"Hellll eee, hellll eeeee"

She was startled by that wailing. She is again in some dark lane although this time directly in front of a door. This one is different in fact the whole space is in a bit lighter shade of black this time. And the door, it's lighter tone of white

Pearl white

The door has a key hole rather than the spherical knob. It suggests that there should be a key but could find none in her clothes or nearby. She is still scared by her surroundings but the constant wailing which is coming from behind the door, makes her heart heavy. She wants to help the poor thing grieving inside but doesn't know how.

"Helll meeee, helll lllles!"

She is somewhat aware of her body and her surroundings. She is standing upon her feet with complete strength because the floor is not slippery or slimy rather woody. The floor has some symbols, something like circles or spirals. It was rather like a random pattern. This time two wall lamps are placed to either side of the door just beside the key hole. Rest all are scattered but these two are aligned. She decides to knock at the door. As soon as she did it three times in a row, the wailing increased . This time the sound became more audible in the sense of understanding.

"Ahhh ahaha ahhhhh, please somebody help me, pleeeaseeee! He is there outside. Ahhh ahaha"

She had no idea what was happening behind that door but the words coming from inside made her believe in her assumptions. It's a girl, who's wailing, pleading for help. It scared her as it reminded her of past experiences she had in a similarly dark lane. She finally gains courage to speak to the voice.

" It's just me. You don't have to worry about anything."

The wailing stopped all of a sudden. A soft plea came.

" Please! Help me. Open the door."

" I don't know how to do it." She answered truly. The next words were said in a very deep voice.

" Who are you?"

She was shocked with the sudden change of voice. Till then she was okay but as soon as her mind circled around the thought that the girl's tone had changed, the other wall lamps slowly started flickering. She got tensed and they flickered more rapidly. She is standing there near the door.

She thought to run towards any side of her. But her eyes can see a long lane, as long as her eyes can see . But she sees no more doors nearby. These doors are just some inches taller than her. The lane is full of darkness and this door , like the previous one seems like illuminating the place. She jerked away from the door when the voice sounded more shrill.

"WHO ARE YOU?"

" I am Muse." She said in a hurry and surprisingly everything calmed down for a moment, or maybe that's what seemed like.

The voice was low but firm.
" No, you're not. You are lying."

She wanted to deny but her lips didn't dare to. This statement questioned her complete existence again.

Who is she? She didn't know . He said she is Muse. She accepted ? Why? Desperation for an identity? Either it's no or yes, why?

Her mind had several more questions but still she said
" Yes, I am Muse. You are lying."

The tone sounded more demanding.
" Muse had the keys, you don't."

This continuous change of tones made her question her assumptions. Clearly it indicated more than one person's existence on the other side. She went towards the door again and kneel down. She was hesitant but still gained some courage to look through the key hole.

She saw a little girl. Red hair, bruised forehead towards right, eyes close but dark eye lids Bleeding nose, dried blood over her lips, neck had loosen duct tape. Maybe her mouth was taped. She wore a white gown, just like Muse.

But before she could analyse her anymore, she suddenly vanished from her sight. After a while she appeared again but this time her eyes were open. She had white pupils. She was sitting in that position but her eyes flickered straight towards the key hole. Her sight made Muse uncomfortable. Her eyes were looking straight into hers , which was impossible.

Her facial expression changed from neutral to a soft smile. She pushed her palms against the wall behind her and slid a bit forward. She raised her hand behind her. They were tucked together with duct tape. Muse could see her hands were almost aligned behind her head. Her eyes then discovered her right palm.

Nail less and bleeding.

The soft smile changed to a type of shock. Her eyebrows raised and her mouth opened forming an o. She then gave a sad smile and her white pupils turned into red, until a red liquid started flowing out of her eyes. Streaming down , the stream is slowly getting thicker. She then gave her a menacing smile and her hands and her back started moving forward. Her blooded eyes are still looking at Muse.

She was frozen by this view. Soon her complete back came to the front ; her neck,twisted distorted but her head still intact and her eyes still at Muse. She could see her arms. Bruised and covered with cuts , may have done with a sharp object ( like knife, blade or broken glass). Her arms then twisted in a way that her elbow crushed. They bent until the back of her palm reached below her chin, cupping up her bloody cheeks.

Her voice sounded deep but also choked
" How are you, Muse!"

Then suddenly her head took a spin which made the blood flow from her eyes, splash all over the place. Muse felt something pinched her eyes and backed off from the door in pain. She sat on her ankles with later on lost control.

"Omg! My eye. " she screamed while rubbing her left eye. Instantly she heard a bang on the door. The door had a red palm imprint, over the key hole. Within a second several more imprints appeared, each one with a bang and a she shouted from inside

" OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR, MUSE. JUST OPEN IT."

She was shivering in fear. She quickly reached for her back wall which was slowly turning sticky .

More loud bangs, more red imprints.

