Constellations

Chapter 6

A bright light filters through the curtains. It must be morning. Carina sleeps in a chair by my bed. I try to sit upright, but a piercing pain runs through my spine. Carina wakes up when I move. She helps me sit up and the pain in my back starts to ebb away.

"Did something happen to me?" I try to sound casual.

"Clearly," Carina knows that I'm embarrassed.

"What happened?"

"You collapsed on top of the coffee table. Your back hit a bowl at an angle and you slid off of the table and onto the floor."

"Did I look like that judge in the jail?" Carina looks blank and then starts to laugh.

"Only a little," she winks at me and we laugh heartily together. When we've laughed until our tummies hurt, Carina tucks my hair behind my right ear. "Do you remember?"

"I remember the orphanage and the jail,"

"You're memories are coming back," she smiles a wide smile.

"I guess they are," I chuckle.

A bell rings in the distance. I lift my off of Carina's shoulder. Her eyes light up.

"Breakfast!" my stomach growls. I didn't even know that I this hungry, but then again, I did skip dinner. I spring out of bed and chuck on a pair of jeans and a woolen jumper. Without bothering to put on a pair of shoes or brush my hair, I race down to breakfast.

"Caia!" Carina chases after me. "Caia, that is not the way smart little girls should behave!" I don't stop. I'm so hungry.

"Ten-year-olds!" I think I hear her grumble.

Outside the dining room, I hurriedly run my fingers through the blond curls that inhabit my head. Carina rushes up to me, breathing heavily.

"Look at you, you look a mess!" she tries to look stern, but a smile tugs at the side of mouth. "Like usual." She winks at me and ruffles the hair on the top of my head.

"At least I can do something about it, you're stuck with that face," I stick my tongue out at her.

"Oh, that hurts," her face is riddled with false hurt.

"It was only a joke," I try to look as innocent as possible.

"I know," Carina laughs cheerily. I join in her merriment.

"Oh good, you've arrived," my aunt smiles as she approaches us. "As we weren't properly introduced last night, my name is Elizabeth and your uncle's name is James." She motions to my uncle. I smile sweetly. A boy of Carina's age walks towards us. He heads straight to Carina and takes her in his arms. He kisses her deeply and I try not to puke. I look away until they break apart.

"It's okay Caia... we've finished now," I look Carina and pretend to be sick, she bursts into laughter, and soon everyone is joining her. We laugh for ages, and I don't know why. I'm only laughing because everyone else is. They all look ridiculous when they laugh.

"Hello scruff ball," the boy ruffles my hair.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" I blurt out.

"Don't you remember, I'm Harry?" I stare at him blankly. "You're cousin."

"Harry," Carina begins, touching his arm.

"Don't worry Carina, it's okay. I can speak for myself," I take a deep breath and carry on. "A few days ago, I decided it would be a wonderful idea to go swim in the sea. I swam too close to some rocks and a wave crashed me into them. I bashed my head and when I woke up, I couldn't remember anything." I hang my head.

"Hey little one, don't worry, I'm here for you and so is everyone else," everyone nods in agreement. Harry locks me in a tight hug. I hug him back. I vaguely remember him chained to a hospital bed.

"Why were you chained to a hospital bed I first met you?" Harry goes a deep crimson colour. My aunt looks horrified.

"You appear to have left that part out of your spectacular story," Elizabeth eyes him up, challenging him to defend himself. Harry drops his head.

"Not my finest moment," He laughs half-heartedly. Just then, my stomach rumbles.

"Well, all this can wait until after breakfast," Uncle James says, pushing open the door. Heavenly smells fill my nose, making my mouth water. I am ravenous.

I rush into the dining room and plonk myself down onto a comfortable, red, silk chair. A whole feast is spread over the table. Bowls of fruit, plates of pastries, baskets of bread and a butter dish beckon me to them. I pile my plate high and I barely have the decency to wait for everyone to start eating.

"Wow!" Carina exclaims when she sees my plate. I go red and hide behind my food mound.

"Will you be able to eat the next coarse after all that?" Uncle James asks.

"There's a next coarse?" I go even redder. Shit, I look like a pig!

"Of course there's another coarse," Aunty Elizabeth says, her eyes shining. I feel really guilty. I know that it will be a struggle for me to eat what I've got on my plate, but to eat a whole other coarse, I just couldn't manage it. Suddenly, Carina bursts into laughter and I can see everyone else struggling to consume theirs'.

"I don't see what's funny," I feel so humiliated. Why are they laughing at me?

"It's just that..." Carina laughs again.

"...We're pulling your leg!" Henry finishes, screaming with laughter. The hunger in my belly disappears. I don't want to be around their wicked behavior anymore. I grab some bread roles and run.

"Caia! Stop!" Carina calls after me. "It was only a joke" She says mournfully.

"Jokes are supposed to be funny!" I snap back at her and run faster.

I run through corridor after corridor, each one looking as old and beautiful as the other. I know that I will be lost. Breathing hard, I turn into a hallway with blue walls. It's so different to the other corridors. This one feels warm and welcoming. Two doors stand on either side of the hallway. Steadying my breath, I open the door to the first room. What's inside takes my breath away.