The Taupee Chronicles- Blight and it's Master's

Chapter Six

Ava woke after what she thought was a short time. She couldn't remember dreaming and felt it had only been a few hours. She thought it would be a good idea to check out the communal area. As she slowly moved off the bed, her whole body groaned in protest. The excursions of yesterday had stiffened her muscles to an almost painful degree. She spent some time stretching out different muscles, and finally, feeling a little human again, she made her way to the washbowl to splash some water on her face. As Ava crept out of her room, she noted that the hallways appeared silent. This immediately put her on edge. It was in complete contrast to when she arrived earlier. As she shuffled down the hallway, she could hear soft breathing and snores coming from various bedrooms, which eased her anxiety some. She must have slept for longer than she thought. When she entered the communal area, it appeared deserted. The food from earlier had been removed from the table and the whole area and been swept, mats folded from the floor and placed at the sides of the room. She wondered what the time was and started to search for clock.

After a little time, Ava finally spied a small digital clock on one of the counters, next to the large metal sink. It was 3am. She was shocked that she had slept since midday yesterday. Clearly, her body had needed the rest. No wonder the place was deserted. Everyone was probably still asleep. Ava made her way around the kitchen, inspecting the cabinets to see if there was any coffee she could make. She finally found a cupboard full of instant coffee, sugar, and different teas. She sighed in relief, knowing that she wouldn't be using too much of her hosts stock if she had a few cups. She filled the kettle with water and turned it on, surprised that there were working electrical sockets available. This must be a much more permanent residence than she originally thought. As the water boiled, she made her way to the fridge. It was filled to the brim with perishables. Ava grabbed a large, open carton of milk and placed it on the counter before she commenced her hunt for a usable mug. It wasn't long before she found some cupboards with various mugs, cups, and dining ware. She grabbed the nearest one, a large pink mug with a chipped handle, and finished making her coffee.

She made her way to the lounge area. It looked like there were various clothing repairs being undertaken here. She decided she should make herself useful and picked up one of the ripped sheets. It looked like someone had started to repair it but had only got a few stitches in. Ava made herself comfortable on one of the sunken armchairs, placed her mug on the floor beside her, and got to work. It was extremely therapeutic for her to undertake this. It helped to take her mind off recent events. The monotonous nature of carefully sewing each stich, moving the needle in and out of the fabric, and inspecting her work provided Ava with a sense of calm. She had been there for some time before she heard someone shuffle in from the kitchen area. It was the thin woman from yesterday. She smiled at Ava when she entered.

"Good morning, darling. I apologise for not waking you for dinner last night. I went to check on you, but you were out like a light. I thought you would appreciate being left to sleep. I see you've been making yourself busy, though." She nodded to the sewing. Ava smiled back at her as she spoke.

"Thank you. I was so tired. I think my body needed the rest in all honesty, it's not often I experience an insanely traumatic event and have to scale walls on the same day." Ava smiled sadly at the woman as she spoke. "I thought I would at least fix one of the items here before I leave today." She gestured at the pile of sewing.

"Thank you, darling." The woman stated. "I'm just about to start breakfast, I'll bring you another coffee while you work. Please wait for a little while before you leave. The gentleman who you saw last night would like a word before you go. He's still sleeping, but he will smell breakfast and get up pretty quickly." She laughed as she walked away to make Ava another coffee. Once she placed it beside her, Ava thanked the woman and continued her work. The smell of bacon and eggs and the sound of frying quickly permeated the atmosphere, reminding her of just how hungry she was. Bleary-eyed children and a smattering of adults started to trickle into the communal areas. Quite a few looked her way with hesitancy before unrolling the mats at the side of the room. Ava wasn't surprised. It must be disconcerting to have a new face in your sanctuary.