Cracks started appearing in the walls nearby and in a split second, the door fell over Muse, pressing her against the wall behind her and the floor.
Her left eye is burning and with closed eyes she tries not to get pressed under the door. Her hands are aching as if they are going to break. Accepting the failure, she started crying and wailing and stated,

" Stop it, pearl!"

"Girl, ya you're my good girl." He exclaimed. She opened her eyes only to see him. His enchanting face and his beautiful eyes.

She was so done with all these nightmares. She broke down in tears, only to be held by him. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. She tried to do the same. He rubbed circles on her back to ease her out. The moment she felt she had been scooped into his hands completely, she dropped her hands from his back. The right one fell over his thighs and left beside her fragile body. She was completely exhausted and her arms were aching severely.
In his embrace, she murmured " I am so scared, Asher"

" It's ok. I am here with you."

She was shocked and started hiccuping. He then rubbed her back and tapped the top of her head simultaneously. After a few seconds, he said " Sweetheart, you wait here. I will go and come back in a minute."

She started gasping air with a wide mouth which stopped her hiccups.

What the heck! I can speak.

He came with a glass of water. She drank it and said in a hurry, "I am speaking , you really hear me, right?"

" Welcome home, sweetheart." he said cupping her face, giving her a blissful smile. Her eyes then went from his beautiful face to the wall behind him. There is an artwork hanging. A simple, in fact a basic one. Just two colours peach and black. Black framework and background while peach features up two humanly figures. A Boy and a girl.

Asher realising her sight is not at him but something else asked smiling
" What are you looking at, sweetheart?"
She doesn't respond. He then turns towards the way she was looking. His smile drops but returns his eyes back to her face with a smirk.
" What do you feel about it?"
" Beautiful. " replied still looking at her.

He seemed not to like her constant stare at that painting, as if he wanted all her attention towards him. He got a little bit closer to her. Her eyes suddenly turned towards him, sighing in shock. He then cupped her face and they shared a sweet smile. But her mind has a different thought, a request

Please just be there with me, don't let me go anywhere. Don't let me go into the dark space again. Stop me, just stop me here.

He then replaced his right palm with left thumb and squeezed her cheeks. Her mouth opened up obviously. He then started moving towards her. She closed her eyes instinctively.

Omg! What are you going to do Ash? Are you...

Before she could think anymore, felt his lips over her snub nose. He then returned back and stated

" You're cute!"

She was still processing what just happened but said firmly, " I know right."
They then shared a genuine laugh.
" Come down stairs when you feel like, okay."

That's when reality hit her hard. She is sitting on a bed and most likely in her bedroom.

What the ... How did I reach here? He.. he carried me all the way up?

She was eager to know more. Thus, removed the sheets from herself and got out of bed. This time her legs were quite stable. She rushed towards the door of that room. She opened them only to meet an empty corridor. She looked at both sides but had no idea where to go.

"Asher, Asher!" called him out. But she only heard some murmurings. She went in that direction, from where she thought these murmurings were coming.

"Shhh! Stop calling him. Go away from here. Just go."

She questioned, " Who's there?" Looking towards the upper floor.

" I am here,sweetheart." Asher's voice jerked her off and about to fall when he held her by her waist. Her palm tightened at his shoulder and their eyes were not leaving each other's.

"So... Should we go have breakfast or stay like this forever." He asked letting her have enough space to stand but also holding her as if she is going to fall again. She noticed their outfits. He wore a grey vest, with a blue oversized, short sleeved shirt. She is wearing the same white gown, she saw in her nightmare. She panicked a bit but then she saw him and her heart calmed down.

He moved a bit back only to offer her his hand to hold. She held his hands and they both went towards the other side of the corridors. They were on the second floor. The stairs which run towards the first and ground floor don't coincide.

It was a fine morning when the corridors were lit up with the sunrays falling from the glass of open windows. The peach coloured walls had several artworks hanged. Different types of sculptures were also present as display. Two at both ends of the corridor while others were placing at different points of corridors.

By the time they reached the ground floor, he was running away from her and she was chasing him. She reached only to find him open a door for her. All the doors she saw here so far were having glass in them. She entered through the door and was welcomed to a big hall. A big dining table, surrounded with loads of chairs. She didn't count but can say they are in even numbers. Because each chair had a pair on the other side of the table.

He reached for the head chair, set it out, and indicated for her to sit. She takes a seat and he sits in the immediate next to her, towards her left, along the longer side. The breakfast was already served.

Stacked pancakes, fruit yogurt, smoothie, donuts and waffles. Among these all, one sweet and slightly caramelized aroma was found , it was honey.

They were enjoying their food when suddenly, for a moment, she felt as if she sighted some movement near the door, as if she saw someone. She was perturbed but tried to convince herself that nothing or nobody is over there. But at first the whispers then felt the presence of someone was very unsettling to her. She finally questioned,
" Who else leaves with us?"

The question met with silence and a serious expression on his face. But in a split second he had a smile when he said,
"Just we two."