What did I do wrong to deserve this? Am I too impulsive to decide on my own? But I did that because I don't want them to spend their money for me, to provide my debt, to provide my school bills. Did I rebel? If so, then is this my punishment? But again, is it too much?
I can't stop crying, my fear grew even worse than before. I tried to beg but they didn't let me go. It's hard to breathe, it's hard to think straight. My body can't stop shaking in too much fear. My eyes were focused on master Hwang. He still standing there, staring at me as if he wants to see me. I know he's blind, he can't see me but he can hear my cries. I cried even louder than before, screaming and begging them to let me go when master Hwang take his way towards me. His pace is making me scared more and struggle to be freed. The maids, Beom and Yeonjun, or the servants didn't do anything and let my faith end just like the other newbie.
I squeezed my eyes tight, waiting his long nails to pierce my body. I waited but nothing pain come through me, instead, its warm skin cupped my face.
I slowly open my eyes and I can see master Hwang standing close to me, holding my face while staring at me. "I can see you..." He whispered and we were all shocked once he began tearing up and crying.
He pulled me away from the grip of those two guys and embrace me tight like he doesn't want to let me go. He cried on my shoulder, whispering the same words again and again. I glance at the people in the kitchen wanting to answer but they sat there in shock. Although they are all shocked I can sense the joy in their eyes; in the servants' eyes. What? Are they happy because one of the master cried like this?
"Is that him? Is he the guy they looking for?" I heard the guard whisper.
"I don't know but it seemed he is."
What? I suddenly remembered what Yeonjun told me. How he told me that the guy they looking for is a treat for them. Even they don't want to kill that guy, they have no choice but to end him. If I'm that guy then I'm doom? Are they going to kill me? I can't imagine my friends trying to kill me.
Master Hwang softly pulled me away but did not even break the hug. He touched my face again and this time he was smiling. Wait, he can see me now? How then?
"You back, Sunoo."
Me, Yeonjun, and Beom freeze in our spot. How did he know my name? Do I know him? What, what is he doing? Why did it seem like he was very fond of me?
He leaned close to my face and I already know what is he trying to do. I quickly back away, pushing him away as possible. I noticed Beom was signing me to take my mask on or else I'll be in trouble.
I tried to shove him away but he was way stronger than me. Mr. Lawrence stood up and walked behind me, he held me firmly still until I was stuck in between. I tried to move away from them as possible but his grip is tight and it only led me to wince in pain.
"Master Hwang wants to kiss you. Why would you kiss him first then I'll let you go." He said from behind. "You see he can't see well. Just stick your lips to him, newbie."
I was too in shock to do anything as master Hwang kissed me. His lips tasted of blood and what mold smells like; the rotten flavor rushing to my lungs. His lips were dry and they reeked of blood. I gagged, trying my best to move away but he only held my face tightly, almost crushing my skull. He tried to enter my mouth but I keep my mouth shut as possible. Until he bit my lower lip and that cause me to whimper. He take that as an opportunity and immediately entered my mouth, devouring; tasting every corner of my mouth. I tried not to puke but the taste of his tongue and his breath make me.
Master Hwang pulled away, savoring the taste of my mouth. He leaned again and took a peck of my lips, running his fingers comfortingly through my hair. He leaned his forehead against mine, still brushing my hair with his long fingers.
"It's you..." He sounds so disgustingly in love. I only looked down on my feet, avoiding his eyes. "Tell me...what number are you." He asked, trying to lean again. Before I could move away, he already pressed his lips on mine and I could taste that horrible stench again.
Mr. Lawrence finally let go of me, let master Hwang hold me instead. I waited for Mr. Lawrence going back to his seat. I whimpered when master Hwang grab my chin and forced me to look at him. "Tell me." He demands with his sinister tone, digging his nails into my skin. A while ago, he look so in love but now, he look like he would kill me any minute. His skin turns gray as the blood starts to leak again from his wounds.
"Stay away from me!" I scream before pushing him. I ran to my seat and hurriedly wear my paper bag.
I faced master Hwang and I could see him stopped on his ground. Looking around, as if looking for me. The servants stood up abruptly causing their chairs to fall on the floor. Two of the maids run to master Hwang and help him. Master Hwang was being hysterical, blood continuos flowing down from his stitches. He was crying while shouting my name over and over again.
The maids stood up too, afraid of what might gonna happen.
"Ungrateful brat!" The conductor who hired me suddenly yelled. "You must be thankful master Hwang is being nice to you!"
I jump when I feel someone grab my wrist. I looked at who is it and saw number six. In a split of seconds, I found myself being dragged away from the kitchen along with all the maids. While the butlers are chasing after us. We run to the attic and number five with number three pulled the stairs up. Darkness batted our eyes. Number nine opens the only window behind us making the attic brighten a little.
"Now...I don't know what to do. We disobeyed their rules. All of us will probably receive punishment do you think?" Number seven said after seating next to number five.
