(And English is my 3rd language… so please understand.)
Chapter II
LOST IN TIME
"Are you okay Miss?"
As soon as I hear a voice; I can open my eyes. I am startled; there is a guy standing there in front and is looking at me. Right away I back-off and to realize that I am lying in bed? "Who the fck are you?" Sorry about my words can't help it. What is this situation am I being right now! Immediately, I sit down and move backward; now I can feel the wall behind my back. There is not much space for me to stay away from this guy. I'm starting to panic; then I look around to find something I can use to defend myself.
"Miss, finally you're awake" the guy is happy to see her awake.
Right away; I grab the stick on the night stand. "Stay away or I'll stab you with this!" Why is he smiling? Where the hell is Badi? Why I'm not inside the car?
The guy is surprise to see that the girl is suddenly pointing a stick at him. "Miss, calm down. You just had a nightmare, that's why I tried to wake you up."
"Why I am here? And Who are you?!" I exclaim and keeps pointing the stick at him.
He gestures his hand to her; to relax. "My name is Paul and you are here in our house."
"Paul? I repeat his name. "This is your house?" This is so confusing; right now, my brain becomes empty in a second.
"Yes." he steps backward; to give more space between him and the hostile girl.
Confusion striking all over my head; for a moment; I am thinking deeply. "What's going on? Just seconds ago, I was at the back of the car and Badi is driving in front. And, and, and…" my words are mumbling.
The guy feels weird to this girl. "Miss?" She just pauses like that; not moving at all but she keeps on mumbling.
Once again, I wander my eyes around the room. Where I am in right now? This room is weird, is this ancient? Then I look at him; this Paul guy. I can clearly see the clothes his wearing; it looks different. I look at my clothes as well. The clothes that I'm wearing now… It is the same to his clothes; this kind of clothes are not familiar to me.
"Miss?" Paul call her once more.
"Are you a cosplayer?" I said that out of frustration. I am frustrated to think of what is happening right now.
"Cos?" Paul can't even say the word; he just heard it for the first time. "What do you mean?"
This guy is good in acting! Psycho alert! I need to get out of here. "This is kidnapping!" right then I get off the bed and swing the stick towards him.
He gets surprise, then swiftly dodge. He backs off furthermore, even the slashed is far from him "Whoa!"
"Let me out of here!" threatening him with a stick. I slash it to him again; because of my desperation to get out of here.
"Miss, there is no need to hurt me." Paul understands the situation now. That this girl thinks; that; he kidnapped her.
I keep swinging the stick towards him. "Then let me out of here!"
"Okay, but please don't harm me; I will lead you outside the house." He said it calmly; then he opens the door and walk outside the room peacefully. "Follow me, Miss."
"You walk first." I commanded him. Wise decision is needed in this situation. What if he will grab me if I get close to him.
He nods; then walk first to the hallway. "Trust me, Miss. I mean no harm to you." He said that while walking ahead.
I walk out the doorway and cautiously check both sideways. Maybe there is someone waiting there; then ready to grab me. All clear. Right then, I follow him but maintain a safe distance.
"Careful with the stairs; it is slippery. The servants always cleaned the house every early morning." Paul reminded her and he proceed downstairs.
"What servants now?" my reaction; I raise my left eyebrow to hear that. Then I take the stairs to go down.
"Mother, there she is. The girl is awake now." Paul inform his mother.
The hell! This is a sneaky escape why he has to tell his mother that I am awake! I quickly stop at the stair landing and ready the stick to defend myself. And to my astonishment to see his mother. She is also wearing the same old-style weird clothing! And it matches this big, oddly beautiful room where I am standing right now; it is strangely designed and decorated very old-style-lly.
"I am glad that you're finally awake" she stands up from sitting on a fancy old-style chair; then smiling calmly as she walks closer to the hostile girl.
Such a sophisticated woman. Her hair is braided like a madam in historical movies.I am elated to see a woman like her but same time frightened. I don't know why. Maybe because, I am being kidnapped and also she is supporting her son to do this cosplaying!
"Mother, wait." Paul walks closer to his mother; he stops her from walking near to the girl. "She wants to get out of here, right away."
