till the end of the line

a new beginning

A large bump in the road caused the car to shake and my head jolted forward and then hit the head rest again. I sharply gasped for air as i woke up.

'Sorry', the sound of a gentle male voice sank into my ears. It was soft and warm but a new voice to my ears yet in some part of this mans voice i found comfort, but the comfort wasn't new, it was like a faint childhood memory. 

My voice hadn't woken up yet but i managed to push out an, 'its fine.' It came out raspy but not harsh and as i looked into the rear view mirror in front i could see the smile in the drivers eyes. My eyes were forcing themselves shut despite my attempts to keep them open and just as i was floating off i heard the voice again,

'You should try keep yourself awake just a little longer, we're almost home.' 

Home? I'd slept most of the journey so i was unsure of how long i had been sat in this car and the destination was unknown to me but home wasn't a word i had labelled a place in a long time. I thought hard to try and recall the events that had taken place before the bump in the road but everything before then was blurred and scattered. It wasn't that i had no memory of my previous years, it was more that i couldn't distinguish the memories and what i thought were memories, my dreams, fantasies. 

We turned a corner and i found myself being drove towards one of the fanciest things i've ever seen. There were multiple large buildings surrounded by large green areas, water features and expensive cars.

The car slowly came to a stop. The man driving unbuckled his seatbelt, got out of the car and walked round to help me out. I stepped out of the car, stood up properly and made eye contact with the man who had brought me here. Same with the voice, the face was familiar and i felt safe in his eyes but i just couldn't connect the dots.

He grabbed some bags out of the back of the car and walked me into one of the larger buildings. He turned to me as we walked through the doors, 'I'll put your bags in your room so you can settle in for a bit and then i will introduce you to most of the team.' 

I nodded and we made our way up the stairs.

The room didn't underestimate, it was just as glamorous as the rest of this place. The man placed my bags at the door, 'I'll leave your stuff here so you can unpack and sort yourself out. There are towels in the bathroom', he gestured towards the the ensuite door behind me, 'and once you've done that, when you're ready you can make your way downstairs for introductions.'

I did just that. I unpacked my bags, it didn't take long as there wasn't a lot to unpack. It was pretty much just clothes. As i was placing the clothes from my bags into the drawers beside the bed and a small laminate paper fell onto the floor. It must have fallen out of a pocket. 

I picked up the paper and unfolded it. It was a picture, a picture of two young girls. They were happy and clearly close, maybe sisters? I walked to the drawers to place the pile of folded clothes into them when something caught my eye. 

On top of the drawers was a small, glass ballerina figurine and next to it was a picture frame. The picture framed caught my eye. It was a picture of what i assume was a family. The assumed father was the same man that was in the car with me on the way here. He was stood next to a gorgeous, tall woman and in front of them two little girls, the same girls that were in the picture that fell out of my bag.

I finished unpacking and took a quick shower, i put on some fresh clothes and made my way downstairs. I couldn't exactly navigate myself because i didn't exactly know where i was but i could hear chatter and laughter coming from one of the rooms so i made my way to that one. 

I walked through and around the kitchen island were a number of people, a number of new faces. I walk over.

'Great Rose you're here, i hope you've gotten comfortable in your room.' I smiled and nodded. 'Okay great, most of the team are here so i guess i will let you get to know everyone.' 

the first to approach me was a young female, 'Hi Rose, Im Wanda.' she smiled at me, she had an accent, it was strong but gentle. 'Erm, Hi', i tried not to be awkward because i didn't want to come across as rude but i didn't know these people, or where i was.

I made my way through the group and then a red haired female made her way across the room towards me. Her face was familiar but at that moment i couldn't tell why. 'Hi i'm Nat', i smiled as she continued to speak. As she spoke i studied her face trying to pin point where i recognised her face and then it hit me, she was one of the girls in the pictures. She paused and i managed to get the words out, 'So you must be um, his daughter', i nodded my head towards the man who brought me here. 

She let out a small burst of laughter, 'God no, well not literally. He found me after i escaped the red room when i was younger and took me in but he raised me as a friend, rather than a daughter.' a confused look came across her face, 'You really don't remember?'

A confused look then came across my face. No, i didn't remember but i also couldn't remember what she wanted me to remember and it was annoying and honestly frustrating.

'I'm not his daughter, but he had a daughter, has a daughter. I spent some time growing up with her but at a very young age she was taken to the red room, the same place i spent my childhood trying to escape. I.. i think maybe you should ask him about that.'

I gave her an awkward smile and walked off. I doubt she meant that to be weird, but it felt weird. Almost like she was trying to tell me something without telling me something.