Elizabeth

Chapter 6- The Master

The sun's warming rays woke the sleeping Elizabeth as she rose up and rubbed her eyes. A sweet nothing filled her head until she looked at her lost friend's torn bed. Sorrow and loss took over her thoughts as memories from the night before hit her like a brick. Elizabeth slowly stood up and began to change. "I'm going to talk to Master..." she muttered under her breath, "not for me anymore, but for Laura and Jacob and Charlotte." Elizabeth started the long journey into the familiar dining hill, high pitched laughter and screeches from other girl's echoed through the hallways however silence overcame the laughter as Elizabeth entered. All their heads turned and gawked at her like she was some animal in a museum. Whispering could be heard being passed around the room, though what they were saying was not audible. Elizabeth turned a blind eye and walked onwards towards Mary, June and Kaitlin though as she came closer, all three shuffled awkwardly in their seats glancing at one another. "What's wrong...?" Elizabeth asked, tilting her head. The other three all avoided eye contact waiting for someone else to answer the question. "We told you she'd be trouble!" shrieked an unfriendly voice. Meredith came into view and walked over to Elizabeth. "So how'd you do it?" asked Margret with a menacing grin, who followed shortly after. Elizabeth stepped backwards slightly, corned by the two girls like a mouse and two savage cats. "Do what?..." She stuttered, "I didn't do anything!" Meredith and Margret exchanged mischievous looks and laughed. "Still playing the innocent victim?" Margret laughed, "As expected from a brat like you." Elizabeth looked over at her 3 friends with a confused expression who all suddenly looked down at the floor. "How long do you think people will believe it's a coincidence for?" Smirked Meredith, "I mean come on, everyone knows by now. You woo some naive person here, give them some fake sympathy story and they just so happen to be dead in 24 hours." The two girls snorted with laughter. Elizabeth went deathly pale, fear was written across her face. "What do you mean?..." She asked, eye's wide like saucers. "You're a murderer!" Margret squealed, "Everyone here knows it!" Margret turned around to face their eager audience who went significantly quieter and all looked down at the ground avoiding eye contact with Elizabeth. Nobody stood up for her, not even Mary, Kaitlin or June who had subtly moved into one of the farthest corners.

Elizabeth stumbled backwards, shocked at her declaration. "I'm not!" she shouted, however, the two girls just laughed at her futile attempt to redeem herself to her friends. Elizabeth took a deep breath in and stormed out, she'd find a way to prove to them that she was not lying. She marched down the long dreary corridors towards the Master's office, she'd knock that door down if she had to, all she wanted was an explanation for everything. Elizabeth didn't even know where it was, however, a large archaic door with a painting on his face on the door gave it away. She slammed the door open, however, it was empty. Elizabeth was slightly confused as to why it was unlocked however she entered the humongous room anyway. The walls were practically plastered with pictures of a beautiful woman, the same woman from the shrine earlier. Elizabeth traced her features delicately and leant down to smell the beautiful roses placed underneath her painting. Of course, it was his wife, however, why would he need two shrines for her...? Elizabeth crept behind his desk and a slowly ajar desk caught her eye, she opened it slightly, though the contents took her by surprise. Inside was a large chain, it looked like a chain leash for a dog but far larger. Footsteps began to echo down the hallway, Elizabeth darted under the desk. A low hum began as what she presumed was the Master entered. He began to water the crimson roses, "My dear Angelia, I love you dearly. Though you may not be as beautiful, I still love you to the ends of the world. So much so, I have a new gift for you today!" Elizabeth hunched herself further back as he walked slowly towards the desk and picked up the decrepit metal chain. Elizabeth feared the worse, but he simply turned around and left the room. Filled with curiosity Elizabeth began to follow him, through the maze-like castle and to the archaic door of the library, he unlocked the door and entered, letting it creak close behind him and carrying the chain all the while. This gave Elizabeth an opportunity to sneak inside and stalk him, darting behind various towering bookshelves.

The Master's hand traced the spines of the books until he came across the switch Elizabeth had stumbled upon before. He pulled it with ease as if it was an everyday task. Taking a candle from the wall nearby he started down the dark dreary staircase, Elizabeth followed of course until they got to the shrine. Elizabeth wondered what he would do, however to her surprise he brought out a complex metal key and unlocked the door to his right. This revealed more stairs and a deep noise, which was somewhat inaudible to make out. It sounded more like an animal in pain. Elizabeth followed him ready for whatever awaits her.