Where am I?
All I remember is a big storm, and then…
Nothing.
Perennial struggled into a sitting position, rubbing her head. She was afraid to look around. Afraid of what she might see when she did. But finally her curiosity overruled her fears, and she opened her eyes. She was in a dank, dark room, so large she couldn’t see the other side, surrounded on either side by piles of crates towering far over her four foot stature. A rat scuttled by her feet, and she shrank back against the wall.
What is this place? she thought, jogging her memory for anything that might indicate what had happened. All of a sudden her thought process was interrupted by the sound of a door slamming nearby, as a large, shadowy figure stepped in front of her.
“Ah, so you’re finally awake,” the figure said in a deep, impatient tone.
Finally? How long have I been here? thought Perennial, still staring up at the figure in front of her.
“Well? Are you mute?” the man exclaimed. “Get up. I didn’t bring you here to let you laze around all day.”
Perennial regained control of her voice for long enough to ask in reply: “Wh-where am I?” before the man roughly grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the outline of a doorway.
“Ah, an inquisitive one, are we?” he barked as he dragged her along the paved-stone floor. “I suppose it’s just as well. You’ll learn quicker. And as for your question, I won’t tell you anything that you don’t need to know. Now come on, get up. I’m not carrying you all the way.”
When Perennial stepped through the door and entered the main room, she gasped. It was so richly decorated, so opulent, as if the owner of the house didn’t care a bit about money. The floors were covered in plush carpets, and the walls sparkled gold.
“Do you like it?” the man who had dragged her up here asked, his voice swelling with pride. “The entire place is mine.”
“I-it’s very nice sir,” Perennial replied politely as she could, turning to face the man. She finally got a good glimpse of him. He had short-trimmed, graying hair, which seemed to once have been a magnificent shade of black, and a small beard. His eyes were a curious shade of gray tinged with amber, much darker than Perennial’s own gray eyes. He was well dressed, though rather simply, in a navy blue vest over a white shirt and black pants. “Though may I ask why I’m here?”
“Fine. You’d find out soon enough anyway,” the man replied, a hint of exasperation in his voice. “You have powers. I want control over those powers. So, I’m going to train you, teach you to use your powers. Simple enough, correct?”
“B-but surely you must be mistaken!” exclaimed Perennial. “I don’t have any powers! I’m just a young girl! I’m just a girl…” she whimpered, her eyes tearing up.
“Stop that sniveling at once!” the man demanded, taking a deep breath. “I’ve lived a long life. I know what I’m doing by now,” he said, calmer now, as he sauntered towards the velvet-lined stairs leading to the second floor. “Now, follow me. Don’t dawdle.”
“This is where you’ll being staying during your time with me,” the man said, showing Perennial to a room on the second floor. He seemed much nicer now than he had been. Perhaps he had resigned himself to the fact that he’d have to be nicer if he wanted Perennial to cooperate. “I’ll leave you to get settled. Come downstairs when you’re ready. We have a lot to discuss,” he finished, closing the door behind him.
Perennial looked around the room. It was large, and certainly not skimpy on the furnishings. There were a four-post bed, an oak wood desk and a matching dresser. But it was missing something. It wasn’t home. Perennial sighed, sitting down on the cushy bed. Only one thought crossed her mind.
Escape…
