IT HAS BEEN A FEW HOURS since Giusseppi and I first set foot outside of Perthlochry. I cradled Ophelia in my arms, gently rocking her back and forth as we trudged onward. She kept a wary eye on Giusseppi, much like I did. There was something about him-an air of mystery-that intrigued and unnerved me.
Anyway, the path we had taken was treacherous. It started off as a well-trodden dirt road but soon gave way to rocky terrain that tested the limits of my endurance. We were climbing up a hill, the ground beneath our feet shifting with each step. It felt as if we were ascending into the heavens, leaving the safety and familiarity of Perthlochry far behind us. The landscape surrounding us was the clear opposite of the lush greenery of the town we had left as well. The verdant fields and neat gardens were replaced by jagged boulders and windswept tufts of grass. It was as if we had entered a completely different world, isolated from civilization.
As we climbed higher and higher, a biting wind began to whip at our faces. I pulled myself tighter, shielding Ophelia from the cold as best I could. She buried her face in the crook of my arm, seeking warmth from my body. Shadows also seemed to creep out from behind the boulders, stretching their dark tendrils across the ground like sinister fingers. I found myself glancing over my shoulder more often than not, the eerie silence punctuated only by the crunching of gravel beneath our boots.
"Don't worry, Primrose. The sun is just setting," Giusseppi said.
He seemed unfazed by the treacherous path and chilling atmosphere. He strode ahead with confidence, his eyes fixed on the horizon. I could not help but admire his determination, though, even as I questioned the thought of following him into this desolate place.
As the sky darkened, the wind grew stronger, howling through the jagged rocks like a banshee's wail. Ophelia's ears twitched with every gust, her eyes growing wider as her fear intensified. I whispered soothing words into her fur, my voice barely audible above the cacophony of the wind.
Finally, Giusseppi came to a halt at the crest of the hill. He turned to face us, his eyes gleaming in the fading light. "We have arrived," he announced, his voice barely audible above the wind. I squinted into the darkness, trying to discern what he had brought us here to see.
As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized we were standing on the edge of a cliff, overlooking a vast expanse of darkness. Far below, I could make out the faint glimmer of water-a black, churning lake that seemed to stretch on for eternity. It was a sight that was somehow cool, a distinct note of the immense power of nature. But for some reason, it reminded me of something. I just couldn't tell what.
Giusseppi raised his arms, as if embracing the wild wind that whipped around us. "Behold the edge of the world!" he cried, his voice filled with a fervor I had not heard before. "This is where our journey truly begins."
The first thing that struck me, aside from the lake, was the sheer size of the house nearby. It loomed like a specter in the distance, its tall spire reaching for the heavens as if it were trying to pierce through the veil of clouds above. Its dark, weathered walls seemed to whisper secrets from the centuries they had seen, and the gnarled trees that surrounded it only added to the eerie atmosphere that hung in the air like a shroud. I couldn't help but feel a shiver run down my spine as I gazed upon it, and I found myself thinking that this must be where Giusseppi lived.
In a way, it somehow resembled the Victorian home of Miss Alice. The same mysterious aura that seemed to emanate from her very being also clung to this place, its secrets buried deep within its walls like so many skeletons in a closet.
As we approached, Giusseppi tried to make small talk, asking me how I was holding up. But I just couldn't bring myself to speak. There was something about this place that seemed to steal the words right from my lips, leaving me silent and introspective. Sensing my reluctance to engage, Giusseppi eventually fell quiet as well, and we continued our journey in silence.
A couple of minutes after descending, we finally arrived at the doorstep, and after a few seconds of waiting, the door made this large bolt sound before it swung open to reveal a man who bore an uncanny resemblance to Albert Einstein. His wild white hair was very frizzy, and his eyes sparkled with an intelligence that was really evident.
"Master, you've come," he said, a note of excitement in his voice. He was about to take Giusseppi's jacket when he noticed him from behind. He looked at Giusseppi and smiled, looking back at me again, before looking at Ophelia. "Is this our visitor?"
Giusseppi nodded. "Yup," he said. "Meet Prim. Prim, this is Sergei Wozniak, by the way."
Wozniak eagerly extended his hand to shake mine, but I hesitated, still feeling uneasy in this strange place. The way Sergei speaks, though, seemed like he's Russian. I don't know. I could tell that my reluctance to engage was starting to wear on Giusseppi, but I just couldn't help it. There was something so... strange about Wozniak, and I found myself wondering what secrets might be locked away within his brilliant mind.
