Bright light. That's my initial reaction. Then I find out the reason, Doc is shining his torch in my eyes. That bright light jerks me back to reality.
"Penryn, Penryn, can you hear me?" he asked.
"Yeah, stop doing that to my eyes. Is that what you do when people don't answer your questions? It's rude you know." I glare at him.
"Of course not, you kind of …eh…blank out just now. Staring at nothing and didn't answer our questions, we're worried you are having a fit again," he looks extremely worried and looks kind of…on guard, like I'd kick him or kill him anytime. Hello? I'm being tied up like a pig, what can I do to you devils? I'm outnumbered and outgunned.
"Excuse me, a fit? Am I crazy or what? Just because I'm not answering you doesn't mean I am crazy or having a fit." I shout in my defence. In truth I'm irritated and insecure, they pull me out of my 'memory recovering dream'. Now I'm blank, just like they said. Not 'blanking out' 'blank', but no memory kind of 'blank'. I can't let them know my insecurities or show my weaknesses. I pretend to be confident and stare back at them. "When are you going to untie me?"
"You have to promise us you won't have another fi…, eh, do something drastic."
"Sure I won't do anything drastic. I would just sit here, like a damsel in distress. Nothing drastic, nothing violent. I could even be a wimpy damsel if you want. Just untie me. I promise."
The most important thing now is for them to untie me. Then I could think of a way to find Paige and Mom and slip out of here. Though the slipping out part is quite difficult, considering that this is a 'devil house'. Since they seem to want my cooperation or even help, as long as I play along and gain their trust, things will be easier for me.
Doc and Obi eye me with uncertainty in their eyes. I try to look as wimpy, as weak as possible, even batting my eyelashes innocently. They seem to forget my 'I don't do promises these days' comment earlier and fall for it. In the end, Obi sighs and says, 'Release her.'
Bindings around my ankles and wrists are loosened instantly. I sit up and stare at them, "I want my privacy, is that how you treat a lady?"
"Are you sure you are fine?"
"Of course," I smiled, challenging them to defy me.
"We will talk to you later then, Penryn. I believe you will make a great saviour for our kind," Obi said.
My mood darkens, I'm not interested in being 'a saviour' for the devils, but in order to gain their trust, I hold my tongue. They both walk out of the room, with Doc hesitating near the door and finally closing it.
I jump off the bed and walk around the room, trying to find anything, anything at all that could act as a weapon. This is a bare prisoner cell, by bare cell I don't mean a room with a chair or a bedside table. No, no, no chair, no nothing. If there is a chair, I could at least swing it or you know hit someone with it, but no, they leave me with nothing, just my bed and the blanket on top of it. Maybe I could smother someone with it. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it'll work just as well as throwing myself out of the window. I roll my eyes.
I pace my extremely vacant room, thanks to the lack of furniture, thinking of a way out. If the room can't provide me with anything, maybe I could search myself for something useful. Hey, there may be a knife strapped on my thigh. Yeah, as if they will leave a knife behind for a 'crazy girl who will throw a fit anytime', I highly doubt I will find anything. This is when I see a string around my neck, curious, I pull it out. A white snowy feather dangles at the end.
It is a beautiful snowy white feather; I could easily imagine it on a pair of big fluffy white angel wings. The angel bearing this pair of wings will look majestic, full of glory and power. I tenderly touch the soft feather. Something warm touches my heart, and I feel safe, all my insecurities slipping away. Wait, why would I believe it's a feather from an angel wing, can't it be a feather from like a, I don't know, pigeon? Surely, I'm out of my mind, not far from what Doc suggests.
That night, I clutch the snowy feather with my hands when I drift to sleep and dream.
