50
By: Aviantei
Act I: 50 Minutes/Abandonment
Scene III: "Well, I guess that makes me nobody then."
The sound of the number being dialed left a string of beeps far longer than any ordinary number. Still, it seemed like the number had been accepted, and there was the click of the line being connected. There was no ringing after that, only silence. Rhea scowled, pulling the phone away from her ear, ready to hang up, already engaged in the act of criticizing herself for falling for such a stupid prank.
In the street in front of her, sat a dark blue limousine, and Rhea almost dropped her phone.
It had definitely not been there a second ago, and she hadn't heard it approach, either. But its engine was running, the headlights were on, and the front passenger side window slid down, revealing a young woman in the driver's seat.
"Are you the next guest for the Fifty-Minute Room?" she asked.
"H-hey, what the hell is this?" Rhea asked, turning to Axel. The spot on the sidewalk where the redhead had been standing was now empty. Rhea looked around, but there wasn't any sign of him there, either. He wasn't anywhere, even though the rest of the neighborhood was the same. Even the rain hadn't stopped, and the dry spot that had formed from her sitting on the sidewalk was slowly getting encased by raindrops.
The only thing different was the redhead's disappearance.
"Ah, I see that you're a first-timer," the girl in the driver's seat remarked. "This car is the transportation to the Fifty-Minute Room. My name is Dew, and I am responsible for your transportation there and back. You did call the number, correct?"
Rhea looked back to her phone, the call screen still open, the line connected. Yup, she had called it all right.
"In that case, I would appreciate it if you would make a decision," Dew said, sounding like she had read Rhea's mind. Then again, maybe her expression was just too easy to read. "You are not the only guest that needs to be picked up today, and I would prefer not to be late to their call if they truly need it. So would you please get in or disconnect from our services so that I may continue?"
Rhea swallowed. Something in Dew's voice implied that she was a bit frustrated, but Rhea couldn't help it. She hadn't asked for this sort of treatment—Axel had forced it on her. Beyond that, it felt like some drug trip. Something like this just couldn't have been real, and was probably a trap.
Oh get over yourself. You and Roxas fight—well, fought—monsters in an alternate dimension all the time. Who's to say there aren't other worlds and creatures out there? Just because you've been living in a world with limited magic doesn't mean it's not there.
Rhea stepped towards the limo's back door and pulled open the handle. From what Dew had said, Rhea had expected to see several other people inside, but there weren't. There were just seats along the back walls, all lined in dark blues and greens. A window towards the front slid open, and Dew's face was visible through the opening.
"Feel free to sit wherever you like," she said. "We will go once you are comfortable. Afterwards, we will arrive at the Fifty-Minute Room shortly. Please feel free to ask me anything to make your ride more enjoyable."
Rhea climbed into the car, the door shutting behind her. She took the seat closest to the door, and Dew's compartment slid shut. For looking like ordinary cushions, the seats were more comfortable than Rhea's bed, and definitely outclassed Roxas's car. She could probably fall asleep without any problem. Just sitting down reminded her of how exhausting everything had been.
It reminded her that Roxas had driven off without a care.
"Dew," she said, and the window slid back open, "just what is the Fifty-Minute Room like?"
"It is something best witnessed for yourself," Dew answered. In the rearview mirror, her eyes glanced back, almost flashing gold. "As for the basic instructions, my employers have a particular penchant for explaining those details themselves. It is not often that we get newcomers, and they would be rather disappointed if I were to take that opportunity away from them."
"I see…" Rhea mumbled, and the window slid shut.
It couldn't have been more than five minutes since Rhea had stepped into the limo that it came to a halt. The window slid back open, and Dew actually leaned over the seat to address her passenger. "We have arrived at the Fifty-Minute Room," she announced. "Please enjoy your stay. I will be prepared to escort you back to your point of origin at any time you need so."
And the passenger door opened.
Rhea immediately had to squint. There was nothing but a bright white, and after being in the dim light of the limo, her retinas were unprepared. Any sense of being able to fall asleep had disappeared. Even feeling awake didn't do anything to improve her ability to stand properly, and Rhea more fell out of the limo than she stepped out.
A hand grabbed onto her arm, keeping her from hitting the floor. It was a man with a smile on his face and dressed in a button up and khakis. Something about him seemed distinguishable, but there were no words for her to describe it. "Watch your step," he said, just the right mix of concern and chiding in his voice. "Oh, dear, you look exhausted. No wonder you decided to come here. I'd normally ask you to take a seat, but we have another guest arriving soon, so would you mind coming with me to the next room?"
Rhea nodded. As long as it meant she got to rest soon, she didn't care. Whether the man thought she needed the help to even stand or just considered her clumsy, he didn't let go, helping her walk across the small room. There were several white armchairs along the sides, all empty. Rhea pressed on with the man to a (white as well) door, which led to an open room with several other doors on the side and a couch and coffee table in the middle.
