Chapter 56: Chapter 56
The service was so lovely, Mary thought she should take pictures to show Ella later, though that seemed ridiculous. “Look, friend. See how lovely you were when you were dead?” She almost started laughing and had to cover her mouth. While she had no idea what the pastor was saying, it wouldn’t be appropriate to laugh in the middle of the service.
Bart was standing next to her, and he looked anything but amused. This was it--in a moment, they’d all go say their “final” goodbyes to Ella, and then everyone would leave. Jeff and his team would take the casket inside the mausoleum. She and Bart wouldn’t be going anywhere, though. They’d stay in the cemetery and wait for Ella to make her miraculous recovery.
After the last prayer was said, people took their time going up to view the princess in the coffin and say their last goodbyes. Mary wondered who all of these people were; Ella hardly knew anyone in LA. They must’ve been friends of her father.
Mary hung back from the coffin, as did Bart, waiting for everyone else to go through. Mr. Sinders was teary-eyed. Teresa and her daughters were sobbing, but it was apparent to Mary it was totally fake. It made her sick to see them trying to get attention over the death of a girl they’d treated so poorly for so long.
The one person Mary did feel sorry for was Ella’s, Aunt Genevieve. Not only had she just lost her son, she thought she’d lost her niece, too. She truly was beside herself with tears, just as she had been at Tim’s funeral a few days ago. She was also angry. Mary had been within earshot when Gen had shouted at Lloyd that this was all his fault, and he should’ve patched things up with Verona a long time ago, or at the very least, left his daughter alone to be with her husband. For once, Sinders had little to say, only standing there taking it before he stoically walked away.
Mary finally reached the coffin and looked inside. Ella really did look gorgeous--like Sleeping Beauty. To anyone who didn’t know, it would be easy to believe she was dead. Mary wanted to whisper, “See you later, friend,” but she kept it to herself, walking along so that the few people behind her could say their respects.
Once everyone else was gone, Mary and Bart sat beneath some nearby trees and watched Jeff and his team move the casket inside the mausoleum. They came out a few moments later and closed the door most of the way, but not all the way. Jeff lifted his hand in Bart’s direction, as if to signal they were set, and then walked away.
“Well, it’s all over but the waiting,” Mary said, absently tugging at the grass.
“Yep--but we do have a problem. There was a member of the paparazzi here. I saw him taking pictures from the trees. This means, it’s just a matter of time before the shit hits the fan. I hope we can get her out of there without any photographers seeing.”
“I hope Antonio can get word to Rome before he finds out. I’d hate for him to think even for a second that Ella’s dead. Who knows what he’ll do.”
Bart nodded. “I spoke to Antonio earlier. He said he’d head straight to Rome’s family home. He’ll let me know how it goes.”
Mary let out a long sigh. So far so good--but things could go wrong at any turn. “First things first, I guess. Hopefully, Ella will wake up in a few hours, and then we can get out of here before anyone’s the wiser.”
“Hopefully,” Bart agreed. He managed a small smile, and Mary returned it, praying everything went off as planned, and Ella and Rome would be that much closer to being together.
The sensation started in her toes. Pinpricks that turned into vibrations and then radiating warmth that spread up her calves, to her knees, and higher. Ella was suddenly aware that she was conscious. It wasn’t as if she were waking from sleep; it was as if she’d suddenly returned to her body after hours or days of being away from it.
The feeling was unsettling, and as it spread throughout her, she had to remind herself it was a good thing. She wasn’t dead, after all. That had been her fear when she drank the liquid from the vial however many days ago that might’ve been. She wasn’t certain where she was since she hadn’t opened her eyes or tried to move, but she was fairly sure she was alive.
An odor reached her nostrils, and she cringed at the offensive scent. It was mildew, mixed with decay and dirt. She found herself trying to turn her head away from it, but that wasn’t possible.
Her eyelids began to flutter as she struggled to open her eyes, hoping to see that she was in the mausoleum, exactly where she should be. It seemed to take forever before she could actually open her eyes, but when they finally came open, it was so dark wherever she was, she couldn’t see much of anything.
Her eyes worked long before her hands or legs did. It seemed like she could do nothing but look at the darkness for hours before she could raise her arm high enough to reach out. Her fingers made contact with the darkness and she realized she was in a small space with a soft interior but not much room to move around.
A coffin. She was in a coffin. The idea of it sent shivers down her spine, even though she should’ve expected to be there. Without any hesitation, she began to push up on the lid. It moved enough to let a sliver of light in, and then she saw she needed to lift the lid from the left side. Ella tossed the lid off as quickly as she could. Her arms ached, but she needed to sit up before she passed out. She could only imagine what people who’d been buried alive back in the olden days must’ve felt like.
It took her a second to sit up because her muscles were so stiff, but she finally managed. A sliver of light came through the door of the mausoleum, which had been left open a bit. She didn’t want to take the time to look around at the other coffins. She just hoped hers was the only one that would be opening.
The coffin was up on a slab of some sort, so she’d have to step down. It was going to be difficult in the dress she was wearing, especially since her legs were on fire and still tingling as they fought to wakefully. But she was in a hurry to get out, so she found a way to swing her leg over the casket, then the other, and placed both feet on the ground.
Steadying herself for a moment, Ella took deep breaths of the stale air. Walking might be difficult for at least the first few minutes. Gingerly, she made her way toward the light and attempted to push the door further open. It was heavy, and she couldn’t get it to budge even with all of her weight.
Not willing to give up, Ella tried again, grunting a little as she leaned into it. This time the door swung open as if an outside force had pulled it, and she staggered forward into welcoming arms. For a moment, she dared to hope it was Rome who had caught her.
But it wasn’t.
“Ella, thank goodness you’re okay. How do you feel?” Bart asked her.
She hadn’t tried to talk. When she opened her mouth, her words came out slurred, like she was drunk. “Okay. How’s Rome?”
“We’re not sure,” Mary said, taking her by one arm. Bart stepped inside of the mausoleum for a moment, and she heard a thunk as he closed her coffin. He came back out and took her other arm after making sure the door to the mausoleum was secured.
“I’ve sent a mutual friend over to let him know you’re all right,” Bart explained. “Hopefully, he’ll call soon and let us know he reached Rome and told him not to worry.”
Ella nodded, but her head was fuzzy, and it was hard to walk and think at the same time, so she just stumbled along, putting most of their weight on her friends’ shoulders.
“I have a change of clothes for you in the SUV,” Mary said.
“I hope you don’t mind changing on the way to the airport, but I promise not to look. We saw paparazzi here earlier. They don’t appear to be here now, but we need to hurry to get out of the country and get to Rome just in case they figure out that you’re not actually dead.”
Ella took it all in, trying her best to put one foot in front of the other. The SUV appeared in front of them, and she was glad to think she’d have a chance to sit down soon. And get out of this dress. It was lovely but heavy and cumbersome.
She got into the backseat where one of her bags was sitting, and the other two got into the front. She had no idea if she could remember how to dress, but as uncomfortable as the gown and heels were, she was ready to find out.
Thoughts of Rome filled her mind as she hurriedly put on jeans and a T-shirt, slipping on some Converse as well. She prayed he was all right and that he never even heard what she’d done, not until after they were back together again. It had to be in the next day or two at most. She’d die for real if she didn’t see him soon.