Page 31 of Lost and Bound

He looks at me suspiciously, and I jump in to explain.

“I used to help my dad a lot around the house. It’s kind of like therapy, so I was going to see if I could stop by when I need my fill, if you know what I mean.”

His expression shifts, and a small but genuine smile changes his face. “Of course, Maya. It just took me by surprise, that’s all. We don’t get many requests like yours.”

“Really?” It’s my turn to be surprised. I think it’s plain weird these beings don’t help those in need, but I’m starting to see these beings are weird, period. “I’m okay being your first visitor. So long as it won’t get you into trouble.”

“I don’t believe there’d be an issue. The maintenance crew’s shed is out the back of the dining hall. If you turn left before the main doors to the dining hall, then follow the small path down the side of the building, follow it as far as it goes, and that’s where we’re at.”

“Awesome. Honestly, I don’t know when it will be.”

He grins. “That’s no bother at all. We’re there most days.”

Another ding from my device has our conversation drying up in an instant. Honestly, I kind of forgot about the first one. Before I read them, I message Orion letting him know I’m in my room and also explaining the reason I was a few minutes late. As soon as I hit send, he contacts me back and we arrange our morning meetup.

He signs off with a run of emojis, and I open the other message waiting. I scan it twice to make sure I’m reading it right—that my detention tonight has been rescheduled and consolidated into one session on Sunday, instead of being all week long. I’m glad, since it will be over quicker, and afterward I’ll be able to get some study done.

“It might not be this weekend, but I will come see you soon.” I follow Rodderick to the door before holding my hand out to him. “It was great meeting you.”

He wears a look of confusion when he peers down at my hand, and as soon as I remember Orion’s warning, it makes sense.

“Sorry, my bad.”

Rodderick shrugs quickly before his hand engulfs mine. “You look after yourself, Maya. I look forward to seeing you soon. If you need anything in the meantime, slide a note to the ladies in the dining hall, and they’ll pass it along.”

With that, he walks off, whistling softly under his breath. I close the door as he goes down the stairs, and a whoosh of relief I didn’t know I was holding puffs my cheeks.

I perch on the top of the biggest chest, quickly going through my tablet to see if there are any other messages or emails that I need to respond to, but there was only the one. Opting for a quick shower before I start all my homework and rearrange my room, I figure I may as well wash my gym uniform at the same time.

The water never heats but I ignore the temperature and finish cleaning myself and my clothes. After I use my T-shirt from last night to dry off again, I give it a wash too, hanging everything as best I can from the showerhead and the taps.

Dressing in my clothes from back home, I feel more like myself and better prepared when I look in the mirror. The bruise around my eye is still an awful purple color. I triple-check the cut on my hairline and the one on the back of my head. Thankfully, my fingers come back without a mark on them. I don’t have the time to deal with having an episode brought on by the red stuff flowing inside our veins. Even thinking about it makes my tummy somersault.

I squeeze my eyes shut and visualize fluffy white clouds until the turbulence fades and the idea of opening the chests turns into a drive I can’t ignore. First, though, I check that my new window is locked, then I pull the curtains closed before sliding the chest in front of the door. Then all that remains is sliding the key into the lock.

The click as it disengages is what you’d expect from any lock. Perhaps a part of me thought it would make a pop and fizz or something magikal; it’s both a relief and a disappointment that the lock is as normal as normal can be.

The lock is weighty, and I get a small tingle, like an electric shock, as I put it on the floor so I can open the chest. I have to sit up on my knees because, like the lock, the top of the tea chest is heavy, but something inside it is making it hard to open. I get it up, and a rush of excitement, like you feel on Christmas Day, has me smiling as I unpack everything.

And everything pretty much sums up what I find.

There are towels, pillows, blankets, and linens on the top half. Buried in the middle is a range of toiletries that look surprisingly similar to what we have back home. The branding is different, but the soap looks and smells the same. There’s everything I’ll need in regard to toiletries, really. Under them is stationery, gel pens, and pencils, pads of paper, and some shelves to go on my desk. I pull out a tiny electric kettle, two pale blue coffee cups, and a couple of plastic water bottles.

What’s better is that the contents are not over the top, dripping in luxury. In my opinion, opulence is a waste of money. I mean, a towel is a towel, and a pen is a pen. And for the first time since I arrived, I think I might be able to do this.

In my excitement, I jump over to the next box and unlock that one too, and I come to a screeching halt. This one is full of old books, ancient and tome-like. I pick them up carefully, knowing these are worth a lot of money. Lying beneath them are several bundles of leather. Bringing the first roll out of the box, I see it’s lighter than I thought it would be, and once I undo the leather cord around it, the bundle unrolls, and I realize it’s a tunic top in dark navy blue and a pair of leather pants to match. It’s slightly creepy that they look like they’ll fit, but my curiosity moves to the next package. I pull that out, too, and there’s a jingle as I turn it over to open. When I do, I sit there, staring down at what I find.

A pair of leather wrist cuffs, a matching belt, a velvety pouch, and two daggers in their sheaths. They look old, but look like they’re a complete set. Especially when I set them on top of the leather clothes.

The pouch is familiar, though I take a second to realize why. This matches the one that had the strange disappearing-then-appearing gold coins from this morning.

I’m not sure how to interpret the second box. The first is so practical, it’s a no-brainer, but what I’ve taken from the other one doesn’t really make sense. Fighting leathers and weapons don’t match how Noms are portrayed. I thought I was worth nothing in their world, so what my benefactor sent makes me curious and optimistic, which I haven’t felt since I first climbed the fence.

I pull out the last couple of items. The first is a thick winter jacket, and the second a quilt that looks handmade. Like with everything else, there’s an aged quality to the items, but because they’re so well cared for, they don’t look old or worn.

I take my sweet time and roll the leathers back up, hiding their treasures. After stacking the tomes and books, I place them back in the chest, then relock it before standing up to look at my room.

Now that it’s organized, and there are actual things to fill the space, the need to make it feel like my own takes over. I push the desk over to the window before sliding my mattress against the opposite wall. Surveying the room and after figuring out I want to use the second tea chest as my bedside table, I shuffle things around again until my desk, my mattress, and the chest all fit together.