It has been a week or so here and not once was I allowed to take a step out of this room. Food was sent to me three times a day, there's also a bathroom built-in and my clothes are here. There isn't a single reason for me to get out but I really miss the outside world. I got out of the mental asylum and I'm still locked, except it's less torturous.
I let out a sad and disappointing sigh. I got out of bed and approached the window. I'm able to walk on my own now since two days ago. Well, I think I was already able to before but Rio insisted that Athea help me. So, as to rephrase it, I was allowed to walk on my own two days ago.
The curtains covering the window was pulled and tied to the side by me. I opened the window and leaned against the windowsill. The wind blew into the room. The breezy cold hair hits my face making me feel calm all over. The fresh air outside enters my nostril and satisfies my lungs. I should go out to have a jog soon.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I didn't turn towards the door and only replied with a 'come in'. I already knew who it was so I didn't need to look. "Arran, French toast with syrup is the breakfast today," Athea spoke in a motherly tone. She has been taking care of me well. She makes me miss my own mother that I have not met. You could say, she's the mother I never had.
"Okay, thanks Athea. Just put it on the side table, I'll have it soon," I replied. My attention was still on the nature that's behind this wall. I could hear her put the food down and her footsteps suggest that she's about to join me by the window soon.
I could see her leaning against the wall beside me from the corner of my eye, "What are you thinking about?" she asked curiously. I don't know either, my mind is blank. My thoughts were shifted to Rhea in a split second, "How is Rhea now?" I pushed her question aside and asked her a new one. "I haven't seen her in days."
"Do you miss her?" she asked. The question caught me off-guard. I blink a few times out of my own little face and my attention falls on the lady beside me, "what?"
She chuckled and shook her head slightly, "Do you miss Rhea?" she asked again. "No, I was just worried about her," I said quickly. She raised an eyebrow and I realized I've said that I don't miss her, "Wait no, I don't mean it that way! I do miss her but I'm worried about her more!"
"So you're worried AND miss her?" she asked, pressing on the 'and'. "Yes! Wait no... but yes!" I yelled in frustration and pulled my attention back to the outside world, "just tell me how she's doing," I said softly and frustrated. "She's doing okay, Rio figured out why she's experiencing what she is and is now looking for a way to fix it."
I nodded, "as long as she doesn't fade away," I muttered softly. I heard Athea chuckle and pat my shoulder. "Go fill your stomach, I need to go check on Rhea now since Rio headed out to the mansion earlier this morning," she said as she started walking towards the door, "We might be able to move to the mansion end of this week," she informed before the door was closed shut.
I pushed myself off the windowsill and headed to the bed. I sat my butt down on the side of the bed and picked up the plate with the French toast. I then picked up the fork and dug in. It feels as if I hadn't had this in forever. The last time I had it was weeks ago when I first came to the mansion.
Well, it's good that we'll be able to move back soon. I hope the garden is still there and the little pond too. Another bite of the toast entered my mouth. How will things be after this? After we save Kyra, Max, and Bree, what are they going to do? Will Rio take them into his wing? I shook my head and finished up my food. We'll have a talk about it later.
+++
"Arran," a voice called out. I turned towards the voice which so happens to belong to Rio. I crumbled up the paper in my hand and threw it onto a pile of crumpled papers. "How long were you standing there?" I asked Rio. He just shrugged, "what were you doing that requires you to sit on the floor? You also did not realize I was here for quite some time."
I scratch my head that wasn't itchy. "I was trying to draw out a plan to save the bunch from the mental asylum," I responded, "it's not easy, every plan I had in mind is flawed."
"Plans can never be perfect, Arran. Just plan the best you can and have a few back up plans to make it foolproof," Rio suggested. I thought about it for a while. Maybe that's the best. I took out another piece of paper from the drawer beside me. "Right Rio, did you need something from me?" I asked after remembering that he was waiting for me.
"I just wanted to inform you that you might want to start packing as the mansion is almost done. I got them to work a little bit faster," He said, "also, I've already found a way to help Rhea but I need your help. This is also not to mention, a little risky."
I stopped everything I was doing and faced Rio. "What is it?" I asked while I was getting up from my spot and brush off any speck of dust on my behind. "Spirits are sensitive to electricity. So I need to put Rhea into a mortal body to conduct an extraction to take the electricity that's collected in her out of her system completely. It's very risky-"
"I'll do it," I said before he could even tell me the risks. "Do you want to know about the risks?" he asked. "No, I don't want to hesitate. Plus, you and Athea will be there to make sure I'm okay. I'll do what it takes for Rhea to be fine."