A Message From The Authoress: I would like to thank all of you for your support and understanding these last four months.
Hopefully with this chapter, I'll soon be able to return to my normal posting schedule.
And to Anonymous Nobody Person - apology accepted, and you can consider yourself forgiven.
You might want to choose your words a bit better in future, though...
Chapter Twelve: Awakening, Part I
Christine let out a weak groan as she slowly returned to full consciousness.
What had happened to her?
She had been eating dinner, and then everything was all muddled...
Her body felt like it was weighted down and she ached all over.
Finally managing to force her tired eyes open, she was startled to find herself lying in a large, canopied four-poster bed.
And the room itself was fit for royalty!
Huge floor-to-ceiling windows covered with red velvet drapery, hand-carved mahogany furniture that looked to be genuine Louis-Philippe pieces, a gilded vanity... Jesus, Mary and Joseph, just how much money did the owner of this place have, to be able to afford all of this?
Her tired body protesting, Christine carefully sat up in bed - and immediately wished she hadn't.
Her head swam and lights danced behind her eyes as she fell back onto her pillows with a groan.
Her second attempt was more successful and, with a lot of effort, she managed to get to her feet and began walking toward the door.
Upon turning the handle, however, she found it to be locked.
Huffing in frustration, the 21-year-old looked around for something, anything, that would allow her to pick the lock, but to no avail.
She was well and truly stuck here.
But where was Meg?
As she pondered, a sudden wave of exhaustion crashed over her and Christine found herself stumbling back toward the bed, collapsing gratefully onto the soft mattress.
Who would have thought that the short walk from her bed to the door would have made her so tired.
It wasn't long before she was once again asleep.
A/N: Please review to unlock Chapter 13...