The Lost Duchess

4. Nightmares

I know I passed out in the bathroom, but that's not where I open my eyes. Instead of the white tiled floor I was expecting, or even the nurse's office, the floor I see is a dirty grey color. In fact, the entire room is the same as the floor. I try to sit up, but I can't. When I look down to see why I see that I'm strapped to a cot. But my body looks a lot smaller than it should be. What's going on? A quick look around the room shows me that it's empty aside from the bed I'm strapped to, a small table next to it, and some books stacked on the table. There's a door with a small table and what looks like a tiny pet door at the bottom across from the cot. Where the hell am I? This has to be a dream, there's no way I'd wake up somewhere like this normally. Right? Or did I finally lose it this time? Did my father finally lock me up like he's been threatening?

The door opens and a woman in a white lab coat walks in holding a clipboard. "Hello, Liennia," What the hells? That's not my name. "My name is Dr. Ingrid. I'm going to be the one testing you from now on. And as long as we don't have any more incidents," she really stresses that last word, "We might be able to let you get up on your own. And eventually, you might be allowed around the others if you show improvement."

She stands next to me and grabs my wrist through the straps, holding it firmly. After a couple of minutes she writes something down. Then she takes something from her pocket and holds it up to my head. Again she writes something. I try to ask her where I am, but I can't move at all. My head turns on its own when she pulls something else out of her pocket. An empty syringe. My body starts to try and wriggle out of the restraints on its own and I pray that whatever gods are out there send some sort of help right now. I close my eyes and I can feel the syringe in my arm. Whatever is going on, I have to get away.

And then... it's gone.

I open my eyes and instead of that dark room, I'm in the backseat of a car. Confused, I look down at myself and see that I'm in a child's body. In the rearview mirror, I see my own eight-year-old face reflected back at me. It's startling; I don't really remember anything from when I was younger. The only thing I have are a couple of pictures. This isn't something I've seen before though. At the very least though, I know that I'm dreaming now... But if I'm still passed out, am I still in the bathroom? Did someone find me?

"Are we almost there? We've been on the road for a while, Dad." I turn to my right and there's a boy about fourteen or fifteen in the backseat with me. He looks familiar, but I can't place why. He has the same cobalt eyes that my mother's family has, but his hair is almost gold even in the dark.

Someone in the passenger seat turns to face me. He looks like the boy sitting next to me. "We haven't been out for that long, Marti. Lia's not even complaining and you know she hates the car." Marti? That's my cousin's name! Why am I in the car with them though? My father always told me they didn't take me anywhere. They only took Danny places when they came to visit.

"We'll be there soon enough. And I'm sure it's worth the drive. Your uncle said it's the pride and joy of the province!" The driver speaks up, but I can't see more than her hair from my seat. It's the same deep ruby as mine. She must be my aunt. It almost feels like my heart is hurting for a second at the thought of seeing her again.

"Why can't we just go home? We've already been here for two weeks. What else is there to see besides hills and dead grass?"

"Marti, this is the last stop on our trip before we go back. Just relax and be a little patient, ok?"

"I've been patient this whole trip! I don't even know why you brought me, it's been boring as hell."

"Hey, your mother was dealing with something really important, that's why we couldn't go out as much. And I promise this is really the last place we're visiting and then you can go back to hanging out with your friends and complaining about us when we get home."