A Dark Destiny

Chapter 18

I finally felt myself coming around. But before I could open my eyes, I felt my head start to spin. And then I felt all kinds of body pain. It felt unbearable and I just wanted it to stop. I slowly opened my eyes. There seems to be a white cloth above me, almost like a curtain. Had I died and went up to heaven? Where am I? And why is this place so white?

I turned my head to the side and a bright light hit my eyes in an instant. It's the window. I put my hand over my eyes to shield out the light. It's then that I heard birds chirping outside. Am I still on the Butterfly Island? Only one way to find out.

I slowly tried to sit up feeling every muscle in my body ache. I winced as I leaned back on my elbows. My head pounded like I had just pushed myself too hard when I've barely even sat up. I pushed myself up a little more and found myself in a sitting position. Now came the issue of getting my feet out of bed.

I stopped myself as I fully took in the room. I lay on a very comfortable bed with white sheets, blankets and pillows. The bed was actually a canopy bed with beautiful white bed curtains around. I also couldn't help but notice the wonderful silver embroidery on the white blankets.

I looked around the room and noticed a wooden cupboard at the corner. It looked like an antique. I've never seen anything like it. There is a small wooden table right next to my bed and on top of it, a metal jug and a glass of water beside it. There was also a small metal basin filled with water. I tilted a little to the corner of the bed to see the grey stoned floor. My body ached even more when I did that. The whole room made me feel like I had gone back to the medieval times.

I decided it's time to get out of bed and explore the place. I'm still on the Butterfly Island. I wonder where exactly.

Moving my feet felt like a burden and I winced everytime I moved just to get them out of the bed and onto the floor. I had to be slow, but when I finally managed to get them on the hard, cold floor, I sighed in relief.

I held the wooden pole of the canopy bed for support to stand up. When I did, I felt the ache in my legs and feet, and also my back. But that didn't stop me from slowly walking over to the window.

Looking out the open window were two blue birds, chirping on the windowsill. When they saw me, they didn't fly away like most birds do. They looked up at me, as though acknowledging my presence. I couldn't help but smile at them. When I looked to see outside the window, I couldn't help but gasp.

The bright blue ocean filled my vision. I looked over the horizon where the deep blue sea touched the light blue sky. The salty air filled my nose and there's something about it that sent my heart escalating. I've never been so close to such a huge mass of water.

I got closer to the window. The birds still remained on the windowsill. I looked below. There were beautiful green lawns and trees outside. I'm several storeys up a huge grey stoned building. It felt more like a castle. There was a tall grey bricked wall surrounding the place. The wall went round, and I had a feeling this place is a whole lot bigger than I can imagine. That gave me the courage to go out sightseeing.

I looked at the two birds. They were chirping at me like they were talking to me. They did it with so much glee. I guess they were just happy to see me awake.

"Okay," I told them, "I'm going sightseeing. Do I look appropriate to go out?"

I looked at myself. I hadn't noticed that I'm in a long white sleeping gown. No. I needed to wear something else.

I walked over to the wooden wardrobe. Before I could open it, I placed my hand on the surface of the closed doors. The dark hardwood felt so smooth, almost like marble. I noticed carvings of butterflies on the round door knobs and also atop. I didn't dwell on admiring the wardrobe as I took hold of the door knobs and drew it open.