Chapter 6 - Consequences

Despite the bad quality of food and care, Candy was still full of energy. Each day that went by, Candy thought of the worst of what happened to Mary.

"Maybe no news is good news." She said to herself to calm down all the worries she was feeling.

The sun was bright out but in the tower it was gloomy. As Candy stared out the window, she imagine what it would feel like to walk outside again or better yet to see Mary. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize someone had came to the room. It was a maid who was order to bring her usually food. But this time, she brought someone with her. Standing right behind the maid was Alicia.

"Ha ha ha...just perfect! Trash deserve to live with trash." Alicia said as she looked around the room with a disgusted look.

"What are you doing here?" Candy said angrily.

"Why? I came here to deliver the good news to you? But...since you are being so hostile towards me. I guess I won't tell you."

"What is it?" Candy said more impatiently.

"Hmm...I should deserve some sort of reward for telling you. Nothing is free."

"Reward? Tsk. Tell me or not. Just leave! I don't want to see you."

"Oh so I guess you don't want to know what happened to Mary?"

"Mary! Tell me what happened to her? Where is she?"

"Like I said, nothing is free."

"What do you want?"

"Beg! Beg on your knees and if I like it, I'll decide if I'll tell you."

Candy look at Alicia angrily but she did it anyway. She got on both her knees and bowed down.

"Please! I beg you, tell me!"

"Ha ha ha! What a pitiful look! Since you made me laugh so hard, fine I'll tell you." Alicia said while laughing.

"Really? Tell me then."

"Ha ha ha! Your poor Mary has been fired! She's gone! Ha ha ha!"

"What?..."

"Oh look at you! You look like you're going to cry! Ha ha ha!"

"Fired? But Mary did nothing! You're lying!" Candy said as she got up from the floor and grab Alicia shoulders.

"Ahhhhhh! Let go of me!" Alicia yelled as she tried to get Candy hands off of her.

"You're lying! Say it! Say it's not true!"

"If you do not let go of me right now! You'll regret it! Help!!!" Alicia yell out and look at the maid to help her. The maid help pried Candy hands off of Alicia and Candy fell hard on the floor. Both of the girls were huffing and puffing out of breath. After gaining her composure, Alicia turn to the door to leave.

"Believe me or not, your Mary is no more! You'll regret what you did to me! Maid come on! Let's leave this worthless piece of trash!" Alicia yelled as she hurriedly left the room and out the building. The maid closely follow right after Alicia and not glancing back at Candy.

It took a moment for Candy to compose herself after her altercation with Alicia. She went to go lie down in the bed and just stare up at the ceilings. She took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes.

Later on that night, Candy woke up to the loud sounds from down at the bottom of the tower. It was loud that it echo up to her room.

"Where is that brat?!"

"Madam, please calm down."

"Move aside, I give the orders here!"

Candy could hear the multiple sounds of footsteps climbing up the stairs. It was dark in her room as she had fell asleep quickly following her altercation with Alicia. She quickly roommate for a match to light a candle but thought again if it was better for it to be dark if someone was coming to get her. She quickly got off her bed and tried to find a place to hide but she was too late. The door to her room barged open as a knight kicked it open. In barged a few knights and her step mother. They were carrying torches.

As soon as Candy saw them she thought they were here to kill her. But as she try to say something and ask why they were here. A slap hit the right side of her cheek. She fell down hard hitting her head on the edge of the bed.

"Obviously one slap will not be enough punishment for you. Get up!" Her step mother said as she rub her wrist.

Candy tried to look up but she was dizzy. A trickle of blood started to run down her forehead. As the blood ran down, she could taste it. She tried to get up but she couldn't.

"Guards! Bring her down!"

Her step mother seeing the Candy pitiful state was not amused. She quickly turn around and went down the stairs.

Candy felt the knights drag her up with a yank like a paper doll and they all went down the stairs to the bottom of the tower.

"Tie her up!"

At the command of her step mother, the knights tie up Candy wrist. Candy felt the tight tug of the ropes. The knights made her get on her knees and as Candy look up, she could see her step mother holding a whip.

Whoosh!

The whip hit her back and Candy could feel the sharp pain immediately from it. But her throat was dried and she couldn't make a sound.

"UNGRATEFUL CHILD! You dare to hit my precious Alicia! You scared her face!"

Whoosh! The whip hit Candy back again and again. Candy felt like she was losing consciousness.

'So this is the end' Candy thought as the whip came down on her back hard.

"Stop madam! You will kill the child!" One of the servant whimper.

"You dared to stop me and I will have you fired!

"If the master know you killed the child, we all will be in trouble! How will we hide the body?! It is for your own good madam!" The servant pleaded.

Candy step mother was out of breath and threw the whip down.

"Fine. She gets no food. Let's see how long she will last. I'm quite tired. Everyone can leave."

Candy was happy for the servant who had stopped her stepmother. As soon as the last knight left and closed the door, Candy closed her eyes. At least she was still alive.