I need a bath. And preferably a cup of good tea.
That's my first thought after pulling up to my driveway. It's been an exhausting day at work. The copy machine broke in the morning, Piper lost the contract for that motor company, then that false fire alarm, and atmosphere at the office became hectic for the rest of the day. Everyone yelled at each other, instead of speaking, and I can still hear that annoying ringing in my head from all the noise. I might order takeout, I don't feel like cooking today.
I crawl out of the car and close it, then head straight for my front door. I quickly pat my pockets down in search of the key, barely glancing at the porch steps, and then... Boom! I trip over something and land on the floor, hitting my head against it quite painfully. I groan. If the ringing in my head was irritating earlier, it's become unbearable now. I have to close my eyes for a minute and take a few deep breaths to finally be able to stand up.
I notice I fell over a box. It looks like a package. Did I order something again and forgot? Well, that sounds like me. I bet I've been going through that scented candles site in the middle of the night once more. I sigh and reach for it, then get into the house.
Inside it's nice and cool. Leaving the AC on was a good idea. Relieved at the sensation, I kick my shoes off and go to the kitchen to get some water boiling for my tea. Steady clock ticking calms me down. It's good to be home. Especially on a Friday afternoon. I place the package on the table.
After eventually deciding on having blueberry muffin black tea, and setting it up, I grab a pair of scissors from a kitchen drawer to open the box. If it really contains some candles, it would be nice to have them lit up when I go into the bathtub. I wonder about the scents I might've picked, remembering that I was rather fond of salted caramel, and magnolia. One, quick cut and it's open.
Excited, I dig my hands in, and... Wait. This isn't a candle. It's a card. Oh, cute. I didn't know they added some personalized cards to their packages.
I take it out, seeing it's a blue, glittery card with some snowflakes on it. That's a weird choice of design for the middle of summer...
I open it with a hint of confusion sprouting in my brain.
But it doesn't say anything. There's only an apple tree branch, with fresh flowers still on it, glued to the page. I frown.
Only when I take another item out of the box, a strike of realization hits me. A shiny, crimson red apple made of porcelain gleams at me. It's from my mother.
My heart skips a beat, while the water starts boiling, and I understand my safety had been ruined. She found me. And, if she found me, she found all of us.
For a moment I stand motionless, trying not to scream with all I've got. Why didn't I take Cheshire in for the night? It was my turn. He would know what to do. I put everything back in the box, and get my phone out of my purse with my hands shaking. I need to call Cinder.
She picks up after barely two dials, and I'm beyond grateful for that.
- Hey, do you want to come over? - she asks before I even manage to utter a word. - Gigi baked a chocolate cake, and Ruby is currently on cinnamon pudding duty.
- Cinder... - I stutter.
- Come on, we have plenty. You don't need to control yourself anymore, you're not living with the dwarves - she giggles.
- Listen to me! - I attempt not to shout, even though she's really pulling my string. - My mother sent me a package. She knows where I live.
Silence.
- What? - she sounds as if her blood was drained from her veins in a matter of seconds.
- She found us. You need to get all the girls and go to Will's.
- Ok, ok - she repeats frantically. - Should I pick you up, too? - she asks.
- No! She might be watching my house. Send Cheshire over here, he'll know how to get out without getting noticed.
- Maybe you should call Will?
- And who's going to take care of you, then? I have to do this without endangering anyone.
I sigh. The truth is, I desperately don't want to be alone right now. And waiting for Cheshire will be the longest wait of my life. In the glass coffin, I was...