"Hey! Stop right there!"
Q's arms quaked against the iron bars, her fingers clinging to the cold metal like it was the only thing tethering her to the earth. Her legs dangled uselessly, her footing slipping with every tremor of her body. The world around her tilted, the ornate gate and the grand spires beyond it swirling together in a dizzying haze. She couldn't tell if the faint scream she heard was hers or someone else's, but the ground rushed up to meet her all the same.
And then, the darkness swallowed her.
When Q opened her eyes, she gasped as though breaking the surface of deep water. Her body jerked upright, her chest heaving as she clawed at the air. The sensation of falling clung to her, sharp and visceral, even as her hands met nothing but empty space.
But this wasn't the dirt-packed road she'd expected to wake up on. This wasn't the unforgiving mud of the pigpen or the splintering wood of the barn floor. No, this was something else entirely.
Her hands pressed against the fabric beneath her, impossibly soft, smoother than anything she had ever touched. Pillows surrounded her, plush and overfilled, their delicate floral scent so foreign it made her head spin. Slowly, her fingers traced the edge of a blanket, fine and intricately embroidered, its pattern swirling like the ironwork of the gate she had climbed.
The room around her was vast and alien. Pale light filtered through tall windows draped in heavy crimson curtains, their edges embroidered with golden thread. The walls gleamed with the polish of marble, seamless and perfect, reflecting the faint glow of strange machines tucked into the corners—machines that blinked with tiny lights and dials that ticked rhythmically. A long table stood in the center of the room, flanked by high-backed chairs upholstered in deep red velvet. Everything gleamed, pristine and untouched, as though it belonged to a world she wasn't meant to see.
Q sat up slowly, her muscles stiff and her head heavy. Her bare feet brushed against the smooth surface of the floor, so clean it reflected the pale light like glass.
"Where… am I?"
The answer came not in words but in footsteps—measured, deliberate, and unhurried. Her chest tightened as the sound grew louder, each step striking the marble with a soft but certain rhythm. She turned her head toward the door just as it swung open.
The man who entered was unlike anyone she had ever encountered. He was tall and slender, his figure cutting a striking silhouette against the light pouring in from the hallway. A wide-brimmed hat cast shadows over most of his face, but the glint of enormous round glasses caught the light, magnifying his sharp, gray eyes into something owl-like. His long coat billowed softly as he walked, the hem skimming the floor with every step.
"Well," he said, stopping at the foot of her bed. His voice was smooth, with an edge of curiosity that made her feel like a puzzle he intended to solve. "You've certainly caused quite the stir."
Q stared at him, her mouth dry and her heart pounding in her chest. She tried to speak, but the words tangled in her throat, refusing to form.
The man raised an eyebrow, his head tilting slightly.
"I see we're starting with silence," he said, not unkindly. "Allow me to begin, then. My name is Professor Ligarius. And you, young lady, are trespassing."
The word struck her like a blow, sharp and heavy. Trespassing. Of course, she was trespassing. She shouldn't be here. She shouldn't have tried to climb the gate. What had she been thinking?
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, hot and unwelcome.
Professor Ligarius sighed, removing his hat and placing it on a nearby chair.
"There's no need for dramatics," he said, though his tone softened. "Just tell me what you were doing climbing the gate to RAPS. And perhaps... start with your name?"
Q's hands clenched the edge of the blanket, her knuckles white as she tried to gather the courage to speak. Her voice cracked when it finally came.
"I—I'm Q."
"Q," he repeated, his expression thoughtful. "And what exactly were you hoping to accomplish by scaling a locked gate?"
Her lips trembled, and she couldn't hold the tears back any longer. They spilled over, streaking her cheeks as the words tumbled from her in halting sobs.
"I… I wanted to see Maddy."
"Maddy?"
"My friend," she choked out. "She's the only one who made me feel like I wasn't nothing. But she left, and my parents, they—they hate me, and the pigs—"
Her voice broke entirely, and she buried her face in her hands.
"I don't belong anywhere. I just wanted to find her."
The room fell into a heavy silence, the only sound her ragged breathing and the faint hum of the machines.
Professor Ligarius removed his glasses, polishing them slowly as he watched her. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, gentler.
"Well," he said, "It seems you've had quite the day."
Q let out a watery laugh, though it sounded more like a hiccup.
Professor Ligarius stepped closer, his long coat trailing behind him.
"I'll admit, it's not every day someone attempts to climb the gate. And certainly not while carrying…" He gestured toward the small box sitting on the nearby table. "…a rather unusual bundle of letters."
Q flushed, her gaze darting to the box.
"They're for Maddy," she mumbled. "One for every day she's gone."
For a moment, Ligarius said nothing. Then, he nodded, as if reaching some private conclusion.
"Well, Miss Q, it seems you've wandered into quite the predicament. But if you'll allow me, I'd like to help you figure out what to do next."
Her head snapped up, hope flickering in her eyes. "You'd… help me?"
"It's not every day a girl climbs the gates of RAPS," he said, his voice edged with something wry. "Most girls who come here don't ask for much. They're taught to take what they're given and be silent about it. But you…"
His lips curved faintly, though it was impossible to tell if it was a smile.
"You didn't wait. You climbed."
Q swallowed hard, unsure if his words were meant to flatter or admonish her.
"Always do that," Ligarius said, his tone thoughtful. "Always climb, even when the gate is locked. Even when the world tells you to stay on the ground."
She couldn't know it then, neither of them could, that those words would be a turning point.
That they would linger with her, shaping the choices she would make and the person she would become.
For now, it was only the beginning.
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