Just the Maid

Chapter Three- The Door

I woke up to find myself looking up at a dark sky. At my left, I saw the sun just starting to rise. To my right were some flowers, and above me was a tree branch.

'I must've fallen out of the tree while sleeping. Again. Why this happens, I have no clue...' I thought to myself. I got up, dusted myself off, and headed toward the bar from the night before.

Upon arriving, I could see that it was open. Only two people were there. It looked like it was the bartender and the leader guy from yesterday that I beat in the arm-wrestling match.

When I walked in, both pairs of eyes shot straight to me.

"Ah! Hello there Captain-... I'm sorry, I don't think I ever got your name. Won't you tell it to me?" said the big man as he walked up to shake my hand. I looked at him and motioned for a writing utensil and something to write on.

"Oh, you're a mute then? I'm so sorry! I'll get that for you!" He walked over to the bartender to see if he had a paper and pen. The bartender shook his head and the man walked over.

"So sorry, he doesn't have the items. I would still like to know your name though," he said. I shook my head and sat down at a seat across from his. He sat down as well.

I stared at him with blank eyes. He stared straight back, obviously nervous. I couldn't say anything, that would give away my gender. I sighed, bored.

"Th-The boys should be coming in any minute now. It's almost... Oh no! I never gave a time! I'm such a fool!" he cried out loud. 'Idiot,' I thought. 'I would have at least given a time of the morning...'

Even so, little by little, the men showed up. It took a really long time, but eventually, all one hundred men arrived by ten o'clock in the morning.

"Okay! It seems that everyone is here! C'mon men! Let's go!" yelled our mustached leader. He split his way through the crowd with me following at his heels.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As we reached our first obstacle, a massive stone door, clouds started to gather overhead.

"Hey Chief! There's a door over there we can go through! But it's locked," called out some guy.

"That's a good job. Now don't worry, the man in that hut should have the key," he replied. He sauntered over to the building that sat next to the wooden door. Hammering loudly, the chief yelled out, "Whoever is the guard of this door, unlock it this instant!"

An old man peeked out of a window on the side. When he caught me staring at him, he scampered back into his hole.

"Well, if you won't open, we'll bust in!" The crowd cheered at our leader's words as he kicked down the wooden door next to the stone door on the wall. I watched him, knowing that something wasn't right.

A growl. My eyes opened wide in fear. I ran quickly over to the leader and the others that were about to pass through the door. Jumping over them, I side-swiped them with my left leg, jumped through and closed the door with my right foot in the handle. Crunch.

This all happened within a split second. The chief and others stared at me. I kept my head low and pulled my foot out of the handle. When I tried to stand on it, I heard a pop and winced. I sat down and took off my boot to examine the damage.

Swollen. Red. Hurt like hell when I touched it. It was definitely broken. I looked up to see the chief and others getting up again.

"Is it broken?" he asked. I nodded in reply and put my boot back on.

"Maybe we should retreat for now..." he muttered. I shook my head vigorously.

"But you're injured! You can't go on in this condition," he pleaded.

I stared at him for a second, then used his shoulder for balance as I got up. Silently, I hopped over to the humongous stone door and glanced over at the crew. They were watching me with great intensity and wonder. I smirked and looked back ahead at the task that was set before me by fate.

I placed my hands on both of the doors and began to push. Everyone started to crowd around me now.

"Don't just stand there! Let's open it!" he cried. The men let out a huge roar and began to push with me.

This is where my story began.