LOVE STRUCK: Dimensions In Motion

chapter 6

The ride back to the manor was silent, but my mind was a storm of questions. Grace looked at me, her usual warmth replaced with a hint of worry.

“Kalynda,” she whispered cautiously, “do you really not remember anything before you arrived here?”

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. “It’s all a blur, Grace. Sometimes, I feel fragments of something… like a distant melody, but I can’t grasp it.”

Grace nodded thoughtfully. “I understand. But whatever that girl meant, it’s clear there’s more to your past than we know.”

I glanced out the window, my heart heavy with unspoken fears. "I wish I knew who I was before. Maybe then, everything would make sense."

The manor loomed ahead, its tall silhouette casting a shadow that seemed to deepen my unease. We arrived at the entrance, where the madam was already stepping out, her expression as calm as ever.

“Kalynda, Grace,” she said softly, “thank you for your assistance today. You’ve both done well.”

We bowed our heads in gratitude, but as I met her gaze, I caught a flicker of something—curiosity, perhaps? It was gone before I could read too much into it, and the madam disappeared into the manor, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

That night, as I lay in bed, sleep eluded me. Shadows danced along the walls, each one seemingly stretching and twisting into shapes that reminded me of the figure I’d seen on the street. I closed my eyes, hoping to escape, but my mind drifted back to the girl’s words. Missed lessons. What could that possibly mean?

My thoughts were interrupted by a faint sound—a melody, delicate and haunting, drifting through the corridors. I sat up, my heart racing as I listened, captivated by the soft notes.

It seemed to call to me, each note tugging at something buried deep within. I slipped out of bed, wrapping my shawl tightly around me as I followed the music, drawn toward its mysterious source. The melody led me down a winding staircase and through a hallway I had not yet explored. I walked slowly, almost as if in a trance, the world around me narrowing to just the music and the path before me.

Finally, I reached a small room at the end of the hall, where candlelight flickered under the door. My hand hovered over the doorknob as the music ceased, leaving an eerie silence that sent chills down my spine.

I pushed the door open, and my breath caught at the sight inside.

A woman sat at a grand piano, her fingers hovering just above the keys. She was shrouded in a dark cloak, her face obscured by a veil. The moment I entered, she looked up, and though her features were hidden, I felt the intensity of her gaze, as if she were looking straight into my soul.

“Who… who are you?” I stammered, barely able to keep my voice steady.

The woman tilted her head, her voice soft and chilling. “Do you not recognize me, Kalynda?”

I shook my head, my pulse racing. “No… should I?”

A low chuckle escaped her. “Ah, perhaps not yet. But in time, you will remember everything.”

I took a cautious step forward. “What do you mean? What is it that I’ve forgotten?”

She rose from the piano, her movements graceful yet unsettling. “All will be revealed soon. But beware, Kalynda—the truth may be far darker than you imagine.”

As she spoke, the candles flickered violently, casting long shadows across the room. I felt a surge of fear mixed with a strange, unexplainable familiarity. “Tell me,” I pleaded. “I need to know!”