She was in too much pain to stand, let alone run. Each attempt to crawl proved futile, her limbs heavy and unresponsive. As the menacing car drew closer, she instinctively rolled her body towards the meager shelter of the trees, seeking refuge in their shadows.
The vehicle sped past, and a chilling realization washed over her, it was the same car that had chauffeured Sir Tansi away earlier.
Her breathing came in ragged gasps, her chest heaving with the frantic rhythm of her heart. A searing pain tore through her stomach, and a solitary tear escaped her eye as she writhed on the unforgiving ground.
She didn't want to die; not like this.
From a distance, the unmistakable roar of an engine echoed through the night. In the short span of two days, she had become intimately familiar with that sound.
Sir Tansi was returning.
Knowing that concealment would offer no salvation, she bit down hard on her lip, desperately trying to quell the agonizing pain as she forced herself to limp away. She ran as fast as her battered body would allow, tears streaming down her face, each drop a testament to her despair.
Abandoning the tiled road, she veered into the dense bushes, knowing she would be easily spotted in the open.
The car couldn't navigate the thick undergrowth and tangled woods, granting her a fleeting chance to escape.
The roaring of the engine grew deafeningly close, then, just as suddenly, began to fade into the distance.
Elizabeth couldn't contain her relief at having evaded detection, despite being exposed under the watchful gaze of the moon. She limped onward through the thorny bushes, fervently praying that she wouldn't fall prey to some wild beast. Reaching what she hoped was a safe distance, she glanced back, gauging the space between herself and her pursuer. Satisfied, she turned forward, only to collide with an unyielding form. Her body crashed back into the prickly bushes.
The sharp irritation of the thorns against her wounds elicited a groan of despair. Her body was too weak to even stand.
The figure she had stumbled upon bent down, and in the ethereal moonlight, she made out his features.
Soft features.
"Sir Tansi—" she managed to gasp, the words catching in her throat.
He didn't allow her to finish the sentence. Seizing her hands in a vise-like grip, he dragged her through the bushes.
"Help! Please, somebody... anybody..." she cried weakly, her voice barely audible as she was dragged through the undergrowth. Despite her struggles, his one hand easily encompassed both of hers.
Sir Tansi ignored her pleas, relentlessly pulling her back toward the tall trees.
Certain that her end was near, she braced herself for the inevitable.
He dragged her to his car, where one of his men stood waiting, the back door already open. He flung her inside, then swiftly followed.
The engine roared to life, and the car sped off into the night.
Her hands instinctively pressed against her stomach, seeking to alleviate the agonizing pain. She knew he was aware of her suffering, yet he remained indifferent.
She had been right; it was poison.
Uncontrollable tears streamed down her face.
As the car pulled into the mansion grounds, Martha stood waiting. The car halted, and she rushed to help Elizabeth to her feet.
Sir Tansi strode past them, his men trailing behind him, seemingly unconcerned.
Martha guided her up the stairs to her room, gently laying her on the mattress. Elizabeth groaned as she shifted, and Martha hissed in response.
"Stop fidgeting," Martha said, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Just lie still, and I'll get you some warm towels and milk. That should help with the pain." With that, she hurried from the room.
Elizabeth wasn't sure how she had managed to make it back to her room. The remnants of her escape attempt were still visible: the rope dangling from the window frame and the absence of curtains.
All her struggles had been for nothing.
Martha returned with warm towels and milk. She helped Elizabeth sit up and drink, then gently placed the warm towel on her stomach.
"You wouldn't be in this state if you had just listened," Martha said softly, though her tone held a note of reproach. She stroked Elizabeth's hair.
"I don't want to die like this," Elizabeth gasped, her voice thick with pain. "I'll just be disposed of... buried somewhere without anyone knowing."
Knowing that nothing she could say would make sense to Elizabeth in her current state, Martha simply shushed her gently. "Just rest, dear. Try to sleep."
Soon, Elizabeth succumbed to the pain and drifted into unconsciousness.
Martha continued to stroke her hair. "Poor child," she murmured, her eyes softening. "You'd be surprised to know you had it easier than others."
She picked up the empty glass and replaced the towel on her stomach with a fresh one. Untying the rope from the window frame, she reattached the curtains. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was a quarter to five.
She left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.
______
Dawn painted the sky with vibrant hues as birds chirped excitedly, heralding the new day. The air was crisp, and the sky looked heavy with the promise of rain.
Elizabeth's eyes fluttered open. Her first thought was that she had died and gone to heaven. She had been good throughout her life, deserving a spot there—if one discounted the unintentional killings.
Her gaze drifted to her stomach, and she realized she wasn't in as much pain as before. It felt like menstrual cramps.
Then she felt a wetness beneath her. Tilting her body, she saw it.
Blood!
"AHHH! PLEASE HELP! I'M DYING!" she wailed, jolting upright. A wave of pain washed over her as her eyes focused on the blood-soaked mattress.
The door burst open, revealing Martha and Mary.
They didn't seem surprised by the mess. Instead, Mary headed to the bathroom to prepare a warm bath while Martha calmed Elizabeth and helped her remove her clothes.
"It's not your blood, dear. Don't panic," she said, holding Elizabeth's trembling hands. She guided her into the bathroom.
Mary had finished preparing the bath. She took Elizabeth from Martha and gently lowered her into the water, the warmth stinging her bruises.
"I added something to help with the bruising," Mary assured her.
The warm water relaxed Elizabeth's nerves, but her hands continued to shake.
She remembered Martha's words: it wasn't her blood. Realization dawned, and she cried out, understanding that it was her baby. Her body trembled as she tried to contain her grief.
