Quarantined

Chapter 5

I woke up the next morning and greeted Chris and Sam, who were already downstairs (they had returned to the home very late last night, when I was already sleeping). They, too, asked me how I was feeling after I had, in their eyes, spent a full day recovering, when I knew that it was not true in the least. Likewise to what I did with Reginald, I fibbed and told them I was still not well, and that I required more rest. However, Chris had, unfortunately, began to catch on somewhat. "You definitely seem better than you appeared yesterday," he said. "Really, you are improving. It would be nice if you would join us today. We are headed on a train tour of the nearby city." I did not know what to say at that. I wanted to free that woman from the bars as soon as I was able, but I also had to do it without anyone knowing. So I asked, "How long is this train ride?" "It should take up most of our morning, and then we will go out to have lunch," he replied. 

I quickly created a compromise. "I will join you for the train ride, but after that, you must return me to the house. I still feel somewhat strange, and am having irregular episodes of lightheadedness." Of course, all of that was a lie. I felt regretful that I had to let the woman behind the bars remain trapped there for several more hours. I had wanted to free her as soon as I was able, but I also did not want to miss out on everything else that was happening. "Wonderful! I believe we can work with that." Chris said in response. "Come along, Sam, let us get ready." 

I was restless for the entire morning, and barely spoke when Chris asked me questions or made any comments during the tour. I only managed to mutter simple one-word answers like "yes" or "no", or maybe the occasional "you don't say?" All I could think about was that shadow I had seen inside my bedroom wall on two prior occasions. Several thoughts were racing through my mind. What if she thinks I abandoned her? What if she gets mad? What if she is not there anymore by the time I return? Even though I was very far away from the mansion in that moment, I wondered if the shadow could still hear my thoughts. I am sorry, I tried to say. I will help you soon. Just hold on. 

The tour was supposed to be three hours. Instead, it seemed like three centuries. I urgently wanted to go back to the mansion, but I tried my best to not make it obvious. The woman needs me! Thankfully, it was not long before the locomotive had returned to its initial stop. I did try to memorize some of the landmarks and other sights that we passed by, to make it seem convincing that I did pay attention. "Well, I believe that's the end of the train ride. I will drop you off at the mansion and then Sam and I will go have lunch at that Italian restaurant we passed a couple blocks back." Chris said. "Thank you!" I replied, trying to tone down my relief. I did not enjoy the train ride, sure, but I also did not want it to appear that way. 

After we arrived back at the house, I bid farewell to Chris and Sam, and re-entered the mansion. I did not go to my room right away; I had lunch in the dining room first. Thankfully, the pizza from yesterday was still good and only needed to be heated up a little. Reginald stopped in briefly to clean Chris and Sam's plates from breakfast, and, yet again, I tried to ask him about my room and what had occurred in it in the past. I inquired if anyone who stayed in that room had any negative effects happen to them, without being too specific. Still, he refused to entertain me. Without saying a word, he put the last of the plates back into the cupboards and headed out onto the porch. After three attempts, my curiosity has been more than piqued. Nonetheless, I did not pursue the topic any further, and retreated to my bedroom yet again. Before I did anything, I received a text from Chris claiming that they would be home earlier than yesterday (giving me an estimate of about ten o'clock or ten thirty), which is fine with me. After all, earlier that morning, when I had asked them about their return the previous night, they responded that it was around midnight when they finally stumbled through the doors. I did not bother to ask them what kind of event would have possibly warranted them being out that late, and it did not matter to me anyways; I had more important things to take care of. 

The conditions of the room were just perfect. It was around one o'clock, and the sun was peering through my window yet again, exposing the jail bars. The shadow showed itself a few minutes after that, but just as I was about to reach for the wall, another one appeared. And then another. I was looking at three figures now; the one in the middle, the one I had already known, was still standing and awaiting freedom. However, she was now assisted by two more silhouettes, and these two were not standing; they were on all fours, creeping every which way over the wall. Their movements also began to shake the bars, which, when coupled with the third shadow grasping the bars too, and shaking them, made the horrific steel banging sounds come back to haunt me. This time, though, they did not stop. 

I forgot all about disabling the bars. I dove into my bed, plugging my ears and quietly begging for them to stop (so that Reginald would not hear me).....they were giving me such a headache! I took another sleeping pill and threw the covers over myself yet again, while keeping my ears plugged, hoping to drown them out to at least some extent. Thankfully, the medication took effect impressively this time, and I slowly drifted further into sleep until I could not hear them anymore.....for the time being. 

There's three of them now?  I thought to myself worriedly. What should I do?