Something was wrong.
I don't know why but a feeling settled at the base of my stomach since I woke up that something was wrong.
At first glance, it looked like a normal day. The gardener was sheering the garden gather some of the flowers while at it, the cleaners were cleaning, the cooks were preparing the table while cooking the meal, it even felt calm for a morning but I could feel the hidden tension in the room.
The head cook wasn't her usual self, she barely acknowledged my presence which was unlike her.She has been stirring the same pot of soup since I got here. Even Varisha seemed too busy to help, she was arranging the salad with another maid and they both did it in a slow manner as if breakfast wasn't for hours.
I grabbed the trolley once I was done and headed to the pen. The room was unusually quiet, just as many places in the house seemed to be. I walked in and everyone except Vista, who wasn't even in the room, was still sleeping. I arranged the trays on the table and had my breakfast in silence.
As breakfast progressed, the feeling only intensified. I tried to shake it off, attributing it to a restless night's sleep or perhaps the looming deadlines at work. Yet, every small sound seemed amplified, and every shadow appeared more sinister. I decided to take a moment to gather my thoughts, hoping that a quiet cup of coffee might help dispel the unease. Sitting by the window, I watched the world outside, searching for any sign that might explain this persistent sense of foreboding.
Once I was done with my breakfast, I walked over to master's study and knocked. I waited till I heard his come in before pushing the door open. My shoulder still hurt a bit from the whipping I got when his mother first came but it was minimal. Master had more files in front of him than usual so I assumed the accounts were more than usual.
I stood at the door waiting for masters instructions, it took him about five minutes before he finally pointed to the files laying on the small tables near his study couch. I walked over to them and glanced at the brown sheet, my brown furrowed at the familiar files.
" I'm a little busy today, so you have to handle the accounts yourself" master explained, " ill look at anything you find too complex later" .
I nodded, sitting down on the chair and beginning the work . Soon the only sound that filled the room was the sound of paper flipping and pen writing. It was the normal routine I was used to, especially when master got so busy I had to handle the accounts myself, but something felt off about today.
The air seemed heavier, and an inexplicable tension lingered as I went through the numbers. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something crucial. My eyes scanned the columns and rows, trying to pinpoint the source of my unease. The shadows outside the window lengthened, casting an eerie glow over the desk. I paused, taking a deep breath, and decided to double-check the entries from the previous week. As I reviewed each transaction, a small discrepancy caught my attention. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but enough to warrant a closer look.
I can't seem to put my finger on what was wrong, I can't understand why such a calm day could hold so much apprehension in me. I admit today felt calm for a day with his family around but it wasn't usual for a day to be like this. Honestly, I always looked forward to days like this , so why was today so different?
Why did I feel like today was the beginning of something bad? Why did my stomach turn whenever I thought about the day ending? Why did this calm day unnerve me so much?
Perhaps it was the subtle tension in the air, something unspoken yet palpable. The way everyone seemed to move a little more cautiously, as if trying not to disturb the fragile peace. It was as if the calmness itself was a facade, hiding something lurking beneath the surface. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was an undercurrent of unease, a whisper of something yet to come. Maybe it was just my imagination, but the sense of foreboding was hard to ignore. I found myself questioning every glance, every pause in conversation, searching for clues that might explain my unease.
A gasp left my lips as I finally put my finger on what it felt like.
It felt like the calm before the storm.