It was only about five steps to get there, but they took almost everything that Rhea had. Finally, she sunk down into the couch, which was even better than the seats in the limo. It was almost like a cloud or a marshmallow—minus the sticky bits—and she just wanted to stay there forever.
"As difficult as it may be, I am going to have to ask you to stay awake just a few minutes longer," the man said. "It is our policy in the Fifty-Minute Room that all first-timers must be aware of the rules, as to optimize their stay, as well as the stays of all our guests. As such, please hang in there with me. I could get you some tea, if you like."
Rhea only shook her head. Tea would only keep her awake for hours on end.
"Very well. Welcome to the Fifty-Minute Room. My name is Sir, and I will be your host," he introduced. He accented the words with a hand folded across his chest and short bow, very much like a butler. "Your hostess is my wife, Madam. She is currently occupied with greeting our next guest, but you will see her around.
"The purpose of the Fifty-Minute Room is to provide a refuge for anyone who needs it, regardless of their situation, occupation, or point of origin. The services of the Fifty-Minute Room are free in terms of money, so you may stay as long as you need or like without worries. That being said, there are a few long-term guests here who are trying to recover from some disparaging circumstances, so please respect their problems as much as you want them to respect yours and try to maintain a quiet atmosphere.
"The only compensation we ask for here is fifty minutes of your time. You may stay here as long as you want, but fifty minutes will have passed from the time that you called us to enter. This amount remains the same no matter what. If you stay here for weeks, years even, only fifty minutes will have passed. If you stay here for a lesser amount than fifty minutes, fifty minutes will still have passed. Do you understand?"
Rhea nodded. Maybe all the fine little details hadn't completely processed, but she got the gist of things. She could probably ask questions later, too, or at least she hoped so.
"Any additional questions you should feel free to ask at any time, but please understand that we may be preoccupied and not able to answer immediately," Sir continued. "That being said, you are free to use your time here as your wish, and we will do our best to accommodate you as we can. Please enjoy your stay, Miss Rhea."
"Oh, so you made it."
By now, Axel's voice was familiar. Sir turned, and Rhea leaned sideways to see past the host. Amidst all the white, Axel managed to stick out as much as he did in the castle, his dripping hair blazing, a towel around his neck, the black of his jacket making an impact against Rhea's eyes, though she wasn't sure if it was welcome or unwelcome. Behind him stood a woman in a light pink blouse and a tan skirt, her face giving off the same indescribable quality as Sir's.
"So do you plan to explain this to me properly or not?" Rhea said, even though her voice was weak. "You just gave me that number without any pretext and sent me off."
"Hey, hey, you didn't have to call it. You didn't have to get in the car, either," Axel retorted. Rhea held her breath for a second. Just because it was true didn't mean she still couldn't be angry. "Besides, I asked if you knew about the Fifty-Minute Room. I thought everybody knew that rumor."
Rhea wanted to yell, but Sir's request to keep things quiet made her hold her tongue. "Well, I guess that makes me nobody then," she grumbled.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, dears, but you are both soaking wet," the woman—that Rhea assumed was Madam—said. Somehow, Rhea had adjusted, but having it said out loud only reminded her. She shivered, and even Axel looked uncomfortable. "Why don't we get you two a change of clothes, and then you can continue your conversation?"
Axel shrugged. "Sounds good to me," he agreed before looking to Rhea. "What do you think?"
"Yeah," she said. "Sounds good."
Rhea hesitated before taking off her jacket. Sure, it was soaked all the way through, and she really did need to change, but she couldn't just leave it out to dry in an unfamiliar place. Sir had said that he and Madam wanted to make the best experience, but he had also mentioned other guests. Rhea's suspicions about Axel aside, there was no guarantee the others were friendly. What if one of them took the jacket? What would she do then?
"Oh geeze, come on," Rhea murmured, pulling the jacket over her head along with her drenched shirt. "It just looks like an old, worn out hoodie. No one's going to care about it."
The jacket had seen better days—namely, before Rhea had gotten her hands on it. Roxas had given it to her for when they went to the castle, joking that it had special powers since it matched his own. In reality, Roxas could had placed charms on it to give extra protection, especially since both Heartless and Nobodies had the potential to wield magic, and Rhea was prone to that sort of thing. The year of battles and casted spells had worn down the fabric, but it didn't matter.
It was still a gift.
"If you want, I can put your clothes through the wash for you, Dear," Madam's voice said. Rhea jumped, turning around to the room's entrance, clutching the wad of clothes to her chest and sending a fresh trickle of water down her stomach. The hostess, while present, had her eyes closed, but Rhea still flushed. "At the very least the dryer."
Rhea mentally relaxed her tensed up muscles. Tension was never good in a fight, and even less so in hardly threatening circumstances. She kept her fingers tight around the jacket, though, not wanting to let go. Roxas had already dumped her on the side of the road. She couldn't lose his gifts, too.
