T.7.D.S

Ch. 7

Charleston woke up in his bed breathing heavily. His head hurt a lot. Was it another dream? He looked down at his arm to see a long cut mark. His arm was sore, and he began to feel nauseous. He got up and went down the hall to wash his face. He returned and began to get dressed. He needed to get out of here today! He didn't know where his car was or if it was fixed yet. He couldn't steal a car either. He wouldn't be able to get the keys. Running wouldn't do him any good; he would die before reaching help. He didn't know the house's location either.

He was dressed and began to put on his shoes. He could hear ringing. He turned to see the little silver bell was chiming. He finished tying his shoes and headed out of his room. He walked down the hall and down the stairs. He didn't want to see the master. He rushed to the staff room.

There was envelope posted on the board next to the door. It was marked 'Smith' just a Ivan had said. He grabbed the envelope as he walked into the staff room quickly. He closed the door behind him and began to read the note.

Morning Mr. Smith,
I trust you slept well. First of all, your breakfast is on the table of the staff room.

Charleston looked up from the letter at the table. There was a bowl of oatmeal and fruit sitting on the table with a glass of water. He walked over to the table to begin eating. He sat and continued to read the letter as he ate.

For today you job is very simple. The master family is out of the house for today. They will return later. You must do all laundry today. Collect staff laundry and master laundry. Wash it, dry it, and fold it. Don't mix the laundry! All must return to their EXACT owner. I will see you at lunch.
                  ~I. Rugbert

Charleston finished eating and stuffed the letter in his pocket. He looked around the room. Now where would the laundry room be? He started to open doors located around the room.

"Bathroom."

"Closet."

"Extra uniforms."

"Dinning hall."

"Oh! Laundry room: nice!"

Charleston decided to start on the third floor and work his way down. He went up the stairs and down the hall his room was located. There was a bag by his door with another note. Was that there before? He was sure it wasn't. The note read,

"For the laundry"

He grabbed the bag and went to the end of the hall. He went to open the first door, but it was locked. He knocked, but there was no answer. He would try again later. He moved on to the next door. It was open and he went in. The room was very similar to his, but the dresser was smaller and the sheets were cotton instead of silk. There was a pile of clothes in the middle of the floor. He gathered the clothes and put them in the bag. He picked up the sack and continued to the next room. This room was completely generic to the one before. Charleston grabbed the clothes which were also in pile on the floor, and continued on. Each room was the same. He collected the clothes and skipped over rooms with locked doors. When the bag was full he brought it down to the laundry room and started to separate the laundry when he realized...

"Shit! How will I tell who's is who's"

They all looked the same and were the same size. He had really messed up. He decided to wash them and figure it out later. He picked a shirt to check the tag on how to wash the uniforms. There was something written on the tag. It was a letter and a number. He was saved! The room label was written on all the tags. He could tell them apart now. He threw in the lights and started to wash the clothes as he grabbed the bag.

He continued to collect the clothes and wash them. He circled back to locked rooms and collected clothes from there too. He had finished all staff clothes, but they had yet to be separated and folded. Not to mention he needed to get the masters' clothes too. As he began folding a bell could be heard. He turned to see a little silver bell by the door ringing. He walked out of the laundry room to see Ivan standing in the staff room.

"Good evening Mr. Smith," said Ivan.

He gestured to the table. "I made lunch. Please, eat."

"Thank you." Said Charleston.

He sat down and began eating a roast beef sandwich.

"Are you going to eat as well?" Charleston asked.

"No. I am fine." Ivan said in a monotone voice.  "When you finish eating, continue your duties."

Then Ivan left.

Charleston finished eating and continued to fold the laundry. When he finished it was around two o'clock. All the clothes were folded and in piles according to the room labels. He grabbed his bag and went back up to the second floor. He came to the hallway where the master rooms were located, and stopped. He saw the doors each with a color that corresponded with a master. He looked at the end of the hall at a big black door. He remembered last night. The pentagram had been washed away. Was it really okay to go into these rooms? He stood in the hallway debating with himself. Charleston had to get the laundry. It was his job for the day, and besides, the head family wasn't at home today. He stepped into the hallway and looked at the light blue door that was now in front of him. Charleston walked up to the door, and turns the the handle.