Chapter 7.
Andria.
Friday 3rd January, next day.
I don’t know what time it is. From the way the sun is in the sky, I suspect it’s late in the day. Perhaps 5pm, I can’t tell.
Winter is still on, so it’s harder to tell. I stare at the tray of food Shaye brought me, hours ago as my lunch. Cold, untouched. I don’t even bother to look at it. Am crouched beneath the window, my head folded in my laps.
I’ve cried so much, my eyes hurt. My head aches. I slept and woke up several times now. Am tremendously weak. I haven’t had a shower, even though it’s an ensuite bathroom. The thought of me been abducted and killed, brings me unpleasantness.
I recall how the parents of those girls, searched for their daughters, all to no avail. The police couldn’t even help. Only their bodies were found. I sympathized with their families. Young innocent girls, whose lives were snatched from them too soon.
My mind has searched for any possibility to the reason I’ve been abducted. Nothing. Shaye doesn’t say anything. She only drops the food and leaves. There’s this man who I realized stands at the door, when she is bringing the food. I can’t tell if he was present the first time.
Even when I pleaded with her to allow me leave, to let me stretch my cramped limbs, she ignored me and walked away. If this is Lord Bran’s house, then I expect to talk to him. To inform him that someone in his castle has brought me here against my will.
The TV hums low across from me. Shaye turned it on when she brought me lunch.
I jolt as I hear sounds at the door. I rise quickly, my legs stiff, from crouching for so long. Shaye enters, bearing a bag in her hand. I eye her, curiously.
Wordlessly, she drops the bag on the bed, meticulously bringing out the items out. A black and red dress, which looks decades outdated. A matching hair tiara, a pair of matching shoes. Lastly, she brings out a very stylish matching venetian mask.
Eye catching rubies, stand out on all the items. I force my eyes away, staring confusedly at Shaye.
“Lord Bran asked me to bring these for you.” She starts. I watch her, perplexed.
Lord Bran? Does this mean he knows am here?
“He says he would have dinner with you at 7 and you would do him the honor of wearing these.” Shaye reveals.
I stare at her, aghast. My mouth opens, but nothing.
“Why would Lord Bran ask me to…Does he know am here?” I ask her, wryly.
The look in her eyes speaks volume. I stagger back, shocked. I sit on the bed, exhausted, too weak to react.
“He knows am here?” I mutter to myself.
My mind unable to comprehend this piece of information. Am winded, my entire body breaks into sweats from shock.
“Please…press this button on the wall.” She indicates.
I lift my eyes to her, wondering if this woman is mad. She isn’t even seeing the predicament am in. She doesn’t even care my suffering. She’s only bothered about doing whatever this ‘Lord Bran’ says.
“And once you are ready I’d come over and help you dress. Lord Bran…”
“Bullshit, Shaye!” I cry out.
The last string of my sanity slips, as I erupt.
“Are you this heartless. Am here, locked up. I don’t even know the reason…I can’t even tell what has brought me here and you speak of a fucking Lord Bran…” I crack, sobbing hysterically.
She looks at me emotionlessly and that even kills me more.
“I will come and check on you before 7 to help you dress.” Shaye flatly announces and without another word, grabs the tray of lunch and leaves.
I wail, my throat tightened with pain, my temples throbbing. My neck hurts from crying so loudly. I sink to the floor, just lay there. Allowing the cold seep into my lungs.
“Mum, dad, why did you have to leave me…” I sob, as I absently stare into space.
Adrian.
I’ve asked Andria to have dinner with me tonight. I sent the clothes to her personal servant. I hear the girl hasn’t had a bite. I was furious when I was informed.
When her personal servant came to inform me she didn’t have her lunch and she declared she wouldn’t have dinner with me, I felt enraged.
However, I reined in my fury. Choosing to give her time to cool off. Shaye, revealed she was hysterical and cried that she wanted to go home. So it’s understandable the reason she refuses dinner with me.
I put on denims, a T shirt and my dark coat and head downstairs. I need to go to the farm to see the devastation that has occurred there.
I was called earlier today by the foreman. As I reach the bottom of the stairs, I hear a guttural wail, piercing through the walls. My heart ceases to beat as I hear the wail. The sound, shattering the walls around my heart. I don’t need to look to know it’s Andria.
Rather than yield to her cry, I push forward, exiting the castle.
“Lord Bran, we found the cattle torn to pieces. I don’t even know how to explain these series of events.” The foreman explains.
I look at the dead cattle, their bodies strewn on the farm. The entire scene before me, repulsive.
The way the cattle were killed doesn’t look natural. I go through the rest of the farm and watch the damages. Even the fences are broken. Frustration kicks inside me, as I mentally calculate the damage.
“These problems in the region has everyone scared, Lord Bran.” The foreman’s voice interrupts me. “Even the bar girl, Andria Peterson was found dead early hours of this morning.” The foreman drones. I still, my expression blank as he continues.
“Her body burned to unrecognition.”