Bab 67: Expectation vs Reality (1)

Lia gasped as she opened her eyes and stared at the white ceiling. For a moment, a lot of things passed through her head, but nothing seemed concrete enough for her brain to grasp before she was able to focus on any of them. It seemed like she should be remembering something. What it was, though, she did not know. She opened and closed her eyes a couple more times, trying to rack her brain for anything to remember.

Screams. Footsteps. Pain. Lots and lots of pain.

She sat up and flinched as a dull pain shot through her shoulders. Her arms had long gushes and scratches on both of them. There were even bruises on all of her limbs. Her body felt like dozens of horses stomped on it. She squeezed her eyes shut and groaned.

Right. Last night did happen. These were enough proofs caused by the scuffle with those ruffians or maybe by running blindly through the woods in the middle of the night. Possibly, both.

Lia's body tensed in that single thought.

Her family. Where was her mother? Yolly? Frankie? What happened to them? And where was she? Was she captured?

Lia whipped her head left and right, scanning her surroundings. Her first thought was that she was imprisoned, but the room she was in was too homely for a prisoner. It was a normal room with just a bed and a side table, nothing else. Not a guest room type with its sterility but definitely not too restrictive to be a prison.

She gripped the sheets as the tears threatened to fall. It should have been a happy evening. They were supposedly celebrating her birthday. Everything should have been peaceful. Was it too much to ask? Lia bit down her lips, trying to hold back the tears. Even then, a single tear escaped. Was she wrong to forge her own path after all?

There was a knock on her door that almost made her jump. She waited and sat still, tears forgotten, and just stared at the closed door. She braced herself as her eyes roamed the room, this time looking for any weapon she could use. But only a long silence ensued.

After a while, she heard a male voice behind the door. "Lia?"

Instead of answering, her eyes caught the glass of water by her bedside. If push comes to shove, she could use a broken shard…

Another knock. "Lia? Are you awake?"

Lia stared at the doorknob as it turned, revealing Eldric. Of all people, it was him. Of course, it had to be him. She thought back on the events from last night and vaguely remembered someone coming into her hiding spot. At the time, she was convinced that it would be her end. Instead of the ruffians, it must have been Eldric with his men. She remembered trying to fight him off, but she was too exhausted. After all the fighting and running away, the adrenaline rush drained from her body, and she succumbed to a night of deep sleep. She mentally cursed herself for being weak.

"May I come in?" Eldric asked between the small gap at the door.