The girl opened her eyes, widely, but made no sounds. She looked at her surroundings. She was in a fairly large bedroom. It was almost the size of the apartment Monsieur Voclain and she lived in, though it was much, MUCH nicer. There was a dresser and a mirror. She saw that she was lying on a small bed, covered under a thick, blue blanket. It was very homely, and the bed was very comfortable, but she needed to see what was outside the door.
The only door that she saw opened to a bathroom. She left that room and went back into the bedroom, but saw no other doors. "Strange," she thought. She then felt the walls, thinking that maybe there was a secret passage.
As Darcelle was touching the walls, she heard three knocks, and a door opened. She was surprised since she hadn't seen that door. A man wearing a black mask came inside the room. He was wearing evening clothes and was thin. He was carrying a few things. Oddly, she wanted to help, since his arms were full. She reached for something on the top of the pile and stood there. The man thanked her and put the things on the bed. "Just set them there," he said.
Suddenly, Darcelle dropped the items she was holding. She pointed at him and shook. "You're...you're the voice!"
"Yes, that I am."
"What do you want? Where am I? I know I'm not home."
"You dropped your things. I shall get them for you."
"No," Darcelle said, and bending down, picked up the items, never taking her eyes off the man. The man then held out his arms, and she handed the things to him. He sat them on the bed, as well.
"Who are you and what do you want and where am I?" the young girl repeated.
"All in time. Call me "The Voice", if it pleases you, and we are in my home. That is all you need to know. Now, I'm sure you are hungry. Let us go eat."
Darcelle followed him, bewildered. At least she would get a chance to look around more.
They went into a dining room, where a small table was already set. There was more food on that one table than she had ever eaten in a week's time. The man pulled out a chair, and Darcelle sat down, and he sat at the other end. "Go ahead," he said, motioning to the food.
Darcelle was about to eat when she looked at him, suspiciously. "You were the one who made me pass out."
"Yes, though I am sorry. You needed to be taken away before any of the guards or managers threw you out."
"But you used chlorophorm and dragged to to this place. How is that any different?"
"You aren't hurt, are you?"
"No."
"You would have been if you had been thrown out, and even more when you got home."
"How do you know that?"
"I know many things."
"So how do I know that you won't poison me?"
The masked man laughed. "Poison you? Child, if I wanted to do that, I would have already done so. You are unharmed, and I promise that no harm will come to you while you are here. Now, please, eat. You look like you haven't eaten in days."
"Very little," and that was the last thing Darcelle said before eating. She didn't realize how hungry she was, and she wolfed down her food. She cleared her plate, and the man asked if she wanted more. She nodded and he took her plate and went into another room, then returned with the plate full. She ate everything on that plate, as well.
When she was done, the man said, "Now that you've had enough to eat, perhaps you would like to lie down. I'm sorry that the bed is not more comfortable. I shall get you a new one."
"Um, that's not necessary. It's not like I'm going to be staying here for long?"
"Oh? What makes you think that?"
"You can't possibly keep me here."
"Very well. You may go, if you can find the way out. In the meantime, I shall work on my music."
"Music?"
"Yes. Did you see the piano in the living room?"
"I noticed it, yes."
"That is where I'll go. You, on the other hand, may leave."
"Alright, I will," Darcelle responded, confidently. Then, she started her task.
There weren't any doors in the living room nor the dining room. She, however, did notice a door, and she opened it. It did not lead to the outside, but rather to another room. Darcelle was taken aback. In the middle of the room was a coffin, and taking up a whole wall was an organ with a desk with papers on it close by.
All of a sudden, she heard the man's voice behind her. "This is my room."
"It's very...interesting," Darcelle said, sharply drawing in a breath.
"You may go in and look around, if you wish."
Bravely, Darcelle stepped inside and searched the walls for a door, but she found none. She then went to the living room and felt all around the walls, and in the dining room, she did the same thing, with no success. She finally gave up after a few hours and then stood beside the man who was still playing the piano. He stopped and looked at her. "I thought you were leaving."
"I would, if you would tell me the way out."
"I must admit, you are very persistent. That's an admirable quality for most."
"Are you going to let me out now?"
"No."
The man looked away from her and began playing again. By that time, Darcelle became angry. She yelled, "Let me out of here, you ass!"
"Such language."
Darcelle fumed, then grabbed his wrist to make him stop playing. He looked up at her and quietly said with a deep tone, "You are very brave, mademoiselle, but you are making a mistake. Let go of me."
She obeyed, but she was still angry. "Tell me how I can get out of here."
"You are a smart girl; you will figure it out eventually. For now, you should go to sleep. You've had a big meal and an exhausting time feeling almost every inch of this place."
"I've already slept; I'm not tired. Besides, I need to go home."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Yes, that is a valid reason," the man said, sarcastically.
"Well, would YOU like to be kept somewhere against your will?"
"Child, I have been in that situation before many times. You must trust me when I tell you that this is the best place you can ever be in."
"How can I trust you when you drugged me and dragged me to...wherever this is?" Darcelle asked, annoyed.
"It couldn't be helped," the masked man simply said.
Darcelle gave up talking to him and sat down on the couch. She had to think of a way out of there. She would come up with a plan and then enforce it while he was either asleep or away. She'd find a way out of there; she couldn't give up. She wasn't going to be a prisoner.