Chapter SEVENTY- ONE: THE GREAT FALL
I froze. And turned sharply to it again. I wasn’t going tojust open that door not after what I had just seen.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Kieran.”
“Oh thank God,” I hurried towards the door and opened it.
“What’s wrong?” He asked as I pulled him in looking over his shoulders.
“I think someone was following me.”
“What do you mean?”
“After you left, I thought that I should take a stroll. And then on my way back, I heard noises. At first I thought it was just the normal random noises but then, I heard it again but whenever I looked back I would not see anyone. Until I started hearing footsteps. Someone was watching me and then following me.”
“Hey, you need to calm down.”
“I know you feel that I’m not making any sense but you just have to listen to me.”
“Okay, I am listening.”
“When I got here, right before I closed the door shut, I think I saw someone. More like a figure in the shadows. You don’t believe me do you?”
“Of course I do. I told you not to walk around alone, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, but I did not go out of the palace.”
“I still insist that you shouldn’t walk out alone in the dark.”
“Oh God, I thought this was all over. But Ryan would never stop, would he?”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. Whatever happened isn’t your fault.”
“Why are you back so early anyway? I thought you said it would be a whole day trip? I was expecting you later today or tomorrow morning.”
“Yeah, about that, the trip got cancelled.”
“Oh great. Why was it cancelled?”
“So it would be extended.”
“Extended?”
“Yeah, I would be gone for a week.”
“What? A whole week?!” I exclaimed.
“Yeah, but I don’t think I should leave at least not now.”NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
“Why?”
“I barely left and you already have someone following you.”
“So you want to stay back because of me?”
“Well… yeah”
“That’s sweet but no. You can’t do that. I’ll just keep the guards around and stay indoors.”
“Would that work for you?” He asked looking very much concerned.
“Yeah, it’s not like I have other options.”
…
After the fifth day, I totally lost track of date and time. I just laid down all day rolling from side to side. The bed had suddenly began to feel like thorns on my skin. On hot days it was even worse. As if the walls were closing down on me. But ever since the incident that day, I had not experienced anything of that sort not even close. As the day went by, it felt like I could have just be seeing things or acting paranoid. I didn’t know anymore as staying indoors had began to mess with my head.
Another day inside and I knew just then that I might go crazy. But Kieran’s words still rang in my head. And so I laid back in bed. By the time I woke up for the sixth time that dayI knew I had gotten just enough. My throat was too dry for anything. The maid assigned to bring in my lunch didn’t show up as expected. I had been locked up in my room for so long that everyone has finally forgotten about me. I knew that if I needed something, I had to get it myself. And to remind everyone that I was still in existence at least. And so I just walked out of the room.
The hallway was brightly lit and there were people walking around. It wasn’t quiet nor dark and eerie. Just normal as it had always been.
“Hey,” I called out to the maid that walked ahead of me, heaped pule of bedsheets rested in her arms.
“Yes my lady,” she responded.
“I was wondering why I haven’t seen the maid assigned to me. I have been in there all day without food or water. I just wanted to know if everything is okay.”
“May I ask who was the maid assigned to you?”
“Lucy,” I said.
“Oh Lucy didn’t come in today. I don’t think she even left her quarters today.”
“Why? What happened?”
“I don’t know but I heard the doctor diagnosed food poisoning.”
” I just hope she is doing okay?”
“Yes, she would be fine.”
“But why did no one tell me this?”
“I don’t know, they should have. I’m so sorry that you had to go through that.”
“Its alright.”
“Is there anything I could help you with?” She asked.
I looked at the sheets on her hand.
“I was actually thirsty but I would just get the water myself. Besides you have your hands full.”
“Its not a problem. I can just drop this and get you the water.”
“It’s okay. I would handle this myself. Just make sure that a maid is assigned to me.”
“Alright,” she replied.
As I turned to leave, a black figure quickly moved into the shadows. It happened so fast but I knew what I had seen. There was someone there. Someone had been watching.
“Did you see that?” I asked the maid.
“See what?” She turned but we both stared at an empty space.
“A figure.”
“There is nothing there.”
“Yeah, that’s quite obvious now. It’s alright.”
“Are you okay?” She asked.
“I will be as soon as I get that water,” I said with a smile to ease off the tension that was ready between us.
She smiled back and walked away but my eyes did not leave that view. I wanted to walk into the shadows to see what could be lurking there. But instead, I just turned and walked straight right into the kitchen.
I strolled across the hallway with the bottle of water in my grip. But then, I avoided following the same route that I had come from. I got towards the staircase and just then, I sighted a shadow move so I moved closer to see who was approaching the stairs. But then, footsteps came rushing behind me. Before I could turn to see who it was, I felt a heavy push on my back which made me trip over the flight ofstairs. It happened so fast. Everything blurred around me as gravity pulled me downwards. Gasping as my heart raced and my body yearning for safety, I reached for the rail or anything to anchor but found only empty air. Then I shut my eyes. Perhaps, it was the end.