Chapter 9

Paige POV

Standing by the window, I watched the rising sun peeking over the mellows, the stars, and the moon surrendered, resting from their nightly duties. Slowly it all came into view, the darkness now converted into radiant daylight. I could see the trees, the grass, the animals off to feed, it was beautiful. There were not any other houses in sight, which means we all alone out here. Well now I am not so sure, because of him and whatever company he had in his room last night, he made sure to make their activities known, because before that the house was so quiet, even if a pin fell to the floor I could hear it, but they were doing whatever it is they were doing, making me uneasy, and I couldn't sleep, or maybe I am looking for an excuse... Or someone to blame about one night for my years of restlessness.

The loud creeks from the door gained my attention, turning around, I saw Mary,

“Good morning,” She chirped,

“Good morning Mary and—” I froze realizing there was another maid next to her, “Sorry— this is Priscilla, she was the...”

“One who helped you to clean me up, yes I remember... Nice to meet you, Priscilla, I am Paige,” I gestured for a handshake which she studied before taking it, “So...” I added, “What brings you two here so early?”

“Mr. Crown wants you to have breakfast with him, and the chef has sent us to find out if there was any requested meal,”

Chuckling lowly, I glance over to the window, the sun was now high, bright, and yellow like an egg yolk. I remember days with my mother, she would always make me my favorite thing to eat in the mornings, and I never got tired of it, “Yes, I would love to have pancakes... An omelet and a glass of warm milk,”

“What about fruits...” Priscilla whispered, “There are a series of fruit tree around,”

“A banana... The biggest one on the bunch,” I smirked,

“Go...” Mary spoke, “Tell the chef what Paige wants, also tell Mr. Crown that she will be in down twenty minutes,”

Listening to Priscilla's feet sauntering away, I shifted my gaze to Mary who was walking towards me, “Beautiful isn't it?”

“Yes,” I cleared my throat, “it is,”

“Peaceful too,”

“Mary— I turned to face her, noticing small red marks around her neckline I stuttered, was it her? The woman with the loud moans, I mean... she did have the love bites to go with it, “What's — what's wrong with your neck?”

“What's wrong with my neck?” She glared at me, rubbing her neck nervously,

“It has... tiny— red blemishes all over,”

“Oh,” she chuckled, “Those... There is a river nearby, I went for a swim this morning, but those damn backswimmers, pesky little bugs , I'm telling you,”

“Oh,” I mumbled, staring ahead of me, I didn't believe her, and I think she knows.

“You seem... Disappointed,”

“I am ok Mary, it's just that out here seem so peaceful, have me forgetting every five minutes that I am still a prisoner,”

“Sometimes we overthink too much, making us prisoners of our own minds,”

“Mhm,” I groaned, she seemed like an intelligent girl, and still it bothers me, what was she doing here working for a man like Crown,

“Did you enjoy your sleep?”

Chuckling lowly I gazed at the floor, I didn't want to upset her by mentioning what I heard last night, so I began to play my cards wisely,

“I didn't sleep much...” I lied, knowing I didn't sleep any at tall, “Actually this room it's— hefty,”

“Indeed it is,”

“Bigger at nights though,” I continued, staring out the window, at the meadow, “it's as if it takes a deep breath in at sunset, expanding its lungs until the next day, slowly letting the air out as the sun rises,”

“Do you read poetry Paige?”

“I used to... Why?”

“Because you sound just like one, you should probably become a poet one day,”

“No, I have much more important things to do, surviving is one of them,”

“Trust me, you're in the safest hands there is. I will leave you now, freshen up, I will be back in ten minutes,” she mumbled walking away,

Stepping inside the bathroom, I slipped out of the nightwear, letting the warm water drizzling down on my body, this felt good, it did. Hearing a faint commotion I turned off the showerhead, listening closely,

“Mary— is that you?” But I heard nothing.

Grabbing a towel from the rack, I wrapped it around my body, light on my feet as I stepped outside the tub, “Who is there?” still no one answered,

Back in the room, there was a yellow dress, laid out on the bed, with a note next to it,

“Wear this,” I mumbled to my self reading it out loud, it was probably Mary, I thought. Slipping into it, I admired it in the mirror, it fits perfectly on my body as if it was made for me.

Marching through the door, I closed it behind me, looking around. I wasn't sure where I must go, but I bet it's down those stairs. Biting my inner cheeks, I ambled towards the steps, slowly marching down them,

“Paige,” Mary mumbled at the bottom of them, glancing up at me, “Sorry for not coming back, Arlington wanted me to prep the table,”

“It's ok Mary, I understand, but—where to now?”

