That bitch!
Delrick's body collided with the crazy maid, causing them to fell onto the floor. He hold onto the maid's shoulders, pushing her away with every force he had. Yet, the maid doesn't budge. She keep laughing maniacally as she try to hurt him with her nails.
'Why she is so strong?'
Delrick gritted his teeth. His palm pressed against the maid's shoulders, his arms quivered under the strain as he moved his head to avoid getting scratches.
No matter how much Delrick think of it, it doesn't make any sense. The maid doesn't looked that strong yet here he is, struggling to get her away from him.
"LET'S PLAY! LET'S PLAY! HIHIHIHIHI!"
The maid swung her arms in front of Delrick's face while still laughing like a madman. Her lips tugged upward in unnatural way as she keep repeating the same words.
A scratch landed on Delrick's left cheek. He winched in pain and the smell of iron filled his nostril.
The maid saw his blood and smiled even wider than she already is. Delrick stared in horror. How could someone's lips bend upwards that it almost reach their eyes?
"Hihihihihihihihihihihi."
The maid giggled as she keep trying to reach out. Delrick feel his muscles trembling, mustering every strength he had to get her away from him.
"Get.... away!" He said through his gritted teeth.
The maid doesn't even listen. Her lifeless eyes blown wide, staring at him. Like he was an interesting toy solely for her to play.
In midst of Delrick struggle, the maid's body suddenly flinched on top of him, her expression froze, and slowly losing its strength against him.
Delrick took the chance and threw the maid away from him. The maid's body flew to his right then hit the wall before slumped down on the floor.
Delrick stared at the maid's body with ragged breath.
"You alright?"
A cold voice startled Delrick. He lifted his head to look in front of him, holding his breath.
It was the rude man from yesterday. He is looking down at him with his black and cold eyes. His white shirt disheveled, and on his hand...
He is holding a knife with smear of blood on it.
Delrick swallowed and slowly move his gaze toward the maid. Only then he realized there is a pool of blood beneath her body.
Delrick froze in his place.
What...
What just...
He stared at the maid's body with widened eyes.
'Did she died?'
The black haired man keep staring down at Delrick then move his gaze toward the maid.
"You pitied her? She almost kill you."
Delrick's breath hitched. He looked at the man with his jaw clenched.
"But, still, you shouldn't kill her!" He shouted, feeling agitated at the man indifference.
A frown appeared on the man's face, looking at Delrick in disbelief.
"What the hell are you—" he stopped midway, staring at Delrick's face like he was looking for something.
Delrick raise a brow. "What's wrong?"
The man narrowed his eyes.
"You didn't know?"
"Didn't know what?"
The man exhaled a harsh breath, massaging his temple.
"That bitch, Sona..."
Delrick heard him muttered to himself but pretend not to hear it.
She is indeed a bitch though.
The man lowered his hand and look at Delrick.
"So, you really didn't know. Sona didn't tell you anything?"
Delrick got up on his feet, thinking that this rude man doesn't here to hurt him.
"No. I don't even know what's going on right now. I just know its time to play with the young lady but what the hell is this?"
The man paused for a moment then look around him.
"First of all, let's move to somewhere save."
"Brother!!!"
Delrick turned around and the man look behind him.
Mira was running toward Delrick with tears on her face. Her right hand was holding onto her left arm that seemed to be bleeding.
Behind her, there is a man servant chasing after her with blood on his smiling lips.
Delrick eyes widened while the black haired man tsked and run toward her.
"Mira!!!"
Delrick shouted, running toward her. Mira cried and crushed her body into his embrace.
Ahead them, the black haired man lunged at the man servant, swung the knife he held then stabbed it right on the servant forehead.
Delrick looked at the scene in front of him with bated breath. Blood splatered like a fountain from the servant's head as the black haired man pulled his knife.
Delrick feel his stomach twisted, watching at the splatered blood. He tighten his arms around Mira's body to avoid her looking at the sickening scene.
The servant's body fell on the floor—bathed in his own blood, with a thud. His body convulsed like a struggled insect before it finally stopped moving. His lifeless eyes looking straight at Delrick.
The black haired man wipe the blood on his cheek with his sleeve, painting it in red. He turned around, looking at frozen Delrick and Mira who still sobbing on his embrace.
"Let's move. Its not save here."
Delrick nodded, a bit stiffed, and slowly get up on his feet with Mira. He patted the young girl's head.
"Let's go Mira..."
They both walked toward the black haired man, passing the man servant's corpse. Mira's breath hitched when she saw it, tears rolling down her cheeks but she kept her mouth shut.
"Can't we hide in our room instead of going around?" Delrick asked to the black haired man.
He need to treated Mira's bleeding arm and to be honest, he just wanted to rest after what he just seen.
The black haired man just stared at him then spoke.
"We can't hide in our room because right now we are "playing". So," the man looked ahead him. At the doors of rooms in the hallway.
"Right now, every corner of this mansion is a playground. There is no safe place."
Delrick's face fell at the man's words.
There is no safe place?
"But," the man continued and look at Delrick behind him.
"It doesn't mean there is no place to hide."
The man avert his eyes from Delrick and began to move ahead.
Delrick and Mira followed behind him.
The three of them walking through the empty and dimmed hallway. Some gas lamps flickering and some are died. It was strange because it seemed to be fine before.
