Chapter 2- The curious shop
Flora’s jaw dropped as she looked around the room.
Vines coated in tiny flowers covered the walls in a soft green dotted with pink.The lights she had seen outside were strung everywhere on the ceiling; they filled the room with a scintillating glow. There were no empty spots in the room as every inch was crammed full of little features leaving no space but for a single pathway.
She felt her feet moving forward though she was not sure she was moving them herself. Her mind was too overwhelmed as she looked at shelves overflowing with plants, jewellery, books, and tiny little statues. She giggled when she noticed a figurine of a small frog wearing a crown hidden in one of the many pots that hung from the ceiling or possibly heaven.
Her neck ached as she tilted her head upwards and looked at the stars stuck on the ceiling which looked like they were shining. Flora wondered if she was outside and looking at the night sky. It would explain why there was a massive tree going through the ceiling too.
The tree had hanging branches and a palpable, magical aura. It looked like it came straight out of a fairytale; one where the tree could speak and tell tales of the travellers that had come before and sat beneath its leaves for a break from their adventures.
Flora swore she must have broken her jaw as it wasn’t closing.
“Impressive isn’t it,” said a voice that seemed to be coming from the magnificent tree in front of her which made her jaw drop even more.
“Oh, sorry I’m behind the big beauty” said the mysterious voice sweetly though she seemed to be stifling a laugh.
Flora followed the charming voice. Quickly ducking beneath a hanging branch from the tree before she walked into it. Once she had straightened herself, she looked around but still couldn’t see the mystery person.
She pulled off her glasses and cleaned them against her coat then glanced around the room once more, but she still couldn’t see anyone. Then she noticed amongst all the clutter a sparkly plastic cover hiding a door. Flora, seeing no other choice, marched towards the hidden door and pulled back the plastic, grabbed the handle, and swung open the door.
Flora barely had time to look at what she had walked into before being hit with a swarm of wings. Flora gasped as hundreds of butterflies swarmed around her. Their delicate wings brushed against her pale skin.
“Oh, I should have maybe warned you about them,” chuckled the woman with a kind voice.
Flora turned so quickly the butterflies all flew away except for a small blue one which sat on her nose. She lightly tapped it off as the woman giggled softly. Flora couldn’t help but laugh too but stopped once her eyes settled on the woman. She was resplendent.
Her golden skin radiated light as if she were the sun herself. She had bulging blue eyes that looked like they could see Flora’s thoughts. As if she heard her say it aloud, the woman started chortling so hard Flora wondered if she’d ever stop, not that she wanted her to, she could listen to her laugh for eternity; its boisterousness filled her eardrums with the pleasantest sound she had ever heard.
To Flora’s dismay the woman stopped suddenly, walked towards Flora, her layers of skirts swaying along with her and grabbed her by the shoulders. She pressed her forehead against Flora’s and stared into her eyes. Flora squeezed her left hand but couldn’t get herself to step away from the crazy lady.
“I’m not crazy,” huffed the woman pouting her lips.
Flora was speechless, could this woman really read her mind. The woman bent her head backwards and started to laugh again.
“No, I can’t read your mind,” she let out in between her wheezes.
Flora could simply not talk, how was the woman able to know what she was going to say before she had even opened her mouth. The woman began laughing even louder, the softness and gentleness completely gone and replaced by a somewhat maniacal cackle. The woman was still holding onto her shoulders so Flora could feel how much she was shaking.
“Then how do you know what I’m going to say before I even know myself?” blurted Flora.
The woman stopped laughing suddenly and placed her head against Floras.
“I can simply see it on your face, you’re very expressive,” chuckled the crazy lady.
“But, then how did you know I thought you were crazy,” questioned Flora, still entirely puzzled by this entire encounter.
The woman tilted her head slightly,
“Most people do, so I suppose lucky guess?” she shrugged.
“I like your eyes,” the woman stated. She pushed away from Flora, sat on the floor, and fiddled with her blond hair. The butterflies began circling her as if she were their goddess.
“Come,” she said, not looking up.
“Why should I?” puffed Flora, whilst fixing her glasses.
The woman looked up and glared at Flora,
“Well, you did walk into my house,” she retorted.
Flora’s cheeks turned scarlet.
“I-I thought this was a shop, I-I can leave” Flora stuttered and turned towards the hidden door she came through. Behind her she heard the woman start to laugh again.
“You can come again anytime,” she shouted, but Flora was in a rush to get away and hide her embarrassment.
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