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Episode 13 Continued - Curious Kitten
I decided to be stealthier this time.
I snuck around the small spaces between the tents, and kept myself pressed into the shadows, and when I made it to the end, I peered around a corner to find a dozen people walking in the opposite direction of the main tent.
They clearly were done with practice.
After their formed vanished around a corner, I darted across the patch and sank into the shadows around the main tent, rounding it carefully before I made it to the other side.
I was just about to dart to a trailer…
“Oy! James!”
I immediately sank back into the shadows before gazing out.
Clarice came out from her trailer, walking across the field where James stood, flying a kite for some reason.
It was ten in the evening… why was he flying a kite?
“You alright, there?” Clarice said, setting her hand on his shoulder. “You’ve been hiding in that trailer all day.”
They were distracted, now was my chance.
“I don’t like it when Sam’s gone,” James said as I snuck around the corner, finally making it to the correct angle. “He’s the only thing that keeps this show going.”
I dashed across the field then, immediately sinking behind a fence.
“Ah, James, I know he means a lot to you. But he has things he has to do, as well.”
“I know… but why must he always go back to the mansion?” James sighed. “Our father is too old to think coherently, and yet Sam still believes every word he says.”
I gazed up then, brows drawing together.
Their father…? That man in the photo… was their father?
What an age difference.
I just silently crawled up the front steps to Sam’s trailer and slipped in, closing the door behind me seconds later.
I was glad it was unlocked… this man sucked at household security, it seemed.
I sighed then, breathing gently as I stepped further in the room and walked straight over to his dresser.
I opened a drawer and shuffled out the picture frame, immediately pulling my phone out and taking a photo of their family.
I then put it back and started glancing around, trying to see if anything changed since I was back here last.
Just as I stepped forward, a shadow moved to my right.
I flipped around, about to scream, but his hand clamped over my mouth.
I gazed up in horror, but I just saw Sebastian standing above me, pressing a finger to his lips.
My stance relaxed then, and I glared.
He removed his hand from my mouth, glancing behind him at the door before looking back at me. “All you asked is done, my lord.” His voice was low so no one could hear. “Can I be of assistance in this task?”
“Yes,” I said then, shaking my head, “help me search.”
He bowed. “Indeed, I will.”
We then separated and got to work, Sebastian sliding his hand along the books on the bookshelves and peering under the bed.
I just continued raiding through his dresser, hoping that since I found this picture in there, there were other secrets in here, as well.
I was right.
The bottom of a drawer shifted from my touch, and I narrowed my eyes, leaning down to assess the entire front of the drawer.
I slid my finger to where the interior floor o the drawer stopped, and my lashes lowered when I found a large gap in between the floor and the bottom of the drawer itself.
I then pulled all his socks away, sliding the bottom back.
And—sure enough—there were a bunch of scattered pictures settled here.
I gathered them and picked them up, gazing over them carefully.
“Did you find something, master?” Sebastian said then, glancing over at me.
“These are all images of the victims,” I said, slipping up a photo and tucking it behind the others. “Sam is definitely involved.”
“That’s curious,” Sebastian said as I continued flipping through photos. “Is there anything else?”
My brows drew together. “Hold on… there’s a photo in here that’s different from the others.” I pulled it out to assess it better.
I immediately stilled, eyes widening.
Sebastian turned, gazing over at me. “What? What is it, my lord?”
My breaths shortened, and a sudden cold ocean washed through me, drowning all the warmth left inside.
Needles sliced into my bloodstream as the hand that held the picture shook.
Cages. Children in cages.
Their eyes emotionless… their expressions numb. They looked… dead.
Blood covered them, their arms dismembered and stitched together with someone else’s. Their skin never matched because they were dismembered and switched with other people… their entire being… soulless.
It was like they were being played with like toys. Taken apart and mismatched with other children.
I felt something deep inside me slice in half, and my eyes grew in horror.
I immediately covered my mouth, nausea swelling up my throat.
Sebastian stepped over to me and gazed down at the photo.
His lashes immediately lowered.
He took it from my hands as I remained holding my arm up with nothing in it, and he ripped it to pieces before throwing it into the trashcan.
I remained frozen when he stepped over to me, and he walked in front of me, lightly grasping my wrist and pulling it away from my mouth.
“Children…” I said shakily, “that’s why it’s all one age group… they’re mismatching children. But… why?”
He just caught my hand and ran his fingers along my knuckles, clearly trying to soothe me.
“Sebastian…” I said shakily, gazing up, “we’re done here. Let’s go.”
“Of course, my lord.”
“Once we get home,” I said then, remaining calm as needles sliced through me, “complete my order from last night. Figure out who that old man in the photo is, and who that missing third child is.”
He bowed before me. “At once, my young lord.”
*****
We were home now, but for some reason, I felt like I was on another planet.
Sebastian lightly buttoned up my night shirt as I stared off into space numbly, watching the fire in the lamp next to him dance to the non-existent wind.
He stood when he was done, pulling the string of my eye patch and letting it fall.
He just took it and set it aside, guiding me down onto the bed seconds later.
Just as he pulled the covers over me, the door to the room creaked open.
“Sebastian…?” Cammie said quietly. “You called?”
“Give me a second, wait out there,” he instructed.
She nodded and closed the door behind her.
Sebastian gazed down at me, lashes lowering when he assessed my expression. “Master, I shall be back before morning. Please, try to get some rest.”
I nodded numbly, and he just stood, gazing over at the door. “Cammie, come in.”
She entered the room seconds later, curtsying before gazing up. “Is everything alright?”
He shook his head.
Her brows drew together in concern.
“Your job as a servant is to protect our master and this mansion,” Sebastian said to her. “Now, I am going out for the night, and I cannot guarantee master’s safety while I’m gone. The people we were with last seemed to want to kidnap her, and I doubt they followed us here, but please make sure no one lays a hand on her.”
Cammie curtsied again. “Of course, Sebastian.”
He then lightly caught the lamp, stepping toward the exit as I stared off into space numbly. “I’ll be back soon, master.”
He then left the room, leaving Cammie in here, standing next to the door nervously.
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