Simmy really did sneak into the room. Luckily, I caught her, and the shock on her face when she turned to see me was priceless. She even froze in her tracks.
I raised an eyebrow and stared at her pale face. I cleared my throat. “Want to say something?” I asked.
She fixed her expression and smiled maliciously at me. “What should I say?” she asked.
“Nevermind.” I walked closer to her. I noticed her step back, but I didn’t care. “Besides, you’re not going to put poison in that room.”
I walked past her. She didn’t even try to stop me as I entered the room. I paused for a moment and took a deep breath. Running my fingers through my hair, I scanned the room.
Nothing unusual. I sighed and headed to the bathroom. I took a quick shower, changed clothes, and sat in front of the mirror to dry my hair before tying it up.
I stood up, ready to head to the bed when there was a knock at the door. I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost one in the afternoon.
I walked to the door and opened it. A maid I didn’t recognize greeted me. My brows twitched.
“It seems like Simmy wants to play with me,” I said, motioning for her to enter. She placed the tray on the tea table, bowed, and left the room.
I watched her walk towards the staircase, frowning. Where was the maid who usually brought my food? I noticed Simmy liked to switch my attendants often.
But I didn’t care. I slammed the door shut and walked to the tea table. I started eating but stopped when I tasted the mango juice. It was more sour than usual. I quickly put the glass down on the table, frowning.
I stayed still for a while, controlling my breathing and observing my body. If something was wrong with the juice, I should feel it. But after a few minutes, nothing happened.
I finally relaxed. I looked at the glass of juice. Since being locked in this room, it was the first time I noticed something off with the food. But since nothing bad happened to me, I figured it might just be a new ingredient or a stronger concentration.
So, I didn’t bother asking Simmy or the maid about it. I didn’t make a fuss, but in hindsight, that might not have been the best idea.
I spent the rest of the day reading novels, and when I got bored, I played the latest mobile game on my phone. As evening came, I waited for my dinner to be brought. Little did I know, Simmy brought it herself.
She didn’t speak, so I let her be. I didn’t waste time on her as long as she didn’t do anything foolish.
After dinner, I felt weary, so I climbed into bed and, oddly, fell asleep. I didn’t wait for the maid to take the tray. When I woke up, the room was bright.
I jumped up and quickly looked around. I was still in my room, and no one was around. I sighed in relief. I got out of bed, showered, and put on a pink dress.
I went to the balcony and inhaled the fresh air. A thin smile formed on my lips. Watching the sunrise in the east brought me peace.
There was a knock, and shortly after, the door opened. I went back inside and saw Emery. She was carrying my breakfast tray.
When our eyes met, I smiled at her, and she smiled back. “Simmy asked me to bring your breakfast, Miss,” she said, placing the tray on the tea table.
She stood straight and faced me. I sighed. “She’s switching my attendants every day.” I walked closer to her. “Do you know why?”
She lowered her head and shook it. “She didn’t tell me, and I didn’t know she was switching them.”
“Mmm.” I nodded and sat on the chair. Emery stood beside the tea table, facing me but with her eyes on the floor and her head lowered. I pursed my lips. “Any idea why that is?” I asked.
She was silent for a few seconds before looking up at me. “There’s no lock on the outside, Miss. You’re free to go to the kitchen. Why do you want your food brought up here?”
I made a face and looked away. “I don’t want to see Simmy.”
“If you’re worried about the attendants, you can leave the room and eat in the kitchen.”
The corners of my lips lifted upon hearing Emery’s suggestion. I looked at her. “You know what, you’re really sensible.”
She gave a small smile and bowed to me. “If you don’t need anything else, Miss, I’ll leave now and come back for the dishes later.”
I nodded. I watched her walk to the door, open it, and step outside, closing it gently behind her. I laughed dryly. Alone again, but I was used to it.
I quickly finished my meal, and just like yesterday, the mango juice was sour. But I knew it was safe, so I didn’t make a fuss. Emery returned to collect the dishes and left again.
