Woohoo, another chapter! I've chosen Wednesdays to update, because to me, Wednesdays are the worst days. They're smack in the middle of the week, and then you realize that you have to go through two more days until the weekend. Plus, that day I have an hour of English.
ƨU ʇo ɿæᖷ ɿoᖷ
I'm standing in the living room of a cozy house. It's a bit small, but cozy, nonetheless. Two little girls are running around, playing catch with a rubber bouncy ball. I try to move so I can get a good look at their faces, but my feet are glued to the floor. They don't notice me as I watch them giggle together from afar. I can tell they're laughing, yet I can't make out any of the words they say, or their names. Not long after, another woman steps out from what I assume to be the kitchen. She has a ladle in her hand, and says something to the girls, waving her arms around wildly. The little girls slump their shoulders, grab their ball, and trudge upstairs, while the woman heads back into the other room. What is this place? I want to see more, but the image dissolves and fades away.
A tap on my arm nudges me awake and I groan in annoyance, opening my eyes and glaring at the person, which happens to be Jin. It's my second day here in the clinic, and I already can't wait to get out and away from him. The way he looks at me gives me chills. Luckily, I'll be discharged in a few days. Until then, I'll have to suck it up and wait.
From what he's told me, Castanet is a tight-knit village; everybody knows everybody. I'm eager to meet some of them once I'm out of the clinic, to hear voices other than Jin's and anything else but the obnoxious scribbling of pen on paper. I'm desperate for a speck of any color other than white. Yet here I am; the scribbling of a pen filling my ears, and staring at a plain, white wall. All while inhaling the nauseating odor of medicine, which is starting to make me feel suffocated.
Yes! Today's the day I'm finally being discharged! I can barely contain my smile, or think straight. Freedom is as close as ever, as soon as Jin finishes explaining how to take care of my broken limbs. Everything he says goes in one ear then comes out the other, but I nod my head anyways so I'll be able to leave sooner.
"… And that's all there is to know," Jin concludes. "You're all set. Did you get all that, Angela?"
"Uh-huh," My mind says no, but my head nods yes.
"You're very eager to leave, aren't you?" He snickers after noticing my wide grin.
"Well, you try lying in bed all day, doing nothing!" I huff.
He smiles, but it's the same one he always gives me; one that doesn't quite reach his eyes. The strange glint in his eyes isn't helping, either.
"Well, you're free to go now. Make sure you come back for check-ups," he says. "Oh, I almost forgot. Do you need help finding your new home?"
No way, José. I'm not spending any more time with him than I have to. "Nah, I'm good. I'll find my way there."
He nods and looks at his clipboard once again, and I take that as my cue to leave. Waving half-heartedly at him, I hurriedly push the door open and step outside.
Freedom! My inner voice chants over and over again, filling me with excitement and anticipation. Where should I go first? Who should I introduce myself to? I head down some steps to get to the lower part of what I'm assuming to be the town. It's pretty small, but the way it's set up is so different. The stores seem to be stacked on top of each other, with stairways leading up to the higher levels.
I've only taken a couple of steps, before somebody taps me on my forearm. As if on instinct, my hand cups my arm and I twist away from whoever it is, whirling around to meet them. Standing in front of me is a short, stubby man, with gray hair and a powder-blue suit.
He holds his hand out and smiles at me. "Hello, you must be that girl I've heard all about! It's nice to meet you. I'm the mayor, Hamilton."
I shake his hand cautiously and blush. People have been talking about me? Who? "It's nice to meet you. I'm Angela. Um, I was told there's an old farm down the road. Is it okay if I stay there? Dr. Jin wants me to live here for awhile, at least until I recover and regain my memories."
"Ah, of course!" he claps his hands together. "You can work on the farm until then, to earn a little money for food and supplies. Until the casts come off, I'll ask somebody to help you out."
He starts going off about how great Castanet is, where all the stores are, how to upgrade blah, and blah blah blah. I stop listening to him, because walking towards us is a gift from God.
"So, if you want blah, you have to blah blah, then go blah doo blah blurb blob…" the hot guy comes nearer and nearer. He has platinum blond hair, glacier-blue eyes, and is wearing a sweater-vest-khaki combo. I can't rip my eyes from him. He stops behind Hamilton, and taps him on his shoulder. Hamilton stops speaking and turns around.
"Oh, hello Gilligan! Angela, this is my son, Gill."
That's his son? Damn. I can't see the resemblance. I blush and wave shyly, hoping to seem at least slightly cute. I don't think it worked, though. Gill only nods at me curtly, piercing me with his cold glare.
"Father, there is important business you must attend to at the Town Hall," he says without emotion.
"Okay, okay. I'm off, then. Angela, do you know your way around? If you want, Gill could show you around later, after you're settled in."
I'm about to say yes, but then I see the expression on Gill's face, one with anger and stubbornness and protest. "No, that's okay. I'm sort of tired; I think I'll go to bed early." His face relaxes instantly, and I feel my heart sink. Before Hamilton has any time to say anything else, I wave them goodbye and stalk off in the direction of my new home.
The stone pathway turns to dirt path at the end of the bridge. The path splits into two, one going towards the beach. I take the path to beach instead, walking along the shore, admiring the navy blue ocean and pristine white sand. As I look to the horizon, I see no ships, no nearby islands; just an empty canvas of water, a barrier between me and the rest of the world.
It's then when I realize that the sun is beginning to set. A light purple hue dusts the sky and the light casts eerie shadows along the cliffside.
Further down the road is where my farm is settled. I'm surprised to see that it's still in good condition, having been abandoned. I expected a shack falling apart at the hinges, but it looks as if it was newly built. Inside, the walls are painted mint green, and a kitchen with new appliances sits on one side. On the opposite side is a rather large double bed.
When I prepare to take a shower, I mentally smack myself upside the head. Shit, I forgot to get new clothes! Now what'll I wear to sleep? The digital clock next to my bed reads ten o'clock at night; it's too late to run down to the store. I'll just have to go down there tomorrow morning. For tonight, I'll sleep in these clothes.
An hour later, after a quick shower, I'm snuggled underneath my bed sheets. After flicking off the lamp, I shut my eyes and fall into a deep sleep.
I find myself in a small room that's all white. A tiny cot lies off to the side, the sheets crumpled up in a messy heap. There are no windows, and a table with two chairs on opposite sides is pushed against the wall. Next to the table are two brunette girls, facing each other. Are those the two little girls I saw before? They appear to be in their early or mid-twenties. I'm standing at the doorway, and find that I can't move a muscle. From my perspective, I cannot see their faces. I can see that one of the girls has long hair and wears a white gown, while the other's is cut into a short bob; she dons a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I have short hair; is that girl me? I watch as the short-haired girl reaches forward and embraces the other girl. The other girl buries her face in her shoulder, but her arms are stiff and do not leave her sides.
Well, there you have it! I really hoped you liked it, things are going to pick up soon. Leave a review, please? ^_^v
- blacksunset1214
There is a reason for everything.