Dress Theft

"Where is it?" I wondered whilst ransacking my bag. My brain was already going a million miles an hour looking for that dress.

Before I went to sleep...or tried to sleep last night, I changed out of my emerald dress and changed into something warmer due to how the weather turned out. I left it folded on the dresser beside the bed I was on, with the intention of keeping it properly in the morning.

Earlier that day, I showered before anyone could wake up, figured that it was a way to reduce my encounters with those crazy set of girls. However, in an attempt to arrange my things before any other thing, I sought for it but alas, to no avail, finding it deemed impossible even after searching all the beds and the dressers around me.

Not needing anyone to tell me, I figured out that someone took it. That had to be it. If they could snatch my phone from me then how much more my dress...

"Good morning, Carina," A voice called out, startling me. It was Evelynn's. She was in a long sleeved brocade, sangria red top with a cream coloured silk insert and a zipper at the back as it was fitted.

The skirt, however, wasn't. It was high waisted, straight cut and darted, bearing the same hue as its counterpart. I didn't think she did any work 'cause those clothes certainly didn't look cut out for it. Her hair was in a low bun tied together with a ribbon of the same colour.

"Ooh morning...Evelynn," my tired brain managed.

I was still in towels, sticking out like a sore thumb.

"How was your night?" She continued, her eyes scanning me carefully from head to toe.

"Well, I didn't and couldn't sleep so, it was absolutely the worst night in my life and undoubtedly the first of many to come."

"Why it was fantastic." I hoped she didn't notice my red-rimmed eyes.

All around us was chaos as everyone was scrambling around to get ready.

A woman around Evelynn's age made her way to us, clad in the same clothes which signified their superiority, obviously. Taking one look at me, her face scrunched up a bit but she was quick to alleviate it by smiling widely as she said:

"You must be new, welcome to the Numman household."

I nodded. "Thanks?"

"She's Cassidy and will be the one you would be reporting to, in case I'm nowhere to be seen," Evelynn added.

The woman, Cassidy, handed something to Evelynn before eyeing me curiously whilst turning on her heel to continue gingering the girls to be faster.

"Are you okay?" Evelynn asked concernedly, still watching me carefully.

"Yes, I am." I responded slowly.

"And how did you get all the way here? I thought I assigned you to a bed yesterday," she voiced.

I froze, thinking of a plausible response.

"Actually, this is where I feel most comfortable in. This bed is much softer than that other one."

"Ok... And what are you searching for?"

"My dress, I think someone took it. It means a lot to me—I'm going crazy here."

"Nothing, I'm just trying to put my things in order that's all," I replied, knowing fully well that telling her the truth would end badly for me.

She handed me the clothes that she was holding, it was a maids' uniform my size just like the ones the others were wearing.

"Thanks Evelynn, this is nice..." And as soon as the words left my mouth, one really stuck out, reiterating in my mind, "Nice..."(italics)

The woman that shoved me yesterday, she made a comment on my dress. "Nice dress," was all she said and today I can't find it. She must have been the one who took it, but why? It wouldn't even fit her.

"Yes, put your things in order quickly, put it on and come find me." She said, as she joined Cassidy in what she was doing.

I nodded, still all worked up on how to get my dress back. It wasn't fair at all and she wasn't the only person who had taken a liking to an item of mine, I remembered as I rushed to check under my pillow where I left my medallion.

Relieved to find it there, I quickly put it on along with the uniform. It was a black gown with a fitted bodice, short puffy sleeves, an apron sewn to it and layers of tulle peaking out under it exaggerating its form. I just squeezed my clothes into my bag and zipped it shut then decided to leave the case of my dress closed for then.

Completing my outfit were simple black flats which was also part of the heap given to me by Evelynn—the fabric was soft and really comfortable.

By then the room was half empty, everybody going to resume their duties for that day. I started to make my way to where Evelynn was standing, outside the room.

It may be my first day of work there and although physically, I looked prepared for it, but mentally, I was a mess. I took a quick look at where that obese lady who snored too loudly slept and to my utmost surprise she wasn't there.

As I neared the door, someone pushed me from behind and I literally fell out the said door.

"Oof!"

She raised a brow at me when I assumed a standing position once more.

"Sorry. I-I just t-tripped," I lied, while getting my slightly damp hair out of my face.

