Shadows Of The Past

Chapter Nineteen

"Kayla! Kayla wake up!" Kate was frantically yelling her name

"God! What has happened? Is it from the exhaustion?"

"I think so. Get a side please" he said squeezing between the space with a glass of water.

Kayla felt something drop on her face. It was something wet and then she heard someone shouting her name again

"Kayla! Wake up. Are you listening?" 

"Wake up Kay!" 

She felt something wet drop on her face again. Water?

She tried to open her eyes, but the light was blinding her. She squeezed them shut.

"Kayla?" It was James.

She slowly opened her eyes and slowly but hazy figures were standing in front of her. It took her few seconds to adjust her eyes. She saw her best friend and James standing around looking worried.

"Kayla, are you OK?" Kate asked

She tried to sit back, but groaned when her head started spinning all of a sudden.

James immediately put his hand on her back to steady her.

"Thanks." she mumbled.

Kate passed her a glass of water and she quickly gulped it.

"What happened?" 

"I don't know." she paused, she looked around - she was cuddled carefully in a olive green couch that was placed near the entrance lobby. She immediately sat up taking in all the view. The Entrance lobby was a wide corridor with a lot of wall hanging art work on either side which further opened to the main foyer area of the house. The walls were painted in the silvery beige colour. Kayla could understand that why she fainted, but she couldn't understand how to make others understand. She wanted to talk to Kate but she had to wait until later - until everyone was settled. "Maybe it happened due to exhaustion. I'm fine" she said

But both Kate and James didn't look convinced, but before they could say anything someone interrupted them

A young woman in her mid twenties with a mass of curling black hair and striking green eyes having an olive skin tone stood there near the entrance of the lobby. She was dressed in a blue sundress which complemented her skin. Her features were very southern looking with her deep set eyes, prominent nose and a full lip that was painted in cherry colour. Her dress fitted every inch of her skin accentuating her curves. She was very beautiful. 

"Hello there. Are you OK?" she asked in a very silky voice. 

"Hey Gorgeous. How 've you been?" James was the one to respond.

"Thanks J. I am good. Long time before you should up and finally got some guests for us."

"Everyone, this is Layla. The go to person for anything you require at the Manor. She will make your life easy." he said hugging her "Layla, this is Kayla Winston and Kate Moore. That's Lawson, Bret, David, Jeff, Maria - our team" 

"Hello everyone. Welcome to Lexington. Hope you all had a safe trip?" her voice dripped with the southern twang.

"Hi Layla. Good to meet you."

" Where is everyone?" James asked

"Mr. & Mrs. Miller have shifted their residency to the outhouse cottage at the plantation. They are not staying here in the main house. When Ryan and Ms. Lee came he too have shifted there. Ms. Lee has gone downtown to visit the local store."

"The outhouse cottage? Why?" he asked

"No idea. Ms. Mc Call will join us there she will be answering your questions. I think it's in everyone's best interest if we all first get settled in and we can discuss about the same during the dinner in the formal hall at seven.  Frank has already delivered all your luggages in your respective rooms." She looked at Kayla with a smile and spoke " I think your friend here needs some rest and so do you. This way please."