I look over at Mortimer. Unmoving, but for his chest He is breathing in and out over and over. He certainly looked like he was just sleeping. Just sleeping and didn't want to wake up. 

But why? 

“Mortimer?” I call out aloud to him. No response. Of course there would be nothing. “How long are you going to be asleep for?”

I watch his chest fall and rise a few times then walk towards the large window. The window had a black frame. It was wide open, letting in the smell of apples waft into the room with any passing breezes. To the right of the window is a giant wooden armoire. Much larger than any that could fit in the tiny rooms that the apprentices have. I could probably live in that cupboard, it seemed big enough.

Just outside is the castle's orchard. Acres of land are filled with large apple trees. No apples on the trees at the moment of course, it isn't the right season. But the dark green leaves had just been watered by a gardener. They sparkled in the sun. Resting besides the window is a long ladder, the kind used for apple picking. I could probably climb out the window, I think to myself.  It looked sturdy enough. I could climb out and run away from the castle maybe and no one would know that I was gone. No one would see me leave too if I just wondered back through the apple trees and away, wherever that path may lead. 

I turned back to look at my comatose mentor. Wondering what he would think when he woke up to know that I was gone. Nothing probably. 

Although I knew he would be furious if he knew my violin was stolen. But I also don’t know if the violin he was found with was the violin that was stolen. Wouldn’t that mean that he stole it? But why? Was there something else he wasn’t telling me? But well, he never really told me much about anything anyway. I was always second to him. Second to his son. Wherever he is now.

I have to go look for it. My violin. But where? Where could it be? I know that it being gone was not my fault per say, unless you could count leaving the case wide open for the world to see, but I couldn’t help but feel a pit of hopelessness in my stomach where I felt sad.

"Mortimer... the violin, the one that you gave... that you lent me. It was taken away from me," I say to him. "I don't know if you took it, but I don't have it right now. I don't know if you ... are in this position because of Mikhail or after he disappeared, but that happened too. Um... yes. I guess I will leave now. I... hope you wake up soon." 

As I predicted there was nothing but silence from him.