Chapter 3
Clementine, we've already given you enough time to prepare but you're hardheaded as ever. We don't even know if you can survive out there," she uttered and I can feel my hair raising. I don't know the "we" Miss Dolores is talking about.
"I don't understand..."
Miss Dolores just stared at me, suddenly, I can see worry in her eyes. I don't know why but that made me more nervous.
Then the last thing I know, she pushed me to the cold sea and before I have time to react, everything went black.
I thought this is it. That this is how I'll die. But then I was surprised when I felt a warm hand under my knee and another one around my neck. Somehow that brings me comfort.
I kept hearing the same words over and over again but I can't understand them. Then I felt something touches my lips.
Everything is blurry to me. I can't barely open my eyes and speak to know what's happening around me.
The next thing I know, everything went black once again.
When I opened my eyes, I automatically realize this is not my room since this one is far too plain. The walls are painted in beige and the room has a total of two beds.
I heard a very unfamiliar voice that said, "Thank Goodness you're awake, Clementine."
"The whole household especially Mr. Augustus Bennett are worried about you considering that you've been asleep for the past week."
Questions came flooding right into my mind but I am too dizzy to start.
What? What is she talking about? Who is Mr. Augustus Bennett? And i've been asleep for one week?
"Who are you?" I asked to the blonde woman probably around fifty years old. Relief is evident in her face which makes me more confused.
"What are you talking about? I'm Martha, your coworker." she answered. Nervous is slowly replacing the relief in her face.
"W-what?"
I don't remember having a work.
"A-and where am I?" I added since it's taking so long for her to answer.
"My dear child, haven't you remember anything? What's happening to you?" she added.
"A-all I remember is getting pushed by Miss Dolores into the cold sea and getting drowned. Then someone saved me. And that's it." I answered as I gently messaged my temple.
"What are you talking about? Why would Missis Dolores push you into the sea? Have you done anything wrong, my dear?" she asked, I don't know why but her questions kept hurting my head.
Why is she calling Miss Dolores a Missis? The last time I check, she doesn't have a husband.
"That must be the effect of drowning yourself, sweetie," she insisted, her eyes searching for any injury in my face.
"I told you, Miss Dolores pushed me!" I replied, sitting.
Her eyes automatically widened, her jaw dropped.
"Goodness gracious, a woman should never speak like that." She strictly uttered and I can feel my cheeks getting red.
"Be careful with your words, Clementine. Your accusations can get you in bastille. People will talk about Bennett family having a crazy maid."
"You know what they say, rather be silent than talk nonsense," Martha once again blurted out. My head down due to confusion and shame.
All I want her to do is to tell me this is nothing but a big prank and that she works for me and Grandpa and that she'll promise not to do any of this prank again and that she'll leave me alone right now.
I was about to tell her that when I heard the bell rang. I automatically covered my ears and wince.
"Off I go, Clementine. Take a rest here, my child and please, just please. Watch your mouth," she added as she rose from her seat and quickly opened the door and go.
Of course, I stared at her before she disappears from my sight and realize she was wearing a plain navy-blue gown and a white apron. Her blonde hair up.
I slowly rose from my bed, I mean from the bed since I am definitely sure this was not mine or my family's.
I wander around the room and I look outside from the window and because of that, I cannot help myself from getting amaze on what i'm seeing right now. I am definitely not in my house because this house was far too huge.
The land is covered with different kinds of flowers. Literally. Almost all of them are flowers that i've never seen before and I can see a pond just right in the corner. There were also so many perfectly-made statues and tell you what, this was my first time seeing a maze and despite the fact that I am in a very high level, I still can't find the maze's end.
Where the hell is Minotaur?
I continued walking around the room until I saw a girl who looks exactly like me who is wearing the same attire as Martha. We have the same fair skin, same dark straight hair that falls right above the shoulder, same hazelnut eyes, same long eyelashes, and same freckles that look like constellations under my eyes that I am constantly insecure about.
I slowly step back until I realize that this girl in front of me was no other than me myself. And that I am standing right in front of a mirror.
Then I heard the door opened once again and I don't know why but I almost cried when I saw Miss Dolores standing right in front of me.
I quickly went to her and asked, "What's happening? I don't understand all this. Why did you push me into the sea and where am I? I'll tell Grandpa all about this."
Ms. Dolores took a seat right in the corner and said, "one at a time."
"What is happening?" I asked, my arms crossed. My brows meeting.
"Miss Clementine Wright, you just time-traveled to the victorian period." I was about to scream when Ms. Dolores covered my mouth and said, "Keep your voice down."
"Why am I in victorian era? What year is it? 18 what?" I panicky asked. Still not digesting what's happening.
"The year is 1888 and obviously, Queen Victoria is reigning right now." she answered as if this is nothing to worry about.
"Don't worry, Clementine. Everyone here knows you're just a simple new girl in this town with zero relatives. Also, you've made a handful of friends already here so don't be surprised if someone you don't know come running towards you,"
"The very reason why you're in this period is that of the task you're destined to do since the day you've been born."
"And what's my so-called mission?" my head just kept on hurting.
"Your very task is to kill Mr. Douglas Bennett." She answered.
That made me open my eyes as wide as possible due to this revelation.
"First of, are you kidding me? Why would I kill Mr. Douglas Bennett or anyone in general? Plus, I don't even know who Douglas Bennett is!"
"Keep your voice down, Clementine. We don't wanna spoil your mission, aren't we? And in case you forgot, you don't own this house."
"Just do what I say. Kill him and you're back to your silly old bedroom with thousand of maids following you." Miss Dolores replied. I have this urge to pull her hair right now due to frustration.
"But why would I kill him? I deserve a valid reason. I am no hitman!" I respond, pulling my hair instead.
"That I cannot answer, my child. For you to find out why is part of your mission," she said, shrugging.
That made me more annoyed as hell. Why can't she just go back to being a teacher of mine and forget this all? I'll promise I'll read one of her silly old books.
"Who is Douglas Bennett?" I slowly asked, my eyes closed. I can feel my eyes getting wet.
"He's the owner of this mansion. The one we work for," she quickly answered and that caught me off guard.
"Th-the one we work for?" My brow raising due to confusion.
"You heard it right. The one we work for. As you can probably guess, you're now wearing a maid uniform which only means in this period, you, my darling are a housemaid." her answer almost made me faint because goodness gracious, I don't even know how to wash the dishes on my own and now you're telling me I'm a housemaid? Are you kidding me? Please let this all be a dream.
"Just keep in mind that your very mission is to kill Douglas Bennett and maintain a low-profile in this household." she reminded me and with that, she rose from her seat and brushed off whatever is in her white gown.
"Surely, you remember all the do's and don'ts in the manual I kept on giving you. Your survival in this era depends on your knowledge of that book," Miss Dolores added. That's the point, to be honest, never did I really read that victorian era book, probably the first three pages but I always ended up closing it due to boredom.
If only I knew that i'll be transported in this era then I will surely memorize every word that book says.
All I remember is that meekness is a desirable trait here and I being meek is not in my book of qualities.
"H-how abo-" I haven't had the chance to finish my statement when suddenly, a girl probably three years older than me appears in the door.
"Mr. Douglas Bennett is waiting for you, Missis Dolores." she formally said, here we go again with the word 'Missis'