SYNERGY

Like a fish 3.

The Sun was warm on my face, I could smell the grass and feel the breeze. There were birds chirping nearby. I never wanted to get up, this was the most relaxed I felt in weeks and there's no way in hell I'm going to budge.

Tap.... Tap.... Tap.... Tap....

"Whoever is tapping my forehead has a death wish."

I heard someone laugh with obvious amusement and opened my eyes. He was standing above me smiling. He had the most beautiful face with curious brown eyes that crinkled when he smiled, full lips, and a mop of black hair that curled over the top of his ears.

I couldn't help but stare at him. He was dressed sort of vintage in a dark green collared coat, brown shirt, trousers, and boots.

"Well, aren't you going to say something?" He grinned.

Surprised I sat up. "What are you doing?"

He stared at me seeming to choose his next words wisely. "Um, well you see I was sitting under that tree over there." He pointed to an apple tree. "Minding my own business, reading my book, when you just portaled out of thin air. Now I thought to myself what's a girl like that doing in a place like this all soaking wet and frozen. So, I decided to come over and see if you were alive."

Annoyance flared through me. He had a UK accent, but I couldn't decipher where he was from. It was almost like a French lady and a welsh man had a baby.

"So, if you try to escape you get portaled back onto the grounds. Just so you know for future escapes. My name is Kip by the way," he said extending his hand to me but I just stared at it. I think shock was starting to set in.

"Myyy nammee iss Kip, you know like the fish," he said slowly pronouncing each syllable then he made a fish motion with his hand.

Now I wanted to slap him.
"Astrid," I quipped.

He squatted down to my level and stared attentively into my eyes, causing a shudder to go down my spine. This made him look even more amused. "Excellent I was worried that portal made you daft in the head."

Looking around all the previous events that led me to here flashed in my mind. "I think I'm in shock. A lot has happened to me the past couple days and I'm not sure what's going on or where I am."

His face seemed to change instantly showing a grave amount of sadness as if he recognized exactly what I was going through. "Well the first thing you need is an explanation. I'll take you to the main building and they can tell you everything you need to know and get you a change of clothes," he extended his hand once more.

"Thanks," and this time I took it.

He guided me to the main building across the grounds giving me a brief history of the place. Normally history bored me to death, but the excitement and animation he displayed while telling the stories kept me entranced. His ability to change his facial features for each emotion he portrayed was fascinating to me.

We approached a huge stone entrance. "Ah, here we are. Loretta is our secretary here. She doesn't really like pretty woman so let me do the talking." He opened the door for me and I raised an eyebrow at him as I went in.

The inside was just as beautiful and grand as the outside. Vaulted ceilings with chandeliers and mahogany wood everywhere. Loretta was a beastly looking woman with thick framed glasses, purple hair, and a big mole on her face, she looked at me with disgust.

God, I wonder what's got into her, I thought.

"Good morning, Loretta your youthful appearance is ravishing today as always," he said winking.