Before I could progress any further, the butler appeared right in front of me. This startled me a little and he presented me with a plateful of breakfast delights. I hadn’t eaten anything since the day before so I dug in at once.
“Wow, these look amazing, did you make them yourself?” I asked.
The butler didn’t answer, and before I could question his silence, he had placed the plate down on a big oak table and departed the dining room. Soon all the family members started to file in and I thanked them again for their generosity and informed them of my departure.
“But that would be unwise…!” exclaimed the father.
“I’m sorry,” I replied in bewilderment.
“I mean…well…it seems like you’re going to have to stay here for a while longer… as there was a storm yesterday and many of the roads are closed…so I’m afraid you won’t be leaving today…” he tailed off in a suspiciously. I wasn’t sure how to reply, I mean these people had been really humble to me; I didn’t want to offend them or anything.
“Well okay, I suppose I could stay here for another night or so, I mean I don’t want to be a nuisance or outstay my welcome…” I looked sincerely at the family.
“It’s not a problem, we like having another creature in the house” remarked the mother.
What she said bemused me a little, but I tried to keep a bemused look from creeping on to my face and instead gave a short smile back to the mother.
“…but I’m going to have to let my father know, I mean he was expecting me yesterday, so would it be possible to use the telephone, it’s just I can’t seem to find my phone…?” I asked anxiously.
“I’m sorry that won’t be possible, the lines are all dead,” said the father stiffly, and afterwards subsequently he walked off in a soldier-like manner. His loquacious nature had disappeared entirely. Now all the warmth of a loving family that I had felt the night before was gradually starting to vanish.
When everyone else had finished breakfast, I was left there by myself. I hadn’t felt out of place before but now I felt I was getting the cold shoulder. I wanted to get out of this place but I couldn’t… or maybe I could. I couldn’t possibly talk to these people again after that little display, so I rushed back up to my room and searched for my bag. I took out a pen and a notepad and started to scribble down a “sorry” note. I paused, what would I say? That I couldn’t actually talk to them because they were creepy. Scrap this idea I thought, I’d just tell them face to face – that’s the least they deserved. I slipped on my jacket and grabbed my bag, hurryingly.
I had rummaged every room but no one was to be seen anywhere until I reached the living room. The fire flickered and danced around the room, filling the room with a warm but a peculiar glow. The whole family was sat there eyeing me. A disturbing feeling rooted at the pit of my stomach.
“I’m sorry, but as much as you’ve welcomed me here, I really do have to go now.” I blurted out as quickly as I could pronounce the words. I thanked them yet again, and when I didn’t hear a reply, I jammed my eyes shut and turned around to face the powering main door. I walked steadily towards it hoping that they would not impede or obstruct me from making my escape. Every step I took, the floorboards creaked in an eerie manner causing a cold sweat to cover me. As I managed to reach the door, I heard another set of feet following me. I didn’t dare to turn round – I didn’t. I grabbed for the door handle and turned it with a quick cocking motion, but unsurprisingly it didn’t open.
“I knew it,” I murdered under my panting breath. I had no choice but to turn around. A tunnel of darkness pierced occasionally with flashes of brilliant light that surged out of the living room with a silhouette of who looked to be the mother. She was closing in on me although I couldn’t see her face but her eyes still remained vivid and there was a glimmer of a smile in them.
It was then, “snip- its” of my life flashed before my eyes. Why? Am I dying? I could see petal-like wings with a camouflaged dress that I somewhat admired on the woman. Her cheeks were rosy and soft but colourless at the same time. As she approached me, I dropped to the ground; it was like all my energy had been captivated out of me. “What was happening?” I kept questioning myself but I didn’t have any answers. My vision started to blur and the last image I had was my reflection in her mirrored eyes. I could feel pain on my shoulder blades and the feel of ruffled feathers began to emerge, there was this unbreakable bond between us.
“Stop it!” I shouted in agony. “Stop it, you’re hurting me.” But they didn’t listen.
***
I strained my eyes and searched further a field and saw a thin road stretching away into the distance like a grey ribbon. Everything was as calm as a summer’s sea. The sun faded into a haze of amber and gold, filling the land with shadow. As I became restless and agitated, I peered down and immediately I felt a wave of dizziness and nausea wash over me. Everyone and everything was departing from the scene, abandoning me, all alone, deserted on top of a castle. I looked at the view for a few seconds but then a sudden wind gushed past me, which caused the flag to flap and my wings to spread. Nobody will ever notice that I’m gone, I’m all alone and no-one can know what I am. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to fly and now I actually can, I don’t want to anymore. Every second I spend thinking about what everyone looks like. What my family look like, but I can’t see them – I wouldn’t be able to face them. Maybe one day a miracle will happen but in the mean time I can only wallow in my own pain. Although I still don’t know why. Why?