I awoke suddenly to a buzz of people. Where was I? I heard someone say, "She's fallen over! Either that, or someone broke her!"
Oh no. The exhibit. I knew what was to be expected now. The constant standing for twelve hours like a statue, the tiring motions I had to make in order for it to seem like the wind was moving me, and the people flashing pictures in my eyes. My head was fuzzy. Someone had injected me with a tranquilizer. And the worst part was, I wasn't awake enough for the little girl who saw me crumpled on the floor to help me up.
"When she realizes I'm the same weight as a human she's going to freak!" I heard my thoughts scream.
She put her hands under my arms, and began to make the lifting motion. I forced my legs to hoist me up, but I fell almost immediately after.
"Someone broke her!" cried the girl, running over to Narisara.
"I got her," Narisara said, and came over to me.
She whispered something in my ear, but I was still groggy from the drugs. I couldn't make it out.
"Wuh?" I asked, trying to fight the urge to sleep.
"Listen to me. You need to stay low. You're still groggy. I'll tell them you will be repaired tomorrow. And the drugs should ware off by then anyway," she said, this time slower.
When no one was looking, my kinnon friend came over to me, pulling me into him and hugging me.
"I missed you so much! Where did you go?" he asked, his voice choked up.
"I went to Gloomsville," I said, my speech slightly slurred.
"What did Narisara do to you?!" he cried, his voice a low whisper.
He was now looking into my eyes, and saw that I had enlarged pupils.
"She injected me with a tranquilizer because I wouldn't calm down enough for her to get me back here," I managed, taking no notice at the time to how I sounded.
I felt like I'd been drinking alcohol. Though I never actually did, I would watch people at the clubs I saw when I'd be exploring outside. They were all wobbly, disoriented, and their speech was slurred. That was exactly how I felt.
"How did they treat you in Gloomsville?" he asked, putting his arms around me.
"They were the nicest people I'd ever met outside of Thailand," I admitted.
"Why is the place called Gloomsville?" he questioned, moving back a little.
"Because they're gloomy looking and it's gloomy outside. But they're very kind and helpful," I sighed, wanting nothing more to do with conversation at this point.
"Okay. Just curious. I'm sorry. I'll let you sleep. I'm just happy your back," he smiled, kissing my cheek before I dozed off.
When I finally awoke, it was sunset, and everyone was gone. My kinnon friend stood over me, a hand on my shoulder.
"Hello. How are you?" he queried.
"Better now, thank you. I'm sorry I'd made you sick," I sighed.
"I never got sick. I was just worried. Did they say that?" he asked.
"They said you wouldn't smile or eat," I admitted, standing up.
"Oh. I ate, but not as much. I had trouble smiling since you'd been gone for so long," he explained, putting his arms around me in a hug.
"How long was I under the spell of the drug? I mean when they first brought me back?" I wondered.
"Probably about twenty minutes," he answered, his voice lowering, and his face turning into a frown.
"What's wrong?" I questioned.
"I'm scared you'll leave again," he replied after a moment of silence, his voice choked up again.
"I can't. They won't let me," I frowned.
I was sure they would find out I'd left. If they found me once, they'll find me again. I was stuck. There was no turning back now.
