Chapter 3: Awake (Kael)

My body feels relaxed, light-weighted. I lay where I was slowly, stirring up from sleep. Part of me wanted to see the usual blue walls; with my post-it notes, to-do-list, an entire wall covering with posters, magazine cut-outs, and family photos –to see everything that mattered. But I knew better.

Slowly, I opened my eyes. I stared at the ceiling, bright blue- just like the vast sky. I sat on the bed. I walked barefoot towards the door, it was open (Thank Heaven, I thought I'm stuck in here forever.) I don't know what time is it –worst of all, I don't know the time. More than worse –horrible, I don't know where I am. Maybe been locked in this room seems nothing to worry about when considering all these. I walked along the passageway, passing two more doors to find the staircase. I carefully brought myself on to the first step. As soon as I steeped it slowly started descending automatically –it's an escalator. (How come I didn't notice this earlier? But wait, it works both the ways?)

The house seems bigger than I remembered from yesterday. Maybe a little like I'm a part of Tom Cruise's Oblivion. Only this is more than it like I'm in a different world. Ziola was in the living room, lying on the recliner couch, her dog on her lap. She looked up the moment she heard my steps. Now that I'm awake, I absorbed all the details I could, to process. Everything looks like it comes from a Sci-Fi movie –even the recliner I sat in yesterday stood out from the regulars I have seen all my life.

Ziola greeted me with a smile and adjusted herself into a sitting posture. She had golden curls –unusually gold, that the beams of sun rays from the glass walls falling on her curls made it look bright, shining. She's that kind of girls who are considered; 'perfect' and 'unapproachable'. The kinds of girls who are considered to lead the cheerleading squad –annual homecoming queens back at high school. She was good looking; despite her luminous green fingernails, unnatural golden curls, glittering boots, she looked attractive. Most of all, it's her eyes; they look smart and cautious.

"Hey," she called, setting Topsie down.

"Hi," I found the first word I could say and walked towards her. Even though now I'm awake, I have no idea what to say or do. But certainly, I have a lot to ask –the problem is it looks like Ziola has a lot to ask, too.