The World is After Us

Chapter 13

To everyone's surprise it only takes about a half hour to clean up and pack everything that I had been granted to take with me to my new place. Arguing with Jexton felt a tad bit relieving until I realized that everything he was saying is accurate. We really are all each other has. I didn't want to admit it, though. I'm not ready to fully let down my guard just yet.

Jexton helps haul the four bags that hold my clothes and other belongings up the stairs and into the main room of the Murdoch household. Robert smiles wide as Jexton and I come into view, and Lydia works on pouring another glass of tea for herself and Mr. Murdoch. "That didn't take you very long, dame." 

"Adank." Jexton bows as a joke. Robert's laugh makes me smile, and Lydia winks at me with a smirk. 

"Don't be in a hurry to head out, kinder," Lydia enters the dining room with two steaming mugs and places them gently on the table in front of her husband. "Can I get you something to drink? Eat?" I try to force myself to shake my head, but I know that that is not the right thing to do. I don't want to Murdoch's to get the wrong idea of me, so I take the kind offer and thank her in her preferred language."

"Adank, Missus Murdoch." Robert nods in approval, and Jexton takes a seat next to me. The smell of hot green tea fills the air, and suddenly makes my stomach rumble. After serving us the tea, Lydia works on throwing a quick snack together for Jexton and I. 

Robert leans forward and folds his hand together. The smoke rolling off of his cigar mixes with the sweet scent of tea and cookies and is oddly satisfying to my senses. "So," he begins, temporarily removing the cigar from his lips. "You ready to live on your own? Excited? Nervous?"

"Mixed emotions." I answer quickly. 

"Ander asked me to be her monitor." Jexton mentions nervously. Robert nods with his eyebrows raised. He takes a puff of his cigar, then sets it in the marble ashtray sitting directly in front of him. 

"He is the boss." Lydia asserts, placing a kiss on the top of Robert's head. I'm guessing she said something before Robert could object. Jexton nods anxiously and glances in my direction. I take a quick sip of the hot tea in front of me and reach for a cookie—the ones that usually go with coffee—and eat it whole.

"May we walk you to your new place?" Lydia asks, peering at me with her gorgeous blue-green eyes. I nod and force a genuine smile. "Of course. All you guys have done for me, I'd be honored to show you."

"Vunderlekh!" Lydia cheers in excitement. I finish off the tea and slide my glass toward the center of the table to indicate that I am done. Jexton takes one last sip and does the same, then stands and heads for the door. He lifts two bags from the floor and hands one to Robert when he approaches him. Lydia walks that way, too, and I follow. Each of us carry one bag as we head to the new building in which I will soon reside.

Ander greets each of us personally as we exit the elevator on the designated floor of my assigned apartment. He gives me the same smile in which he always had, and the tension still applies. "Welcome home, Farrah." he coos in a congratulatory tone. I nod and continue walking until he throws his arm in front of me to stop my pace. "Don't be rude, Farrah. Say 'thank you,'"

"Thank you, Ander." I blurt, forcing a quiet chuckle from Jexton. We enter the apartment the moment Ander unlocks the door, and I am amazed at what I see. It's beautiful, and fully equipped with everything I could ever need to live on my own. 

"Allow us to stay and make you some coffee, yes?" Lydia's thick accent coos. I smile and half nod, trying not to look so anxious. 

"Uh, yeah, that'd be great. Thank you." Lydia smiles wide and makes her way to the kitchen. I had not yet seen what it looked like, or what all came with it. Robert leans in close to my ear when his wife disappears into the kitchen.

"Don't take her kindness for pity. You're still a mutt in our eyes." My heart sinks at the words, but I know better than to respond; especially when Ander is in presence. I stay silent and nod, indicating that I heard and understood what I had just been told. Robert huffs, then walks deeper into the apartment to check it out. 

Ander places a gentle hand on my shoulder, but this time I don't flinch at the touch. "Don't listen to him, Farrah." Ander whispers. "Sometimes he get a little too full of himself. The answer to each of us living together in the same community is forgiveness. Robert is known for holding grudges, so don't take it to heart. All that matters is that I forgive you; because if I didn't, you would be in big trouble."

I nod slightly, and mouth "thank you," to Ander. He smiles and looks around, taking in a deep breath. "Hey, Lyd, that coffee smells amazing!" He sings. 

"Thank you!" Lydia sings back. Jexton shuffles his feet nervously. He looks around everywhere but my direction. I receive a strange vibe from the gesture and shift my weight uncomfortably. Robert reenters the living room and looks at Ander doubtfully. 

Two outlets in the bedroom do not work. There's a stain on the bed sheet, and the sink in the bathroom spits water instead of the natural flow. Otherwise everything else looks decent."

"Thank you for checking the place out, Robert. I'll have three of our best technicians and cleaners in here in no time to make the place look spic and span!" Ander spins on his heal and exits the apartment gesturing for Jexton to follow.

"A-Ander wait!" I call, stuttering nervously. Ander stops and turns around with a smile. "Yes?"

"A-aren't you gonna stay for coffee?" Ander smiles and shakes his head as if I had just offered my life to him. "Oh, no, Farrah, dear. I need to get your place fixed up before you move in now, don't be silly. I will be back soon. Come, Jexton." He moves to leave again, and I open my mouth to object, but nothing comes out. My nerves begin to take over as I am left alone again with the Murdoch's.

"Coffee!" Lydia calls as she places three mugs on the dining room table and fills them with the steaming liquid. She places sugar and vanilla creamer with a cup of stirring rods in the center of the table and takes a seat. Robert smiles wide and takes a seat, claiming the cup of coffee to the left of the table. I sit at the only free one left, and wait for the two of them to finish flavoring their drinks to their liking before I do so myself. 

I sip the drink slowly hoping to avoid conversation, but I know better than that. Lydia draws in a deep breath and smiles. "So, what do you think?" I force myself to nod genuinely. "It's beautiful, really." 

"Though that may be," Robert begins. "With sir Jexton as your monitor, we still have access to you. He will be reporting occasionally back to us and sir Ander if anything should go wrong, or should you try to escape again." 

"Sir, I'm not going to—"

"You shall not interrupt, German. I was not finished speaking." Robert huffs, forcing my heart through the floor. I nod in apology. "Please proceed." Lydia speaks for me. 

"There are cameras in this living space. Though you have been granted the freedom of residing by your lonesome, you will continuously be monitored. You will work, you will clean, you will behave, or else you will suffer prolonged consequences."

When I am sure that Robert is done speaking, I nod and move to speak as well. "Yes, sir."

"Very well," Robert nods in return. He moves to stand, and Lydia follows behind him. "I assume you will clean up?" I nod again. "Yes, sir." I am sure to throw in a "thank you," just before they leave. I make it a goal to locate every camera in this apartment to see if there are any loop holes to living here without being watched every second of the day. 

Since I am on my own now, I try to think of ways to get out of here once and for all. No strings attached, no help, no death involved. Escape, and make a living completely on my own. Outside where no one can see me, no one can find me, and no one can kill me. 

I decide that now is the time to outsmart the king of manipulation.