Chapter 8: Getting Used to

FRANCESCA

It has been three days since I found myself stuck in this new world with no way out. Three days yet I was just as confused and heartbroken as the first day. Nothing seemed to make sense: not the ragged dressing, not the buildings, not even the food.

That morning, Madam Creese — the old lady had told me to call her that — had made me some pancakes which looked different from what I was used to. They were more like crepes or tortillas, unlike what was made in the future. According to Madam Creese, I was over five hundred years behind time.

Living here would require a lot of getting used to and the truth was that I was tired even before I could explore this new world. I wanted to return to my old life. I wanted to live in my house, sit on my bed, read my novels, and go for a walk. I wanted to be able to visit my mother's gravestone anytime I wanted to. I wanted to see my friends again.

As I stood by the river, I found myself wondering what my friends were thinking about my sudden disappearance. It had happened without a warning — even I could not explain how I had moved from the future to somewhere in the past.

It was a mystery and I could only imagine what would be going through the minds of people, especially those whose car had hit me. Perhaps, I was already on the news and trending on Twitter.

Though I did not want to think about Jason, I found my mind wandering towards that direction, wondering what he thought about my disappearance. Was he worried that something bad must have taken me away or had he gone ahead with his life, forgetting about me?

I sighed, hating the fact that I still cared to know about Jason's feelings towards me. The truth was that I wanted to know if his feelings had been genuine at least. I wanted to know if he was really sorry for hurting me.

But all this did not matter anymore. I was stuck in a new world where I was supposed to be a miracle princess who would save her land. How I switched from being a secretary to being a princess was beyond me.

It did not even help that this new life seemed to be harder than my former. Being a princess — especially one that had a lot of enemies — was a huge responsibility that I was not ready for.

Though Madam Creese had promised to help me through it, I was still scared. All I wanted to do was to run away.

It was at times like this — when I was so confused — that I missed my mother. Her death still hurt so much. It hurt even more that I could never visit her grave again.

Only my mother could properly explain this situation to me. Only she could tell me the truth about my birth and childhood: if she had truly given birth to me or if I had been picked somewhere.

But she was gone and here I was.

Nevertheless, I knew that Madam Creese was telling the truth about me. I could feel it deep down that it was true: little wonder my heart had gone out to that book when I first began my reading; I had never been that addicted to any book in my life.

Then, there was my new appearance which was enough evidence to show that I was really an elf. My ears were super long and my skin was paler. Just the day before, I had noticed that the hairs on my body had disappeared save for the ones on my head, brows and lashes.

These past few days had been characterized by several changes in my body and senses; It was as though I was living in a body that was not mine, a body that needed to be properly examined to tell how it worked.

Madam Creese had said that my true appearance had been hidden because I was in another world that was not mine. She had made sure that my true form only emerged when I was back 'home'.

Home?

I was not sure I could ever call this place home. I did not even know where I was. All I knew was that I was in a cottage in the woods. Madam Creese had said we would be staying there for a while until I was ready both within and without to face Zuri.

She said I needed to understand who I was and what I could do. She believed I possessed some special abilities and she encouraged me that we would figure these things out one at a time.

The old lady was being so sweet and kind but I still could not find comfort in that. As much as she had not done me wrong, I still did not know if I could throw my guard down around her. I was being careful.

It was while she took a nap this hot afternoon that I crept out of the cottage and took a walk. I knew she would be upset when I returned because she had warned me never to leave the cottage without her.

'There's danger everywhere. You ought to be careful and listen to me. I will protect you, child — well until you have recovered fully to face your enemies. Until then, stay around me and I'll shield you from harm's way.'

These had been her exact words and as much as I knew that she was right, I could not remain in that lonely cottage, peering through the window and watching the birds fly.

I had no company, no phone, no Internet, no cafe, nothing at all. Just trees and more trees. It was frustrating and destabilizing.

Apart from the noise of the birds and Madam Creese's occasional singing, the woods were silent and creepy. I just needed a breath of fresh air so I disobeyed and stepped out.

Here I was, standing by the river, crying my eyes out as I longed to return to my former life. Tears dropped from my eyes in quick succession and I sniffed loudly, hating the wind for blowing my hair into my face.

"I miss you, Mom," I whispered, my slim figure shaking with the intensity of my sobs. I felt completely drained from crying this much.

"I can't believe you are gone. I miss you so much, Mom," I continued, wishing I could say I missed Jason too because the truth was I did. I knew I was sick in the head.

However, as much as I would love to deny it, I missed him. Crazily stupid! Maybe I was losing my mind.

With a heavy sigh, I reached out to wipe the tears from my face.

"I wish you were here, Mom. I would not be feeling this empty if you were. I would not even be here. You would have never let me go. You would have never allowed me to be stuck here." I stomped my feet in fury. I did not like this. I did not like that the only thing I had left of my mother was the memories we shared.

"I love you so much, mom. Nothing is the same without you!" My lips quivered and my tired body began to shake all over again but before I could break down, I heard a slight shuffle nearby and I turned sharply to the direction it came from.

I could not see anything, just a tall tree, but somehow, I knew someone or something was behind the tree. I could not only hear sounds but I could catch a strange scent.

I never really had this great sense of smell but since I found myself here, my sense of smelling and hearing was keener.

My sight was sharper too, even to the point of night vision. These changes scared me but at the same time, they made me feel like a superwoman.

"I know you're there." I pointed to the tree. "I've seen you already. Quit hiding."