Ring Alert....(ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 2

I'm sitting in this huge room covered throughout in lights and painting I can't make out. Uncle Rummi has this huge house - you can't even call it a house, I'm sure that would be an insult- with around 20 lobby sized rooms stacked inside 4 storeys.

And out of all the wondrous and probably cozier-than-this rooms, I always get this same old one. It's on the 2 nd floor and at the heart of the I-shaped building. A wierd shape for a 'castle' . I know.

My mom's usually given the one on my left but how should I know?

I didn't see her since the "bush" incident and have no idea whether I even met uncle. I find him quite mysterious though. It's like he just disappears into thin air and I thought I heard a few screams while I was in the bushes saying "Where's Rummi?!"

He should be ok right? I mean he is a brave man.

OK. All this thinking my might give me a headache. I need a diversion.

In the 15 yrs of my life,this is my 20th time here but it just gets more and more uncomfortable each time. Way to go on the diversion Kate. I decide to stroll and explore the room. Now that's what you need. I never realised I'd observed it so closely to figure out there's something different about it. But what?!

Oh ya!! The Mona Lisa portrait. It's gone! And it's been replaced by something else. Somethy more intricate. The swirling patterns on it are pleasing to my tired eyes. I automatically get pulled towards it. I glance at the silver handle. Should I? No! It must be uncle's private busz....but I'm his niece, he sure wouldn't mind me poking my nose in his busz, I could always give him some advice of I find it bad. Hmm...

I stand still; my right foot slightly pressing the floor; my left almost in the air; I steadily shift my right hand onto the handle. Twist....

"Ouch", I squeaked. My forehead had hit a gazillion degrees. Actually far more than it. Burns A-LOT. Tears clot in my black-spectacled eyes just when I see it.

How in the world does a door lead to a brick wall!!!!

I need to clear up some issues with uncle. I can't believe he's masters in architecture. He sure doesn't know the use of a door. Maybe he missed that class.

Disappointed and hurt, I shuffled back to my bed. What a waste of time and curiosity. I switched off the ochre lamps on my sides and dozed off into the thoughts of 'Jason'....huuhh.....The boy of my dreams who would never notice me. I slept with my right foot outside the cozy woolen blanket. A habit is habit after all. But I regret it, that night had to be colder than Antarctica.

~*~*~*~*~

I woke up the next day with a nest instead of my hair. I went to the bathroom for a quick shower and came out nice n clean; my neatly tied-into-a-messy-bun hair now and then beyond compare.

After taking a long look at my stunning figure (atleast that's what I think) in the mirror, I rushed downstairs for breakfast. Smart little me forgot to have dinner last night.

No one. I checked my wristwatch. 9 am. Huh. That's a shame. Every member of my family never starts breakfast before or past 9 am. You can say it's a tradition. But what bugged me was that it's exactly 9, why wasn't't anyone there?

~*~*~

10 am. I settled on going back to my room. On my way I knocked on mom's door. No one answered. I knocked again, harder, only this time not the door but my moms forehead.

"Sorry!", I screamed on top of my voice. I really didn't wish to get into trouble. "I didn't mean to." Her attire struck me. "Mom! What happened? Are you ok? Your face has scars all over! It's become all bloody. And your clothes! They have more holes than fabric. Did the termites mistaken you for wood. Anything-". I was cut short by the wierd looks on her face.

Last night must have been tough for her. She absolutely had no clue what was happening. Neither did I.

I needed answers. Now.

Out of panic, I began banging my head on the peach colored wall in the hallway. Focus kate focus.

Just then, a piece of white flew in through the half broken window. I gripped moms hand tight by the wrist and dragged her inside. Wait a minute. ...broken window?

The interior of her room was a carbon copy of mine, just like I'm of her. Both a perfect match.

Red curly hair, pale skin, thin straight eyebrows and ocean blue eyes.

Royal bed, floral lampshades on either side of it, a study table and the same boring paintings.

~*~*~*~

It took me my full strength to pull her till the bed, on which I instantly dropped her. She bounced a bit and then fell fast asleep.

I've always wondered how she does that. Like that she must be getting a full 8hrs sleep. And then there's me. Rolling and changing positions for 8 hrs until I finally manage an hour's sleep.

I took every single characteristic from her and how could I forget this most important one. Kate, I think you're forgetting something else too... the chit!!! Thx for reminding me my inner self.

I cautiously bent down and grabbed it.

.GARDEN.MIDNIGHT.RING.

That makes no sense! What could this message possibly mean?I'm can bet you ten pounds those words don't go together. But still, I tried figuring it out for hours but none of my explanations pleased me enough.

I stared into blindness. My eye sight gradually slided from the chandelier to the floor. I think I noticed something in between.

The swirling patterns!!! They are here too.