In the days after, Vanessa was alone.
Sir Malcolm attempted to visit the first few days, however stopped, with Sembene simply stating he had "become busy". With what, Vanessa was unsure. The young doctor had become preoccupied as well, with his somewhat mysterious "project". He only had the time to visit for checkups, in which he seemed nervous around her and eager to leave. Vanessa did not mind, however. She understood. The only two things she was bothered by were the lack of Ethan, and the fact that she minded he had not visited.
Sir Malcolm had explained it had been Ethan who helped her. That he saved her life.
But then to hide away afterwards... Vanessa did not understand.
Walking had become something of the past in the last several days, with her legs seemingly useless. Each attempt to walk at first was fruitless, as she could barely convince her body to even come close to swinging her legs out of bed. Food was delivered to her by whomever was brave enough to speak to her or willing to bother, and other than that there was no human interaction. However, she had struck up what she assumed to be a friendship with a bird who continued to watch her from outside her window each day. Generally, she preferred animals when they were dead and able to be taxidermied - although such thoughts provoked memories she was not yet comfortable reliving.
Her room no longer felt like a haven, a room in which she was alone with her God and her thoughts, but instead a place in which demons could penetrate. Since having this realisation, her room seemed darker than she remembered it, and God no longer seemed so close. She began to despise her room; or what she came to see as a prison cell.
On the 12th day of being bedridden and alone, Vanessa was able to drag her legs out of bed and hobble over to the chair by the window. It was a welcome change, and her bird friend tapped on the window in what Vanessa took to be a friendly gesture. She tapped a light rhythm back to it, and it flew away. Yes, animals were easier to understand and befriend once dead. By lunch, she had grown exhausted and retired to bed once more.
On the 18th day, her hour long chair-sitting sessions advanced into being able to stand for longer periods of time, and she found she was able to walk somewhat painlessly. Or at least in a way in which she could ignore the impending exhaustion. She decided to venture downstairs and hopefully reconnect with the world she felt she had lost touch with. However, upon reaching the grand staircase, she found herself unable to walk further. Her legs could not step beyond the top stair, as if an invisible barrier held her back. She tried to convince herself it was pain and exhaustion, although once she climbed back into bed she realised it had been fear.
On the 20th day, she left her room once more and this time, was not stuck at the stairs - due to a short burst of confidence that wore off shortly after. The silence of the house unnerved her, however, and caused her to tip toe in case of anyone hearing her and realising she was out of bed. If they were to hear her before her hearing them, it would cause her to have frustrating conversations over her health that she did not intend on having yet. She merely intended on observing and reconnecting with her surroundings. She passed the room in which she knew Sir Malcolm would be, and held her ear to the door. Inside she heard voices.
"We don't know that, Sir Malcolm." said a frustrated young voice, clearly that of Dr Frankenstein.
"What do we know then? Because it seems each time we discuss this, we know less." Sir Malcolm replied in his usually harsh tone.
"You should be having this discussion with her, not each other. You wanna know more about it? Ask the woman who knows first hand." Vanessa almost gasped at the sound of the American accent, none other than Ethan Chandler.
"Oh yes, and you would know, wouldn't you? The man who hasn't spoken to her once in the last, what? 2 weeks? More?" The young doctor replied with the usual sarcastic tone he took with Ethan. The room went silent as Ethan seemed to pause.
"You don't know what happened up there. You have no idea." He said in a dark voice.
"With all due respect, Ethan, we all saw how she was. We do understand." Sir Malcolm intervened.
"No you don't! You weren't the one who... who... I mean, hell, you were keeping her in pain to find Mina! You were only helping her for your own good! What would you understand?" Ethan said angrily in a hushed voice, as if trying not to alert Vanessa.
"Look, all we are trying to establish is what actually happened. And whether... well, whether we can trust her." Sir Malcolm replied, sighing.
"You know we can trust her. You should trust her a whole lot more than you do." Ethan said. Suddenly, Vanessa heard a shuffling of feet and panicked. Eavesdropping is not generally the epitome of trustworthiness. However, due to the uncoordinated nature of her still recovering body, she tripped as she stepped backwards and fell, just as the door opened. She looked up to find Sir Malcolm, Dr Frankenstein and Ethan staring down at her from the doorway.
"Hello." She muttered, before passing out on the floor.
