Falling for Midnight

Chapter Two

I watched as she lay motionless on the floor, her eyes frozen in a permanent stare. A dark figure looms over her, its presence seems to draw the light out of the room. The air is heavy with an eerie silence, punctuated only by the sound of labored breathing.

Suddenly the sound of shattering glass and crackling wood fills the air as flames erupt from the kitchen, spreading rapidly through the house. The woman's face remains still, her face serene in death, as the fire rages around her.

As the fire reaches its peak, the house begins to collapse, the sound of crashing beams and splintering wood echoing through the night. The woman's body is consumed by the inferno, and her final rests in a fiery tomb.

The darkness closed in, the only sound the crackling of flames, a haunting reminder of the tragedy that occurred. My eyes flew open with a gasp, I blinked slowly, trying to steady my racing heart and blurry vision.

This wasn't the first time I've had such a dream but it felt so real each time. As my vision became clearer I was met by the intricately designed ceiling of the room which looked slightly illuminated by the small stream of sunlight coming in from the gap in the curtain.

I sat up slowly, resting my head against the headboard, and exhaled.

''Come in,'' I replied in a raspy voice as I tried clearing it a bit. The door clicked open and Anna's blonde head popped into the room.

Her eyes landed on my disheveled state and she smiled softly before entering the room.

''Good morning Thalira. Hope you slept well?'' She asked in concern. I stared at her for a while as if trying to remember who she was and slowly nodded.

She furrowed her brows and nodded before walking towards the bathroom. I glanced down at my attire, noting that I was still in my previous travel attire. I slowly stood up as Anna emerged from the bathroom.

''I have prepared your bath. Do you need my help with bathing?'' She asked. I quirked a brow at her question and she chuckled shyly. ''It's a tradition around here.'' She added.

''Tradition?'' I inquired.

''Yeah. We would help bathe the mistress and assist her in getting ready for the day.'' She said and stared at the floor.

''increíble,'' I whispered under my breath. I slowly padded my way to Anna who seemed to be in deep thought and placed my hand on her shoulder.

She jumped and looked at me with wide eyes.

'' You don't need to do that with me. I can bathe myself and get ready on my own.'' I said in a calm, small voice. I wasn't in the mood for much today.

''Huh? No no no...If the headmistress found out I'll get in trouble an-''

''And you'd be safe as long as you don't spill no?'' I said with a tilt of my head. ''Besides, I'd prefer if you were a friend and not a servant,'' I said dropping my hand from her shoulder and stepping past her.

''F-friend?'' She stuttered as though in disbelief. I paused halfway into the bathroom and glanced at her over my shoulder. ''Yeah. I want us to be friends.

That way we're both comfortable around each other and you don't have to do all the other extra stuff.'' I sent her a small smile. ''Besides..... I like your smile. It's cute.''

With that, I walked into the bathroom shutting the door behind me.

The bathroom is beautiful as with the rest of the place. The space is expansive, with high ceilings and a single large window that lets in natural light, creating a serene atmosphere.