The Ocean's Heart

#5 Clone

FIONA

When I first settled in this city , I chose this place because it was nearby to a neighbouring forest and lake.
Forests , has always been my perfect place ,to rest ,to stay and to cry.

Every day when I wake up , I realise that I'm in a world where my mom and dad are dead. And I'm never going to see them again.

Ever.

Every moments of my life , in my success, in my happiness,in my grief and in every other moments like phases of teenage, early new adult , late adults and mature grown ups...they won't be here although they should have been.

I don't know how I managed to survive. Back then I used to have 5 panic attacks in one day, and I was 12 back then.

I obviously didn't know how to deal with them. But i still survived all alone. And I'm proud of myself for that.

________________________

The clock struck 6 in the morning , and I glanced outside the window. It wasn't dark, foggy and chilly outside. But it was bright , warm and soft outside.

I was no longer a software developer from today. I hope once again I'll be able to utilise my education somewhere , of course it won't be required for a nanny necessarily.

Coco was still coiled up into a yarn ball ,sleeping soundly so he didn't notice me going out , to get some air. (Probably)

I was never a very soft lily person ,probably when I was young but i forgot that feeling long ago. I was more of a black rose person.

My work was from 9 am so I still had alot of time in my hands. The sun shone brightly when I walked out of the door.

The roads were still empty , probably it was too early for average humans to wake up.

The walk to the forest was very peaceful and quiet. There were lavenders and tulips blooming in the forest.

The colossal pine trees gazed upon me as if they were to trample over me. A light breeze cradled over my body which sent mild chills through my spine. I looked up at the sky , the sun couldn't invade the forest neither could it's light infiltrate into the woods.

The clouds looked like ebony ashes floating like dandelion seeds into the spring air while small insects and butterflies squirmed around my bare feet.

That was probably the only source of life present in the dark enchanting woods , apart from the trees of course.

Whenever I stepped into this forest , I could see and hear things that no one else did.
I heard my mom's and dad's soft voices , calling me. Sometimes I saw shadows which looked like it wanted to engulf me.

I saw tiny winged creatures which i still don't know what to call. I saw birds which doesn't resemble any birdy appearance.

Most importantly, I saw someone who looked like me and a golden willow no one else could see. A clone , a copy , a twin , a robot , a shadow , a mimic of me.

Were they just hallucinations? Or there's more to it?

I looked at the watch , and it was already almost time for me to leave.

The forest knew I was Alice, which is why i visit it so often. It is the only dangerously comforting place which will welcome me as Alice , and as Fiona.

Once for all , before I walked out of the forest , I alone , saw the golden willow staring at me with a lenient piercing gaze.

After 45 minutes , I was standing outside Ryle's mansion. It was beautiful, and looked like my dream house.

There were no calling bells or anything, the gate was locked and I saw no sign of life nearby.
The wall was short , enough for me to climb it.

I hoped no one would see me climbing like a creepy lizard into some unknown person's house.

I knocked on the door ,and was greeted by a small , dog?

It looked at me as if I was of its own kind ,which was strange because I thought it would bark at me.

Soon enough , I saw Ryle coming down to , probably give me an introduction of my job but no , I didn't get anything as such. He simply looked at me , and asked me to get in.

The inside was like a indie french house down in Paris.

"Do you mind giving me my job preview"
I asked impatiently because he didn't look like he was planning to.

"The rules first Fiona.
1st : Don't pry into my life.
2nd : Mind your own buisness and don't take my daughter out without my permission.
3rd : Do your job and only your job.
4th : My daughter's life is in your hands , so if anything happens to her , I'll ruin your life." He spoke as if he has been rehearsing this for days.

Yeah i knew all of that , but it still hurt me like rubbing salt on my wounds because once he used to say he would kill anyone to see me happy.

"My daughter is upstairs, let's go."

I nodded in response

Ryle knocked on a door around the corner of the 2nd floor , and the door opened by a tiny blonde kid , who looked like a fairy.

She looked up at me with those pair of blue eyes and said

"Get out , I only need mom , not an unknown woman who wants to imitate mommy"

Hello :))) !
Let me know if you liked the chapter
In case you want an outfit check for what Fiona was wearing,here we go. But you are free to imagine just yours.

Thanks for reading
💚