2. Slaves in 2022.

"Is she awake yet? How did this even happen?" A man in his fifties questioned a teenage girl sitting beside another teenage girl who was bedridden.

"I don't know, father. She just suddenly collapsed." The girl replied.

"Well then, go and prepare some food for her, she would be hungry when she wakes." The father instructed his daughter as she got up to obey him instantly, he then followed suit as they both went out of the room.

Winifred finally opened her eyes and she shut them back immediately with panic because that wasn't her room, she opened her eyes once again, this time carefully as if doing so might bring back the room and home she used to wake up in for the past sixteen years but more panic set in when she yet again opened her eyes to a room that didn't look like it even belonged in the world she knew. An uneasy feeling ran through her veins. Lying down upon the soft duvet, various thoughts took over her as the deadly silence pierced her ears. She sat up on the creaky bed and look around her surroundings.

The room had a musty odour, evocative of grandparents’ houses – the type that makes one feel safe and cosy although that was far from what Winifred was feeling at the moment. It was lit dimly by a tall lamp in the corner with a green lamp shade decorated with light, undulating patterns, all but lost under a thick coat of dust. A wooden rocking chair sat in the corner, furnished with an old, dilapidated cushion. A small, coal fireplace graced a small portion of the wall in the room.

There was a sofa against one wall – a bland, beige coloured lump, which looked as if it would be itchy if you sat on it. A pink doll’s house was pushed up against a wall and enveloped in dust. It looked sad and lonely, as if it knew it would never be played with again. Next to it sat a hobby horse with chewed-looking ears, missing its rocker.

Winifred looked so confused and wondered if she was still dreaming or something. To her, the whole scene looked like some home that has been decorated to film a medieval or historical movie.

"Have… have I been kidnapped and just locked up here?" She asked no one in particular as she jolted off the bed with fright only to notice another unexplainable and confusing thing on her. She was dressed in a dress that was so heavy she felt she wouldn't even be able to walk, it was like some sort of wedding dress, only that it wasn't white but was filled with multiple fading colours instead. The upper part of the gown however was almost too tight that she felt like her boobs were choking and the sleeves were too puffy, typically giving the elizabethan era vibe.

"Gosh, am I some fucking clown? What the hell is this cloth?" She snapped.

She looked out of the window and was shocked to see little houses surrounded by other little houses and a lot of people dressed similarly like her. It was almost like she went back in time as she wasn't sure if places like this still existed. She was quite mesmerized as she had concluded that it had to be a movie shoot that was happening and she hoped to get explanation on why she was an extra or something. That could only be it, it was the 9nly reasonable explanation.

But when a strange girl younger than she was rushed towards her and engulfed her in a bone crushing hug. She was even more alarmed and terrified.

"Don't ever do that to me again. How could you just collapse suddenly like that? The gossips and pokenosers started to say you must have became impure and gotten pregnant. You know how they'll always say anything against you anyways. How are you feeling now? I brought you some food." The girl said as she placed the tray of unclean water and some cheese and white bread on the small table in front of the bed.

Winifred just kept looking at the girl in total confusion, and then she turned to look at what she called food. That wasn't even close to what they fed their dogs, she continued to wonder what kind of joke this was and thinking she had finally gotten it, she started to walk around the room looking for cameras.

"Okay, Willow, Ella. You've outdone yourselves with this prank this time. Kindly come out and call this shit off, I'm starting to freak out here? Is this some kind of virtual game or something?"

When she didn't get any response other than the stranger looking at her in confusion, she continued, "Guys! This isn't funny! Is this the reality TV show? I told you guys that I am not interested, please, just get me out of here. I won't tell anyone that you literally kidnapped me just so I could participate in a stupid reality show. Guys, come on..." she was already entering into panic mode before the girl's voice brought her out of the confused trance she was in.

"My lady, are you alright?" She said, moving closer to Winifred as she Jumped in fright.

"My... my.... what? What did you just say?"

"My lady, I asked if you're alright? You're acting quite odd."

"Why... are you addressing me as that? Have I been kidnapped? Are you one of them? What the hell is going on here!" Winifred snapped.

"I'm so sorry, my lady. That's what I call you as I'm your slave and you're my lady."

"What kind of sick joke is this? Are you out of your damn mind? Slaves? In this time? Slaves in 2022? Or what year do you think we are in, 1800s?" Winifred mocked.

"Uhm... yes, my lady. That's exactly the year we are in. 1600." The girl confirmed, making Winifred even more pissed as she charged towards her in anger.