Winter Mansion

Early Mornings

Chapter Four- Early Mornings

All night I tossed in the sheets; they're foreign and cold, I miss my warm comforter.  

I want to go to the pool with Amber and get a few 100's in before class.  I miss Coach too, as much as an annoying asshole he is.  

And my music, I wonder if I can convince someone to get me a walkman at least? I don't think I've ever gone without music this long.

"Somewhere, over the rainbow,"

"Bluebirds fly,"

"Mmm-mmmm... Why can't I~"

The song rolled off my tongue, a familiar tune, especially when I free swim.  I can almost feel the cold water wash over my muscles as they flex and push against the water.  

I'm thinking too much about this.  The glowing clock beside my bed reads 4:38 AM , I've rolled around for two hours, and this silent darkness around me is making my head ring with anxiety.  

My feet gently meet the cold wooden flooring and I  flick on the lights in the quint room.  

It's comfortable for a prison cell, no windows, a stiff bed, my stuff neatly put away, I was always the neater out of my other two roommates...

Are they looking for me? How long have I been here?  It couldn't have been too long? Surely, they noticed I was gone and alerted all authorities.

I'm going crazy, the air is turning hot and heavy in this confined space, it's hard to get down my lungs.  

Gasping, I shakily get up to swing my door wide open and show the dim-lit hallway.  

I take a few deep breaths and look around the corridors, they are silent, not a single noise is heard.  

Cautiously, I step over the divider and receive a chill from how cold the corridor way is.   "Hello?" I say down the hall in hope that someone will answer.  I'm thirsty, and a bit smelly, a shower would be really nice right now.  

I turn back into my room and take a towel and washcloth from beneath my nightstand where I had stored them.  

My footsteps echo down the hall as I search around for a shower of some kind, I found a few personal bathrooms, but none with showers in them.  

In fact, this corridor looks like it is meant to fit many people, the rooms I peeked into looked just like mine, but they were barren of any life; the place reminded me of an abandoned asylum.  

Nearly ready to turn around and go right back to my room, I see an archway down a conjoining hall.   I make my way into it and nearly shout with the joy of seeing the showers I had been searching for.  

My clothes fly off my body, I still smell like the sea a bit, but much more musty.  The smell of the sea is actually quite strong, so maybe it's been three days or less since the day I was taken?

Quickly adjusting the water I hop under the spray not caring it's still a bit cold, but then I let out a hiss of pain and grip my stomach.  

I step back and look over my tan stomach that's started to bleed from hitting it, on it is etched a triangle, and then a moon-like shape cradles it.  The symbol is unfamiliar, but I do remember the pain the bitch caused me as she dug into my stomach.  

I shiver at the memory, I thought I was dying as she pulled out my liver and spleen, turns out she was having art class on me.  

I run my fingers over the pink raised area and flinch back.  It doesn't look infected, but it's really painful and grotesque.  

___

I gratefully plop down on the bed in my towel, hair still wet.  The shower felt great, though I had to be gentle with the stomach area, it had started to bleed some but stopped after a while.  

My hands grasp a dresser knob and pull it out to reveal a drawer of socks and boxers I had folded up from the box.

I slid into them, then a pair of black pants.  I plan to escape as soon as possible, but it's way smarter to see the map before running through the maze in confusion.  I tuck the white shirt into the pant, it's long sleeved and I secure the neck with a thin piece of black silk.  

There is no mirror, but I feel like some kind of rich high school student in this standard but crisp attire.  

My head is flipped upside down so I can throw my long hair into a high ponytail like yesterdays. Though I know it's not as neat seeing as I'm too lazy to pick up the brush from the box, but It's better than before.  

I quickly leave my room and look down the hall that Miss Isabel and I took to get here originally, that must be the way to people.  

I set off down the long dim hall until I come to the giant dome-like area with the grand staircase.  It's beautiful in here, most things are blue like the curtains and walls, but they are decorated in elegant gold, it even looks real.  I can't help my fascination with a giant chandelier above my head, it glistens like snowfall on an early morning; I could look at it for an eternity; The Winter Mansion, huh.

Out of curiosity, I walk towards a long grand hall, it stretches out into a set of double Wooden doors, they tower over my figure.  Grand expensive wood glistens under my fingertips, and a slight breeze pushes, is this the exit?

I take a few steps back, I can't leave yet, I need more information.  I look around the area, if there is a balcony I can see the land set up myself, maybe find a road.

But I find no indication of one and turn walking back towards the center of the dome.  

It's so dark around here, the lights that are on barely light a corner, it's like they're on just enough for me to see.  

Does that mean vampires are actually scared of the sun and light? If they are, then why have such extravagant windows built?

The windows! I almost run to one of the giant curtains.  They're thick in my hand, soft blue velvet, I gently nudge it open. Light blinds me momentarily and I step in front of the curtain letting it fall closed around me.  

I can't look out the window because it's so bright, but soon my eyes adjust and I am met with the vision of water, some of it has chunks of ice floating in it.  There is frosted grass, as well as particles of sand, it must be freezing cold outside.

I've never seen an iceberg coming from California, this is crazy, where am I?  Am I even in America anymore? Nobody is ever going to think to look for me beyond California probably. What if they think I'm lost at sea?   I rest my hot head on the cold clean glass, I have to escape!

"Oh, you are already awake."

No.

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January 4th, 2018

So,  I went out today and bout my laptop, hip-hip-harray!

I changed Levi's hair from long to short, I was going to give him a haircut later in the book but decided I wanted him to sport his flawless style, so yea, that's different.  

I just want Friday to walk in already...

Anyway, Happy New Years I guess. 

Also, I know I don't sound thankful, but seriously, thank you for freaking reading, I can't begin to tell you how nervous I get before I put out a chapter, thank you.  

Author Fact #1- I have Rupophobia like Levi, an extreme fear of dirt and uncleanliness.  I spend most of the day either cleaning or washing my hands; I'm exhausted.

- Tide Ackerman