Agent Ez

Chapter 32- Exploring the wrong side of the building

At the sound of her name, she beings sobbing. Just what I need. I use this as motivation to quickly stitch up the rest of the injury without thinking about my task too much. 

“You okay?” 

“I-I-I’m s-s-so sorry, it-it it’s been a long time since anyone’s called me that.” She replies between sobs. I reach the end of Clara’s wound and tie the string in as securely as I can going as far as double backing on the original stitch. 

Although, I’m all too aware that this is not a piece of cloth I’m stitching here, part of me is attempting to delude the depressive realist in me that it is. It’s only barely working. 

“What happened?” It’s only as I’ve asked the question that I realise I may not have the time to listen to the story. I don’t know how long I’ve been down here although I feel like I’ve added years to my age it may have only been hours or minutes. 

“I was a fool, I fell for Drake’s tricks and his empty promises and got sucked into his dream. I allowed them to manipulate me and take advantage of me. They told me so many things, about the world and how they were going to put it right. It was only as I saw Mistress here that I realised how messed up things were. But we had no help, no escape.” She begins to sob more. 

“Maybe we can change that.” 

Her cries grow quieter and she asks, “How?” 

“I don’t know, I’ll try to think of something. But one things for sure, Clara’s going to need to get help soon. I’ve stitched her up and stopped the bleeding – I’m no doctor. I’ve no idea how long this is going to last or even if any of her organs are damaged. You’ll have to tell Ralph to take her to the hospital, tomorrow. First thing.” 

“Definitely,” she replies nodding enthusiastically. 

“I need to get going, I don’t want anyone to notice I’m missing,” although, really the only person who would notice would be Drake and I really couldn’t care less about what he thought. 

Despite saying that I had to go up quickly, I went into the rose garden. Enjoying the slight breeze, the stillness of everything around me. This was the quietest moment I have these past few days. 

Out here, things seem to have slowed down, time didn’t seem to matter any more and for the first time since arriving here and being hit by surprise after surprise I felt at peace. 

Which, frankly is quite ridiculous. Of all the times in the world to find peace my heart decides that now, days away from a forced marriage, locked away deep in the countryside, is the right time to find peace. 

I sit for ages, not really thinking about anything, just stargazing. Eventually when I see a slight tinge of the beginnings of dawn in the sky, I reluctantly climb my way back up the wall. 

Crawling into bed, I briefly wonder about what the day will hold before falling asleep exhausted. 

*** 

I was shaken awake all too soon, by non other than my favourite person, fiancé and all round idiot Drake. 

“What?’ I snap at him. 

“It’s my mum, she needs to go hospital Dad said you have to go with her.” The reality of Clara’s situation hits me like a wave, my anger dissipates. 

“Okay, tell him I’m coming.” 

“She’s hurt, she needs-“

“Drake. I’m. Coming.” Can’t a girl have a quick change and take a record breaking shower?