CHAPTER 24
1219 Words
The following day, I asked Leandro to take me to the artificial greenhouse and have some tea.
Just like before, Leandro once again used his watch to access the sensors to open an elevator that leads to another floor. I don't want to attempt but perhaps, If I could get a hold of that watch then maybe I could discover other floors apart from the area where the artificial floor is.
If I could remember it right the dome is one hundred fifty deep below sea level. If this is the case then that size can't just contain only the main floor where I'm staying and this floor that has the artificial garden. And if my hunches are right, I might also be able to use his watch to escape.
The other day, as his master was about to leave my room, I remember how he ordered Leandro to make the necessary preparations. I wouldn't be so dumb that those preparations were just merely to prepare small things. I want to believe that Leandro and his watch hold most of the access in this household. And that responsibility is pinning him to stay back in this dome because only he has the access inside and his master can't just entrust it with somebody else other than his faithful butler in the world of course.
At this point, I have to think of a plan to get the watch from Leandro. I just want to know other possible exits I can use for my escape plan. I don't intend to escape now that the master is gone. If I will commence with my escape plan, it would be around the time when he is here. I want him to feel the rage after knowing I was able to escape his dungeon home despite him guarding me so much.
"Leandro, where did your master said he'll go again?" I suddenly asked while enjoying a cup of hot tea.
He was very eager to entertain my question by answering, "by now, he's already looking around the caldera in the Benham Rise."
"But that's a dormant volcano, right? Aren't they quite dangerous? What if they suddenly woke up and he's there?" My imagination has gone wild again.
"How is he doing that?" I asked again.
"What do you mean how is he doing that?"
"I mean, how is he observing or looking around the caldera? it's quite deep underwater right?"
"Well, we have some underwater jets and submarines he usually uses, but most of the time if it requires in the situation, he dives."
"Requires in the situation? Like what kind of situation?"
"Situations like unusual disturbance beyond human understanding."
"Can you further explain what you mean about that, Leandro?"
"Like when—" I was certain I nearly got Leandro talking when he suddenly stops to think about it and suddenly he decides to change the topic as if he was trying to hide something. "Oh, I forgot, miss Emalia. there is something I'd like to show you by the way. If you are already done with your tea, kindly tell me so that I could escort you there."
He really thinks of me as slow. But he was wrong to ever think I couldn't figure it and ponder everything later. I was able to help out solve mysteries and decode riddles and this isn't something that could humiliate that special skill of mine. You just wait, Leandro. I'll be able to discover what you and your master are hiding within this forsaken dome.
"I'm finished, Leandro. Let's go." I told him as I rose to follow him where he intends to lead me. And as I follow his back, I had so many things running in my head. Plans I hope I could scribble down on how I could take away the watch and find my way out from this place. But for now, Perhaps what he was supposed to tell me lured me to stay and find out what could be it.
***
Leandro is still leading the way where ever he said he's currently taking me in. And just like what he did at the sensor of the elevator, Leandro tried using his watch to open another sensor.
We stop in front of the empty wall behind the big piano in the main hall. It was just now that I notice, there is a wide space of empty wall along with the corners of the main hall. I believe there are other hidden doors among these walls apart from the first two that were revealed to me. And if my hunch is right, one of which could be the door to my freedom.
"Where are you taking me this time?" I was supposed to ask about the other possible doors but I refrained from doing so. It might make Leandro suspects me about being too inquisitive. I'll try to play a little dumb in his eyes if that's how he thinks of me.
He smiled after another secret elevator opens before us. Then he answered, "You'll see once we get there."
I can't help but feel a little uneasy about this. Leandro can be quite tricky sometimes. And though I tried not to lower my guard down around him, he still could find his way to get me.
The elevator stops to a new floor beneath where I commonly stay. And then after Leandro heads out, "please have your way inside, miss Emalia." he then told me, extending to point his arm open towards another door. It's a large two coffee brown wooden door that looks vintage for me.
I did what Leandro had told me. After creaking the broad door open, my jaw sank with so much amusement. Seeing a whole two-floor wide library before me is the first of my experience. Even the Municipal library in San Ildefonso is no match for this. I doubt it would even compete at least.
The library here even uses an escalator. And what makes it wonderful is the fact that it's underwater and thick glass walls are surrounding the whole library on the ground floor. I can already envisage myself like the little mermaid counting her thingamabobs inside a wide spacious luxurious cavern--though in my case, it's an auxiliary of the whole dome.
"Leandro, your master is also keeping a magnificent place like this here?" I asked him with so much enthusiasm in my eyes that I could not keep for my own. I know that Leandro has sensed it and right now, I don't mind it if he does. I'm feeding my eyes with so many books that my sight finds as a feast.
But then Leandro suddenly speaks, "this place has been recently renovated. It used to be a place where my master used to keep his gun collections. But recently decided to turn it into a library." he said.
"Why? Is he fond of reading too?" I suddenly asked.
"He's not that much fond about it but he can sometimes consider it as a hobby."
"How often is this 'sometimes'?"
“Like a book or two which he usually reads whenever he only prefers."
His master is not even a massive reader then why did he build such a huge library in the first place?
- Writer
