Days passed and then weeks. Everything was mixed in a blur of memories and conversations. Since Chloe faded, I hadn't removed the shirt from my body except to wash it and myself. It felt wrong if I slipped it over my skin. It felt like a betrayal. My first few days following the incident had mostly consisted of puffy eyes and malnutrition. Everyone else had radiated sadness but perked back up within a matter of days.

I guess this is their normal. OUR normal.

I sighed as I longed for my ruthless life back. At least in life, I had the option to get a job and enjoy the finer activities in life. Even if I wouldn't have participated in said activities. Sometime between Chloe's fading and my lonely week, I had stopped believing this was a dream.

I'm awake, and I hate it.

I could almost hear the bitterness of those words even contained in my head. I shuffled down the stairs to have breakfast as usual. My clothes were due for their third washing this week. After all, I split in my torn-up jeans and my new shirt. I tried my best to flatten the rumpled material as I stepped into the dining hall. Like always, everyone was seated around the table ready to start eating.

A few of the servants acknowledge my presence as I took my usual spot beside Ardiana. I had barely any knowledge of this castle and its staff even after a week of staying here. So far, I only knew the names of four servants: Harold, Journey, Audrey, and Jean.

Harold was a grumpy thirty-something-year-old man. His head was always shiny and bald. The only blemishes on his round, shiny head were the cheetah-like spots that covered his exposed skin. They were like consistent birthmarks all over his body. He, I had learned, was the head cook here. Every single meal was prepared from his special recipe book that I had heard Adriana chatting about. I often saw him smiling as he spoke to Adriana and the other staff, but when I entered the room he always fell silent; his smile fading as a result.

The silent treatment was almost preferred when you had Adriana and Journey talking until their jaws fell off. Spoiler alert: They never stop. Journey was not as talkative as the younger girl, but she had no trouble giving you her opinion whether you wanted it or not. She was one of the younger staff members. She looked to be about my age. I could never pinpoint what her job in the castle was. I always saw her with Adriana, so maybe she didn't have a job yet.

"Em?"

I looked down at the little ginger beside me. Her messy morning hair shined around her like a halo as she gave me a worried look.

"You aren't eating," she said with a frown.

I blinked and looked down at the food that was placed before me. I realized I had been staring off into the distance. I nodded to Adriana as a thank you and started on my plate.

"It's probably because Harold burnt the Ham again," Journey said from across the table. She gave a wide grin that exposed her razor-sharp teeth. Between the crooked front row, a second peeked through the back. The seas of white was a brilliant contrast from her golden caramel skin. I watched the playful banter as a sleep-deprived Harold sneered at her.

From Journey's side, I watched as Audrey laughed. It was the most I had heard from the girl. I usually saw Audrey around the plants and vegetables outside, so I assumed she was the new gardener. Chloe had mentioned the other gardener faded before we arrived. I imagine that the servants had to move around jobs often to account for the faded.

Audrey must have felt my eyes on her because her oversized-monkey ears turned to me. She flushed and lowered her red curly head when I smiled at her. She had been pleasant towards me when I passed her in the mornings. I had even made it a point to say hello to her as she worked away at the weeds. She was so engrossed in her work that I doubted she ever noticed.

As we ate, everyone continued to banter. Cameron had disappeared through the chatter and excused himself from the table. My brown eyes followed him as he exited towards the outer doors. Within seconds he was gone. Everyone had either grown used to his evasion or hadn't noticed. He had made a habit of it. Typically, he only left around dinner time rather than during the early morning breakfast. I let my thoughts wander yet again as Jean came around to pick up my empty plate.

I would see Jean's short gray hair pop in and out of rooms. I figured she was a maid at the estate. The truth is, I was wary of her. We hadn't spoken in a week.

"Chloe trusted you, so I trust you. Be Careful."

Her words rang in my ears causing me to shiver. The events of that dreadful morning would often play in my head. I had yet to find any answers even with my detective skills at full speed. I had done a fair bit of snooping around lately. I had perfectly mapped out my empty guest wing of the castle and a few of the rooms in the left tower. To my joy, I had found a grand library with heavy oak shelves nested in that tower. It was a vast collection of tombs at the tippy top of the section.

