Daughter of the Refuge

Chapter Fourteen

Just going to take a moment to say this chapter did not go at all like how I had planned, but I love it:)

Samantha made her way to the large Pulitzer mansion. She had visited Katherine's house enough times to not be stunned by the beauty of the large marble walls, the exquisite floral work that lined each window, the thick glaringly white pillars that supported the roof of the entrance, and the perfectly trimmed lawn that glowed with its rich coloring. It had all been replaced by disgust at the reality that Pulitzer allowed himself all this wealth while there were families all across New York dying because they couldn't afford bread. 

It had taken Samantha years before she would even talk to Katherine. The two had met through their fathers, and Samantha had avoided the girl like the plague. That was until she learned that Katherine hated her father's treatment of the kids of New York almost as much as Samantha did.

Samantha approached the front door and rapped her fist against the towering doors, ignoring the dark look the butler offered her when she stepped inside.

"I'se 'ere fah Miss. Pulitzer." 

"This way," he grumbled, holding his head high as he gazed down his nose at her. Samantha rolled her eyes the moment his back was turned. He could look down at her all he wanted. She would like to see him survive one day in the Refuge without breaking down into a blubbering mess. 

They walked through numerous long hallways that stretched farther than Samantha could see, and were filled with portraits of people who were most likely dead. She shivered at the thought of having a picture of herself hung on a wall. 

Finally, after what felt like forever, they climbed the last staircase that led to Katherine's room, and the butler drew to a halt in front of her door, giving it a gentle tap. 

"Who is it?" Katherine's voice called from the other side of the door.

"William, Miss. Pulitzer. You have a, uh-" He gave Samantha disgusted look "-guest."

"Oh," Katherine voice replied, and in a moment, her door swung open and her head peaked out into the hall. "Sam! Please, come in." 

Samantha flashed the butler a haughty smirk before stepping past him into Katherine's room. She gave a quiet snort when she heard him mutter to himself about the disrespect of the young generation. 

"I'll respect ya when youse ain't lookin' at me like my nose has grown an extra four inches," she mumbled. 

"He hates you, you know," Katherine smiled, offering Samantha a seat. 

"Let him," she said, plopping herself into the chair with the grace of a newborn mule. 

"So," Katherine began, but one look from Samantha and her brows drew together in worry. "I take it, this isn't just a pleasure visit."

"Sorry Kath, we've got some troubles."

"Is it Harlem? Jack told me."

"A little worse then dat," Samantha said. "We uh, think dere may be a second Refuge."

"What? How is that even possible?" 

Samantha shrugged. "Dat's why I'm 'ere. Dere was a payment made between Snyder and ya father durin' da strike over the capture a Jack and the funds for a second building. It was titled Project Two, under the subtitle, Refuge 2.0."

"My father?"

"Youse don't know anythin' bout it, do ya?"

"No. Father hardly tells me anything, especially since the matter of the strike. What do you think could be the purpose of the second refuge?"