This did not make any sense! How on earth was I NOT on ground level? Apart from the two tower viewer, everything else looks like it belongs on ground level.
My mind began to race between trying to remember what exactly was the place I exited earlier and trying to find the actual exit of the whole floor. Before I knew it, I was already at the water fountain walking with hope in my chest, towards what appeared to be a restaurant in front of it. I didn't care how crazy I may look or out of place, all I wanted is to have someone help me get out of this building. If not, figure out my whereabouts at least.
But all of my optimism extinguished rather quickly when my desperate hands rattled vigorously on the very closed doors. Not a single soul could be seen from the ratchet I made as I took a peep through the window.
My panic shot up to the roof, worried I might be held hostage by the very same man earlier if this place wass truly deserted albeit luxurious. I ran to the left, to where I presumed to be the entrance to the lifts and just my luck, the glass doors were locked as well!!!
Like a headless chicken, I circled the whole floor in search for a way out but not a single door could be open at all. My pace slowed as realisation sunk in. Every step I take made me feel even more lost and helpless. Worse still, the sun was slowly setting, taking its warmth away with its orange glow. It did not take long for the cold air to sink in and dress me. Neither did the dim warm lights that lined the floors as soon as the darkness of the night blankets me. Somehow I wondered if it would be better if I head back to the place earlier. Death by human's lust and greed or death by nature's harsh weather, they are both torture all the same.
Unfortunately, my body had given up moving knowing there was no more a purpose. I slumped to the floor by the glass door like a freezing beggar. With my head between my knees, I hoped someone would come to my aid before the autumn air kills me.
"These doors will not be open for another couple of hours," a man's voice penetrated the silence, answering my prayer. As startled as I could be by the voice, I have no energy to look up no more. Cold and hunger was one thing but his statement played an important factor in dampening my spirit even further. Even more so when it is obvious he is the man from before - be it foe or friend he might turn out to be.
The man sighed when I did not respond and dropped a thick warm fleece onto my shivering body. My lips remained shut, frozen in its place unable to murmur thanks. He quietly took a seat next to me and put a flask on the floor.
"Here, you need this."
He silently accompanied my lonely ass as I took a sip of the hot beverage. The fleece, the ginger tea and his body warmth against me was slowly rising my body temperature to a desirable one - barely enough to get my body out of survival zone and begging to satiate the hunger pang.
He must have heard my stomach growling as he invited me back to his house for a hot meal.
"You are welcome to have second helpings," he enticed me with the offer and a kind smile. His hand stretched out, waiting for me to hold onto like it was the most natural thing for him to do.
I wanted to insult him by calling him out a 'Playboy!' but it ended up only in my head. Why? I must admit my sanity must have flown out of the window because I have given in to his irresistible offer. My body and mind chose food over safety - how gullible am I?
I ravish the food he prepared while eyeing the three different boxes neatly laid out in front of me. He must have sensed my gaze as he stated, "Take the meds after your meal."
"Me? What are these for?" I asked. My eyebrows raised upon inspecting them - apparently these boxes have my name printed on it.
"Medications for your body."
His answer was short but vague. I know it is ironic that I was being suspicious of the medications and yet I happily gobbled all the food he provided. If he wanted to knock me out, he would have done so with the food or spike the warm ginger tea. Well, to be fair if he is, only time will tell.
"Look, if you want, you can skip them for tonight. Up to you. But tomorrow we will drive to a clinic of your choice and you'll get the prescription yourself. Fair enough?"
The man was practically begging. The pleading in his voice shows no sign of wanting to hurt me.
'Or could it be a pretense? Ugh, I don't know! Do I even want to take the medicine? No, not really. It's not like my brain can convert these scientific names to layman terms at the top of my head.'
"Sounds good," I said, trying to appease him when actually I was already planning to execute my Not-so-Great Escape Plan 2.0 right after I had my fill.
But I might have gone greedy and overfilled myself because now I was starting to feel sleepy and my body felt heavier - desperate to land itself on anything soft and fluffy and my eyelids? Gosh, I need a help because they weighed a tonne!
Somehow the grey sofa across me looked inviting and the soft background noise from TV makes a great lullaby. Combine those with the warm dim light of the lampstand by the corner, it felt like a waste if I did not take a short break.
My feet were already dragging towards the living area while my conscience was clearly having a losing debate. And when I slumped onto the sofa, oh! It felt as heavenly as I imagined! If I could sit on a cloud, I bet this is what it feels like.
My eyelids were threatening to close but my persistent conscience was still trying too hard to debate and it frustrates me.
'Just a short one,' I convinced myself.
'No, we must go now!' The voice within argued.
Before I knew it, I was snuggling at the edge of the sofa into a perfect ball and the voice in my head began to harmonise with the TV, carving a delightful smile on my sleeping face.
Peace was what I had tonight, not knowing chaos is waiting for me tomorrow.