Shortly after, from the door emerged the mouse girl and the one with the strange language holding hands. On seeing us, they put on brilliant smiles as if they didn't just attempt to injure me and greeted Evelynn cheerfully and innocently. They rounded a corner and off they went.

The male population were already up and going as they too, filed into the hall to go around their daily duties. I bent my head, letting my hair cover my visage, not wanting to 'draw attention' to myself from those who were yet to see what my face looked like.

That cover, however, was blown when I felt hands in my hair, braiding it.

"Stand still," Evelynn voiced from behind me.

As soon as she was done, she tied the tip with a ribbon that matched my clothes. My hair was now in a single braid with some locks left framing my face. She stepped in front of me.

"And keep your chin up—have some confidence in yourself. You're not here for them."

I certainly drew attention to myself because not a single head was left unturned when we were passing through.

My tummy rumbled and I was sure that didn't go unnoticed by Evelynn. I think I saw someone holding breakfast amongst the ones in the hall. She was ahead of me, walking briskly and I had to walk faster to avoid losing her. The paintings that lined the walls were more unnerving than soothing, for me that is, as the eyes of a particular one of a man with a crow perching on his shoulder seemed to follow my movements.

Aside from giving me nasty looks, anyone that passed us acknowledged Evelynn. It was almost as though they feared and respected her. Nonetheless, the way she carried herself with such grace and poise was astounding and in the clothes she donned, she looked even younger than she was.

After rounding so many corners and descending so many flights of stairs, the smell of delicious food greeted me as we emerged through a door to the pantry and I couldn't have been more grateful.

* * *

* *

"You are to dust the furniture and later, you'll take the drapes down to the washing room—Zebbah will show you where it is." She elucidated, handing me a bucket of cleaning materials before motioning to one of the girls that followed us in. She walked over.

"Later you are to take her to the washing room to get the drapes done. Am I clear, Zebbah?" Her voice resonated.

"Yes, Mrs. Evelynn," the girl responded hastily.

With that, she turned on her heel and exited the room. The place consisted of dark bevelled wood wainscotting walls which were lined top to bottom with books and extravagant furnishings.

The others that were here with me were already doing their work and oblivious to me. At least it was good to know that not everyone was out to get me.

When I was done with the dusting, I rounded up the drapes and waited for the girl, Zebbah, to take me to the washing room. I was already exhausted as the study was beyond dusty with very thick layers of dust on the surfaces of books and other things.

"Don't walk too close to me," Zebbah said as we were making our way to the washing room. I retreated a bit behind her. Her friend accompanied us and they were giggling and talking and stuff.

My vision was somewhat blocked because of the height of the drapes in the basket I carried. The only clue I had as to where I was going were the sounds of their high-pitched voices.

And even that soon faded and when I lowered the fabric to see what had happened, they were nowhere to be seen. I was lost and in a part of this house that I couldn't navigate, well, I couldn't navigate my way in any part of that place. It was huge and I was new to that environment.

Deciding not to panic, my senses propelled me to go south into a hallway. That part was eerily quiet and void of noises unlike the rest. As I was about to take another step, a hand dragged mine, pulling it.

"Where do you think you're going, do you wanna get fired?" Came Bambi's voice. It felt right to call her that, since the others did.

"Wha-I was just following Zebbah so I could get these drapes to the washing room. I-I think I lost my way," I stuttered out.

"Lose your way or not, if you go near that hallway you'll get automatically fired, can't you see the overhead cameras?" She pointed to it and my eyes widened exponentially, I hadn't spotted that at all.

"Zebbah talks too much and forgets what she's doing. Don't ever let her lead you anywhere, come with me." She said and I followed suit as quickly as I could.

That night after dinner, I waited for everyone to finish showering before I did, and as I was returning to my bunk, some sounds caught my attention. It sounded like moaning and some groans too. On tracing it to where it came from, my brows almost met my hairline;

Underneath a comforter, inasmuch as I couldn't make out much, it seemed as though two bodies were going over each other, the moans were louder and there couldn't have been a male in the pair 'cause they wouldn't dare come in here—it was forbidden. There were still females occupying the bunks closest to them, unfazed by it.

"Oh my God!" I suddenly wished I hadn't gone to investigate the sounds I'd heard and just minded my business as I literally speed-walked to my bunk. I knew that most of the females there were pretty messed up but that was on another level, at least to me. The images were stuck in my head. What had I just witnessed?