"Yeah, I guess. But do you think it's fun to do this after a long time?" Number two chuckled, looking at me. His smile falls flat and he sighs. "We knew already that it was you number ten. The boy they were so fond of. The person they've been waiting for a long time now."
I didn't react at all. How could I be him? I don't know what those people are. I haven't met any of them. I didn't lose any of my memories, I'm sure of it. "I don't know them. I can't remember them meeting before." I mumbled.
"Memory loss?" Number nine said in a hushed tone. We all trying to be quiet as possible. We don't know if the butler is still chasing us and we are too scared to even come down. I'm sure, once they get us, they'll punish us.
"No. I don't know. I do remember my past well and they aren't there. I don't know them."
But then, I do remember someone in my social media telling me how much they cared for me. Not just one but more like seven of them? Giving me that same message every time, flooding my chats. I do remember blocking them from my accounts but I didn't meet any one of them. "Are you going to kill me? Because I'm a treat?" I carefully asked.
"No. I thought the guy will be like Barbie but it turns out to be you so... never mind. We will receive the punishment sooner anyway. Either you the boy they like so much or us; we all maids that'll end up the same fate." Number eight said and sighed.
"How did you know that I'm the boy they waiting for?" I asked again, keeping my eyes down.
"I once enter inside of master Han's room and saw your school photo in his drawer." Number nine answered. "Your name is also written on the picture with a note. Master Han tells you how much he loves you, how much he misses you, and how much to not let you go again. Look, even the masters are handsome I'm not Barbie or the other toy-girls who head over heels to the monster." Number nine scowled, crossing her arms.
"You really can't because you have a girlfriend." Number two laughed and number nine only glared at him. "Anyway, number ten. Sorry for what I did to you. I thought you're a treat for us."
I only nodded and said that it was fine. We filled in silence for a while until number one spoke, saying his sorry too but I can't stop doubting him. Maybe I won't trust him yet. In our little moment of hanging out in the attic, I learned a few things about them. Number two and number three which is Sichen and Jaeme are boyfriends while number eight, Xion is about to finish his course this next year but they've drowned in dozens of debts. Xion doesn't have any choice but to take part-time until he found this. Number one, San was not a social type and the thing Beom and Yeonjun just told me aren't true. He said his reason why he did that, he doesn't want to die yet and his little sister is still waiting for him to come home. He will do anything to get home and be with his sister again.
Number seven, Juyeon didn't sign to be a maid. Back in his home, someone in the dark web kidnapped him then the conductor buy him to work as maid of this mansion. Juyeon doubt that some of his close friends sign his name through the dark web and now he's stuck here for one year until now.
Number nine, Seulji ends up here because her friends suggested her. As a blogger, she needs to go through to the creepy places to gain more views but I think she went to the wrong place. Number five, Doyoung is the youngest among us, he's still seventeen but his mother told him to work to provide his school bills, just like me.
Suddenly, a loud bang jumps us on our spot. The cellar door suddenly opens and long fingers are trying to reach us. Number nine quickly told us to put our mask on and so we did. I don't know why we still need to wear this but somehow it feels safer to wear the paper bag than not. We gathered together, trying to get close to each other as possible. We hold each other's hands as if awaiting our fate.
"There you are maids~" One of the elder maids sang as she spots us.
We began screaming when she took a step inside the attic. Grabbing San's ankle. San screamed, trying to kick the maid's hands away but unfortunately, she's stronger than us. She dragged San down to the hall before grabbing number nine, then drag her down as well. We've all dragged down until we found ourselves surrounded by the servants. In the middle, there's the conductor who hired me. She's smiling at us with her most insidious face.
"You ungrateful maid. Who permits you to disobey and run away from us?!" She screeched, pulling out a whip and swaying it on us. Number six and four tried to block me but I can feel the painful sensation in my skin. "Especially you...number ten!"
She marches towards me and grabs me by my arm, dragging me away from the others. Beom and Yeonjun tried to grab me even number eight but every time they trying reaching me, the butlers will whip them roughly. I scream, shouting their code names and begging the conductor but she didn't even hear my pleading. I was crying nonstop while she's dragging me along the dim hallway. She suddenly takes off my mask before pulling my hair, dragging me again upstairs; to the library.
"Master Hwang is the one who has the right to punish you after what you have done. Don't worry, not just you but all of you!" She laughed so loudly that my ears hurt.
"This is against the law! I'll make sure you all rot in jail!" I shouted in anger despite my loud sobs.
"If you have the chance." She said while smiling and when we stopped in front of a door, she dig her hand into my pocket and fish my phone. "Good luck newbie."
She open the door and pushed me inside causing me to stumble and fall flat on the dusty floor. I groan, looking up and I freeze when I caught master Kim was on the bookshelves. He's looking for a book that interests him. If master Hwang is the only one who punishes me then, why did she bring me here? With master Kim?
I moved so slowly, trying to get up silently but every time I squeezed my palms against the floor, it would make a loud cracking sound. I freeze before looking at master Kim's direction again. He was still there, looking at the books. I stayed like that for one minute before getting back on trying to be quiet as possible again. I slowly get on my knees but once I am finally able to sneak out in the library, someone grabs the back of my neck.