I had never been much of a reader, but I certainly had nothing better to do while I was here. When I stumbled into the dusty library, the first story I pulled from the shelf was a Nancy Drew novel. It had seemed interesting enough and fit well considering I had been investigating when I found the room. I became engrossed in the book and all of the obvious clues peppered around her life. It was my newfound love for reading that led me outside where I would greet Audrey.

I was reading a new book for hours every morning until a bell signaled that lunch was prepared. I had enjoyed getting away from this horrific world and my new life as a Luma. I even found a serene waterfall to wash away my troubles. It was a small waterfall, but a proud one. It fed the mossy green creek beside it and helped to provide the fish shelter.

Today, I place myself on my sitting rock to get lost in the mysteries for hours. Perhaps these stories of grandeur were why I was provoked to follow Cameron today. It had worked for Nancy Drew and it could certainly work for me. As he pushed himself away from the dinner table, my eyes followed his form once again. This time, however, I pushed away my dinner and swiftly followed after him. I mumbled a half-hearted excuse about being tired to excuse myself.

My footfalls were alarmingly loud as I trampled through the dark outer door. I tried to silence them as I peeked my head around the large doors. Cameron was nowhere in sight

Surely he isn't that fast?

I felt my heart racing as I was closer to the mystery. Taking a leap of faith, I walked along the right-hand wall. This wall leads to the outskirts of the left tower. I had memorized this route. Coming around the edge of the cold stone, I spotted Cameron. It was nearly impossible to see him, but I could just see his curly black hair shining in the moonlight. As soon as I rounded the corner, he looked around quickly. With one swift movement, he bent low to the ground where the stone path rested. I had walked it many times to know that he was around the oblong stone. I had tripped over this stone every day as I ascended to the library. I wondered silently if Cameron did the same.

The mysterious boy was fighting with something I could not see. I could only hear the sound of metal as it clicked together. Suddenly, my ears were overtaken by grinding rocks. I looked around in alarm, but could not see the source. It sounded as if an avalanche was rolling towards me. I stepped away from the wall to confront Cameron, but before any words escaped, I saw the wall move. The strange grinding had been the side of the tower opening to the outside world.

What is he doing?

My brain was moving a mile a minute. I itched to follow him through the wall to finally solve this mystery. I couldn't contain my excitement as I took another step towards him. That was before a sudden eerie feeling of dread washed over me. It dawned on me that he must be hiding something very serious to have a secret passageway. I swallowed the lump in my throat. I was fighting my desire to know with fear of the unknown. I watched as Cameron quickly disappeared into the hole. I hesitated, and that is what stopped me.

Right before my eyes, the stones were sliding together once more. They would create a seamless seal on the tower wall. There would be no evidence to support my claims. My brain kicked into overdrive as desire won against fear. I lunged towards the door to slide through before it's impending closure. My momentum was halted by a hand on my wrist. The grip was firm and jerked me backward as I snapped around. The fear coming back with a new cause.

I was relieved to find Jean's face looking at me. She held my wrist tight as I opened my mouth to speak. I could see just enough of her features to know she was angry; angry and afraid.

"I told you to be careful," she spat, "Now you're trying to poke around and get us all killed."

The venom in the woman's voice shocked me. I heard a small tap from behind. I knew without looking that the stones had finally closed. My heart sank as I realized I had failed. My sadness quickly diminished and was replaced with acute anger.

"Be careful? Careful of what?" I shot back. I watched as the woman flinched from my words. I couldn't stop now.

"I have been here for over a week and I don't know anyone. I am terrified that I will fade soon. I am terrified that I will be stuck in this world forever. I am confused and lonely and nobody in this damn castle will tell me a thing! This is the first time I've felt normal in a long time and you've taken away that thrill."

Whatever anger had been on her face was gone now. I could have sworn she looked sympathetic as she spoke, "Child... There are things you were not ready to know... Come with me," She never let go of my wrist as she pulled me to the doors, "I'll explain everything."