Celise
“GET BACK HERE!!!”
The dark of the alley streets echo the patter of restless footsteps. Water meets with the soles of a runaway’s feet while the moon is her only form of illumination peering through her overgrown bangs. She knocks over trash bins to slow her pursuers, and one of them does trip up, but the four others jump over it and rush on. Not much distance is gained and soon there is no gap between the white haired woman and her assailants. A hand grabs the end of her long hair and yanks her back, cutting all forward momentum and putting her on the floor. She is dragged back through grime water and glass as the man is mumbling to himself and the others. The girl doesn’t even attempt to fight back. Succumbed to the fact that she knows her life is over, that this weak attempt at escape was bound to go nowhere but waste time. The man with the woman speaks, “No further business out here cept getting this one. Let’s head back now. I hate cold nights.” The team turns back to head down a sewer drain for easy escape…til something catches everyone’s attention.
The moonlight that lit up this alleyway was gone, blocked by the rustling or multiple falling cloth. This fills everyone’s ears before the unsheathing of metal blades replaces that sound as swords and daggers pierce the skin of the men and their screams are muffled almost into complete silence. Seconds pass before the men that were once there move onto the next life. Alone with the cold grasp of the man’s hand within her hair, the girl is still unmoving even after all that’s happened. A woman removes the man’s hand and stays behind while the other women dispose of the bodies. She crouches down and speaks to the white haired girl. “Are you hurt?” Her soft tone of speech was unexpected, scary even to the shaken girl. Still, she helped keep the men away…so she’s a good person right?. She speaks again, “My name is Fiona. You’re safe now and my maids should be disposing of those who hurt you.”....The girl in white still says nothing. She only looks towards Fiona in wonder and worry as well as utter disbelief. “May I take you somewhere to fix you up?” Fiona asks the woman in white, hoping to at least get aid for her. Fiona rises and smiles. “Sit tight. I’ll summon a nearby maid to take you to a medical center and-”
“...Fi…ona…”
Fiona’s hands pause just before snapping her fingers. Hearing the girl’s voice allows her to breathe easier knowing she can communicate, no matter how little it is. Still however, the girl looks like a mess. Tattered clothes, long and messy hair, bruises all over and who knows what else. Fiona snaps her hands and a woman in a maid outfit carrying a first aid kit arrives at a moment’s notice. “Patch her up enough to walk her to a proper medical center. Once there, notify the nurses that the Queen asked for her care.” Fiona’s commanding voice once again urges the girl to move. She stands as much as her legs allow her to and faces the two ladies.
She slowly opens her mouth before a soft and broken sentence leaves her lips.
“...work…you….for…”
Fiona’s eyes grow narrow as she glares at the girl. Her sentence is cut short as her eyes meet the greens within Fiona’s. The maid turns so her back meets the girl and softly speaks to the medic. They can both be seen going back and forth, the medic seemingly urging Fiona to consider something while Fiona stands in disapprovement. One by one, maids that disposed of the assailants return and join in the conversation. From the murmuring, the girl in white stands lost and confused upon what they could be discussing. One of the maids turns to the girl and asks loudly “Aye what’s your name?”....After some struggle to speak,
“...frei…la…”
The maid turns back to the circle. The conversation peaks every so often so Freila gains the idea that they are speaking about her offer to join them. Fiona is in disagreement along, but many of the others see no harm in having an addition to M.A.I.D. Turns from the group and takes a few steps towards Freila before stopping, making sure the two are engaged in eye contact. As much as possible at least. “You wish to join us, Freila?” Fiona asks in a lower commanding voice. No more than 4 seconds pass before Freila slowly nods her head. Fiona closes her eyes. “Alright, we’ll finally put it to a vote. If you want Freila to join us, simply raise your hand and I’ll count when I open my eyes.” Even with her eyes closed, Fiona can hear the movement of clothes shoot up in a split second. Once 5 seconds have passed, she opens her eyes to see that her Freila has the team’s full support on recruiting her. “Congratulations,” Fiona says in a confusingly genuine tone of voice, “The maids wanna bring you along. You’re pretty lucky.” A series of black cars pull up at the entrance of the alley way as the maids go and enter them one by one in pairs. Freila is paired with another white haired maid and the two of them sit in the back seat of these cars and once everyone is ready, the cars drive down the streets of the kingdom, the twinkle of flickering street lights passing until Freila falls asleep.
The humming of the car goes unnoticed to Freila until the engine shuts off. Drool running down her chin is wiped off by her accompanying maid who also taps her awake. “We’re here Ms.Freila.” says the woman in a soft voice. The door opens automatically allowing both passengers to step out once they are ready and once Freila does, she is met with the cold touch of the garage’s dark marble floor and a myriad of cars catches her attention.The accompanying maid gestures over to Freila for her to follow their lead and she does so, slowly getting more and more used to the texture and temperature of the floor. That is until the stone polished floor changes into the softness of castle tiling. Looking upon the walls, Freila is met with pictures and paintings of differing environments, people who wear both regal and humble attire, all the while passing by other women in maid uniforms. In fact, everyone she’s seen by the time she arrives in her room has on the same uniform. Once taken to her room and is left alone for sometime, Freila thinks to herself. She walks near the window where the rising sunlight peers slightly through the window, but stops right before the sunlight makes contact with her skin. She holds her hand out just enough to where two of her fingers feel the slight warmth of the sun’s rays. She retracts her hand violently. It’s…different. She’s never felt something like this before.
“Hello? May I speak to Ms.Freila?”A woman’s voice comes from the door. Freila calms herself quickly, rubbing her arms with her hands before her thoughts become steady. Walking over to the door and opening it, she is greeted by the woman she met earlier, Fiona, and a blonde haired shorter woman who stands at the door. “Hello. Fiona told me about a possible newcomer who would like to join us. I’m the head maid within the castle. My name is Gwen Williams.” She curtsies as she introduces herself to Freila, and Freila’s first impressions about this woman are genuine even if she can’t properly express it. This woman…Gwen…she sounds nice. She sounds friendly and bright. “I’m pleased to have someone willing to join me and other maids here, but we can’t simply allow anyone in. There is a training regimen and a strict schedule as well as a way of living if you wish to join. I do not wish to stray you away, but you should be well aware of what you would be signing up for if you do so wish to join.” While Gwen speaks, her words reach Freilla clearly, but Freila’s eyes are dead set on Fiona who stands behind Gwen. Eyes locked as if they are holding their own visual conversation as Gwen speaks on what possible necessities would come after joining.
“Freila…would you like to become a M.A.I.D.?” The final question before a total shift of life. Eyes still locked on Fiona, Friela nods confidently. “Understood, Fiona and I will prepare a training outfit for you and come by tomorrow to get you started. For now, rest easy Ms.Freila.” Gwen smiles and bows before gesturing to Fiona to walk alongside her as they leave Freila’s room.
“So Gwen” Fiona says, “have you decided who her role model will be besides the two of us? I could ask my team who would be willing to look after and teach the girl, seeing as it was partly their idea to bring her here.” Gwen chuckles. “No need Fiona. I have some people in mind, but we’ll look through the list of teachers to see who would be the best fit. She’ll be training with other newcomers after all.”