"I see… She just woke up; so accompany her, my son." She walks near to a gold plated cabinet and get a white robe. "Here… Wear this before going outside the house. The people outdoor might find the clothes your wearing, inappropriate." She walks near to the girl and gently hold her hand. "Put this down." she takes away the stick "We mean no harm to you."
"I mean no harm to both of you as well; I just want to go home." now I am feeling softy, my alertness fade right away after she touches my hand.
"My name is Julia, I am the owner of this house and this is my son Paul." then gently; Julia put on the white robe to her.
I feel a little bad acting hostile to them; they seem like nice people. But I just can't really accept they are cosplaying. "My name is Viola. I am sorry if I was doubtful…" I put on the robe, it fits well to my body. I can't understand the feeling it gives to my skin; it is made of silk.
"We understand why your like this right now. You woke up in a stranger's house. But don't worry anymore, Paul will accompany you to where you live." Julia is being kind to her.
"Thank you." I replied kindly, her words make my heart, softy.
"We will go now, Mother" Paul asking for permission to go.
Julia nods.
"Let's go" Paul walk first to the main door of the house.
I follow him and step outside the main door. My steps get lighter to look around; the whole lawn is so calming and extraordinarily historically design. Bonsai trees are put in the right spots; just the right spots to compliment the whole view of the lawn. The bamboo trees almost kissing the wall fences that is surrounding the whole place. Big stone piles, beautiful flowery flowers and a lotus pond with swimming fishes in it is beside the pavilion. "Wow, what a lawn you have here." I am praising truly; what a magnificent landscaping they did in their lawn.
"It is Mother's idea. Come on now, so you can go home." Paul walk first towards the gate.
I follow him again and get amazed once more to see the gate; it is tall, wide and made of strong woods. Even the lock method, it is flat wood slab. "I appreciate their dedication to cosplay."
Paul open the gate. "You go first."
"Okay" right then I step outside the gate. Finally, I can go home.
(The sun heatwave is strong; it is late noon.)
By the moment I step outside the gate. Dirt road? I look to my right side then to my left side.
An endless dirt road both sideways and the front ahead only trees and hay grasses.
Really? My nose, my forehead and both my eyebrows linking and wrinkling. Fuck! I am getting truly annoyed and frustrated seeing this vast surrounding of nowhere-ness.
Paul close the gate and stand near to Viola. "Ready to leave now? Where to go?" he smiles.
"Are you kidding me!" I exclaim. "You brought me out of the city? I can't believe this!"
"Miss Viola, what do you mean by a city?" he doesn't have any idea what she is talking now.
I slightly laugh. "Really? Just wow…" I can't trust this guy's commitment to his cosplay. "Fuck this." Right then, I walk towards the left dirt road and determine to start my journey; to go back home.
Then Paul just follow, he really has no idea what is going on with this girl. Maybe she is still not fine well.
Don't worry Viola, just keep walking; in time; you will find a car passing by. And you just need to hitch a ride back to the city. My mind is talking to myself; assuring that, it will be going to be okay. At the same time; I am walking steadfast on this dirt road. The noon sun's heatwave is piercing through my clothes. It is so damn hot to walk along the dirt road right now!
(Few minutes of walking)
It seems like I'd been walking ages. I haven't seen even a single mechanical object running in this road! That's why I'm walking in the middle of the road. Because there's no such thing as vehicle here!
Paul just following behind, worried about this lady's state of mind.
My eyes shimmers as I look up ahead. "A house! Bunch of houses." Finally, I can feel the civilization is coming back to me! I am feeling uplifted; my feet are light again it just reflexively run to make it to the houses ahead.
(Few houses)
My uplifting feeling suddenly drop. I blink my eyes many times to refresh it. Maybe the appearance of the houses along the dirt road will change; maybe my eyes are just blurry. Blinking my eyes many times. "No, no, no!" my frustration exploded.
Paul hurries to stand near to Viola. "Miss, what's wrong?" his expression is confuse and worried.
I look at him through my angry eyes "Where the hell am I?!"