The black haired man looked around before taking a turn and continue walking ahead. Thankfully, they hasn't encounter anything before the man cracked a door open in front of him.
They entered the room. It was so dark inside but then a flicker of light appeared. Delrick looked at his right and saw the black haired man adjusting the light of the gas lamp on the table. The man looked at Delrick.
"Close the door."
Delrick close the door behind him without asking anything. He looked around the room that seemed to be a storage room. The man rummaging onto one of the boxes, taking out something from there before glancing behind him.
"You little kid, come here."
Mira pursed her lips, unsure if she should go to the man. Her hands clenched onto Delrick's shirt.
The man sighed then looked at Delrick.
"Here. Treat her wound with this." He put the things he took from the box on the table. It was an oitment and bandage.
Delrick looked at Mira, patting her head. "Let's treat your wounds, Mira."
"Hum."
Delrick and Mira move toward the table. He carried Mira's body to make her sit on the table then get down on his knees, holding her left arm carefully.
Delrick exhaled a shaky breath. Teeth marks on the flesh and some of the skin are torn.
This...
Delrick clenched his jaw and took the ointment from the table.
"This will sting alot but try to hold it, okay?" He said, giving the young girl an apologetic smile.
Mira nodded, then Delrick gently put the ointment onto her wound.
Mira's breath hitched, and clenched her teeth to avoid making a sound. Her lithe body trembled because of the pain. Delrick blew an air toward her wound as he put the ointment. Hoping it will ease the pain even just a little.
After Delrick put the ointment, he put the bandage over the wound. He looked up at Mira.
"Thank you for holding up."
A tear rolled on Mira's cheek as she gave Delrick a weak smile and nodded.
Delrick get up on his feet, looking toward the black haired man who sat on one of the boxes.
"Now, can you tell us what happened actually?"
The man stared at Delrick for a brief moment before opening his mouth.
"Do you know about the unwritten rules of the mansion?"
Delrick stared at the man then exchange looks with Mira. The young girl seemed just as clueless as him, and shook his head at the man.
The man sighed. "Figured. That also make you clueless about the "playing"."
Delrick narrowed his eyes. "How can we know about it when no one is telling us?"
"The others who is also new like you both already know about it though." The man shrugged.
"They did?"
"They did."
"How?"
The man paused for a moment, staring at Delrick. "They quickly befriend others and asked everything related to the mansion. What about you? What did you do on the first day in thr mansion?"
I slept...
Delrick made a straight line with his lips.
"Did you not find the contract a bit strange and asked anyone about it? Well, except the Countess and miss. Lia."
"Well, I did just asked the Countess about it."
The man threw Delrick a look which made Delrick stiffed a little. Then, ruffled his own black hair.
"Forget it. I will tell you both about the rules first."
"In this mansion, there are two rules you must follow. One is written on your contract and the other is the one you should find out upon entering this mansion."
"I bet you already know some of the written rules from the contract so, I will leave it and tell you about the unwritten one."
"The first is, once you signed the contract. Do not, in any circumtances, leave the mansion for one year, and the Mistvale area for five years. A guest is always welcome in the mansion but make sure they leave before 6 in the evening as for outsider staying in the mansion is strictly prohibited.
The second is, do not even try to terminate the contract. Until the five years period ended, you have no absolute right to terminate it. Terminating the contract means you gave full authorities over your life to the Mansion and you won't like the outcome.
The third, this mansion have 6 floors. But, going to the fifth and sixth floor is strictly prohibited. If you insist going there, all the consequences befall on you alone.
The fouth, servants are free whenever to have their meal except for dinner. Dinner will always be at 18:00 until 20:00 PM because after that time, all servants must stay inside their room. Its time for other "servants" to do their job.
The fifth, make sure to lock your door and close the curtain at night. Each servants provided with their own room, individually. All necessity such a bathroom provided by the mansion so no one would get out from their room at night. You may heard strange sound outside, ignore it and sleep. Do not even try to find out.
The sixth, do not ask about the Count whereabout. He is in this mansion but that's all you need to know.
The seventh, when the one year of probation ended, you may leave the mansion gate but do not even try to go into the forest. This mansion are surronded by the dense mysterious forest, and the only place you can walk around is the pavement. If you still insist to venture into the forest, all consequence befall on yourself.
The eighth, from the very first tick of second in the Sunday, all of the servants are obliged to participate and "play" the game the young lady has provided. No one has the right to refuse as every corner of the mansion wouldn't be safe anymore and all work will be dismissed until the end of Sunday.
Please take a note to put your own survival above anything else at this time.
And sometimes after playing, the young lady would make a feast for everyone. Also be careful at this time. Only trust your eyes and your own feeling.
The ninth, unless "they" are ordered by the head butler, you won't encounter "another" servants. But, sometimes, they just want to tease and deliberately meet you. If that happened, just smile at them and said "I need to tend the blue flowers" and go. If they keep insisting, just keep walking ahead and act like nothing happened. Do not tell a soul about it and forget it. The "servant" will be punished.
The tenth, from the moment you stepped into the Mistvale, all your gesture and words are being watched. Be careful and do not speak about the mansion to outsider even in a form of letter.
The eleventh, doubt everything include the one who tell you all this rules. Do not trust easily. Your own survival is your priority until your contract ends."