Mary allowed her to grieve while she bathed her.
Her tears didn't cease until after the bath. All traces of blood were washed away.
Mary wrapped her in a robe and guided her back to the bedroom.
The room was spotless, with no sign of blood or dirt. The bed had been made with fresh, warm-colored sheets, and the floor was mopped. Yet, Elizabeth could still feel the pain in her heart.
Martha had laid out an outfit for her: a floor-length floral dress that exuded innocence and concealed her bruises.
Mary left the room to prepare breakfast.
Martha tucked her into bed, her expression motherly. "The juice... it was supposed to make it easier, less painful. But it's over now, thank God. Sir Tansi wants you back on duty. I'll come get you around nine for a quick tour, just to re-familiarize you with the place. And the educator... she's still coming at ten."
Elizabeth was too weak to fully comprehend, but she understood the gist.
She wasn't dying after all.
And she had an hour to pull herself together.
Soon, Mary brought breakfast. She had no appetite, but she knew she needed the strength, so she ate.
After an hour of fitful rest, Martha entered her room, noticing the dark circles under her eyes.
"You look a bit better," she said, walking to the wardrobe to select a scarf. She handed it to Elizabeth. "This will help cover those red ears and hide your face a bit. The educator... She was appointed by the state council to keep an eye on things, make sure the girls here are being looked after properly. Any hint of trouble, and she'll make a big deal out of it."
Elizabeth however seemed lifeless, her eyes devoid of their usual spark, her body too weak to move.
No wonder she had picked a floral dress.
Noticing her state, Martha tried to offer some comfort. "The tour will be quick, I promise. Just a quick walk around, that's all."
Elizabeth pushed the grief from her mind and focused on getting through the day.
She stepped out of her room, with Martha leading the way. Their first stop after descending the stairs was the kitchen.
The house was tidy, but the kitchen was immaculate. Elizabeth realized she had never seen any maids apart from Martha and Mary. How could they possibly maintain the house by themselves?
The kitchen had four girls who were busy preparing dishes. The spacious kitchen held all the utilities a household could need.
Martha stopped in the middle of the kitchen, and all the girls turned to her. "Elizabeth, this is Stella," she said, pointing to the older woman. "She's the head cook." She held Elizabeth's hand. "Poor thing, she's lost her memory again. It's her condition."
Stella nodded with a polite smile at Elizabeth.
Martha pointed at two girls who looked almost identical. "Odion and Omoh. They help out around here. And this is Beatrice," she said, pointing to a very stunning girl. "She's Sir Tansi's personal assistant."
Elizabeth could think of a few other things she might be.
Martha interrupted her thoughts. "Has Sir Tansi been served yet?" she asked Beatrice.
"He wasn't in his room this morning. Must have left early."
Damn. Even her voice was soft and melodious.
Martha nodded. She walked out of the kitchen, with Elizabeth trailing behind her. The short walk seemed to clear her head a little.
They walked to the back of the mansion. Two of Sir Tansi's men were there. Martha looked confused.
"I thought he left," she said to them.
"He did."
They didn't seem to be men of many words.
Martha introduced them. "These are Sir Tansi's associates. Edward," she said, pointing to the one with long brown hair tied in a bun. "And Damon." who was bald.
As they walked away, Elizabeth asked, "What exactly do you and Mary do here?"
Martha chuckled. "I was wondering when you'd ask," she said, amused. "We take care of you. Make sure you have everything you need."
Elizabeth nodded.
The tour was quick, just as Martha had promised, leaving her with a few minutes to rest.
A knock came on the door, and it opened soon after. "The educator is here."
Elizabeth looked at the clock. It wasn't even ten yet.
She took a deep breath before standing. She looked at herself in the mirror and couldn't see herself.
She hated looking at the mirror; it showed her how miserable she was.
But this time, she scrutinized her reflection, ensuring there were no obvious flaws. Satisfied, she lifted her gown and walked out of the room.
She was led to a quarter she had been familiarized with earlier. This wasn't their normal meeting place, according to Martha, who had shown her their usual spot.
Which happened to be in the open cabin detached from the mansion, directly in view of Sir Tansi's office window on the third floor.
But today, the educator was waiting in her music room.
As Elizabeth approached, she took in the lady's features. Her makeup was bold, emphasizing her features. She had shoulder-length, straight black hair that looked incredibly healthy.
She wore a fitted dress that showed off her curves. Elizabeth could have easily mistaken her for a guest.
Her body was the type Elizabeth had always envied.
Her heels were of moderate height.
As she drew closer, she realized the educator had been observing her too.
"How are you doing today, Miss Elizabeth?" she asked with a warm smile, her hands clasped formally in front of her.
"Not great," Elizabeth mumbled.
Martha had warned her to keep conversations short.
She nodded. "I can see that," she said. She gestured for her to sit on the piano seat, which Elizabeth reluctantly did. "I was told you had a bit of a... setback recently. Memory loss, I understand? I hope you're recovering well?"
Elizabeth nodded, finding it difficult to hold her gaze. But she knew she had to. She was told to.
She sat close to Elizabeth, folding her hands in her lap. "Just in case you've forgotten, I'm Selena," she introduced herself.
Elizabeth simply nodded, her expression unreadable.
Selena kept her eyes on her. "You know you can talk to me, right?" she said softly. "If there's anything... anything at all... You can tell me, and I'll do what I can to help."
For a moment, she was tempted to confide in her. But that would be a much quicker death than Sir Tansi could devise.
Elizabeth could read her eyes, despite how she tried to disguise them.