"I could also provide a few hangers to let your clothes air dry," Madam continued. "You'd be able to keep them in your room. Of course, our laundry services are private, and no one would have access to your belongings." Madam tilted her head to the side. It looked like an unconscious motion. "What will it be, Dear?"
The familiarity was what did it. The room Rhea was in had clothes of every conceivable size, color, and type. Near the front was an empty laundry basket. She threw the wet pile of clothes into the basket before she could change her mind. Madam waited, not saying another word and Rhea found sweatpants and a plain t-shirt to sleep in. She ducked behind a curtain along the right wall, changing. There was even a towel, soft and feeling like it had just come from the dryer. She kept her underwear, but everything else was tossed into a sopping pile, including her shoes. When she was done, Rhea gathered her things, grabbed a fresh pair of socks on her way back to the entrance, and left her laundry to the basket.
The feeling of fresh clothes was almost heavenly. It took changing for just how miserable Rhea had been to register. Everything felt warm and comforting, and she yawned, covering her mouth with a hand.
Madam picked up the basket. "We'll return these to your room once they're done," she said, a warm smile on her face. Rhea nodded, feeling the need to doze off more than before. "That being said, I'd like to apologize. We were unaware that a new guest would be coming, so we haven't made the necessary room to house you. If you don't have any complaints, we would like to have you share a room with another guest for now."
Madam kept her smile, but a trace of minor regret was in her eyes. Rhea could care less so long as the next room she was shown had a bed she could collapse into. "It's fine," she said, and she could hear how tired she was. "I just wanna rest. Where do I go?"
"This way." Madam turned toward the door, and Rhea followed. The halls were white and seemed identical, but she wasn't paying much attention, either. They stopped in front of a door, and Madam knocked. She must have dropped off the basket at some point, because both of her hands were empty. "Here you are, Dear."
"Thanks." Rhea tried to give the woman a smile, and opened the door. Predictably, the room was white, but had the most furniture, even if she didn't register what they all were—dresser, couch, bed, who cared after that? Rhea looked around for her supposed roommate, then turned around to face Madam.
Except the woman was gone and Axel was sitting in the room.
Complaining would do no good—Rhea had agreed. She had hoped to share a room with a girl, but she could deal. It had sounded like Axel had come here before, plus Sir and Madam sounded like they wanted to give their guests the best possible situation they could. They wouldn't have put her in a room with Axel if he was going to make her too uncomfortable.
Rhea closed the door. "I get the bed," she said. She didn't have the energy to make it sound authoritative. Axel seemed just fine on the couch, and if it was as half as comfortable as the one Rhea had sat in earlier, he would have no problem sleeping in it. Not even waiting for a response, the girl walked over to the bed, and did her best to get into it without falling over. It was only partially successful, but it would be stupid to try a do-over. "I'm going to sleep now."
Axel shrugged. "Do what you like," he said. If Rhea read his tone right, he didn't care in the slightest. The redhead made some hand gesture, and the lights dimmed, only really illuminating the couch and table area. Rhea got under the covers, turning her back to him. The light didn't make it to the other side of the room at all, white replaced with black, and the blankets were just as warm as they needed to be. Even the pillow supported her head without agitating her neck.
It was exactly what she wanted. Sir and Madam hadn't been kidding when they had said service.
"And we're gonna talk tomorrow," she mumbled, her words starting to slip into each other. "About what you're up to. And what you were doing." It didn't make much sense. Rhea gave up on talking.
"Whatever you say," Axel responded. She couldn't tell if he had even heard her properly. She probably wasn't going to remember much when she woke up, even after orientating herself. It didn't matter.
But other things did. The castle mattered. Getting tossed out of the car mattered. Roxas mattered, and so did all his secrets. Even in her exhaustion, the feeling that if she had known at least some things, one thing, then she wouldn't be in the Fifty Minute Room, wouldn't be in the same place all over again.
Good job, you did it again. You're way too clingy.
With a resigned sort of depression, Rhea fell asleep.
[Avi's Reviving Yet Another Story Notes]
I feel a tiny bit guilty that chapter three was sitting around in my files for a while. But it's posted now, and that's what matters! Plus there's more on the way. Not much more exciting than that, right?
Thanks to Savage Kill and Disney-for-the-Iron-Throne for the review and follow! I appreciate the interest!
I'm not gonna make excuses as to where I disappeared to, but I will say this: I have several chapters of this story written, and they'll all be releasing over the upcoming weeks! It was a lot of fun getting back into the mindset of this story, and I'm excited to share the outcomes with you.
On a self promotion note, you can find writing updates and info over on my Twitter, Plot K Bunny. Now all that's left is to wait for next week's update:
Act I, Scene IV: "You always that exhausted after storming the castle?"
Please look forward to it!
-Avi
[08.28.2017]