2 A.M. #Wattys2017#specialawardwinner#iceaward2017

Chapter 6

I turn around and is stricken by black eyes and dark frame. The features of the outline seems familiar but, my eyes are fixated to brightness and feel a little wary.

"Ella!", the all time rhythmic voice sounds very distinct and nervous today. My legs are automatically led towards the call. By the time I turn around to face the black frame, I hear a loud thump!!!.

"Joy sir!", I scream and stump towards the ground close enough to Joy sir's body, I am too scared to move any further. He raises his blood stained hand gesturing me to hear his words probably his last ones, I obey my heart and decide to listen to his words instead of calling for help, this must be important. 

I stagger towards Joy sir's almost still body, gently placing his head on my lap. He quickly holds my hand in fatherly gesture and starts husking out words, " Eel. I d-don't have m-much t-time left. Whoever walks t-through those g-gates will never come back a-alive, I was lucky to be back but, not e-enough to survive. I am t-telling this to you b-because I saw your  photograph hanging in Earr..h hall with a relaxed and r-royal curve on your lips, you are r-related to it's rroyal history of hires." He takes a deep breath and fishes out a black rose from his pocket, placing the rose on my free hand he continues to speak,"Have this with you, thiis may show you towards right direction of saving Roseefiield. Ahhhh...c-central l-library b-bblock 6!", with that he held my pendant wide eyed and turned stony. 

Joy sir was gone, leaving numerous clueless sentences in my mind. I felt like being hit by iceberg, I had lost my childhood teacher right in front of my eyes. Tears rolled down when I placed his body on the grass. The grass I was admiring a few minutes back had turned into hearthrug of dangerous red. 

Something under Joy tore the tender material of my gown, when I turned him face down I was bewildered to see a strong branch of tree stuck hard to his back. I cried harder realising the pain he had suffered. But, he still insisted on letting me know what he had known. The prudent gaze he held on my pendant was not showing pain, rather it puckered a strong warning. I was supposed to solve the puzzle he put me in. 

I ran into the pub as the lights around flickered with bad omen to welcome me back. I shouted out my pain at the top of my voice,"Joy Sir is lying dead outside the pub on grass parch". People around started to rush out of the pub as I collapsed to the floor, the last thing I saw before everything turned blank for the night was Kate's horror struck face.
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I woke up with strong head ache. It isn't a very pleasant morning outside the walls of room. I stare at the rain roaring with wilderness hitting the window panes hard. Kate showed me into her house yesterday, after I fainted in misery. I presume she had me changed before bed because I am warmer and clean now. My green gown is laid on teak chair alongside my bed. The torn part brings back the memories of dreadful night, I caress it revoking the pain of losing my teacher.

Joy was perfect name for a person like him, he was most joyful creature in the town. He had lived in Rosefield since his birth, exploring the nook and corners of the town. Literature had always been his fascination. Girls drolled over this middle aged handsome bachelor. Most pompous teacher during class hours, never have I seen students loath his class, his explanation was like sing song of humming bird. How can such a peaceful and humble soul die in disaster?.

Today I have to bade my good bye to Joy but, I deny on going to church when Kate walks in to call me for the funeral. I wasn't strong enough to see the emptiness in his face. I can imagine candles raised to everyone's chest in tribute, Joy's pale face lit in its patterns.

His last words were ringing in my head. Where had he seen my photograph? royalty was never me, but, he stated very clearly that I might belong to a royal family or was it something else?. Before all this started he had been inside some place which he struggled to tell yesterday. That place was responsible for all this was the least I could decipher. Obviously someone from that place had stuck a sharp tree branch into his back. I flinch at the thought of him in such a situation. I strain my mind to think of a place where Joy might have been to end up in such a disaster. He also said that solving this puzzle is important to save my town. All this mixed up and meddled with my medulla. 

I got dressed and decided to search for the answers in the library as indicated, this would be the last assignment of my dear teacher and I will surely complete it, that is my tribute and thanks to him. Rosefield will not lose anymore of its residents, I am going to justify the reason of my existence and survival..