Chapter One
Nyssa was a girl with long wavy black hair and dark brown eyes, her lips were naturally stained red and she was wearing this white dress with puffy sleeves. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail by a blue ribbon. She was also wearing this beautiful gold locket that had a picture of her young mother in her twenties. Something she never taken off after her papa made it after her mother’s funereal. Nyssa today was in the backyard’s garden, she was sitting on the grass, watering the daisies and blue roses when all of a sudden she saw a large ginger cat and has what Nyssa would call an adorable flat face with brown eyes and a bottle-brushed tail. It stared at her blankly. “ Aww, you’re so cute! “ Nyssa cooed, putting out a hand towards the cat insisting for it to come over. “ Hmm..I’ll name you..Loky! “ Nyssa exclaimed, when she gasped as Loky then ran toward her and ruined the garden around her, then attacked Nyssa by scratching her, pulling the ribbons in her hair out and ripping parts of her dress. “ Hey! Hey, stop it! “ Nyssa cried when Loky clawed her eyes making Nyssa pass out from excruciating pain.
When she awoke, she was lying in the ruined garden, the flowers surrounding her. Her torn dress was still teared up, and her ribbons were covering part of her face making Nyssa frown. Her arms, cheeks, legs and neck had little cuts from the cat’s claws and her eyes stung from pain, and her sight was blurry. Blood was around her and even when she started to cry it hurt her eyes. From what she could see, the cat Loky had left. Even worse, no one had came to help her, she forgotten her papa was at work. No one else lived with them so that was why. She tried moving and getting up but it hurt too much that she lied back down in the garden, lying there. Alone. A moment later, she realized someone was standing over her, she couldn’t tell who. Was it her dad? No, it couldn’t be, it hurt to open her eyes but she squinted to try and see who it was. Even though it was blurry she saw a woman’s figure. “ Hel-hello? “ She asked softly, quietly and the person seemed surprised to see Nyssa alive. “ Oh! Oh sweetie, are you alright? What happened?! Oh..where are you parents? Can you move? “ The woman asked, and Nyssa tried moving again, she tried to stand and stumbled, the lady helped her and fixed Nyssa’s knotted hair, trying to see the girl’s face. “ You poor thing, come with me, what happened? What’s your name? I can get your parents. “ The woman asked as she helped Nyssa into..- her own house? The woman let Nyssa sit down in the same wooden chair her dad usually used. “ My name is Nyssa, why are we in my house? Where did the cat go? “ Nyssa asked so confused. “ Oh sweetie, we are in my house. Your eyes must be messed up, let me get you a towel with water. I won’t leave, don’t worry, and do you mean my cat Hyde? He’s in the living room, I gave him some treats. He was the one who brought me to you. “ The woman said taking a white towel and putting it under the kitchen sink under warm water. Nyssa shuddered, she didn’t want to be near a cat right now, especially in her house. Or was it? Was it her eyes playing tricks on her? When the lady finished she came back to Nyssa and wiped Nyssa’s wrecked eyes. It burned yet and the same time seemed nice. “ I am so sorry, I didn’t say my name. You must be worried, I am Camilla. “ Miss Camila says, smiling softly though Nyssa couldn’t see because the towel was over her eyes. Miss Camila took off the towel and frowned. Nyssa’s eyesight was still blurry, but less, and the blood around her eyes were cleaned. She could see Miss Camila clearer from the outline of her, she seemed to have long black hair and was wearing an orange sweater and some..jeans? Nyssa couldn’t exactly tell. The rest was a blur still. “ Can you walk some more just to get to the bathroom? I have a first aid kit in there. “ Miss Camila asked and Nyssa tried to stand again, she did and then dragged herself to the bathroom with Miss Camila. “ Miss Camila? This feels just like my home, are you sure we are not in my house? “ Nyssa asked, as she heard Camila open something, probably opening the kit she was talking about. “ I’m sorry hon, this is my house. May I be allowed to wrap some bandages around your legs and arms? “ She asked softly, and Nyssa agreed. After Camila finished wrapping up Nyssa as what Nyssa would jokingly call a mummy, but she wasn’t in the happy mood. She felt so much agony, and she didn’t know where her father was, why wasn’t he back from work? And