Wozniak was dressed in a well-worn lab coat, which was adorned with various stains and smudges that hinted at the countless hours he could've spent laboring over some mysterious project or another. His excitement at our arrival was palpable, and he seemed almost like a child who had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a long-awaited playmate.
"Nice to meet you, dear," Sergei smiled, reaching his hand to me.
After shaking hands and after their short conversation, we stepped inside the house, and the moment I stepped inside, I couldn't help but feel that we were crossing some invisible threshold, leaving the world I knew behind and stepping into a realm where anything was possible. The house was a place of mystery, and I knew in my heart that it held secrets that hid behind every crevice of this house. However, I disregarded all those as I followed Giusseppi and Sergei into the depths of the house. Sergei then led me through the grand doors of the house. The moment I stepped inside, I couldn't help but marvel at the vastness of the space. The polished marble floor glistened under the light pouring in from the large windows, and the high ceiling seemed to stretch toward the sky. Giusseppi had mentioned that he'd arranged for me to stay here, and Sergei was tasked with showing me the ropes.
The air was rich with the scent of old books and burning candles as we walked past the library. It was a peculiar mixture that felt simultaneously comforting and mysterious. Sergei began the tour, guiding me past the entrance hall and into a luxurious living room adorned with plush furniture and exquisite artwork. I trailed behind him, trying to take in the opulence of my surroundings.
As we moved from room to room, Sergei couldn't help but share his vast knowledge of scientific tidbits. "Did you know that the golden ratio is found in the proportions of this very room? It's quite fascinating," he remarked, gesturing to the dimensions of the parlor we'd just entered.
I listened, though I didn't respond. As usual, you know? There was something about his passion for science that I found intriguing, but I couldn't bring myself to engage in conversation. Instead, I admired the intricate woodwork and the antique collection displayed on the shelves.
Sergei continued unperturbed, his enthusiasm unwavering. "And this," he said, pointing to a beautiful chandelier hanging above our heads, "is made of bismuth crystals. They have a unique geometrical structure that causes the light to refract in marvelous ways."
Again, I remained silent, though I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. I had never encountered such a place where science and art melded together so seamlessly. And for some reason, he reminds me of Wallace. Wallace had the same brilliance and intelligence in the way he spoke, though.
We ventured deeper into the house after Sergei showed me the dining area, each room more captivating than the last. Sergei's scientific commentary was like an unending stream of stuff. He spoke of chemical reactions that produced the vibrant hues in the stained glass windows, of mathematical patterns hidden in the wallpaper, and of the complex physics behind the grand staircase's spiral design. I was uninterested, honestly. But he was so enthusiastic, you know? It's hard to ignore his speech and utter words that are rubbish to me.
Finally, we arrived at a cozy bedroom with a large window overlooking the garden. "Lastly, this will be your room during your stay," Sergei informed me, his voice gentle and welcoming. "I hope you find it comfortable."
He paused, perhaps sensing my hesitance to speak. With a warm smile, he added, "Welcome to our home. Make yourself feel comfortable."
For the first time since we'd begun the tour, I looked directly into Sergei's eyes and offered a small nod of gratitude. His kindness and enthusiasm had made this unfamiliar place feel a little less daunting, and I couldn't deny that his passion for science had sparked my own curiosity. Maybe, during my time here, I would find my own voice and join him in exploring the wonders of this extraordinary house.
The door then shut behind me with a soft click, leaving me alone with my thoughts in the dimly lit chamber. As I surveyed my surroundings, I couldn't help but notice the eerie similarity between this room and the one I had left behind in Miss Alice's. The walls were lined with a similar floral wallpaper, faded and peeling in places, while an antique dresser stood against one wall, its surface cluttered with various trinkets and baubles. And yet, for all its familiarity, there were also striking differences that gave this room an otherworldly quality.
Ophelia leaped gracefully from my arms and began to explore this new space with her customary curiosity. Her soft, black fur seemed to absorb the pale moonlight that filtered in through the gauzy curtains, rendering her nearly invisible as she prowled the room.
I then moved to the vanity table as I lowered myself onto the cushioned stool. The vanity itself was a beautifully crafted piece of furniture, the wood dark and gleaming beneath the flicker of the nearby candle. As I gazed into the mirror, my reflection stared back at me, the candlelight casting shadows that seemed to emphasize the uncertainty in my eyes.
My thoughts wandered back to my daring escape from Miss Alice's home. The image of her cold, calculating smile haunted me, and I couldn't help but question the wisdom of my actions. What if I had made a terrible mistake? What if I had only traded one prison for another?
