The Search for Freedom

What kind of worker was he to down even his boss? He was really not thinking about what I could do, that I could remove him from work because of what he did. He didn't know that I was only kind to those who were kind, but I was also cruel to those who were cruel. However, I knew I could not blame him because what I did was undoubtedly a mistake, and he was only telling the truth.

I was still thankful to the only person, Amara Spicy, whom I trusted and considered my sister; the woman who could understand anything and the woman who cared about me, though sometimes I was stubborn. I was grateful because she did not believe the words of the guard who wanted to destroy our good partnership.

Maybe Amara believed that I could not hurt someone without any reason, and she was right, because it wasn't me who hurt anyone, but the curse from the ugly woman.

My problems with the guard were finally solved because I had already fired him without hesitation. I wasn't so cruel as what someone would think, for I didn't let him go without giving him his salary. I was also kind to those poor people like him, and I wasn't totally mad because even though he was poor, he didn't know how to lie.

Therefore, I gave him money so that he could start a new business and would not show his face to me again. There were only two things he could do: to keep silent and live a peaceful life or to report what I did, but I would not let him live peacefully.

However, I knew that he could not do it. I wasn't underestimating him, but he was so weak and seemed to choose to keep silent rather than wrangle with me. I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be imprisoned as long as he didn't have any evidence about the crime.

Those days, I was afraid to sleep alone in my room; I was afraid to use the bathroom. I was afraid to go outside the mansion, especially at night, and I was afraid to be alone because I knew a pinkish cloud would appear out of nowhere in front of me. I was afraid because there was nothing I could do to fight the dark magic.

Everything seemed unavoidable. I couldn't avoid going upstairs and not sleeping in my bedroom. I was a princess, and I didn't want to sleep in the room with maids and servants. Maybe it would be better to fight the cowardness and face the trials. I knew the ordeal would only end when the challenger faced it.

Taking the concrete glossy floor, going towards the library of the mansion and listening to my heavy footsteps, which seemed to be telling me to go back. but nothing to worry about or be scared about. I knew there were many guards and servants near the library. I didn't care if the pinkish cloud would appear and I'd do something contemptible again. As long as I was alive, there was nothing to worry about.

I didn't want to feel sorry for other people because I wasn't doing anything wrong to them. I'd better fight to survive and be terrified of anything that might happen. I knew nothing was permanent and everything would be alright, as the problem was temporary.

The library's dimness was a bit surprising; the drapes had been drawn against the glaring outside light and no lamps had been turned on. A fire leapt in the stone fireplace, sending dancing light around the room. I didn't close the door so that if something happened, I could quickly run outside. But though the door was open, it was still dim inside.

The room was lined with shelves housing thousands of books. In the center stood a heavy refectory table strewn with the books that I had started to read the last time I visited there. There was also a sofa facing the fireplace, and its silhouette could be seen on the glossy floor.

I went towards the table and sat down on the chair beside it. As usual, the librarian did not touch the books I had read nor fix them. Otherwise, she would surely waste her time searching for the book for me.

Slowly, my eyes adjusted to the dusky gloom. I was conscious of the movement, a shadow, really, beyond the back of the sofa. So I stood up and went towards it to check if anyone was there. Nothing to worry about. He was just a boy who might have been around the same age as me. But I knew he wasn't a servant because I recognized the people who were working around the mansion.

He looked innocent in his v-necked velour shirt and tight-fitting navy pants; he was barefoot. His face looked familiar, but I could not remember him. He had a high nose, brown eyes, and skin. A thick, unruly thatch of black hair lay above his high forehead, with one stray lock falling forward. He was a little taller than me.

"Who are you?" I inquired. "What are you doing here?"

"Hey Kaila, it's me, your playmate from when you were a kid." He replied and hurriedly stood up from the sofa, his face filled with happiness, and he winked at me.

"Do I have a playmate? Why cannot I remember you?"

"Maybe because we were just little at that time, you know."

"But I don't know you. Can you tell me anything that could make me remember you?"

"We knew each other for a long time. How could you forget me so easily?" He queried.

"Just tell me, or else I will kick you there!" I ordered in a mad manner.

"Oh! You're so brave now, though you just relied on me before, especially when there was someone who intended to hurt you."

He got near me and stared at my eyes. I could see the flirty smile on his face. I could tell that he was handsome, but I wasn't easily pleased. I had promised myself that I would never trust anyone again. He must not trust him because he would only cause me pain. So I removed myself from his front and went towards the upholstered chair beside the table.

"Have you remembered me?" He asked again.

"How can I remember you if you did not even tell me your name?"

I felt uncomfortable that he knew who I was, but in contrast, I didn't even know who he was. Did he have a plan to introduce himself? Or would he just force himself to admit that he was my playmate when I was younger?

Was it possible that I had amnesia and I was unable to recall what happened? Many thoughts raced through my mind, including, what kind of girl was I that I could forget my past so easily?

"Kaila Breaks, I'm Nick, your playmate when you were young."

"Nick? I haven't heard that name before. Can you tell me more about yourself?" I asked, then smiled at him.

"I'm living in another town far from here. That's why I cannot find an opportunity to say hello to you. When I was younger, I was always here because your parents sometimes invited me to go with them. You know-your parents and mine were business partners."

Quiet suddenly appeared in the library room after Nick said those words. Maybe he didn't know what happened to my parents, or maybe he did know and he also meant to hurt me.

"You're lulled... Did I say something which made you feel sad?"

"No, I just remembered my parents." I sighed and shrugged.

"Oh sorry, I had heard what happened to them, and my mother had also told me about it, and I did not mean to mention that."

"That's okay, but can you tell me what you are doing here inside the library? And you were also lying on the sofa just a while ago. That made me think that you had memorized the bypass here."

"Even though I was only six years old when I was always here, I cannot forget the view around your mansion. I also cannot forget your appearance and that beautiful face, which always appears to me in my dreams," he explained, flashing a flirtatious smile.

"A guard told me that you were inside the library. That's why I came here. You were not here, and you know-I'm ashamed to enter your mansion without permission. That's why I just laid down on that sofa."