where was she? This house was like an identical version of her home. This all felt so wrong. Then Miss Camila brought Nyssa to her childhood bedroom where Camila kept all her old stuff in good condition. Camila picked out what she said was a nice dress and some white stockings that she thought would fit Nyssa, because there was an also a bathroom attached Miss Camila let the bathtub run and left the bedroom going back downstairs to make some food for Nyssa while Camila said she could call her parents as Nyssa cleaned herself, and all her cuts and scratches. When Nyssa finished her bath she got on this light pink dress and white stockings, she then brushed out her long black hair. Once she was done she slowly walked down stairs, at least she was not limping. Miss Camila noticed her immediately and greeted her nicely. “ You look lovely sweetie, you remind me of me when I was young. I made some salad for you and some tomato soup for you. Also some garlic bread. Are you allergic to any of that? I can make something else if you want. “ Miss Camila asked and Nyssa shook her head. “ No,no. I’m not allergic to anything. Thank you for making me food. A stranger in your home. Especially allowing me to wear your old clothes. “ Nyssa thanked, and Camila smiled. “ Oh it is no problem, I am just glad I found you. You could’ve been seriously injured. And, I’ve always wanted a daughter of mine to wear my clothes. I don’t mind you wearing them at all, hon. Now, sit down and eat something. “ Camila said sweetly, Nyssa sat down in the same chair as before where in a bowl was some tomato soup and on a napkin was what Nyssa assumed was a very cheesy piece of garlic bread. Near her was also a small bowl of salad. Nyssa couldn’t tell what kind but it smelt delicious. When Nyssa took one bit of the garlic bread she just realized how hungry she was. She couldn’t even remember the last time she ate. As she chowed down on the food she stopped and paused. “ This food is delicious, thank you. “ She added and Miss Camila laughed softly. “ Thank you, now do you know your mother or father’s phone number? “ Miss Camila asks and Nyssa nodded. “ I do. “ Nyssa replied and then told her papa’s phone number as Camila listened then tried calling her dad. Yet there was no response. “ Are you sure that’s the number..? Never mind, sweetie. You can stay here for the time being, just because you can’t fully see properly and because of that I don’t want to leave you alone on your way back home. You can stay till you heal. If that is fine with you. “ Camila said and Nyssa agreed and thanked her for the kindness. “ My husband will be here soon, around maybe an hour. We can see what he says, for now what is something you like? Like a hobby? “ Miss Camila asked and Nyssa smiled. “ I like art, “ Nyssa says, “ Oh I always love art too! Want me to get you a canvas to paint on when you’re done eating? “ Camila asked and Nyssa said yes and thanked her. The sweet lady went to get the canvas, some paint and paintbrushes. While she was gone Nyssa finished the rest of her soup, garlic bread and salad. This place seemed so much like her home but the bedroom she was in before she never knew, so this must’ve been a different house. The woman Camila was really nice, was that what a mother is like? Nyssa didn’t exactly know, she barely knew her mother before her death. It was around a year after she was born. So she didn’t remember much of her. Camila came back and set up the wooden easel and canvas, and gave Nyssa some paintbrushes and paint. “ I will just be upstairs folding some laundry? Is it okay for me to leave you here? “ Camila asked, “ No it’s okay. “ Nyssa replied and Camila left. An hour later, still Nyssa was painting, and see hadn’t met Hyde which she preferred. Or she couldn’t see it and it left her alone. Either way, she was almost on her finishing touches to finish the painting of the garden back home. She missed her home, or is it her home? She honestly didn’t know anymore, her papa must’ve been worried sick by now. It was a normal May evening, what was even worse was in a week if she still hadn’t come home she’d miss her Mother’s birthday, which they would always celebrate by making a bouquet out of her garden that her mother loved. It was a tradition to go to a beach nearby their house because her papa said it used to be her favourite. “ She would spend all day at this beach, it’s where I met her. “ Her papa would say each time they visited. It wasn’t frequently, but around every summer and mother’s birthday. Nyssa really missed