I walked back to the balcony and stood there for a few minutes. But then, I yawned and my vision blurred. My body felt weak, and I could barely stand. I held onto the railing, breathing deeply, before making my way back inside.
I lay on my bed, and darkness soon took over.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a familiar white room. I looked around. White ceiling, white door, white walls, white bed, no windows. The room felt familiar, but I couldn’t remember where I was or how I got there.
I couldn’t tell if the room was small or large. I sat up on the bed and stared at the white door.
I didn’t know why I was staring at the door, but I couldn’t look away. I knew I should leave the bed and find a way out, but my body wouldn’t respond. I stayed rooted to the bed, as if waiting for someone to enter.
The air in the room was stagnant yet cold. I wasn’t sure if it was the room or my own body that was cold. I tried to swallow, but my body wouldn’t let me.
Before I could speculate why I was there, the white door slowly opened. A woman with a bright smile walked in and slowly closed the door behind her. I tried to see beyond the door, but all I could see was pitch black.
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My heart raced, but the woman didn’t seem to notice my frantic breathing.
“Azora, how are you?” the woman asked, stepping closer to the bed.
I opened my mouth again to shout, but no sound came out. I froze. Why?
I bit my lip. Why couldn’t I scream? Why couldn’t I speak? Who was this woman? Why was she wearing a white coat like a doctor? Was she a doctor?
My breathing became more frantic, but the woman didn’t seem to notice. I clutched the bedsheet as she stopped and stood at the bedside, just a few feet away.
I scooted away from her. My back hit the headboard, and I clutched the bedsheet tighter. I looked around again, hoping to find an exit other than the white door. But even the door didn’t feel safe.
“Azora,” the woman called again. She still had that warm, delicate smile. I couldn’t tell if it was fake. Her eyes were blank but seemed to hold words that made my body relax under her gaze. My forehead creased. Who was this woman?
I opened my mouth. “I-I…”
“Shh…” She put a finger to her lips and smiled mischievously. “Relax. I won’t hurt you.”
Her voice was like poison, full of malice and deadly. It was too late for me to realize that, but I couldn’t do anything. My body wouldn’t obey me. Maybe she did something to me, although I could still move and feel my body. But when I tried to dodge or escape, I remained rooted in place.
Suddenly, she reached into her coat pocket. My forehead creased even more when she pulled out a syringe.
“What do you w-want?” I asked weakly as she stepped closer to the bed.
She stood just a few feet away from the headboard. My breathing quickened as I studied her changing expression.
“Don’t be afraid,” she coaxed. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
I gulped and looked intently at the syringe. It had a whitish fluid inside. I didn’t want to imagine what she would do with it, but what else could she do with a filled syringe?
I gathered all my courage before speaking. “Where am I?” I wanted to ask, but instead, I heard myself say, “C-Can you call my dad? I miss him.”
I fell silent after that. I knitted my brows, but the woman didn’t seem to notice. Why? What was this place? What was I doing in this white room, and who was this woman? Why did I ask something I didn’t want to ask?
“Sorry. Your father isn’t here, but your mom is.”
“Mom?” I choked. I coughed a bit before saying again. “S-She’s dead.”
The woman smiled slyly. “Let’s wait for her.”
Just then, the door opened, and another woman entered. She wore a red dress and smiled at me from ear to ear.
I knitted my brows again as I stared at the smiling face. I knew her well. Mom trusted her so much, yet why was she smiling happily at me?
“Azora,” she greeted, standing at the foot of the bed, still smiling.
I opened my mouth to call her, but I didn’t expect the words that came out. “Is this my m-mom?” I asked.
“Yes, Azora,” the woman in the white coat affirmed. “From today onwards, she will be attending to all your needs, and you can consider her your mom.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I shook my head. “Mom is dead! You can’t be my mom!”
The smile faded from the woman’s lips. She glared at me. “You can’t do anything about it. Call me ‘mom’ from now on!”
Then, the woman in the white coat approached me and brought the syringe towards my skin. Shocked, my body froze. My breathing quickened as I glanced at the woman in the red dress.
“Simmy,” I hissed.