Spirit

Three

I clawed back up to the surface, a headache flaring as I ripped my eyes open. The spinning room came into focus and everything was strangely..... pink?

Pink walls. Pink rug. Pink canopied bed. Pink door. Pink dresser. Pink pillows. Pink armchair. Pink tinted windows. Pink. Pink. Pink. "Gross," I whispered, kicking my legs off the side of the bed. My feet sank into the fluffy carpet as I realized I'd been changed into a pink nightgown. Also gross.

I didn't want to know who changed me. Or when. Or why.

I moved to the pink pair of double doors and pulled one open, peeking my head out into the empty crystal hallway.

I hadn't expected being kidnapped to be this luxurious, but it was. It really, really was.

I walked out into the hall, softly closing the door.

The crystal was surprisingly warm under my feet as I moved down the hall, toward a large, sparkly corridor.

These people had a lot of money. And they loved their sparkles.

The crystal chandelier hung low on the high ceiling and the white-gray marble floor shined with an elegant glow as I moved toward the large white stone door. It was heavy when I pushed it open. Inside was... an office.

How unfortunately boring.

It was brightly lit by the light seeping through the large wall of windows looking over a sparkling lake, shimmering with the reflection of late dusk. How long had I slept?

The rest of the office was made of white, sparkling stone with a large mahogany desk and fluffy rolling chair set in front of two overstuffed armchairs.

I moved behind the desk, staring out the window at the glowing, twenty-foot tall fence surrounding the large, castle-like estate.

The door shifted behind me.

I dropped to my knees, hiding behind the desk. "It's alright." A man's voice said softly. 

"I won't hurt you, I promise." I didn't budge.

"If you don't feel comfortable coming out now, take all the time you need." He whispered. "I'll wait."

I heard one of the overstuffed armchairs creek. The fear slightly fades as the man continues.

"Evelyn, right?" The man whispered. "Deluca told me you prefer to be called Ellie. Well, I'm Elrick. I'm Deluca's father. It's lovely to meet you. Well, I assume it is, considering I've never heard your voice." He let out a soft laugh. "This is probably a lot for you, waking up in a strange place like this."

I turned on my knees, popping only my eyes over the desk and nodding.

Elrick's smile was soft and kind. His green eyes and dark hair match his son's perfectly.

"There she is." He said with another smile. "You must be scared."

I nodded again.

"I'm sorry for that. My son acted recklessly. Your friend is back with her parents, in case you were worried."

I had been. Very much.

I let my chin hover over the desk.

"At your own pace, I promise." Elrick reminded her. "Don't rush yourself if you're scared."

I was. A lot.

"Now, I just want you to know that once you're comfortable, I'll take you to a different room to meet my wife and daughter. They have a much gentler touch than my son and I," Elrick informed me.