Chapter 13
Waking up in an unfamiliar place is normal for Vienna already. The very first moment she woke up in a place completely novel for her, she freaked out and jumped in the ship. She can't help but be proud of herself for coping with things more easily now than she was before. She became more independent and resilient as time goes by when no more walls and no more political problems are keeping her from being her.
She's too tired of her former life that returning home doesn't excite her anymore. She wants to stay with the Hellbender, to be just her, so she can laugh and enjoy life freely. Her true freedom.
Vienna stood up from lying on the bed and fixed it. The room design is quite manly. Surprised was written on her face as she realized who owned the room she was staying in. She roamed her gaze around and noticed the number of books is on the room as if it's a library other than a bedroom. A study table and a set of quail pens and blank papers are perfectly arranged at the top of the table. She chuckled for it's really what a Leopard Duke taste is. Plain and simple, nothing more. But what surprises Vienna was the volume of the books, no offense but she thought Leopard was not the type of guy who likes to read books, other than maps and such.
She somehow landed her eyes in a certain book lying on the table that caught her attention. Vienna took it and read the title, Where I truly Belong. She smirked at the book's title, it seems like even the book is confused about where it truly belongs, just like Vienna.
She returned it above the table and walk near the window where the houses and the large scale of water surrounding the island shines as the morning setting sun appear, turning the seawater into gold. She has never been this peaceful ever since, and it gives her such joy to the extent. But the peaceful time she just adores vanished as the room's door swung aggressively and a young man covered with bullets of sweat appears, looking straight at her in disbelief.
"What the hell is wrong with you woman!" Leopard angrily exclaimed. It was the first time Vienna saw Leopard that angry and covered with sweats that badly.
Vienna doesn't know what to say to the angry Leopard in front of him thankfully Valor entered the scene and calmed his angry son who's still glaring at Vienna.
"Calm your asses down Leo, stop scaring the young lady!" Valor stated while still holding both Leopard's shoulders. Vienna unconsciously nodded her head in agreement.
Leopard sighed deeply and massage his temple and beckon Vienna to follow him downstairs. Valor shrugged and followed his son. Vienna who is already traumatized by the sudden change of event somehow caught herself following the two men who are currently waiting at the dining table already. She sighed and suit herself at one of the chairs. Valor gave her a glass of milk and a piece of bread with a freshly cooked scrambled egg as breakfast. Leopard still glared at her while crossing his arms in his chest.
Vienna look at Valor and the old man only shrugged. She rolled her eyes and noticed the changes with Valor. He shaved his long beard and fixed his long hair too. And one thing is for sure, Valor Duke is smoking hot even in his middle age. That Rina was a no-show for leaving such a fine man like Valor.
She then looked at Leopard who resembled his father very much and Vienna couldn't hide her smile.
"Now, why are you smiling at me? Hmm." Valor asked as he was sipping his strong hot black coffee.
"Nothing, I just realized how good-looking the two of you are," Vienna stated and eat her shares without realizing how red the faces of the two men turned because of what she just said.
"W-well, it's on our genes after all," Valor confidently answered but still feeling awkward about it. While on the other hand, Leopard remained his iconic blank face but his ears are burning red.
"Back to the topic, what the hell are you doing in my house?" Leopard exclaimed.
"My house to be exact," Valor interrupted making Leopard annoyed. Vienna grinned seeing the two quarrel.
"I got lost in the wood," Vienna replied and finished her last piece of bread. Leopard looks unconvinced with Vienna's question.
"Samson made clear that you vanished like a bubble. But traces have been found in their backyard that someone paved the way aggressively. Is that you?" Leopard asked like a judge questioning a murderer that Vienna gulped.
"W-well yes," she whispered but still enough for the two men to hear it.
"The real question is, why? What's gotten into you that you ran inside the forest and got lost at the same time?" Leo added. Vienna sighed and faced Leo and tries to explain what happened.
"I saw a hill, and it's like pulling me, bewitching me to get any closer to it. I even felt dizzy with the familiarity of the hill but I know to myself that this is the very first time I laid my feet on this island. So I can't understand what I'm feeling or thinking. And yeah, after I realized how mess I just did, I wanted to go back to the Lennon but  I can't because I am lost already!" Vienna stated defending herself.
But the fact that she became reckless doesn't cover anything.  She heard Leopard's tiredly sigh.
"Ahhh that again- seriously," she heard Leopard murmured that made Vienna curious.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"A hill huh, this is the only hill on this island and the fact that this hill is filled with large trees makes it harder for the people below to see this hill." Valor explained that widen Vienna's eyes. C'mon, don't tell me I am bewitched by someone. God, it's so scary. She uttered to her mind.
"Stop joking Mr. Val," Vienna nervously stated.
"I'm not."
"Yes, you are,"
"Nope, I'm not."
"Yes of course because I saw it with my own two eyes!" Vienna explained but Valor shrugged his head.
"Believe me, lady, I've been here for so long and there's only one hill in here which is this." Valor explained too.
"Then tell me, what's that thing I saw?"
"A ghost hill!" Valor silently whispered making Vienna feel goosebumps in her entire body but he heard Valor laugh crazily.  Vienna almost believes it, the audacity of this old man to joke like that.
"C'mon, I'm serious in here!" Vienna pouted and throws a fork toward Valor's direction which Mr. Valor evaded easily.
While Leopard who's observing the two felt out of place seeing how close Vienna and his father become in a short period. Leopard couldn't even believe to see his father clean himself of his own will. But no matter how delighted he is, he needs to cut the fun off.
"There's no such thing in here, it was caused by an unknown chemical that mixed with the bathwater that causes hallucinations. You said you're feeling dizzy that time, no?" Leopard explained.
Vienna nodded. "Yes, extreme dizziness and haziness. As well as the surge of my emotions that were hard to control." She explained.
"Same symptoms, thankfully you somehow fought it. Some couldn't and it sent them grievously sick." Leopard added. "Just like Mika Lennon."
Vienna's eyes widen hearing a familiar name. "You mean, she kept hallucinating things because of the water? Then why is she kept using it?" She asked.
"It's like a drug, she somehow used it daily making her addicted to it which makes it hard for her to not take it in a day."
"Then, why didn't she tell me about it? What will happen to me?" Vienna nervously asked. Leopard shrugged.
"I don't know, for now, let's go back down and report it to the captain," Leopard said and Vienna nodded.
If it's like a drug that got mixed, who's the culprit behind it? Vienna both felt fear and anger. Leopard noticed how silent Vienna became.
"Don't worry too much, I won't let you get hurt," Leopard stated that making her heart beat fast.
Her eyes widen as confusion consumed her.
What's this? Why am I feeling this? This is shit.