Chapter 56 The New Generation
My hair is flowing with the wind as I watch the seagulls flying over the sea salt, looking for a chunk of land to rest. We are riding a blue boat across the island. The water seemed to be calm. But my chest feels heavy and loud.
"You girls better watch out. I heard there are a lot of missing girls in the town." the boatman uttered in between his paddling.
"We're a lot safer in the manor, good sir."
"Is Lord Constantine getting any better? Still sitting on his wheelchair, eh?" the old man heaved a sigh, showing his disappointment.
I heard Lila whispers, muttering under her breath. She wasn't able to answer the poor old man and diverted her attention beyond the horizon.
She cleared her throat, "Gertrude, are you ready to go home?" Lila asked with enthusiasm. She has a blind eye, and I couldn't stop staring at her face. But she looked really familiar. Maybe she's right, we knew each other. But the biggest mystery is why did I lose my memories. Well, not all memories. I can remember people and places in my past. My old bedroom window... my younger brother... my favorite dress. But not about the mansion. I feel like this would be the first time I will be setting a foot here. It seems to me like some things were supposed to be forgotten and buried deep inside my mind. Like my name, or why am I drawn to the sea and mystery. The only reason why I believed her is so that I could have the answers why I lost my precious memories.
"Woah... who owns this place? Is that... is that truly my home? I don't understand..." I muttered and looked back to the sky-high bricked mansion sitting on top of the island.
"That is one hell of a history, Gertrude. Lord Constantine once ruled the manor... but..."
"Is he like, our superior? Like the master of all students and teachers in the mansion?"
"He is a respected man. Everyone knows him." Lila forced a smile.
"So, are we going to meet him? Maybe he can help me bring back my memories..." I said with the most hopeful voice. Since she was the one who summoned me to this gigantic island, maybe she knows how to help.
"Trudy, listen to me..." She controlled herself.
"I'm s-sorry..." I managed to calm myself down before letting out another word to speak. I guess I got too carried away with my emotions and hopelessness.
"About Lord Constantine, there are some things you have to know..." she contemplated.
"He was a good man. He saved us from evil, monstrous people. It is impossible to imagine but you have to believe me. You are the last person who needs to know about his existence. Before he left, he told me to get you out of here." Her voice cracked, her eyes getting wet with little drops of tear.
"But I followed you anyway, and brought you back... and n-now we're almost home. Because I know... as long as you are here, as long as we are together, we are safe... we need you too, Trude." Lila begged, almost whispering, her voice hoarse and melancholic.
"Constantine left?" I asked, with the weight of my mind dropping to my chest.
"He is gone now and he would never be back. Not a chance."
I never understood why I had a tear in my eye. As if I was the one telling the story. I quickly wiped my eyes and sniffed, before asking the question running in my mind.
"The monstrous people... they are responsible with my lost memories, aren't they?" I asked like a warning and gulped the lump in my throat.
"No, Trudy. Constantine was. He stole your memories..."
The boat hit the dock, the old man grunted. "Well, here you go. You might wanna let the little girl take a rest. Seemed exhausted."
Lila stood up and lead the way. We said our gratitude to the man and hurried inside the mansion. But before we even reached the door, I grabbed her shoulder.
"How would I trust this as a safe place if Constantine was the one erased my memories?"
"You could feel it in your heart and in your blood. What does your blood whisper, Trudy?
I was helping myself not to vomit. I could feel my head spinning and my legs getting numb.
"Are you alright?" Lila supported me.
I covered my mouth with my hand, with the other hand on my stomach. "I- I am fine. I guess I got seasick."
Lila looked at my face down my body, checking every curves, her eye brow raised with curiosity. "Your face got slimmer. But your body... you looked like you gain weight." She touched my tummy and slightly flinched.
"W-What is it..." I asked, a little nervous.
She shook her head and hold the door knob. "Now, do you trust me? Do you trust this place?"
"My heart says I longed for this. But my blood... I- I really don't understand what you meant," I answered, wholeheartedly.
"Oh, I so know the answer. But for now, let's come in, shall we?" her lips twitched to a smirk.
As the heavy wooden door creaked open for us, I felt like my emotions gushed up and all throughout my body. Everything is unfamiliar and new. Our tapping footsteps echoes inside the room. I wandered my sight and got drowned with eternal loneliness.
"Where is everybody..."
"Oh, they are hiding. But the manor needs new people too. It needs you, Gertrude. It needs a new generation."
"B-But I am nothing... I don't know this place. I don't understand, nor what to say..." I said, fully flattered and confused.
Lila swooned closer and hold my hands, pressing my palm. "Here, touch it..." she moved my nimble fingers down my stomach.
"I think your blood just answered, Trudy. And it answered all our prayers. You are carrying a child in your womb."