him. She was also very worried. Camila was sweet, but everything was so weird. The identical garden and home, only that little bedroom was different. And if there wasn’t a do-not-enter room, it was said to be Nyssa’s mother’s, so to keep it in perfect condition while mother is resting papa doesn’t allow her into the room. But why is everything so familiar and at the same time not? It was scary. Where was she? If only she knew what her papa would say. Something like “ When something happens there’s always a reason, good or bad. Just let the wind bring you along, even if I am not there, even when your mother isn’t here we are always watching you protecting you from harm. “ It was one of those quotes her papa would say when Nyssa asked a question, was worried or sad. Nyssa never cared to pay attention much, but now more than ever she wanted those quotes. Her eyes still stung, her favourite dress was torn, she ruined her garden. Everything she built for herself and dad was washing away. She didn’t want this. She didn’t think she deserved this. But at least the nice lady Camila was trying to help. Hopefully her husband would be nice too. All Nyssa wished for right now, was to be home. Soon later, she heard a door open. Camila ran down the stairs to welcome her husband. “ Lucius! We have something to talk about. “ Camila said, and quickly began explaining the situation of Nyssa to Lucius. Which made Nyssa feel more confused, her papa’s name was Lucius. She couldn’t exactly see right, but he looked tall and had black hair like Nyssa’s papa. Another coincidence, but many people have black hair. After Camila finished Lucius was quiet. “ You were in are backyard? How did you get there? “ Lucius soon asked and Nyssa tilted her head in confusion. “ Sorry, but I thought I was in my backyard when I woke up..I..? “ Nyssa started but couldn’t finish as tears were running down her cheeks. “ Oh Nyssa! Sweetie, I’m sure you were before. Maybe something happened for you to end up in our backyard. At least we found you. “ Camila says kindly, wiping the tears off Nyssa’s face. Then turned to Lucius. “ Come with me. Nyssa, we’ll be back in a second. Okay? “ Camila said and the two walked into the living room to talk. A moment later they came back into the kitchen. “ You can stay for as long as you need, for now Camila suggested for you to sleep in her old bedroom. I am sorry for before, you must feel very anxious already. I wasn’t exactly expecting this today. Do you need anything? “ He asked, and Nyssa shook her head for she was good. “ No, I’m okay thank you. I would probably be like that too. “ Nyssa replies, “ Okay, well if you ever need anything tell us alright? We can help. “ Lucius said. Around 9:00 p.m, after dinner that Camila made that was just delicious, Nyssa was about to go to bed as she walked upstairs. Memorizing where the bedroom was. As she was walking up the steps saying “ good night “ to Lucius and Camilla she heard them talking. Her curiosity took over her and she eavesdropped to hear what they were talking about. “ That poor girl Nyssa, if that happened to me I’d be wrecked. “ Lucius said softly, “ I would be too. I tried calling her dad but it didn’t work, I have a little nag that her parents aren’t really..alive. “ Camila adds. Her papa was alive!! Maybe not her mom but still! Why would she think that? Nyssa thought but continued to listen. “ Oh you know most children don’t know their parents phone number! Completely fine, we just have to let her heal and everything. She’s been through a lot. Maybe we can take her on a walk tomorrow or do something to get her mind off things. “ Lucius suggested, “ That would be nice. Nyssa seems like a sweet girl too. Anyone can see that. Her mother must be very proud of her. “ Camilla compliments. Usually, Nyssa would like a compliment, but deep down it hurt that she never really got to have a mother to make proud. They must’ve finished their conversation, or decided to continue later as Camila started humming and passed the staircase, making Nyssa leave to find her bedroom. Inside, she took a few minutes in the wardrobe to find the pyjamas, which were silky all white pyjamas that had cute white buttons on them. Once she got them on and changed out of the pink dress she was wearing before she got into the big bed with red covers and gold trims. Yet all she could really see was a big red blur. She found a good comfy position and laid their for what seemed like a forever eternity in her thoughts. She finally fell asleep drowning in her own tears.
