Nadine's Journey

Chapter Seven

Nadine

When I finally come to, I am in an alien environment. My eyes flutter open, slowly taking everything in. There are blue curtains framing a closed window on my right. The sun is not out yet, but the moon is full, giving me enough light to make out my surroundings. The sheets covering me are silkier than the ones of my former home, and a simple lamp lies on a small wooden table by the bed. Where am I? Better yet... what happened? I slip out of the bed, letting my feet touch the floor for just a second. Ouch. That floor is freezing. I put my feet back down, getting used to the icy temperature. It looks like the floor is made of... stone? Yes, stone. Very smooth stone.

I nearly jump when I hear the door creaking open. I run for the bed and slide under it, my movements soundless. The intruder creeps into the room, cautious, and rightly so. Within the past couple of days, I have developed the ability to protect myself. I hold my breath, ready to charge towards the door. Right before I make a single move, the intruder steps into the pale light. My heart's quick pace starts to slow down. Thank goodness, it is just Agustin.

"Nadine," he whispers. His gaze is full of bewilderment. I'm not where he left me. "Nadine," he calls out, panicked. "Where are you?" He spins around in a circle, clutching his head. "Dammit Nadine!" He walks to the edge of the bed, right where my hand is positioned. His ankle is right there. The need for mischief fills me. I reach out in one swift movement, grab his ankle, and pull. As expected, I caught him off guard. He flies off balance, his body racing to the ground. I hold still as he glances beneath the bed. Seeing the fury in his eyes, I start to laugh. Not simply giggling. No, these expressions of my amusement come from deep within my stomach.

"Sorry," I squeeze between laughter.

"That was not funny," he grumbles.

"You're right," I agree. "It was hilarious."

"No, it wasn't."

"Come on, you know that it was funny." Finally, he joins in, laughing his head off. I look around the room, reality setting in. "What happened? What are we doing here?"

"You don't remember?" I shake my head. "Well, you got trapped in the acid rose's spell."

"What is a acid rose?"

"You don't know," he asks, incredulous. I shake my head again, ashamed at the lack of knowledge I have about the world. "I forget how naive you are." He sighs, tilting his head back. "It isn't the proper term for it, I suppose, but that is just the name that I grew up knowing. They are one of the most dangerous plants that reside on our island. Under the sun, the normally orange flowers look as though they are on fire. Of course, this is only part of the reason why they are called acid roses. They draw in their prey by releasing a scent that basically put the person under a spell. The person will do anything and everything to just touch one of the flowers. Of course, the person will not live long after they touch the flower."

"Why?"

"Because the flower spits acid upon contact. The acid burns through flesh rapidly, incinerating the person until there is nothing left but ashes. Those ashes will nourish the plant until the next unsuspecting traveler comes along."

"But I don't remember any orange flowers! I would think that I would retain some memory of these horrible events."

"Like I said, the scent puts the victim under some sort of natural spell. It basically possesses you, taking control of your body until you are either rescued or become a meal."

"What about you? You were there too."

"Yes, I was," he simply says with a smile on his smug face.