April 22, 2032
Wilson's Homestead, Grandeur Hills Freelands, Old Texas
"Oh, Willy!" Michael heard his wife scream. "Where the hell were you? You look like a mess! You were supposed to come straight home! What happened?"
"Lillian, calm down," said Willy in a tired voice. Michael walked up the stairs with one of the butlers of the house as the couple's voices faded.
When Michael had entered the house, he had been shocked by the beauty of the interior. The homestead was really like a palace in the forsaken environment of the Freeland. The walls were covered in decorative wallpapers with silk drapes and all sorts of ornaments and decoration pieces on the shelves and tables.
"Master Wilson has told me to guide your room. A fresh bath is waiting for you so that you may be refreshed. We have a fresh change of clothes too and nourishment as well inside the room. Lunch will be served shortly after you have bathed and dressed. The doctor will also check up on you after he has done checking up on the master."
Michael followed the butler looking around curiously at the homestead. He was realizing now how big of a hotshot Willy really was in the Freeland. They walked up the large series of stairs with an oak banister that had golden engravings carved into it.
They walked down a large hall and as they turned around a corner, Michael almost ran into a figure. He looked up and began to apologize but stopped.
She seemed to be roughly his age with her head barely reaching his shoulders. She had a beautiful, fair face with black, straight hair that flowed silkily down to her shoulders. Her hair had laces of purple highlights which matched perfectly with the purple velvet gown she had. But it was the eyes that caught Michael's attention. They were a deep purple in which he could not stop looking inside.
She had been caught by surprise too. He had expected her to look at him with distrust but Michael was sure that there was a pleased expression on her face. She quickly side-stepped him and hurried away downstairs. Michael followed the butler lost in a trance. He had never quiet seen a girl a like her. He felt a strange attraction to her and he couldn't quite figure out why. He had seen a lot of pretty women back at the Peak City hanging out with his friends at The Cauldron but, those eyes.
The butler opened the door to a room towards the end of the hall and ushered Michael inside. There were already fresh clothes awaiting him on the bed. There was also a large jug of water along with fresh fruits and snacks on the table.
"Lunch will be served in fourty-five minutes but nonetheless, snacks have been provided as instructed by the master. He would very much like your presence in the dining hall though he
has left that up to you based on how you're feeling. After you are done, just ring the bell to summon me and I will bring the doctor to your service.
Michael nodded and thanked the butler. The moment the door closed, Michael ran up to the food and water on the table and began to eat. He shoved the food down his throat like a rabid animal and finally slowed down when he realized he would get sick if he continued. He drank three glasses of the cool water before making his way to the bathroom at the side. He peeled off his clothes that were sticky with sweat, dirt and blood and submerged himself in the water. He let out a sigh as the cool water covered his whole body. He rested his head on the back and closed his eyes. He had a strong impulse to fall asleep right there but then felt a strange sensation in his heart. It was as if a string was being pulled there which was filling anxiety throughout him. He couldn't understand what the feeling was until he realized.
Elena.
How could he relax when he didn't know that Elena and the others were safe?
Dread filled his body when the thought of her being dead hit him. He quickly grabbed a sponge at the side and started cleaning himself to distract himself from the idea. He had to really push himself since so much dirt was caked against his body. There were also cuts all over his sore body which ached now as the water and soap washed over them. He remembered how his body had been as good as new when he had died.
Immortal. He was immortal. No, I'm just a kid. I'm not bad. But you killed.
I had no choice. He would've killed us. Killed Elena. There is always a choice.