Chapter Text
I stare out the window, listening to the rain’s gentle pitter-patter. When the thoughts became too loud, listening to the rain helped. I find myself drifting into darkness.
When I awake, I realise that I’m lying in bed, but it doesn't feel familiar. It feels softer than usual, and when I open my eyes, I see an unfamiliar room, painted pale pink.
I was not in my room anymore.
I got up from the bed, noting that it’s big enough to hold a family. The floor is carpeted, the material plush under my feet. How could someone live with this sort of grandeur everywhere?
I notice a full-body mirror, rimmed with gold, etched with delicate carvings of twisting vines. When I approach the mirror, I almost fall to the ground in shock upon seeing my reflection.
I look like a princess, my brunette hair ruffled from sleeping, messy but artfully so. The outfit I’m wearing has fabric flowing loosely from the chest, the sleeves puffy and the skirt is a fine silk, smooth under my fingertips. Experimentally, I sway, watching the flow of the fine fabric as it shimmered from its white colour to gold, reflecting the sun streaming through the grand window overlooking a garden. It takes me a moment to realise this is a night dress.
Where did I get this outfit from? Whose room was I in?
I begin searching for clues when I stumble upon a dress with a letter placed gently on top which was written in such neat handwriting, and I cautiously take the letter. When I opened the letter, I saw that it was addressed to me Hope Eterna and my heart raced.
Who wrote this and how did they know my name?
Carefully, I read through the letter. It states that the dress with the message atop was to be worn upon my waking, written in a looping hand and with a formal voice. I take a look at the back, but there was nothing about who wrote the letter, no signature, not even a wax seal that would've fit in this strange fairytale princess situation.
Picking up the dress, I looked it over as if I would be able to pick fault in its fine make. It was a free-flowing dress with a skirt going to around my knees and the long sleeves would reach just below my elbow. I stood, looking in the mirror, draping the dress over me and noticed that, oddly, it was my exact size. Now, this is weird.
I changed into the dress, which looked amazing. I felt so light and free, although it was perfectly modest and I didn’t feel exposed. While I stand, mesmerised by the dress, I begin to wonder…
How did I get here? I try recalling everything that happened that night but I couldn’t remember anything unusual. The last thing I remember was the darkness of sleep, then I woke up here.
After a while, I began to feel that my cheeks were wet. I look up into the mirror. Im Crying. Why am I crying? I don't feel sad yet somehow, Im crying as each tear falls down my cheek I feel my heart get lighter. I stand and let the tears fall. Is this all my emotions now beginning to show? After so long, I walked to the bathroom, which was only a door away and washed my face with cold water. This is too much. Where am I, and who brought me here? So many questions, yet no answers. If I can't find anyone who will give me answers I will just have to find them on my own. After I brush my hair and place it in a ponytail with a pink satin ribbon. I leave the room. The hall was dimly lit as if no one else was here which was very odd each light was evenly spaced with a brass stand that appeared like a stem with the light being the blooming bud. I walked slowly past so many doors each holding more secrets that I wanted to know. I reach a grand staircase with two sides that would dip into one and would lead to a grand entrance which was lit by the sunlight. The carpet was also a soft pink and felt soft under my feet.
I never really hated pink, but sometimes I prefer other colours. I slowly walk down the stairs admiring the room which was a pale blue this place appeared like a fairytale castle. Once I reach the bottom, I notice the flooring was now oak wood which was cold to the touch. I look down at my feet which had been bare the whole time. Usually, I would be bothered by the lack of shoes but for some reason it did not seem to bother me it was quite freeing in a way to be able to explore and not have to worry about stepping on anything which would damage my feet.
I looked around the grand room, which seemed too high and noticed a large door which arched at the top which formed a heart shape at the very top. Beside it lay two glass windows which within had a heart symbol. Within the heart, a small hexagon with lines reaching the edge of the heart it almost appeared as if they were a symbol for something. I wonder if the symbol was a royal seal of some kind. The suns golden rays shine brightly through the windows producing a beautiful reflection which filled the room with a beautiful light.
