Walk toward the lighted windows
From Create Your Own Story
You decide to walk toward the lighted windows. Considering the temperature and the remoteness of the road, it's probably better to be inside than out.
You get out of the car. You're a bit shaky on your legs, and balancing's tricky, but the forest is full of trees, and you use them to support yourself. You take your purse with you and nothing else. It's slow work moving through the trees, but pretty soon you get the rhythm of it. Soon it's apparent that the windows are set in the wall of a castle that wasn't visible from the road. After a while, you make your way up to the wall of the castle and follow it around to a huge door. You pound your fist on it. "Hello, is anyone there? I had an accident on the road! Let me in please!"
After a few moments, the door creaks open. A short, rather hunchbacked man stands behind it. "Mith", he says, looking your over, "Come in. We wouldn't want you to catch cold out there."
He beacons you in and shuts the door behind you. You're standing in a magnificent hall with a fire roaring in a huge fireplace at one side. He leads you over to a chair in front of the fire. "Thit down. Do you want thome tea or thomething? I thoud go tell the mathter we have a visitor."
"Tea? Oh, no, I'm not thirsty", you reply. "I hit my head really hard earlier. I think maybe I should get to a hospital"
The hunchback nods. "Oh course mith, but the nearest hothpital ith too far away for tonight, and we don't have a phone. The mathter is a doctor. I'm thure he can do thomething for your head"
As he turns away you ask him, "What's your name?"
"Igor", he replies, before he shuffles off.
The warmth is really comforting. You didn't realize how cold you really were until now. You're feeling incredibly tired after your ordeal. You wonder what kind of doctor would own a castle deep in the forest and have no phone. Oh well, it doesn't matter now. You're safe.
A few minutes later, you hear steps across the flagstones. A tall man with a craggy face, light hair and ice blue eyes walks up to you. Perhaps the most striking aspect of his appearance, though, is his manner of dress. He's wearing a stained apron and long rubber gloves. He pulls these off as he approaches you. He stops about five feet away and just stares.
After a few moments, things start to feel a bit awkward, so you introduce yourself. "Uh, hello, I'm Melissa Parker. I just crashed my car in your front yard." You extend your hand.
He shifts his gaze to your outstretched hand. After another moment, he takes it with his own. "I'm Doctor Kreuger. Igor told me you hit your head?"
"Yes."
"Well, let's take a look"
He looks at your headwound. "Hm. Well, this isn't really my specialty, but I think I can do this." He thinks for a minute. "Igor! Alcohol, hot water and bandages!"
You're a bit disconcerted when Igor brings out a bottle of vodka, but you figure it probably works as well as anything else. After you're cleaned up and bandaged, Doctor Kreuger tells Igor to find you a room.
Igor leads you up some stairs and down a hallway. He opens the door to a fine room, but all you really notice is the magnificent and soft looking bed. Igor gestures to a wash basin against one wall, and tells you that there is a nightgown in the wardrobe next to it. Bathroom is down the hall and on the left. With that, he leaves you. You waste no time in getting ready for bed. You've hardly laid down before you're asleep.
When you wake, it's light. You take a look around the room. There is a beautiful balcony opposite the door, a writing desk, and of course, the bed and weardrobe. Your luggage sits on a table near the door. Judging from the shadows, it's somewhere around midday.
You're feeling much better than you were last night. Your vision has cleared up, and sitting up didn't bother you much. Your head still aches, though, and you're a bit tired still.
You wonder if you should keep resting or go out and explore the castle.