But then, Giusseppi was there. The strange, mysterious guy who had appeared in my life as if by fate. He seemed to know far more about Miss Alice and her sinister plans for the gifted orphans than I could have ever imagined. There was an unsettling air about him, to be sure, but the fact that he had exposed Miss Alice's treachery and offered me a chance at freedom spoke volumes about his intentions. He wanted to save the gifted beings, and in him, I saw a glimmer of hope.
As I sat there, staring at my reflection and contemplating my uncertain future, a mixture of fear and determination welled up inside me. I had no home, no place to return to, but perhaps that was for the best. Because in the absence of a past, there was an opportunity to follow a new path and discover the truth about myself and my origins. And most of all, to learn more about who Miss Alice truly is.
***
I had just finished changing into something more comfortable when I scooped up Ophelia into my arms. Together, we made our way down the stairs, her purring softly against my chest, providing a small but welcome comfort.
"Sergei asked me to come down for dinner," I muttered to Ophelia, even though I knew she couldn't understand me. The thought of breaking bread with Giusseppi was making me uneasy. "I never did respond to him, though. I hope that wasn't too rude."
As Ophelia and I descended, I could see Giusseppi already seated at the far end of the long, elegant dining table. A single vacant seat awaited me at the opposite end. Giusseppi looked up from his drink and smiled, gesturing to the chair.
"Please, take a seat. Dinner will be served shortly," he said, his voice as smooth as silk.
I hesitated for a moment, keeping a wary stare fixed on him, before carefully placing Ophelia on the floor and sitting down on the chair. The air grew thick with silence afterwards, and I could feel Ophelia winding her way around my legs, as if trying to offer some kind of protection.
The stillness was broken by the arrival of a male housekeeper, impeccably dressed and carrying a silver platter. With practiced efficiency, he placed a set of utensils in front of Giusseppi, then moved to do the same for me. Then, three more men, their strides synchronized, entered the room, each bearing a different dish. The smells of the food mixed through the air, making my stomach grumble despite my nerves. The dishes were meticulously arranged in front of Giusseppi and me, creating an impressive spread that was almost too beautiful to eat.
"Dinner is served," Giusseppi announced, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Dig in."
But I couldn't bring myself to take a bite. My gaze remained locked on Giusseppi, watching for any sign of deceit or ulterior motives. The tension in the room was palpable, and Ophelia seemed to sense it too, her eyes darting between us as she sat near my feet.
Giusseppi's smile faded, and he leaned back in his chair, studying me thoughtfully. "Primrose, I assure you, there's no need to be so suspicious. Enjoy the meal. It's been prepared especially for you."
"I'm not hungry," I lied, unwilling to let my guard down. Every instinct was telling me to remain cautious, even though Giusseppi hadn't done anything overtly threatening.
"Suit yourself," he said with a shrug, picking up his fork and starting on his own plate.
As the minutes ticked by, the only sounds in the room were the clinking of cutlery and the soft padding of Ophelia's paws on the floor. I could feel the weight of Giusseppi's gaze on me, but I refused to meet it. Instead, I focused on the intricate patterns on the china, trying to keep my thoughts from spiraling. As I watched one of Giusseppi's men, a burly figure in a black suit, bend down to feed Ophelia, She purred contentedly, unaware of the tension swirling around my head. I could feel the heavy weight of Giusseppi's eyes on me, as if he were trying to pry open the secrets locked within my soul.
"You told me you would tell me everything," I said, my voice wavering slightly as I met his gaze. Giusseppi continued to eat, his knife and fork clinking against the porcelain plate, the sound grating on my frayed nerves.
"Of course," he replied, his voice low and smooth. "But you need to eat your dinner. Otherwise, I won't be telling you anything." I stared at him warily, knowing there was more to him than met the eye.
I glanced down at my plate; the food suddenly seemed unappetizing. Still, I forced myself to pick up my fork and take a bite, my mind racing with thoughts and questions. Giusseppi signaled to his men, including Sergei, to give us some space. They bowed in front of him synchronously as they filed out of the room, leaving us alone in the dimly lit dining area.
As the heavy door closed behind them, Giusseppi leaned forward, his dark eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and something else I couldn't quite place.
"What do you want to know?" he began, his voice barely above a whisper.
I looked at my plate as I stopped taking a bite. I wanted to ask him everything, but a part of me held my tongue back, as if sensing that too many questions would only overwhelm Giusseppi.
"Miss Alice. You told me you'd tell me something about her."
