Among them

Chapter six

Rose

Once Arian leaves, I exhale deeply, just like a knife that was held against my neck is suddenly removed. Arian is that knife in this case. That dude is so scary. And somehow, he has something against me. He's always looking for mistakes I make, it feels like he'd like to make some up out of nowhere just to confront me with them. And to be able to punish me. He's obsessed with punishment in absolutely no healthy way.

The thought of having a talk with him in a few minutes gives me goose bumps all over my body. I always make myself talk as seldom as possible to him.

But for now, I should better focus on the girl I have to spy on. The sister of the crazy brothers. I just hope she got better genes. I doubt genetics work like that

"Hey, I'm Rose. From now on, I am your personal employee; you can give me orders. I'm there for you at any times, my room is next to yours and I'm here to be a helping hand for you.", I introduce myself, sounding like a stewardess in an aircraft. Maybe I should start to make crazy movements with my hands to add to the vibe.

"I'm Nora.", she sounds distant, but I understand that. I wouldn't trust anyone at this place either. I mean, it's my task to spy on her. I shouldn't talk about trust at this point at all, I guess.

"Would you mind trying on that dress? I already figured you don't like dresses too much, but I think there unfortunately is no alternative we could go for.", I explain, unfolding the dress slowly. I have always been a rather empathic person, but even for psychos like Arian it is obvious that she does not feel comfortable in dresses.

This piece of clothes probably costs a fortune. What would I give to once in my live own something wealthy? How would that feel? To wear something else than grey dresses? To see something else than those paintings on the same walls in the same mansion every day?

"Yes, of course, I don't want to get you into trouble. I'll survive another dress.", she laughs if off, her voice sounding a bit nicer. We are making improvements. Tiny but steady.

"That's very kind of you. May I assist you? I know putting on this kind of dresses is a whole fight."

"I'm pleased by your offer, but I will manage.", A slight smile crosses her face, so small I barely see it. I turn around, suddenly getting shy because I don't want to make this uncomfortable for her. What this situation makes with me is unimportant, now my task is to comfort her. I have learned the hard way that under this roof, my own wants and needs are inferior. And somehow, I accepted that.

I hear the squeezing of fabric against skin, she probably escapes out of the wet dress. Then something drops on the ground and another fabric is pulled over her shoulders.

I wait a moment to be exactly sure she is finished, until I turn around to her again. That was awkward. But maybe I am just awkward.

"May I ask you something?", Nora questions.

"Of course. Shoot." I give her an open smile I assume would help her to open up to me. Possibly, the smile looks rather intriguing, but Nora does not seem to care.

"Do you know what's the matter of all that dresses?", she asks. I knew such a question would develop. She seems to be very upset by this kind of clothes. But maybe I just have to think me into her position. I mean, I am used to my grey dull looking clothes now because of the years I wore them. Nora just arrived here and everything is new.

" I don't know for sure, the Lords or sirs, that's what we have to call them, barely talk to us, and if they do, it's just orders. But I'm living here for a while now, so what I can tell you for sure is, that every female has to wear a dress in this house. We all wear the exact grey dresses every day. Always. And seems like you have to wear princess dresses. I don't know any whys unfortunately, but if I find out, you're the first to know.", I promise to her. Maybe this way, I can gain her trust and spoil on her better. I mean, I won't enjoy that process, obviously, but I have to succeed in my job. It is the only thing I am living for in this mansion, so I mustn't mess that up.

"Thank you, Rose.", she appreciates my offer.

"No problem, we better be going, Arian can get very uncomfortable when he's in the wrong mood.", I warn her.

"Yeah, I figured. Wait, did they ever do something to you? And why are you here?", she asks, her face suddenly turning shocked waiting for my answer anxiously. These questions go straight into an erroneous direction.

"I don't think I have time to tell you, here or ever. We aren't allowed to talk about personal stuff. Just work.", I tell her, seeing her disappointment.

"Oh, does that mean you're someone to follow the rules?", she asks, and somehow it feels like an insult.

"Yes, I am. I have a lot to lose. I hope that's no problem for you. Can I do anything else for you?", I ask politely, creating a huge barrier between us to keep me safe. They'd never hurt her, but I'm always at the risk of my life inside these walls. Wrong, my life doesn't matter. But my sister's does. I'd fucking die for her. Well, it feels like I am dying everyday in here. Just a little, tortuously slowly. But she's all that matters. I want to keep her safe. To see her ever again.

"No, you are excused, Rose. See you soon. I'd better go as well."

As I exit the room along with Nora, Arian and Ms. Hemsford are waiting for us.

"Marvelous appearance.", Arian mocks Nora, who just shivers uncomfortably. Why are they doing this to her? What has she done to them that they hate her that much?

Well, I should better stop thinking about that. Being curious is another thing that just causes pain in here. Knowledge keeps danger.

"Well, Miss Hemsford will take you to the central and I will have a little conversation with Rose now.", he explains to Nora.

With that, they both leave me alone just with Arian. He's not a person you want to be alone with.

"Rose, let's take a little walk to the elevators.", he says, leading the way, which I know in my sleep. I mean, I have walked along the same corridors for ages now, I obviously know the way. Every possible way you could walk along in this mansion.

While we are walking through the floors, everything is silent, which makes me anxious. He knows that, he's probably doing this on purpose. He knows dangerously much about me. I feel like he has a book of weaknesses and insecurities of other people, just to use that knowledge against them to succeed his own devilish plans.

After what seems like a decade, he clears his throat: "What did you talk about inside?", he asks. I wasn't expecting this kind of question. I don't even know what I expected, just anything else, I guess. Nothing that general and unspecific.

"I offered to help her getting into that dress but she said she would figure, which she did. Then she asked me why she has to wear dresses all the time. She also wanted to know about my past and whether anyone of you hurt me physically." , I sum up the past events neutrally, as if I'm giving someone a weather forecast. This tone of speaking is another thing I learned in here.

"She quite has a bad picture of us.", he states. The astonishing in this statement is the fact he says it completely with a lack of emotions. No disappointment, sadness, regret, let it be anger, I don't know, just something instead of that stare into nowhere.

And well, why would she have a bad picture of them, like he put it? Those guys are unbelievable.

"Whatever, what I wanted to talk to you about is something different. Did you and Nora meet before?", he asks.

Why would he want to know that? Don't they have cameras for that?

"Yeah, we met earlier on the corridor, but we didn't exchange any words.", I tell him. Where is he trying to get at?

"Okay, I will just believe you, don't make me regret it. You're excused for now.", With that, he walks into the elevator and the glass walls are closing right beside his back.

I turn around, being totally exhausted from this day and especially our recent meeting, making my way to the endlessly amount stairs that would be waiting for me and any of their personal. Luckily, my feet got used to that by now, it's just my mind that dreams of having the privilege to go by an elevator once in my lifetime. How stupid of my mind. How naïve. But after some more years, this dream will probably dismiss along with all that I've lost.