12. Different encounters
1483 Words
Mr. Jules was standing in the basement with the door ajar.
Jessika was squirming on the floor in pain. I felt so bad for her but, as always, could not say a word. Even though she was mean to me, I didn’t wish pain like that on anyone, at least not on anyone wearing a collar.
He pressed his watch, and Jessika was able to stand up again.
“I am sorry, Master. As you know, I start every new servant in the mansion the same way. I didn’t know you would mind doing the same to her,” Jessika pleaded.
He paused for a second. Then he looked with his cold eyes at her and then at me again.
“I will discuss this with you later. Leave now and never question my judgment,” he replied coldly.
She rushed out as I was standing, trembling, still in the cage.
“How do you find your new life?” he asked me.
I pointed to my collar.
“Oh yes, you are still muted,” he said. “Do you want to know why?”
I nodded.
“Just to make sure, I will spell this out for you. First of all, you were thinking about attacking your Master, which is enough to be executed.
Second, I don’t want you to poison the minds of the rest of the pack with any ideas about living outside of Agora. So, I don’t know if I will ever let you speak. You might be able to earn your voice. It will require you to behave!
You can now return to Jessika. You should follow her as your life depends on it. Because next time she tries to put you in the cell, I will not stop her.” He walked out.
I was glad I didn’t have my voice, that I didn’t have to call him Master. I didn’t have to apologize for anything. But then I wanted to speak so much. I had so many questions I wanted to ask about this insane world. I wanted to talk. I wanted to express myself with more than a nod.
I was all alone in the basement. I wanted to leave that horrible place as fast as I could. So, I climbed up the stairs and followed the path to the servant’s room to find Jessika. I was sure she would hate me now.
I was deep in my thoughts and must have taken the wrong turn, ending up in the hallway instead of the servants’ room.
From the other side of it, the man was approaching. It was Doctor Arthur.
He recognized me immediately. Why was he in the mansion?
“Hi, Sabrina!” It was odd to hear my name as no one seemed to know or care about it. “Are you doing OK?” he asked.
I could not speak and pointed to my collar.
“I am sorry you are muted,” he said. “I can try talking to Mr. Jules, but not sure if it will help. How is your mark healing?” he came close and asked, “May I?”
Feeling him close, for some reason, raised strange emotions in me. I nodded without thinking.
He touched my neck by lifting the bandaid. The touch was cold and warm at the same time. I felt a wave of pleasure running from it to the tips of my toes. His fingers trembled. Did he sense something, too?
What is happening to me in this dreadful place? Do all men here have some power over me?
“It looks good,” he said. “I will pull it off now. Stand still.” He gently took the bandage off.
I reached to touch my neck, and our fingers touched. I looked into his eyes and really wanted to kiss him. He also looked into my eyes, and the world seemed to stop for a second. I looked away. He was one of them, the vampires who were keeping me here.
I turned away and rushed back to the servants’ room. Why was I attracted to him? He was nicer than the rest, but he was still a vampire.
I was frustrated with my own body and my feelings.
When I came in, Jessika was there, sitting on the chair.
“Well, it took you long enough to get back,” she said.
I was waiting for her wrath, but she was remarkably calm.
“I don’t know why Master did what he did, and I will never question him, but you are not above punishment because of this incident. He talked to me while you were wandering and told me to treat you like everyone else,” Jessika said. “Do not lie to me about anything ever again,” she added.
She gave me many more tasks to do around the mansion and checked on me periodically. Her calmness scared me even more. I knew the payback was coming.
Finally, it was time for us to leave. Maria and I were about to walk out when Jessika came over and told me in a cheerful voice.
“Sabrina, I will need you back to clean at the party that masters serve tonight. Do not be late!”
Maria looked concerned and said, “It is her first day. Why don’t I show up instead?”
“No, I need her to be here,” Jessika replied.
We were walking home, back to Maria’s trailer. It was nice being with her. I helped her cook our meal, and we ate together. Maria was pretty quiet most of the time. Then she looked at me and said, “I am not sure how ready you are for the party. The masters will bring humans to snack on. They try to keep them safe, but accidents happen. You will clean up many messes at the party, but if anything goes wrong, you might have to help clean that up as well,” she said sadly. “Jessika will tell you what to do and watch other pack girls. You will not be alone in this. I should be safe, but don’t interfere with anything. Let the goddess be with you,” she hugged me.
It was getting dark. I was walking all alone to the mansion.
I memorized the route so I could get to the mansion safely. Then, a crazy thought occurred to me. Maybe I should run away. I could not really fathom what could go on at their party, and I didn’t want to know. I missed my old life, my job, my school. I was confused by the emotions that I felt. I was tired of constantly worrying about taking the wrong step and ending up in the cell or in pain.
So, when I was close to the house, instead of going in, I ran. I remembered where the water was, so I headed in that direction. Sometimes I thought I heard footsteps behind me, but I could not hear anything every time I stopped. It must be my own heart beating so loudly.
Finally, I reached the beach and kept running straight into the water.
Then I heard a voice, “Stop, do not go into the water!!”
I figured it was the guards and swam. The water was icy, but I welcomed it as it was my only path to freedom. I was a decent swimmer, although I did not know how far I had to swim to get back to the city.
“You will die if you go on,” I heard.
I didn’t care. I imagined myself free, hugging Michelle and seeing my parents. Then I would pack a few things and leave to hide somewhere else if they came looking. I am sure I will find someone to take this collar off of me. Or maybe even better, I could convince the police about what was happening on this island and get everyone arrested.
“Come back!” I heard the voice, but it seemed much weaker than before. I must get away!
Then horrible pain started shooting through me. It was hurting me so badly that I could no longer swim. And I didn’t know if I was paralyzed from the collar or the pain. I was drowning. I tried so hard to swim, but I could not. As I swallowed the water, I thought this was the end and maybe not the worst way to go.
Then I felt muscular hands pulling me and eventually dragging me to the shore.
My pain subsided, I regained some of my strength, and I hit the man who was dragging me. First, he ignored me. Then he grabbed my arms and pinned them to the ground.
“Don’t get in any more trouble,” he said, holding me down.
- Writer
