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Chapter 7 - Chapter Seven

I woke to the feeling of something tickling my face. Slowly, I opened my eyes — and sleep vanished in an instant when I realized that a stranger was touching my skin. A man. His grin widened when he saw the terror on my face, and he leaned in closer.

Disgusted, I jumped up from the ground, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through my ankle. I just wanted to get away — from him, from this place, from everything.

I ran to the door and began pounding on the rotting wooden panel that had been shut on us the night before. A few of the others turned to stare; some were startled awake by the noise, but I didn't care. I wanted out.

After what felt like forever, the so-called door finally swung open, and two massive guards appeared, glaring down at me.

"What do you want?" one of them growled impatiently.

"I—I need to relieve myself. Urgently," I said, trying to sound as firm as I could, while my mind raced for any possible way to escape.

The second guard gave a short nod. "I'll escort you."

I started walking, but he pressed his body close behind me, so near that I could feel his breath on the back of my neck.

"Don't even think about running," he murmured. "You won't get far. And if by some miracle you do, the wolves in the forest will tear you to pieces."

He said it so casually, as if he were talking about the weather. I swallowed hard but said nothing, forcing myself to obey. I didn't believe the part about the wolves — but even so, I knew I wouldn't escape now. Not yet.

He led me to another door, just as shabby as the others, and I slipped inside, locking it behind me to make sure no one could burst in. A short while later, loud knocking echoed through the door. I had no choice but to come out.

"Finally," the guard snapped. "I don't have all day." He grabbed me by the arm and dragged me down the corridor.

Pain flared in my injured ankle. "Let me go! I can walk on my own!" I yanked my arm free from his grip.

He glared at me for a moment but, seeing I wasn't about to run, gave a curt nod toward the hallway ahead. "Follow the other women," he muttered, giving me a shove between the shoulder blades.

I walked where he pointed, joining the others.

We moved down a long corridor and through another rickety door — then we were outside. The fresh air was a blessing. Only now did I realize how foul and suffocating the stench inside had been. The sun hadn't fully risen yet, but the sky was already streaked with light.

Ahead of me trudged about twenty-five or thirty women, some older, but most around my age. We headed toward the castle, though not to the grand front gates. Instead, they herded us through a small, hidden entrance along the left wing.

"I don't want to hear a single sound from any of you," an older woman ordered sharply. She looked like she had served here for many years.

Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a tight bun, streaked heavily with gray. Her stern gaze swept across us, and the whispering girls fell silent at once. There were only four guards with us, and even they moved quietly, as if afraid to disturb the silence.

We were led into a large hall, where they made us line up. Then came the selection. We were divided into groups — the elderly, the middle-aged, and then us, the young ones, who made up the largest group.

After that, they herded my group into another room — this time without the guards. I was grateful for that small mercy.

A few servant girls entered, dressed in plain dark-gray dresses with white aprons. They began inspecting us one by one — checking our hair for lice, then our teeth and skin. Then, to my horror, the old woman reached under each girl's skirt.

When she stopped in front of me, she motioned for me to spread my legs. I pressed them together instead.

For a moment, her eyes met mine — then she smiled, a cruel, mocking smile — and before I could react, her hand struck my face with a loud crack.

I clutched my burning cheek in shock, and in that instant, she took advantage of it, shoving her hand down my underwear. My breath caught painfully in my throat. It was too much. Too humiliating. But after a few moments, she withdrew, looking satisfied.

"Still untouched," she said flatly. "Stand over there."

I limped toward the two girls she had pointed to and stood beside them, dread pooling in my stomach. Whatever was coming next, I knew it wouldn't be good.

When she was done with everyone, the woman left the room, and we followed the servant girls down a maze of corridors until they opened a door.

Relief washed over me when I saw the tidy room inside — eight beds neatly arranged, two large wardrobes, and nothing else. But to me, it felt like a miracle. At least I wouldn't have to sleep in that filthy, stinking hall again, crammed between strange men.

Everyone claimed a bed. I hurried to take the one nearest the window — if I had any chance of escaping, that would be the best spot.

A few minutes later, the servant girls returned and handed out clothes to everyone — simple dresses like theirs, only blue instead of gray.

A blonde girl stepped forward, smiling broadly as she began to speak.

"Welcome to Cromwell Castle," she announced cheerfully. "From today, this is your new home. You'll have time to wash and dress properly, as befits a servant girl. Today will be a wonderful day — you'll learn everything you need to serve the Great Lord in the best possible way. You'll be shown around the estate and the castle itself — and I promise, you'll enjoy it."

Her smile grew even wider at the end, and somehow, that made it all the more unsettling.

I didn't trust a single one of them. All I could think about was that during this so-called tour, I had to find a way to escape.

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