must conduct this pre-wedding interview again.”The amount of traditions around here is frankly ridiculous.“We’ve done this before?” I glance at Vade.He looks incredible this morning. Considering
~AvilaI settle into my seat, looking at the two unfamiliar people sitting before me.Roel has called them in to gather information on me. It's in the pursuit of finding out why this has happened to me.I've been told I can back out of this at any moment. Still, I'm nervous.What if something bad is uncovered?“Thank you for speaking with us today, Avila. This is an interesting case," Marie, the female researcher says with a pinched smile. The others introduced themselves to me as Jeremy.“Can you help me find out how this happened?” I ask, clutching the arms of the chair as if I might fall off.“We are hoping to." Marie exchanges a look with her colleague. “We have been told that you are experiencing different tastes in foods, different interests etc since coming back to life.”I swallow past the dryness in my throat. The term 'come back to life' is a little daunting to think about.I mean, is that really what happened? Was I ever dead?“I have flashbacks of being good at art, and ye
I'm suddenly aware of everything. First is the pain, striking right between my temples. It makes me wince, until I realise that my facial muscles are stiff. As I raise my hand to touch them, my wrist hits concrete, my skin raw as I yelp in pain.Darkness surrounds me, as my eyes slowly peel open, seeing nothing but swirling colour on a black canvas in my vision. The air is stale, as I breathe in deeply, my joints clicking in response. I must have fallen asleep in an odd position, as all my limbs feel numb. And then it hits me. Where am I? Who am I? No matter how deep I scrape the back of mind, everything comes up blank. I remember nothing. "Help!" I yell, pressing the palms of my hands against the ceiling above me, the bite of cold from it striking through my tender skin.My voice is hoarse, unused, scratching painfully at my throat. "Please someone help me!"A yelp sounds from whatever concrete casing I'm trapped in, and then some frantic mumbling. I'm not sure what is going on