Dark Moon Rising

Rolling onto her back, she let her eyes follow the design of her four-poster bed, the roof with the starlit sky and the rest of the room, which resembled a forest/meadow scene, boasting nocturnal creatures.

Each morning she woke to the sound and scent of forest life. Her favourite thing; the fireplace - a dragon’s mouth. Her whole room a technological wonder. Modern-day-living combined with the mystery of a mythical world.

Thanks to her brother’s artistic abilities, he managed to translate her ideas with scary accuracy and played a major role in bringing about her safe-haven, which she rarely shared with the rest of the house, except for Diane.

Her hands rubbed over the quilt and she revelled in the smooth satin texture. Just like Thumbelina, she lay on her lily bed. In her room, in her little world, she was safe. Here she could be anything she wanted.

On cue windows slowly opened as per programming. Birds chirped and the ocean whispered softly in her ear. Her thoughts drifted back to the new guards. They should be in the lecture hall right about now. Glancing at her clock, 06:00. Their first session well on the way by now.

A memory surfaced. How could I forget the day father discovered my relationship with the head of security. The whole house was in uproar. I’d never seen him so shocked.