SMOKE SPIRIT

4: ~wild and hysteric~

I didn't waste any time after taking a shower doing any additional things like drying my hair or applying any moisturizers. I just wrapped the bathrobe and tied its strips around my stomach. I stopped in front of the huge vanity, basically all old royal style; the tap of the basin winked at me as it shined underneath the lamp dug into the wall from above, making my face every flaw and feature exposed in the mirror. I just stared, but then sighed and made my way out of the golden-ceilinged bathroom. There was, for sure, no clothes in the closet, so I had to open my luggage and get something for myself to accompany me in my sleep.

As my eyes fell on the open luggage placed at the foot side of the queen-sized bed and then on my lavender-colored long maxi, I scrunched my nose in confusion and my eyes squinted. While I was in the shower, I didn't hear any footsteps in the room or anyone unzipping my luggage. I went towards it and grabbed it; it was placed satiny, but it wasn't ironed, just the way I put it in my bag. I shushed the thought away and thought it might be the maids who came to put it out on the bed. I didn't give the already bizarre thought any other thought and went towards the folding screen; it was three panels long, and so many Chinese art was drawn on it while its corner was a combination of golden and forest green. It complemented the other interior of the room, all green and archaic. I preferred changing my clothes beyond it even though there was no one in the room except for me, but I felt very inappropriate to change it in the middle of the room.I wore the lavender-colored maxi and came out, fixing its collar sleeves while my eyes fell on the mirror placed right beside the folding screen at a little distance. I looked at myself and then my reflection in the mirror. I could've been a better version of myself if Alianora was here, and she never left or if just my parents didn't hold me accountable for their death. I ran my hand on my right-side collarbones, a small tattoo emblazoned on my collarbone reading "you ate." I hissed at the feeling, just removed my hand, and went back before any kind of thought entered my mind and ruined the remaining peace of my mind.

I slipped into the covers and felt myself sink into the mattress as it was so soft, and the duvet engulfing my body felt just right. I closed my eyes, then lazily opened them again to look up at the Chinese art drawn on the roof. I wondered who should've drawn it there, putting so much effort and subtleness into his work, but my sleep didn't let me finish that thought. Instead, it wrapped me in its peaceful yet a little uncomfortable warmth.

I was sleeping, but then I was awake, my eyes wide open, and the art disappeared from the roof, replaced by nothing but darkness. I heard muffled giggles, then it faded, but then resonated again, making me aware of my surroundings. My room was dark; it was the roof which didn't have painting on it but was darkness in that room. I felt like someone tickled my leg. I bent it, and the giggle again erupted in the atmosphere but fading afterwards. I felt like someone was pulling the duvet off of me, but I didn't let it go like my life depended on it. Then I heard the giggle again. My eyes were wide with realization as I was taking my own thought into account.

I whispered underneath my breath, "Alianora," as I spoke the lights were on, and I saw Alianora smiling at me. But soon her smile disappeared, and her lips started trembling. She was backing off while stretching her hand out for me, her face going purple, and her lips turned green. Suddenly I was in the swimming pool, as I saw her resisting and throwing her feet back and forth in order to come to the surface, but I was tied to my bed. I was in the middle of the swimming pool witnessing her drowning, but I was helpless, tied to the bed. Suddenly my breath was out of my lungs. I jerked up and sat straight, looked at my surroundings, and then saw Alianora standing in the mirror. It was not Alianora but my mother, along with my father and a small infant in her hand. They all were shaking their heads while muttering and chanting, "Kathrine's ominousness ate us." They kept chanting those words until I was feeling my body no more, and my throat was burning as a loud, sharp scream escaped my mouth, and I jerked up sitting again.