"I mean, sure, I know what happened to the children there, and I know what's going to happen to them." My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white.
"What do you mean?" I demanded. Giusseppi leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine.
"I was once an orphan there myself," he confessed. "Back when the headmaster was Ryan." My eyes widened at his revelation, and suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle began to click into place.
"You were one of them," I whispered, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. "You escaped, and now you're trying to help the others. But why? Why did you escape?"
Giusseppi's eyes clouded over with memories, and he nodded slowly. "I mean it," he admitted. "I was one of the lucky ones. But there are still so many left behind, trapped within the walls of that cursed place." His voice cracked, and I saw something in him that I hadn't seen before: raw and unfiltered pain.
"What do you know about the orphanage?" I asked. "What's going to happen to the children there?"
Giusseppi took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to reveal. "Miss Alice is not what she seems," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "She's part of something much darker, something that's been going on for years. The children in her care... Honestly, Primrose, they're not safe."
The clink of silverware against ceramic plates filled the air as Giusseppi and I sat down to dinner in his dimly lit dining room. The room, adorned with antique furniture and heavy curtains, was a clear contrast to the bright, cheerful place I called home at Miss Alice's orphanage. The flickering glow of the candles on the table cast eerie shadows on the walls, and the atmosphere felt heavy, as if the very air was conspiring to keep me on edge.
Giusseppi leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper. "That aside, there's something you need to know about Miss Alice," he said, his eyes darting around nervously. "I'm telling you this because I care about you and the other gifted children in her care."
I furrowed my brow, curiosity piqued.
He then hesitated for a moment, as though carefully considering his words. "Miss Alice, she," he paused, swallowing hard, "she isn't who you think she is."
I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. "What do you mean?"
Giusseppi's hands trembled as he set down his fork and knife. "She seeks out gifted children because, unlike the adults, they are vulnerable. And then she takes away their abilities. She's working for the men in black, you see. Have you ever noticed how often Miss Alice wears a black dress? It's not just a coincidence. It's a symbol of her allegiance to them."
I had noticed her penchant for wearing black, but I had always chalked it up to her sense of style. Now, though, I couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it. I bit my lip, unsure of what to say.
Giusseppi continued, his voice low and urgent. "She's hiding things. I heard she has a hidden room too. She's hiding things that she doesn't want you or the other gifted children to see."
My mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. It's not a coincidence he knows about the hidden room, knowing only Miss Alice and the people in her foster home know about it. She had always been kind and caring, like a mother to us all. Could she really be so sinister? I knew the forbidden rooms existed, but I had never dared to venture into every nook and cranny. What else could she be hiding in there?
I remained silent, unable to respond. Giusseppi's words swirled around in my head, threatening to shatter the fragile world I'd built up around myself and the academy. I pushed my plate away, suddenly finding the meal before me unappetizing.
Giusseppi then walked and reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand on my arm. "I'm sorry to have to tell you all this, but I seriously want her to stop."
I nodded slowly, my throat tight as I struggled to swallow the lump that had formed there.
As I blinked, the weight of Giusseppi's words sinking in slowly, I breathed heavily. My heart thudded heavily in my chest, a mixture of dread and anticipation curling around it like tendrils of black smoke. For a moment, it felt as if my world was crumbling around me, the foundations of my life shaken to the core. But then it hit me.
"How... how did you know all these?" I whispered, my voice barely audible above the sound of the wind rustling outside. Giusseppi's dark eyes bore into mine, filled with a strange mixture of compassion and pity.
"I know about Miss Alice and her true nature because I was once with them," Giusseppi continued, his voice low and urgent. "She and Augustus have been manipulating the orphans for years, using them for their own twisted ends. They are not the kind and caring people they pretend to be."
My hands trembled in my lap, and I stared down at the half-eaten plate of food before me. It was as if the very air around me had become thick with deception, the taste of betrayal bitter on my tongue. And then, in a voice barely more than a whisper, Giusseppi dropped the final bombshell.
"They even know about your true family."
My head snapped up, my eyes widening in shock as I stared at him. "What do you mean?" I demanded, my voice shaking with anger and disbelief. "What do you know about my parents?"
Giusseppi hesitated, as if weighing the impact of what he was about to say. "Miss Alice and Augustus orchestrated your parents' deaths," he finally said, his voice heavy with sorrow. "They manipulated events so that you would end up in Perthlochry, with nowhere else to go but to their home."
The words hit me like a physical blow, and I gasped for breath, my vision swimming with blurry sight. It felt as if the ground beneath me had opened up, swallowing me whole into a chasm of darkness and despair.
