NYSSA
The outin’ with Ember did not go as expected, but what could I do? I tried to make her believe I was in the room with her even though it looked like I wasn’t.
We had gone to an art station in the city, and I went from section to section with a wish that I would have the answers I needed to all the questions I had.
But how was that even possible? Ember and I returned to the penthouse later that day and she left, leavin’ me in the apartment once more.
The boredom was too much and I couldn’t take it any longer. And with this, I changed into somethin’ else and went for a walk. It was my first time goin’ out alone since I came back from the hospital, or wasn’t it? Maybe it wasn’t, and my brain had refused to take note.
While I walked, I stopped to take breaks. For many moments, I thought about the letter from Lysander and if I was willin’ to check out the garden. Didn’t he say he was always watchin’ me from the moment I walked out through the gate? No! I changed my mind and continued with my walk. From my observation, I have added some weight since the last time I opened my eyes in the hospital ward. What could I do if not try walkin’ in the evenin’s and see if I could lose some weight?
When I had reached the end of the estate, I turned around and started walkin’ back to the house.
When I caught up with the gate, there was a car parkin’ itself in the lot. I didn’t need a soothsayer to tell me that Kazmir had just arrived back from work. It was quite early, but I liked the fact that there was finally someone to keep me company.
“Where did you go?” The man asked when I caught up with the space. “I kinda noticed somethin’ was off when I drove in but could not place a hand on it. Is everythin’ okay with you at all?”
“Welcome home, Kazmir,” I said rather. “I went for a walk. I seem to have added some weight I don’t think I like, so I thought a walk would help.”
“Weight?” He chuckled.
“Come with me, baby.” He grabbed my hand and I was scared. Why wouldn’t I be scared? The letter from a mysterious Lysander made me scared of ‘im in some way. Is Kazmir even loyal? I wondered while walkin’ behind ‘im when the entrance door was pushed open.
“There is a workout room in the apartment, Nyssa. Why not use it?” He turned to face me who planted a normal expression on my countenance. “Come with me.” He said and we were still walkin’ – headin’ to the door of the room we both share.
In the room, he snatched a key from the drawer and we walked out again, headin’ to a place I didn’t know whether or not it existed in the house. In moments, we caught up with a space and Kazmir used a key on it, while I watched in awe as a black wall opened.
“Woah!”
“What?” He stepped in before me.
“You didn’t know it was a room, isn’t it?” He turned to face with a smile on his countenance, turnin’ on somethin’. “You have a gym, baby. You can use this instead of walkin’, don’t you think so?”
“I know so,” I gave ‘im a nod. “Thank you, but there will be times I would love to go for walks in the evenin’ – gym in the apartment or not.”
He nodded, walkin’ closer to my spot. “Yes, you can go for walks. But I just thought I should let you know there is a gym in the house in case you urgently need one, which it looks like from the look of things.”
I felt better.
At least I could go out for walks in the evenin’, with hopes of gettin’ the answers I needed or better still, runnin’ away when it becomes necessary. “Thank you,” I murmured, takin’ the keys from ‘im. “I’ll try one or two of these.”
Days passed and I spent more time in the gym, takin’ one or two weights in my hand. I made use of the runnin’ machine more than any other time but then, did not miss out on my meal but a smaller quantity other than what I used to take.
It was the next week.
I realized now that it’s been a while since I stepped foot in the art gallery. How is this even possible? I wondered while I took a bath after my time at the diner.
After a moment in the bathroom, I walked out and got dressed – leadin’ my way out of the room this time around with a smile on my countenance. I smiled ’cause of the fact that I would try to paint in the art studio when I was finally there.
It dawned on me and I rushed back to the room to get the key to the art studio. Upon my arrival, the key I needed was grabbed from the drawer next to the bed on the side of Kazmir, and I led my way out of the room.
Before I made it to the studio, I branched by the kitchen. A glass of water emptied in my mouth and I started my journey to the art studio – smilin’ as I led my way with the many thoughts runnin’ around in my head. When I caught up with the door, I used the key on it and the door opened, while I walked into the space with a grimace this time around.
Why can’t I forget Lysander?
Why is he after me? I thought, shuttin’ the door.
In moments, I was seated in front of a board. I looked around me, wonderin’ what to do exactly and how to go ’bout it. Then, it dawned on me for the first time in a long while that a pen or pencil would do magic on the sheet plastered on the board.
I dragged a small table to the spot and picked up one of them, smilin’ and wonderin’ what would happen next.
In moments, I had picked up a drawin’ pen and started with the board – concentratin’ as though I was an artist in my former life which may not have been so. What do I know, though? I got up, changed my mind, and walked to another part of the room.
Nothin’ special went on in this part of the room anymore. I sighed with the intention of leavin’ the space, but changed my mind and walked to a part of the room I had ne’er been to. Somethin’ was hangin’ in the ceilin’: somethin’ I had ne’er seen before now. How did I not notice? I looked around, comin’ to the realization of not checkin’ out the ceilin’ since the first day of my arrival in the house.
What was that?
Without wastin’ any time, I walked to the end of the room and picked up a long stick. Without hesitation, I walked back to the spot and shot at the object with the aid that came from the stick.
It fell to the floor.
I bent low to pick it up after observin’ it, watchin’ the object in my hand with a shake of my head. I looked up once more to see the ceilin’ and then looked at it in my hand again, shakin’ my head even more with a realization that dawned on me.
It was a camera.
A monitorin’ camera.
What was it for?
Who planted it here?
Who else would it be if not for Kazmir? The same man Lysander warned me ’bout in the letter I read some time ago. Fear overwhelmed me again, and I was more scared of Kazmir than I was when the letter was read. What did I ever do to ‘im? Is he even loyal to me?!