A Metaphor For Madness

The day dawned bright and promising. Dad had gone to work, Mom was out dealing with the laundry, I was colouring and Nicholas was doing...well, whatever he was doing.

"Carina! Carina!" My brother called, he sounded really excited. "Carina! You gotta see this!" He called again.

I rolled my eyes before saying, "Fine! I'm coming."

Closing my colouring book, I stood up so I could go answer him but little did I know that heeding that call would be the worst thing I'd ever do...

He had his back on me when I made it into the kitchen.

"What is-"

"Shhh!" He cut my sentence abruptly. "Be quiet or else Mom will hear you." He said in hushed tones.

Peeking out of the window, I saw Mom just a few feet down in the backyard before returning my gaze to him. In his hands was a broomstick and his eyes had this gleam that indicated that he was up to no good.

He stooped, sliding the tip into the flames that licked at the pot and when he pulled back his hand, an orange flame lingered on it. It burned brightly, leaving a trail of ash behind in its wake. To a gullible eight-year-old, that was one of the most fantastic things I'd ever seen.

"It's so...orange," I gushed. "But Mom said not to play with fire, she said it's very dangerous," I warned.

He cracked a smile. "Oh really? Or maybe you're just scared."

"I am not!" I frowned.

"Scaredy cat!" He mocked, trying to shove the lit broomstick into me.

I took off instinctively, half hoping he wouldn't chase after but when I heard pounding footsteps behind me it dawned on me that I should've known better.

"Scaredy cat! Scaredy cat!" He teased again and again as the chase continued.

"No horseplay in the house kids!" Mom's voice resonated from outside but we were already jumping over furniture and nearly hurling things at each other.

I was angry at first because of the names he called me but broke out laughing when I thought I had outrun him for the first time 'cause he was no longer chasing me and was nowhere to be seen.

That ecstasy was short-lived however when he jumped in right in front of me, having a sinister smile and relit his broomstick whose flame had died off somewhere along our wild chase.

Yelping, I shoved him away, the force of my action causing him to drop the broomstick still lit onto the carpet which in turn caught fire instantaneously.

"Cool," Nicholas whispered at first.

I, on the other hand, didn't find it funny but the way fire moved, covering everything and anything in its path got me mesmerized to the point that my young brain didn't register that it was in any kind of danger at least not until it started becoming difficult to see and it had become like an inferno.

I screamed Nicholas's name amidst the chaos. He was a few feet in front, coughing persistently, only looking up when he must've heard my voice. He reached out his hand in my direction while beams, part of the ceiling were coming off every which way, burning as they fell.

I struggled to grasp his hand and at that moment when I almost had it, a huge burning chunk of the ceiling collapsed on me. I yelled out in agony as it scalded my flesh whilst trying to push it off me. I couldn't breathe nor could I stop coughing. The entire room had gone up in flames then.

"Nicholas!" I desperately shrieked out my brother's name, fearing that the worst had happened to him. I strived to push away the burning material, it was hot to the touch and seared my flesh wherever it made contact, inducing me to slither and scream like a salt-doused earthworm.

It scalded my palms as I continued pushing, the pain was profound and I just didn't know how I'd kept it up this long. Maybe it was my will to survive melded with the adrenaline or maybe it was just the raw thanatophobia...

"Clang!" Shrieking as the weight I was already battling with was reinforced with something much heavier, I felt tremendous agony as my skin became subject to the fire, the flames doing to it as it pleased. I was being roasted alive and there was nothing I could do to prevent it but welcome my fate. The weight had become too unbearable and my hands fell slack to my sides leaving the former to land fully on my small form.

That was the last straw as the impact knocked the remaining air out of me, the infernal heat of the fire only waxed stronger. I could only hear my heart rate pulsing through my ears as spots danced across my vision, only faintly hearing the incessant wailing of a voice similar to my Mother's, and thoughts of my family floated about in my head as I succumbed to the throes of my fate...

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My gaze remained fixed on one spot and one of my palms was already clutching my medallion so hard that the metal dug into it almost drawing blood. No detail of what happened that day ever left my mind. Ever. 'Cause I was constantly being reminded of it every time I witnessed my reflection.

It used to feel much more awful when I recounted this to anyone, however as days turned to months and months to years, it hurt less and less even then the pain would never truly cease...

A whimper caught my attention and almost immediately, I jerked my head to the source of the sound. There Bambi sat, lightly sobbing and sniffling, the only intended listener to my despondent tale. There could have been others who caught snatches of my story throughout the room though.

Ooh little Bambi...crying, my heart almost softened at the sight.

"Sorry, it's just that yours is the saddest story I've ever heard," she sniffled, before pulling herself together. "You've been to hell and back—literally, which shows how incredibly strong you are. Indeed I have to admit, I've never met anyone of your caliber, Carina Osborne, and someday, you'll be worthy to be called my friend."

"Yeah, whatever," I rolled my eyes before readjusting myself to a lying position. I can't believe I spent precious time narrating my tale to a complete moron.

"Aren't you going back to your bed," I asked when she hadn't even lifted a muscle.

She smiled apologetically. "Before that, what happened after you passed out?"

Groaning, I said, "I was rescued and fell into a coma for about four months."

"Then what?"

"Then you found your way to your bed wherever it is and left me alone, goodnight!" I drawled out, already annoyed.

* * *

* *

"Everyone get up!" Someone shrieked, and the bells had begun ringing in my head so loudly that it frenzied me off the bed. I landed with a resounding thud and my cranium throbbed.

What was so important about today that even automated bell sounds were used to wake us up?

Everybody was in a frenzy, trying to take a shower and get ready. Luckily, I had woken up in the wee hours of the morning and had taken a shower before drifting off again.