He gets startled the way she looks at him. "You're in our town; why are you so work up, Miss? You can't remember where you live?" Paul looks at her in deep concern.
I let go a big exhale and completely ignore this Paul; who is dumbly no help at all. I don't want to give in to the idea that I might be… I shake my head. I can't give in to that idea. And besides; I only walked 7 minutes more or less, so… I can still find the highway and hitch a car ride back to the city. Right! I just need to find the highway. My feet are still able to walk fast and I continue ahead towards the left dirt road.
"Miss?" Paul follow her again.
(Few more minutes of walking.)
Town entrance.
Looking ahead, there are lots of structures onwards. My feet are steadily walking and I halted after reaching the entrance of the town. So this is the town? My eyes are scanning the whole view of the town; from where I am standing. First building (wood), second building (wood), third building (wood), fourth building (wood), no not a building I think a big house so on and so forth. Then the noises coming from the public citizens gets me back to the moment.
"You there! Out of the way!" A man shouted.
I got startled; both my shoulders lifted caused by a big strong yell that comes from behind me.
"Apologies officer." Right away, Paul guide Viola to the side of the dirt road; then vow. And he gently pushes her head as well to vow and respect the convoy in front of them.
The man who is wearing an official clothing smirk at them; then continues his march to lead the convoy inside the town. The soldiers behind him march in sync, they are carrying weapons and flags.
Why would I vow to these people? Who are they? They are wearing the same uniforms; soldiers maybe? I lifted my head up; to watch the convoy that is passing by in front of us
Soldiers passing by and they are lifting few carriages.
By chance. I can see through the thin laces; the appearance of the person inside in one of the carriage. Wow… This is a strange feeling.
The marching of the soldiers takes a little slower than the usual, they are taking their time not to strongly wobble the carriages.
My head moves to the direction where the convoy is heading. I can't take my eyes off looking at that person. I'm still watching the convoy even the carriage passed by already. That person…
XXXX
(Late afternoon)
Paul sit down on one of the big stones along the river, just a meter away is a stone bridge. "Miss?"
"The water flowing in this river is very clean. Back where I live, there are only few rivers with clear water running to it." I said that while appreciating the crystal clear water. I am not comfortable with my sitting position. Sitting on a stone is tricky, my butt keeps sliding because this clothes are made of silk, sigh…
"I will still accompany you to your house, Miss" Paul is not giving up to the task his mother given to him.
Feeling comical of my situation right now. "You're a funny guy aren't you? A cosplayer." softly I simper and glance at him. Then I look up the sky; looking for something up there. "I think I'm lost..."
"Mother can help you, she has friends at the other town. We can help you find your house there, Miss" Paul is very optimistic to help.
"I don't think that I live there… or here… or anywhere around this period of time." I am feeling tired. So I raise my hands up and stretches it together with my body. "And call me Viola, stop the Miss thing."
Paul shake his head "No, I can't just call you with your name. I need to show respect to you."
"Whatever. Don't call me Miss anymore. It is really annoying." I stand up and walk towards the dirt road.
Paul hurries to walk beside her. "Miss Viola, where are you going?"
"Viola, Viola…" I raise my left eyebrow on repeating my name twice; irritated to hear that Miss word again.
Paul hesitates "Viola." then he almost chokes saying her name.
His expression makes me chuckle. "Lol at you." This guy is funny.
"Viola, Viola, Viola" Paul repeats it as if his practicing to say Viola's name.
"Whatever…" I walk faster, tracing my way back on this dirt road.
"Where are we going?" Paul keeping up to Viola's pace.
"To where all of this started" I can't think of any better idea but to go back there in the house.
He feels happy to hear that "Mother will be delighted."
"Maybe, I hope so." and I am walking again along this dirt road.
I'm exhausted; my feet hurts, my body is tired and my brain is frustrated and confused. My oddly old-style shoes and clothes is full of dust; I walked the whole afternoon trying to find a way back to the city. I went north, east, south, west and all over around; there is no hope, no sign that I belong here. Everything in here; the people, buildings and houses, plants and animals, foods, the dirt roads, the vibe it just leads me to think one conclusion; this isn't my time. I think… I am lost in another period of time.