And as I struggled to make sense of it all, a cold, steely resolve began to form within me. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing the ugly truth that had been hidden in plain sight for so long. I stood up, my heart pounding in my chest, feeling the weight of the decision that lay before me. "How can I trust you?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. Giusseppi's dark eyes, which seemed to hold a thousand secrets, met mine with an intensity that made me shiver.
"I know pain, Primrose," he said softly, as if he could see straight through to my deepest fears and insecurities. "I've been in their home. I escaped from Miss Alice's clutches, unlike the others."
As if the mention of her name brought a chill to the room, I shuddered at the memory of her cold gaze and the way she seemed to delight in our suffering. Giusseppi leaned in closer, his voice barely above a breath. "Do you want to save your best friend?"
The question caught me off guard, and I hesitated. How did he know about Mamori? He was offering me a chance to save Mamori and the other orphans, but could I trust him? The mere thought of Mamori's smiling face made me ache with longing.
Giusseppi's next words sent a cold shiver down my spine. "It won't be long before Miss Alice and her accomplice Augustus send the orphans to Cygnus."
The name struck a nerve. "CYGNUS," I whispered, remembering the card I had seen from the unconscious man in black who invaded the academy. It seemed fate had thrown me a lifeline, but at what cost?
Giusseppi's eyes never left mine as he asked, "Do you know the details of Miss Alice's home? We'll need to know where it is if we're going to save the orphans there."
I hesitated, torn between my desire to save my friends and my instinct to be wary of this strange, creepy man who seemed to appear out of nowhere. Images of Mamori and Bryce flashed through my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling that they were victims, just like Giusseppi and me.
Taking a deep breath, I braced myself for the consequences of my decision. "Ellsmere," I said. "Ellsmere, Therslomau Isle. The massive Victorian home in the middle of the fields."
Giusseppi then smiled softly. "Thank you, Prim. Don't worry; we will help your friends escape from there as soon as possible. Don't worry."
***
As the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon, I slipped under the soft, warm covers of my bed. Ophelia nestled beside me, purring contentedly as she claimed her spot for the night. The day's weariness weighed heavy on my eyelids, and I welcomed the darkness that enveloped me as I closed my eyes.
Slowly, I drifted off into the seemingly endless abyss of sleep, where time lost all meaning. It was in this black void that I suddenly felt my chest constrict, my heart pounding wildly as if trying to escape the confines of my ribcage. A sense of foreboding anxiety washed over me, and in the darkness, I saw them: Bryce, Mamori, and Noelle.
Weird.
"What do you want?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Mamori's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she reached out to me. "Come back, Prim. We miss you."
I shook my head, my resolve unwavering. "I can't. I just can't."
Noelle inched forward, her gaze fixed on me. "You need to return, Prim. Either that, or you'll be in danger."
"No. You all are."
"No, Prim. You're the one in danger," Mamori said.
"I know everything," I replied, my voice firm. "I know what Miss Alice is doing, and I won't let her hurt any of you."
A heavy silence fell upon us, broken only by the sound of Bryce's sigh. "It took me days to connect to your consciousness, Prim. We're running out of time."
My heart ached at the sight of them, but I couldn't let my emotions cloud my judgment. "I'll do whatever it takes to save you," I promised. "I don't care if you all hated me for leaving, but you need to understand that I'm doing this because Miss Alice threatened to steal a part of my identity-and I won't let her do that."
Noelle, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. "For goodness sake, Primrose, come back to us. Don't be a wuss, and just please come and talk to us here!"
I looked at each of their faces, etched with concern and love, and felt a tear slip down my cheek. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "You made a mistake by staying in Miss Alice's home. I can't come back. Not yet."
As their expressions turned to dismay, I knew that I had to act quickly. I couldn't risk Miss Alice discovering that I was onto her. I needed to protect my friends, and if that meant staying away from them for now, then that was a sacrifice I was willing to make.
The scene before me began to disintegrate, like sand slipping through my fingers. I reached out, trying to hold onto them, but it was futile. They were disappearing, and I was left alone once more in the cold embrace of the darkness. My eyes then snapped open, and I found myself back in my room, the pale glow of the moon casting eerie shadows on the walls. Ophelia stirred beside me, sensing my distress. I took a deep breath, and as I exhaled, I felt a newfound determination surge through me.
I would save them, no matter what it took. Miss Alice's twisted games would come to an end, and I would be the one to ensure it. But for now, I needed to remain focused and vigilant. For now, I need to know how to save my friends.