The Night We Met

Part II: Chapter I

That's what happened when I was young.

I now live in a little village of Vanya, a quiet yet peaceful home for ordinary people like me. I don't have any parents, but I have a guardian. She is my 'stepmother'. I'm not trying to be Cinderella or anything, but she is cruel. She is really aggressive to me and my pet pig. She doesn't even know that pig is my 'pet'.

I've been used as a maid in this little cottage, on the borderline entrance before the Kingdom of Liones. I've been used to clean, cook, bathe and even trade items between Liones and Vanya. It's tedious, yes, but it's the only way to survive and make money.

I miss Father.

It's been fourteen years since he died. I'm twenty-three now, and I've been trying to save enough money to explore Britannia — or maybe even the world. The Earth. However, that miracle seems far, far away. It's destined for me to arrive here... but is it destined for me to reach hope?

I can't remember my friends' names. I met that in an orphanage far away. The orphanage is demolished now. I remember that there were eight people there, and I was new to the orphanage. I can't remember anything else... well, actually I do. I remember this blonde hair boy, smiling and waving at me. He was shorter than me, and had emerald green eyes.

That's all I can remember.

    When I left the orphanage and refuged to Vanya, my adoptive mother took me in. She was fifty-eight at the time, but she passed away now because of a disease. By now, she'd be seventy-two. Oh, how time passes. When she passed away, my 'stepmother' took over. She looked really young and nice, but she was cruel within. She made me do chores around the house, torturing and tormenting me with every word spoken. She ruled the deadly fortress below, covering the shadows from the sunlight above.

    Today is the day I run away.

    I've saved up enough money to travel to Liones and enough money for a hotel room and for food. I plan to leave exactly at midnight. It's eight minutes to midnight right now. All of the lanterns on the streets of Vanya have been turned off, and there was not a glimpse of a shadow in sight.

    Time was money. Money is time. אין לי מספיק זמן, which meant: I do not have much time.

    I spent six minutes dotting on my journal-map on where to go. There was a tavern along the way, where I can stop by. However, I may need to eat my breakfast first somewhere else. There was also the centre of the kingdom, the Castle of the Liones Heritage, where I can drop by for sightseeing.

    In the last two minutes, I stopped. Was I really going to do this? I hope so, I've waited for so long.

When the clock struck midnight, I was on the move. I left the cottage without a word, and walked on the streets of Vanya. I passed the Vanya Ale Shop, the laundromat which was accused of bribery, and more shops along the way. They were all closed, but my future was open.

I finally crossed the borderline of Vanya and Liones. I feel so... free. So... vulnerable, yet so... true. I walked along the path using my map I bought from a shop, and used my flashlight to enlighten the road to freedom. Well, I am free. But the thing is — what about in the morning? What happens when my stepmother finds out I'm missing?

Goodbye, Caroline.
I hate you so much.

I kept walking for around half an hour, until I heard a neighing noise nearby. A carriage, with two pristine, clean, white horses scurried away to the opposite direction. Have I been going the wrong way? I decided to follow the carriage. They weren't going as fast as I thought they'd be, but it was probably because it was thirty-five minutes past twelve in the morning.

Once I caught up with the carriage, I've arrived. I arrived to the heart of Britannia — the Liones Kingdom. My new home. It is now fifteen minutes to one in the morning, and I found a lovely spot under the tree to sleep on. It was surprisingly clean and not muddy to sit on, so I rested there for the morning. Later in the day, I will go and get some money, and search for the tavern.

The Devil Shop Tavern.

    I woke up under the shade of the oak tree. Thank you, oak tree. The gates to the kingdom were opened. There was some letters at the top of the marble, polished black gate, presenting: All visitors are welcome! How lovely, even lovelier than my stepmother.

    I checked my watch. It is seven o'clock in the morning. This time is where I'd usually start mopping the kitchen floors, cook breakfast — specifically an apple pie on a Sunday — and water the plants in one whole minute. Good thing I've relieved the stress off me.

    I walked through the gates. My emerald green dress flowed through the wind. I walked on the pavement, seeing people of all classes — first, middle, and lower class. Rich, adequate and poor people. The poor people were begging for some money. I gave each of them one dollar. They were extremely thankful. These days, you can get almost anything under a dollar. Lovely.

    I checked my map. I first needed to eat breakfast at this shop called — Diana's Dilemma. Love the alliteration there. I searched for the shop, and found an orange-banner decorated café, with calligraphic handwriting, presenting Diana's Dilemma. I walked inside, and saw no other customers sitting. I must be way to early.

    I walked near the counter, and pressed on the bell. I moved my white hair out of the way and waited for a waiter... or am I the waiter...?

    A girl with brown pigtails bounced up. She had purple, violet eyes and an infectious smile. She looked rather familiar, but I don't know where I've seen her. Maybe I'm just imagining or just... hallucinating. Most likely.

    "Welcome to Diana's Dilemma! I'm Diane, the manager, and you are our first customer today! What's your name? What's your order? Do you like my hair?" Diane asked excitedly.

    "May I have the menu... please?" I politely asked. She shuffled the menu to me. I flipped through the menu book, and saw some delicious foodaries!

    "May I please get the... uh... pancake with strawberries?" I requested.

    Diane smiled, "Of course!" She noted my order down in a notebook, and smiled at me, more creepily this time.

    "How much do I have to pay you?" I asked Diane.

    Diane giggled, "Guess what? You're our very first customer of the day! Meaning, you get the food for free!"

    I smiled, showing my teeth happily. I thanked Diane, and walked to a table for a reservation. I sat down, and opened my journal. The next stop is, The Devil Shop. It sounds like a sinister name, but it's worth trying.

    As Father always used to say...

    I forgot what he always used to say.