Sounds. From afar, I hear strange, thinning sounds. Light. I feel the intense sunlight pressing against my closed eyelids, as if the morning rays were playing on my skin. Suddenly, I wake up to a sharp poking.
I barely open my eyes, but it's enough to realize that the blonde girl is trying to shake me awake.
"Elis, don't pull so hard! Let her wake up normally," I hear Clara's firm voice.
"But she sleeps through days of the year! How am I supposed to spend the day with her like this?"
"Stop whining, blondie, I can't sleep because of you!" I murmur, struggling to wake up.
"Thank God!" she exclaims, jumping into my arms.
Clara approaches me with steady steps and hugs me gently. Her face shows regret. She lied about letting me in, but I lied to her too, so I guess we're even.
"Should I bring you something to eat or drink?" she asks in a warm, caring voice.
"No need, Mom," Elis answers for me. "We'll have breakfast in the city!"
"Breakfast?" I look at her, confused. "Is it really morning already?"
"Yep, this little adventure knocked you out for half a day," the blonde girl says, leaning against the bed's headboard. "Today's our last day here, we have to go. So I'll explore the city with you before I leave you with its residents." She winks at me. My stomach tightens.
"Why?" I ask them, bewildered.
"Because…" Clara clears her throat. "Because whoever truly let you in won't let you leave. Since only influential heirs can invite others, it's questionable who did it. According to the deputies, it might have been the ruler."
"The ruler?" Elis looks at her mother in shock. "Why would he keep her here? Is he even around? Isn't he lazing underground…"
"Watch what you say while we're here!" Clara scolds her firmly. "The main reason is clear. She came here uninvited, and he won't let her go, not even for two weeks, until she serves her time." Clara takes a deep breath.
"Listen, dear, I'll protect you as best as I can. I've arranged it so you won't get any particularly dangerous tasks, but unfortunately, once I leave, my influence won't reach here anymore. This city, its residents, they're not like they used to be. They're no better than us, just because they have their own laws. But treat the powerful with respect, as I taught you. Here, take this USB drive. It has everything we learned about them, review it!"
"I'm so sorry," I say remorsefully.
"Oh, sweetheart, this is just experience for you. But I have to go. John is holding down the fort at home, but corporate life doesn't stop. Just one thing—stay calm, be compliant, and there won't be any trouble." She kissed my forehead and gave her daughter a similar farewell before walking out. She was never this restrained, but both the blonde girl and I felt her heart breaking. Even though she's not human, she and John did everything to fit into society, living a business life and trying to balance between their worlds.
As soon as Clara left, the blonde girl jumped up.
"You? Calm and compliant?" She looked at me playfully. "That's what you need to survive here? Darling, either you'll take everyone out, or they'll take you out, but one of those will definitely happen," she laughed.
"You're not ultra funny," I snapped, getting out of bed. Now that I looked around more carefully, everything became clear. I was still in the same room they brought us to yesterday.
"Alright, Little Red Riding Hood, get yourself together quickly! We've only got a few hours left to grab your suitcase and wander through the city," she said, dragging me out from the shadow of the bed. In no time, we pulled ourselves together and set off.