"Did you run away from me again?" It's master Hwang. I noticed master Kim turn his head towards us but master Hwang hurriedly drag me out from the library before master Kim can even see my face.
I was crying again, trying to yank my hand away from his tight grip. I even tried to knock him out, I tried all my might to escape from him but he wouldn't budge. Master Hwang stop and began carrying me like a child as if my weight is nothing to him. I start thrashing, kicking my feet in the air. I even punched him but it was all useless. I was just wasting my energy. I breathed heavily, going limp in his strong arms. Even I begged and cried, he will not listen to everything I say.
"Please," I sobs. "Don't hurt me."
"If you disobeyed me then I will never hurt you but sense you pushed me, not answering my question and even running away from me. Baby, you need to learn your mistake." He said softly as if he was careful with every word he'll let go. But it causes me to cry even harder, sobbing on his shoulder. "Hush, you're companions will receive the same punishment." He added before kissing my ear.
I don't have any idea of what punishment they'll going to put on me and I'm sure it was worst than everything else. But I'm worried about others other than myself. I know it's my fault for disobeying their orders. If I'm not too hard-headed enough, this situation will not be going to be like this. They're not going to receive any punishment than I am.
I found myself being thrown on the bed. Just when I realized that I'm inside his room. Here, I saw the other toys. They were been tied up on the wall without wearing anything, just black blankets looped around their body.
I tried to get up but master Hwang immediately cornered me under him, grabbing my both wrists to keep me in place. I keep thrashing away from but it is no use. I can hear the toys murmuring into something that I can't understand. It seemed as though they were trying to convince me to steady in place and let master Hwang do what he want. I noticed the door open and my body began to tremble in fear than before. I looked at the other conductor who has long hair. She's holding what seemed an old and rusty scissor and a rope. She walked towards us and stop on my head. She took my both hands and tied them up on the headboard.
"No, please! I'm sorry! I will not disobey you again!" I sob hard, trying to convince them that I was truly sorry.
He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were dark and cold, and they held blood-lust. "This is just a first warning love." He says with a creepy smile, voice becoming more sinister again.
He starts ripping my button-up shirt. I began struggling but I know it was useless. I look upon the conductor as if pleading him to stop master Hwang or anything just to get me out of here. But she just looked at me with her cold eyes. What should I expect for the likes of her? They are monsters and so she is. My eyes focused in horror at the scissor when the conductor hand him the metal object. Master Hwang's eyes glued at me again. "I do want to claim you already but we need to follow the rules. Now," he looked upon the conductor. "Please, call Han." He ordered and the conductor bowed politely before walking away from the room.
Master Hwang again, look at me with adoration in his eyes. He tried to wipe the tears that keeps flowing down from my eyes. "Aren't you look adorable when you're crying like this?" He shove the scissor on my exposed long cuts. My body tensed up when it all clicked down. He wants to cut my stitch wound!
I closed my eyes as of thought another pain will come again. If I had just a chance, I'll run away from him, away from this place, and call for help for the others. I don't want to stay here, I don't belong here!
A scream of agony escape from my mouth as soon as master Hwang dig the metal of scissors to where my stitches were, cutting every thread and my flesh. I could feel my face burning red as my tears continue to flow down. I can't struggle anymore because every time I do that the pain will only increase. It's even hard to breathe. Everything was painful, my throat, my wounds, and now my stitches. I whimpered when he grabbed my lower jaw, forcing my mouth open with a sickening cracking sound. I winced as he stuck his fingers deep inside of my mouth. "Breath will you?" He pants, his voice is horse as for his breathing become a rag. He seemed to look so hurt just like I am now.
Why? Why does he look like he's hurting?
After one final cut, he finally let go of me, breathing ragged just like me. I keep sobbing under him, feeling all the burning pain in my whole body. I thought it was the end but when he tried to open up my wound I know it's not over yet. I could feel the warm leaking liquid from my wound as the painful sensation consume me whole. But the worst part is his fingers digging into my flesh. I keep on moving away but he grabs my waist with his free hand, preventing me in my position.
"Please stop!" I scream out of pain.
"Shhh...just endure it for a moment." He whispered but it didn't help me at all. The pain is still so much to endure and I don't know how long I can hold this.
Just when I heard a sudden click like something is being unlocked. After that, I couldn't feel the pain in my wound. Somehow, it seemed to vanish just like that. "You're being unlocked..." He whispered that confuse me.
What? What does he mean by I'm being unlocked? It's not like I'm a padlock or something?
I heard the door swing open with a loud bang that echoed in the entire room. I moved my eyes to the door and my blood began to drain. It's master Han with the conductor behind him. "Just in time Han. I already unlocked his insides. You can claim him already."
"W-what are you talking about?" I asked but he didn't respond, instead, he just stood up and leave me with this freaking monster.
"Be careful...he's quirky." The conductor said before slamming the door shut.