My Little Dove

Chapter 6

 It was a beam of light that woke Teresa, she groaned and rolled over. After a moment, her eyes flew open as she remembered where she was and what had happened last night. She shot up. "Simon?" she called. Teresa flung her leg off the bed, and walked out of her room. "Four doors down from Simon's, it what he said. Right?" Teresa asked herself as she walked down the hall, counting each door as she pasted them. "Four," Teresa said as she reached the fourth door, she knocked on it, "Simon?" When there was no response, she turned the knob and opened the door. The room was the same as Teresa's, with the bed and desk in the same spots, but Simon was nowhere to be seen. "Simon?" she called again.

What time is it? Where is he?

Teresa moved down the hall and walked down the stairs, calling Simon. "Simon! Simon? This isn't funny." Teresa stood at the bottom of the stairs. "Great," she mumbled to herself, "The only downside to living in a big house with a seven-year-old," she said as she turned tit hr right. "You will never find them," she grumbled again. Teresa hasn't seen this part of the house, it had the same features, the gold trim, white walls, and big windows. This is how she imagined the inside of a castle in books.

"Simon!" she called again. She froze, the hall ended at huge wooden doors. "Simon?" she said again, unsure. Teresa moved toward the door, and reached for the handle. "Simon, you in here?" she called as she opened the door. She heaved it open, it wasn't as heavy as she thought it would be. "Huh." Teresa looked in the room.

"Teresa!" said a voice, Teresa knew at once. Simon.

"Simon!" said Teresa walking into the room, "I was looking for you everywhere!" She stopped and looked around, the room was white, with silver trim on the edges, and a long tabled in the middle. Teresa held her breath when she saw who was sitting with Simon, her aunt. Teresa straightened her back, and cleared her throat. "Hello," she said, her hands at her side.

"Hello, dear," her aunt said with a nod and a tired smile. Teresa's aunt's name was Hellen, but the kids never called her that. She was a very tall woman, with a kind smile, and pale eyes.

Shes kind. Teresa was trying to reassure herself. But she can be very... blunt? Scolding? Judgmental? Teresa didn't know which word would fit best.

Teresa walked over to where Simon was sitting, and pulled out the chair beside him, "Sleep well?" she asked him.

Simon nodded. "Best in months," he said with a smile, he popped a strawberry into his mouth.

Teresa looked at the table full of food, there were, blueberries, strawberries, sconces, jam, and black berries. Teresa hadn't had fresh black berries in her life, only frozen, or a candy that had that flavor.

"How was your sleep, Teresa?" asked her, Hellen.

Teresa was chewing on a blackberry, when she replied. "Good, thank you," she managed to say with her full mouth.

Her aunt winced at Teresa's lack in the of manners. "Good," Hellen said, through clenched teeth. Then she straightened up. "Simon and I were thinking about going down town, to some shops and parks. Would you like to come?"

Teresa stopped chewing and looked at Simon, she smiled, "Sure."

"Hellen," said Simon, "are there bikes we can take? Ours are still being shipped with the rest of our things."

Teresa gagged, then she started to cough frantically. Teresa raised her hand and wave, signaling that she was alright. "I'm- Fine, -I'm- Just- chocking," she said in between coughs. After she was fully recovered, Teresa sat up straight and cleared her throat. "Sorry," she said, whipping a tear off her cheek. "Just... went down the wrong tub." She tried a smile.