Chapter 46: Jane Elizabeth (2)
Gin did not answer. He just continued walking to where he was going until he was completely far from the Breakfast Hall. Corrine quietly followed after a few minutes. I was left there, still not believing everything that I had heard.
—
I wasn't myself as I watched the weapon that I was holding while standing in the middle of the training room. All the members of the group already went outside except for me. They finished their own training but I didn't come. I still wasn't in the mood to see any of them.
I set the real life simulator for precision training. But still, I wasn't able to focus my attention. Until now, what I heard earlier at the Breakfast Hall still linger my mind. Especially Corrine's last words.
“This school still holds my goddamn life.”
And no matter what they will do, I can't do anything but to accept it.
I again turned my attention to the weapon in my hand. When have I learned to handle a weapon? How old was I? I don't really remember. Actually, besides the face of two old people who raised me and the face of Lucas and his family, I don't remember much. I shook my head and tried to forget what came to my mind. Is that important now? Now, that most of my life is not mine.
I got up and took a deep breath. I closed my eyes and tried to feel the things I need to hit. Moving targets. They moved across the whole training room as if they were shadows of real people. They seemed to surround and laugh at me. I threw the weapon that I was holding to the one closest. I heard it being pierced. From somewhere, the dummy with a knife penetrated in its middle fell to the floor.
I took more weapons from the table. I intended to concentrate fully on what I was doing when I felt something strange. I slightly paused. A swinging chandelier. I frowned at the picture that suddenly entered my mind. What has the swinging got to do— I blinked when I felt that it gradually loosed its hold from the ceiling. I completely dropped the weapon I was holding as I realized that someone was going to be underneath it without noticing. That thing will fall on a person.
I put down all the objects I was holding and ran out of the training room. Who? Who among them? I tried to look at the face but no one entered my mind. I just know that person. Someone important. I followed where the image brought me. It seemed to zoom out and show me where it was located.
I realized that I was inside a chamber in the castle. I was panting. It was a chamber I’ve never been to. There was no classroom here. It was just a lobby. I looked around inside; no one was here. The surroundings were very quiet.
Again I felt the chandelier loosening from the ceiling, I ran into the hallway behind the lobby. I could see the light from its end. It showed from the open double doors, the green plants and woods behind the castle.
Until an old lady suddenly came in from the open door. She walked in the hallway unknowingly. I looked at the chandelier on the ceiling that centered on both of us. I don't know the woman. I just only saw her now. But why do I feel the danger that will happen to her?
Before she walked across the chandelier, I ran and went before her. I violently pulled her to the side. At the same time, the chandelier fully loosened its hold from the ceiling and fell some inches away behind me. The impact of the fall was strong.
The crystals that were on it were broken into pieces. The chandelier was not as large as in the Breakfast Hall, but in the event that it reached, we would both be affected.
I blinked and watched the mess that was behind me. Until I felt pain. I stretched my neck and looked at the back part of my shoulder. The branch part of the chandelier had scraped me. An unobtrusive scratch tore my cloth and soaked with blood. I silently cursed. Then I removed my eyes from it when I felt the old woman’s gaze that was on me.
“Jane.”
I looked at the old lady. What is she saying? I got up from the floor. I reached out my hand to help her. She just watched me while holding my hand and standing properly. I just saw her now. It didn't look like she was working here. She was better dressed than the servants here. Actually, aside from the apron-like cloth that she was wearing, she did not seem to be a servant at all.
“Jane,” she repeated unblinkingly as she looked at me.
“You’re here? Jane, you're here?”
I felt weird as to what she said. I tried to smile as I endure the wound behind my arm.
“Shia is my name,” I answered as we heard footsteps rushing towards us.
“What happened here?!” Some servants and a guard came, panting. Miss Aura was also there as if she couldn't believe that I was in this place.
“Shia?” The old lady asked, wondering.
The guard looked up the old woman while the servants cleaned the mess caused by the broken chandelier.
“What are you doing here?” Miss Aura asked. I don't know how to answer. I don't know how to explain either. I watched the old woman with the guard now.
“Senior Camilla, Madam and the others are outside. You should have not followed us inside,” said the guard. The old woman did not answer. She just looked at me. I was confused about her.
“Elizabeth— Jane Elizabeth,” she repeated.
The guard watched me and tried to smile as if apologizing.
“Almost everyone that she encounters she thought as Jane.”
He then turned to the old woman. “Well, let’s go back to the car. Madam is definitely looking for you.”
The guard said his farewell and assisted the old lady walk. They went out the door where the old lady came from. The old lady seemed reluctant to leave with him and continued to look at me.
“Hector, don't you know her? She’s Jane.” I heard her say before they were completely out of my sight.
The man named Hector sighed.
“Senior Camilla, Jane's been long gone.”
I just watched them. I felt that my mind was still floating because of my wound and the pace of events. My forehead slightly furrowed at the old woman’s behavior. I didn't know if I should feel pity or feel weird. Jane Elizabeth, who is she?