“Oh, outside, make a left turn and go straight,”

“Walk with me, Mary... Please,”

“Ok Paige, I will... but I can't go all the way, I have my own duties to attend,” she pushed the door open.

The tall trees rocked in a unison from the wind, low, flimsy branches fought to stay attached to the barks, It's been ages since I have been outside like this, wishing I could run into the tall grass, exploring its landscape, but I will never have liberation, I will never be free.

“Why are you so quiet? Feeling alright?” Mary broke the silence as we walked,

“Sorry, I have been a prisoner all my life, so I'm going to notice the change of scenery,”

“You will like here Paige,”

“What makes you think I am going to stick around long enough?” I looked across at her, “Just a feeling... Here we are,” she gestured her hand forward,

Up ahead, Arlington was seated at the table, waiting for me,

“Good luck,” she added, squeezing my upper arm, “And good dress selection, Mr. Crown likes yellow,”

How would she know?

“What are you talking about... Didn't you left it on the bed along with a note?”

“No... No, I didn't,”

“Paige...” Arlington called out, “It's breakfast, not a date, you don’t need a pep talk, so please don't waste any more of my time,”

Smiling at Mary, I strolled towards him, his eyes following me with every step I took,

“It suits you well,” he ogled at the dress “You're the one who left it?”

“Yes,” he muttered Saying nothing, I kept my eyes fixed on him, sitting down The table was beautifully ornate, garnished with fruits and flowers. Reaching for a banana, I peeled it slowly, burying it down my throat while glaring at him, I wanted him to know that I knew... Not about everything, but last night, “Morris didn't teach you to not play with your food,”

“And I guess no one taught you not to throw yourself on the help,”

“I don't know what you're talking about,”

“I know about you and Mary, I heard the moans and I saw the hickeys on her neck,”

“Mary?” He chuckled lowly, “You think I am fucking Mary,”

“Yes,”

“I am not,”

“And I don't believe you,”

“Doesn't matter, I don't care for your opinion,” he took out his golden firearm, placing it on the table, gazing behind me, he signaled to someone with his fingers, Looking over my shoulders, I could see two persons approaching us, one of them I remember,

“Boss,” he mumbled handing him a piece of paper, it was Miguel, the man that was going to kill me.

Glancing up at the other, I smiled as he removed our meals carefully off the tray, placing them gently on the table, he must be the chef, I thought. Shifting my gaze to Miguel, I was just in time to catch him, noticing me, but why was he. Arlington didn't seem to notice this, he was so focused on whatever he was reading, he didn't see us conducting our little stare-off rivalry.

I didn't like Miguel.

“Alright, Miguel, that will be all,”

Walking away from us, Miguel continued to glare at me, smirking as he passes by, leaving the garden.

“I don't think Miguel likes me very much,” I picked up the knife and fork, staring down at the food, the sweet aroma was making my mouth water, “I know that Morris was hurting you, you want to tell me about that. And please—don't lie, the maids already told me about the slashes on your back, and I have all the information I need... Right here” he places the paper down, tapping on it, “I just need to hear it from you Paige, what did he do to you?” His eyes soften, almost as if he cares.

Lowering the utensils back on the table, I felt my eyes burn with tears like salt and pepper would... in a fresh wound,

“He would beat me when things weren't going right for him, if he is angry, stressed, sad... It was what made him feel better about himself I guess,” I mumbled, “he would have his men whip me, and he would watch... Like it was some sport for him,”

“So that means he won't come for you or try to?”

“No,” I lowered my eyes onto the plate, “He won't,”

“Ok, it doesn't change anything, but I have to keep you here, you're no safer out there than in here, plus I knew your mother... And what happened to her, but I knew her well... The person she so was before the addiction, filled with life and so much joy, it's sad really... What they did to her—”

“What did you say?” I glared at him, “My mother died from suicide, you're the second to initiate that she didn't if you know something tell me,”

“I am sorry Paige, I don't know anything... But I can confirm, it wasn't an accident or suicide, she was murdered,”

A thousand emotions channeled through my body to my brain, my mother was killed, her death wasn't from her selfishness, she was taken from me, and the perpetrators were free, not paying for what they did. I didn't know who were they, but Morris does. And I am going to make them all pay. Staring down at his gun on the table, my lips parted, I had an idea, if I was going for them, they need to not expect it, so there is only one way for this to work.

“Arlington... I need a favor... I— I want you to kill me.”