Sterling Estate (discontinued for reconstruction)

Chapter 14: Fuzzy changes

There have been some setbacks to the plan that wasn't really much of a plan. More so to gather as much Intel as possibly can and then it's home free. However it couldn't be called much of a failure as she did get a bit of Intel. It's a good thing that she has a good retentive memory or so she thought after her little escapade to the Meridian as memories of it have started to wear thin. Which was very rare for her, at least she remembers most of the content in the books she's ready.

However, that's not the only change she's noticed. As when she tries thinking back to the Meridian she hears a high pitched ringing in her ears and her vision starts turning white that lasts for a minute. It feels like her brain is trying to rewire itself which was a strange feeling. Even back at the psych ward when the psychologists keep trying to convince her that she was indeed mentally ill wasn't that terrible. Okay maybe it was but in any case this feeling she was having was near to half of that.

Yet there was something else that has been hampering her efforts of finding more information. That being Rae constantly staying by her side almost 24/7. It seems that incident might have scared her quite a bit. As she kept a close eye on her and treated Evealyn like she was some porcelain doll that could shatter at the touch of a light wind. It was honestly quite annoying although she likes being around people, she hates being hovered over and constantly watched.

If she wanted this much observation she'd March herself down to those white padded rooms. Which she has no intention of doing. However Evealyn can't sit still either and wait for the constant worry over her to die down. As she's only got a month to make herself normal or even so more than before. To get back to her life and job back at the firm in the city. On one of the rare moments away from Rae's watchful eyes because she had some work to do out by the vineyard. Evealyn suggested tagging along but Rae insisted that Evealyn stay behind and she'll be back. It's ironic that the one time Evealyn actually wants to be around her Rae says she can't.

Nevertheless Evealyn is tired of being cooped up in the house for so long. Having nothing else to do, having expected to at least see her grandmother around to maybe keep her company, and probably divulge some information on Cheverian abilities. However she can't find a trace of her, she could ask around but everyone is busy doing their own thing around the estate. Unable to catch a glimpse of them.

Evelalyn wonders what she should do now. It would be hard to go down the corridor again as stepping near it seems to alert someone to her, making sure she doesn't go further. Digging through her memories on what information is also a challenge. As it links back to the Meridian. However there was something her grandmother told her that she didn't quite understand. When she told her to strengthen her mentality she told her something strange. "That ground vines can suffocate and weigh down a whole forest if you let them overgrow." Whatever that meant, unable to understand what forest and ground vines had to do with mentality. Was it some metaphor she wasn't quite following?

It makes her head hurt just thinking about it. There was also something else she couldn't quite shake. That was not getting calls from anyone since she'd gotten there. Sure she wouldn't expect any calls from her parents but her friends and the people she's closest with now that's uncommon. Especially when she's on mental leave, having people call or at least message her throughout the days.

Yet there weren't any and it was kind of concerning her a little. Did they all come to the conclusion that she wasn't worth communicating with anymore? Evealyn sank deep into her thoughts as she remembered how her friends had helped her pack giving her hugs goodbye. Though she only told them it was for a short while "Was that their way of saying they finally got rid of me?" Evealyn questions not remembering what faces they had that afternoon she left. The last thing she remembers from that day was hugging that fairy-tale crying herself to sleep.

It saddens her that was her last memory of that day. Was it not just because of her grandmother's death, but also that she knew? Knew they were making it faster for her to get out of their lives. Evealyn shook off her thoughts not wanting to think that way. "No they wouldn't do that to me." Evealyn convinces herself but why won't they call. Deciding to dial their numbers and call them instead. However they all go to voicemail, trying not to think badly of them. "Maybe they're just busy, yeah that's it."

However it disheartens her a little, the thought of them at day came back to her mind. There's something about it that she can't help focusing on. Prompting her to make her way upstairs to her bedroom, Evealyn takes the storybook from under her pillows where she'd stored it away in case she felt like reading in bed. Starting at the design on the cover she notices that it's similar to the ones back in the Meridian. Gold metal detailing and intricate design in the shape of a moon in the middle. Pointed stars lined along the edges the two center stars, the one on the left and the other on the right slightly larger than the others lined with them. Her surprise with how similar it was to the others. That begs the question, if there's a chance that this was like the others back in the Meridian? Then how is it here in her possession? Evealyn tries not to think about that too hard as she can't stand the ringing in her ears every time the Meridian pops into her head.

Evealyn tries to put her mind on remembering what were the specific contents of this book. Opening it slowly, remembering seeing the words all written in foreign languages, Latin was a repeat offender; however instead of French the others were Greek mixed with a little dutch. Yet that didn't stop her from understanding what it said. As she learned from her grandmother the trick to reading this book was to start with the Greek words first, then afterwards start on the Latin then dutch. Doing so for each page, trying to read the words line for line and the story wouldn't make much sense.

Unlike the others where they were collections of stories. This on the other hand follows one narrative. How Evealyn could describe it was like reading something Kafka wrote but way more. With a character that slowly breaks at every turn. Leaving them to question everything and everyone around them. Leaving them in a wonderland trance where nothing made sense yet at the same time it had some sense of unexplainable order. They continue to break trying to find some semblance of sanity only for them to slowly come to accept that maybe their wonderland and the real world may not be so different after all. Being one in the same as they meld together.

It's a story Evealyn kept in her mind on those lonely days stuck behind the four padded walls of the asylum. However, instead of accepting that fact, that was going to be her life forever. It gave her the hope that one day she might be able to get out and see the world as it was. How it's supposed to be no weird creepy hallucinations, no Psychologist trying to poke and prod her brain; no more solitude of silence leaving her in her thoughts.

Maybe those days of fooling the psychologists into believing that she was conforming to whatever prognosis they were trying to convince her of having. Going through those "rehabilitation" tests and evaluations before being let out into society again. By that time she was in her senior year of high school. Lucky for her they allowed her to continue her schooling while on hold. So she didn't have to repeat a grade, and was able to settle back in fairly well.

Now she's left to wonder reading back over the story. Did the character of the story really accept his reality, or was simply escaping it? Evealyn is unsure of the answer as whatever it may be she knows the answer to what she must do. Placing the book back under her pillows, she decides that instead of waiting for someone to deem it safe for her to go outside, that it was her decision to make. It was a good day after all. Why not go out and see the vineyard. 

A/n: Hello loves, it seems some small changes have happened, also seems like the Meridian might be more than meets the eye. However this is all I can tell you all for now. Anyways have a good- oh wait before I leave you with this there's something I should tell you all. That is you can see little teasers whenever there's about to be a new chapter over on my Insta. Let's just say it might be teasing more than just chapters. Good night, evening morning or afternoon, wherever your viewing pleasure may be. Have a good one and see you in the next update. Later~