There, in the middle of the chaos stood Evelynn looking regal, regarding us all like little ants.

"Good morning Evelynn," I greeted in my hoarse morning voice.

"Morning Carina, shouldn't you be getting ready too?" She questioned, scrutinizing my appearance.

"I've already had a bath so what's left is just to look the part but what exactly is happening today?" I simply had to ask, waking us up with bells didn't sound like something she'd just do for the fun of it.

"Ooh, Madam called, she'll be back in the next ten hours."

"What?"

"That's why everywhere has to be spotless before she arrives," she explained.

"Wait! It's today?"

"Of course, why? Is there any problem?" She asked concernedly.

"No...uum no it's just that it caught me by surprise, that's all," I told her.

"Alright," she said before pausing as she remembered something. "Has anyone been disturbing you so far? Anyone at all?" She continued, scanning my features carefully, probably awaiting the slightest mood change.

However, I kept an innocent look as I responded. "No, everyone has done such a good job minding their business. My stay here so far has been nothing but blissful."

She backed off as hoped but something told me that she didn't buy my story entirely...

I had worn my uniform and braided my hair, ready to take off, when I bumped into a hard mass. The force of the collision sent me stumbling a few feet backwards before a firm hand steadied me. Not having to look up, I knew who it was. I guess I'd have to give my answer to her request today.

Despite my 5'9 height, Susan towered over me. Those amber eyes lingered on my form before she turned on her heel and in a flash, I felt hands on either side of me latched onto my arms, nudging me forward. The room wasn't entirely empty and as I said before, I could be getting skinned alive and no one would care.

"So, I believe I've given you enough time to process everything I told you earlier." She began.

She sat on a trunk and I sat on a bed opposite her. Her playthings had surrounded her and I was left under their scrutinizing gazes. My mouth remained shut.

"Before you say anything..." She motioned something to one of them and before long, a familiar green fabric came into view, being held by Anne.

"My dress," I thought it was lost forever. How did they even get their hands on it?

"This belongs to you?" She raised a brow.

I nodded solemnly.

Every one of their faces showed varying degrees of disgust directed towards me. I kept mine, staring anywhere but at them, trying to maintain my composure.

"I know you want it back so badly but you know what to do." She reached out a hand to stroke my cheek like she couldn't restrain herself and I recoiled from her touch...

"If you let me have you, I promise you that no one will ever maltreat you or do or act in a way that makes you feel inferior. The pranks, those side talks, they're all gonna stop—don't you want that?" Her voice was soft...and with the magnanimity of her utterance, there was no doubt that she could make that happen.

I'd always envisioned what it'd be like not having to live in the fear of getting pranked the next moment, mocked, or worse. It would be bliss but was this worth it?

"Can't you see how I look? I'm not even attractive-" She interrupted my words. "I don't care about any of that," Her eyes had hooded over with what seemed like lust as it raked over my form and one of her hands now rested on my cheek. "You possess a gorgeous figure. That's what I'm after."

For a moment there, I almost lost myself to her persuasive abilities but my conscience couldn't be misled. I felt a pang of guilt for even considering her prospect and shook my head all the same. I couldn't do this, my conscience wouldn't let me, my belief judged me too and it was something I wasn't even fervent in.

Looking at her pawns, Heaven knows what she offered them in exchange for their dignity or if she even had to offer anything at all and what she was offering me then wasn't even enough for me to sell it all just like that, now that I thought of it.

They could do whatever they wanted to, with my dress and even though it meant a lot to me, it wasn't worth it.

"No," I breathed, her face barely inches away from mine.

"What?" She asked, hoping she had heard me wrong.

"I said no, Susan, I refuse your offer," I stated flatly, before standing up and straightening out the imaginary creases on my uniform. Numerous eyes were on me and the look on Susan's face was priceless.

"As for my dress, you can burn it if you want. I don't care about it anymore. It was nice talking to you."

"Wish Bambi was here to see how I 'handled' Susan." I thought as I proceeded to make my way out. It might seem funny now but I was sure I'd just made myself an arch nemesis and if Estefania disliked me before, she would absolutely loathe me now.

The angry ripping of fabric permeated the air as I exited the room...at least I still had my pendant, something they'd never be able to get their hands on, I'd make sure of that...

I was exiting the last room I had to clean for that day when I spotted several of my coworkers running in the direction of the foyer.

"What are you doing here?" Bambi emerged by my side in an instant. "You should be on your way to the foyer, Madam's back!" She screamed like a teenager before dragging me along with her. We all stood by the landing. There were murmurs, chattering, laughter, and even screaming amongst us which all died down the moment Evelynn showed up. She walked briskly to the door and opened it.

Some guys piled in, carrying the luggage she brought home, and then, Madam. She looked simply melancholic as usual, shouldn't have expected anything less.

Cassidy followed suit, regarding us all coldly. Evelynn nodded at her before they proceeded to help Madam to her room.

I heard sighs—some of the relief and disappointment as everyone began to dispatch before a bone-chilling scream rang out, echoing throughout the room.

Everyone's eyes fleeted to the door once more as a repulsive-looking, haggard man, struggling immensely in a futile attempt to break free from his straightjacket, still being held strongly by two burly men—Ned and Douglas—came in. He continued shouting and flailing around and even from their(the men's) faces, you could see that it took a lot out of them to hold him down.

Everyone paved the way for them to pass and there was no doubt that they were heading to that room in the West wing. More guys followed, bearing more luggage. The murmurs persisted once they passed.

I too was very shocked because every time someone said something about his condition, I thought they meant it metaphorically. But what I just saw then contradicted that by far. He was a freaking mad person and then, I felt quite stupid for ever thinking that any of it was metaphorical.

My dumb brain!