lips.
“Number Thirteen and her group will serve the meals.”
“Are you sure about that, sir?”
“Very sure.”
“She broke this afternoon. She’s not in the right frame of mind, and...”
“She needs to learn how we work around here. If she misbehaves, she will be punished again. If she does a good job, she’s going to be rewarded. The only way to teach them, George, is to let them make their own mistakes.”
“It’s a risk, sir.”
“It’s one I’m willing to take. That is all.”
George nods, and exits the room. I lean back in my chair. Slowly, these girls will learn the lesson I’m so simply trying to teach them.
~*~*~*~
NUMBER THIRTEEN
T hey are making her my slave. My head spins as I stare at her, Number Eleven, openly glaring at me.
I don’t understand what kind of sick game the master is playing, but this isn’t something I want. I’m not that person. I may not know a lot about myself, but I know enough to know that I will not order another person around against their will. How can I allow myself to become him? That’s not right, none of this is...but I don’t know what I’m supposed to say to the girl standing in front of me who is shooting a glare so malicious it has my skin tingling.
“Um,” I begin, lifting a golden strand of my hair into my fingers and twirling it. “Please just help me in the kitchen, without anger and fighting. I know why you dislike me, Number Eleven, but there’s no need for it. I’m here, I don’t know why I’m here, and that doesn’t make me a bad person. It certainly doesn’t make me a freak. Do yo s
Her eyebrows shoot up, and she stares at me for so long I’m sure she’s about to burst out laughing and tell me to go and ‘screw’ myself. Instead, her face softens just a touch, and she nods.
Pride swells in my chest.
“Then let’s go,” I say, without adding anymore.
We make our way back to the kitchen, and begin preparing the food quickly and efficiently, only this time there are no angry words or shoving. When we’ve got the first round prepared and ready for when the guests arrive, we begin working on getting the main meals into the oven. Bill walks in just as the afternoon is sliding into the evening.
“Number Thirteen,” he says, nodding at me.
I stop what I’m doing, and walk over, standing in front of him.
“The master wishes to reward you for your impeccable behavior with Number Eleven earlier. He’s allowing you a moment of trust. If you take it, you’ll slowly begin earning more. If you screw this up, then you will be punished, and there will never be anymore chances for you or your group to earn your place again.”
A moment of trust?
I nod at Bill, desperate to hear what he’s about to say. Oddly, I’m desperate to please Master William. I shove that feeling down, not entirely sure why I would need to impress a man I despise.
“You and your group will be serving tonight. You’ll be responsible for their behavior. If one word is spoken about this situation, as I said, you will be punished, and you will sacrifice any chance you might have of earning any further trust.”
“I understand,” I say, feeling my heart pound.
He’s letting us serve? He’s letting us interact? It’s been only a few days since we arrived here, but already he’s letting us have the chance to prove ourselves. I can’t let this go wrong. We need every chance we can get to slowly gather Master’s trust. It’ll be our only chance of escape.
“Very good,” Bill says. “The group is waiting for you in the library with uniforms. Go.”
I nod, knowing the library is just down the hall. I turn and run out, excited and frightened. Will I see him tonight? Will this be the moment I finally get to see William? I’m not sure if that frightens or excites me. My stomach fills with a strange, fluttery sensation as I run. I miss the hall that leads to the library, but I don’t realize until I get to the end of the long corridor.
“Number Thirteen and her group will serve the meals.”
“Are you sure about that, sir?”
“Very sure.”
“She broke this afternoon. She’s not in the right frame of mind, and...”
“She needs to learn how we work around here. If she misbehaves, she will be punished again. If she does a good job, she’s going to be rewarded. The only way to teach them, George, is to let them make their own mistakes.”
“It’s a risk, sir.”
“It’s one I’m willing to take. That is all.”
George nods, and exits the room. I lean back in my chair. Slowly, these girls will learn the lesson I’m so simply trying to teach them.
~*~*~*~
NUMBER THIRTEEN
T hey are making her my slave. My head spins as I stare at her, Number Eleven, openly glaring at me.
I don’t understand what kind of sick game the master is playing, but this isn’t something I want. I’m not that person. I may not know a lot about myself, but I know enough to know that I will not order another person around against their will. How can I allow myself to become him? That’s not right, none of this is...but I don’t know what I’m supposed to say to the girl standing in front of me who is shooting a glare so malicious it has my skin tingling.
“Um,” I begin, lifting a golden strand of my hair into my fingers and twirling it. “Please just help me in the kitchen, without anger and fighting. I know why you dislike me, Number Eleven, but there’s no need for it. I’m here, I don’t know why I’m here, and that doesn’t make me a bad person. It certainly doesn’t make me a freak. Do yo s
Her eyebrows shoot up, and she stares at me for so long I’m sure she’s about to burst out laughing and tell me to go and ‘screw’ myself. Instead, her face softens just a touch, and she nods.
Pride swells in my chest.
“Then let’s go,” I say, without adding anymore.
We make our way back to the kitchen, and begin preparing the food quickly and efficiently, only this time there are no angry words or shoving. When we’ve got the first round prepared and ready for when the guests arrive, we begin working on getting the main meals into the oven. Bill walks in just as the afternoon is sliding into the evening.
“Number Thirteen,” he says, nodding at me.
I stop what I’m doing, and walk over, standing in front of him.
“The master wishes to reward you for your impeccable behavior with Number Eleven earlier. He’s allowing you a moment of trust. If you take it, you’ll slowly begin earning more. If you screw this up, then you will be punished, and there will never be anymore chances for you or your group to earn your place again.”
A moment of trust?
I nod at Bill, desperate to hear what he’s about to say. Oddly, I’m desperate to please Master William. I shove that feeling down, not entirely sure why I would need to impress a man I despise.
“You and your group will be serving tonight. You’ll be responsible for their behavior. If one word is spoken about this situation, as I said, you will be punished, and you will sacrifice any chance you might have of earning any further trust.”
“I understand,” I say, feeling my heart pound.
He’s letting us serve? He’s letting us interact? It’s been only a few days since we arrived here, but already he’s letting us have the chance to prove ourselves. I can’t let this go wrong. We need every chance we can get to slowly gather Master’s trust. It’ll be our only chance of escape.
“Very good,” Bill says. “The group is waiting for you in the library with uniforms. Go.”
I nod, knowing the library is just down the hall. I turn and run out, excited and frightened. Will I see him tonight? Will this be the moment I finally get to see William? I’m not sure if that frightens or excites me. My stomach fills with a strange, fluttery sensation as I run. I miss the hall that leads to the library, but I don’t realize until I get to the end of the long corridor.
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