This place is far bigger than any place I have ever been to, yet somehow it seems familiar as if I had once roamed through these very rooms as if I had lived here. But I know this cannot be I am a simple human who no one in my world would notice. I sigh as I remember the life, I live which could not compare to the one I have stepped in.
I shake my head and continue to walk through a door just underneath the top of the stairs which could be easily missed due to the door not being as grand as the rest of the room. When I open the door, I see it leads to a darker hallway with a vast number of doors but not as many as I had previously seen upstairs.
I walk through to the far door on the right. When the door opened, a sweet aroma filled my nose which made my stomach begin to rumble as I remember that I had not eaten anything yet.
I let out a soft sigh when I hear someone from behind one of the counters ask, "you hungry?" I froze. Who said that? I couldn't see anyone then like a magician pulling a rabbit out of his hat a cat appears before me on the counter which was in the middle of the kitchen.
The cat's fur was as white as snow, with pale blue eyes just like mine with a satin bow in yellow around her neck which was formed into a beautifully tied bow. She appeared to look like a cat that was well looked after she was slim but has a fluffy coat that was well maintained, I almost want to hold her.
The cat stretches and sits up as she does, she repeats the question again, "you hungry, snowflake?" the cat looks at me as she waits for me to answer. But the only thought I could think of was THE CAT JUST SPOKE! What are this strange place cats don't speak yet for some reason this fluff ball of a cat is speaking and is offering me food this world is wired. Once I compose myself, I nod in agreement as I remember I had yet to eat anything since waking up here.
All of a sudden, the cat jumps down onto the marble floor in front of me. A bright light comes from her whole body and fills the whole room. I cover my eyes due to the intensity of the light. When I opened them again, the cat was gone, and now a human with pale skin, blue eyes, a cat's tail and ears which were the same as her cat form.
I rubbed my eyes hoping that what I was seeing was just a figment of my imagination. When I opened them again, she still stood in a dress like mine but in silver it shone in the light and complemented her slim figure well. I look in her at shock how could this happen one minute she is a cat the next she is a human. Where the hell am I this isn't the world, I am used to that is for sure.
After a moment what seemed like a lifetime the woman speaks "Hope you are a ditz sometimes." Wait, did she just call me a DITZ what the hell who calls someone they dont know a ditz I want to say something but choose not to. Although I do not know her, she acts as if she knows me but how is that possible, I have never seen her before Im pretty sure I would remember a talking cat that could turn into a human. Something strange is going on and I am determined to find out what is going on here and why I was even brought here.
I ask after some thinking "why did you just call me a ditz, and how do you know my name?" She looks at me as if I just shot her through the heart. Tears appear in the corners of her eyes my heart sinks as I watch her on the verge of tears, I never meant to hurt her. She looks away for a moment wiping her eyes.
When she turns around, she smiles as if I never hurt her this is very strange, she speaks in a soft tone "Hope Im snowy your best friend and companion how could you forget that?" I see tears forming in her eyes again. How am I meant to tell her the person she thinks I am not the same person.
I sigh then speak "I'm sorry, but you have me confused with someone else." I feel my heart pounding in my chest. Why was I so scared to hurt her? I don't even know her!
Snowy doesn't speak. Did I really hurt her? I really didn't mean to. I sigh, “My name is Hope, but I’m not the same Hope you’re talking about." She looks like she is thinking about something. The room is filled with a silence where you could hear a pin drop. After what seemed like an eternity, she speaks again.
”It’s fine, I guess I’ll have to help you remember!" Wait what it's like I didn't even speak at all what is wrong with this woman.
She has a bright smile on her face, sweet like a child who won first place. I’m so confused that my head starts hurting this place is definitely not normal. I smile weakly.
I guess I am just going to have to play along for now...