SABINE.
This place was surreal, the exterior was breathtaking but inside was a whole different story. This didn't seem like the same country, our country doesn't have this type of interior design for homes. But it could be expected that this would be different, the architecture was internationally recognized. Dark rooms with visible brickwork and antique figurines lined the household. Each of which cost more than most people ever made in their lifetimes. Beautiful wood carvings etched into the furniture, red and scarlet colored drapes and carpets laying elegant on the marble floors. Indoor plants and garden, and a swimming pool that sat above our heads as we walked into the servant's quarters. Even the servants' quarters were better than my home, better than the homes of the richest families in my community, it was selfish but I felt I should never go home.
"You'll be in the room down the hall," Florence informed. "There a few things you also need to note, never look the family in the eyes when they speak to you, do not argue, and don't call the old Madam old.
Nodding quickly, we began the tour again. It was twilight by the time we were done with the interior of the house. I was handed a digital map until I got wind of my movements. Apparently being new and not knowing where to be was not an excuse that was permitted in the apex and it did not come as a surprise. No one would expect their maids to give excuses when they paid as much as they did.
My room was beautiful, it was mine alone. The mattress laid inside the wall, a part of which had been carved out and the light switch was right above my head, a delight. Even in my portable room they were plants, it was as if they cared for their staff, as if. It wasn't long before I fell asleep but after a few hours, I couldn't fall asleep again.
But no one would be able to after having a nightmare as terrible as mine. Sitting upright in my bed, I struggled to calm my breathing. The loose pajamas I wore earlier clung to my body like a second skin and my nape felt overheated by the hair layering in wet curls on it. How long was it since I had this nightmare, a dream of me dying, with so many unfamiliar faces and memories that were too abstract to be mine but were?
I got out of my room in a large hoodie and shorts, deciding to get ahead on my tour of the exterior of the house. It was pointless to try and sleep anyway. This house was beautiful and all but I loved it most at night. There was the quiet, the tiny light scattered all across the green vegetation as though they lit up the way towards a haven, it looked like a fairy-tale.
Then I wound up at a smaller house, made of only glass sitting before a lake. It was locked no surprise there but it had a wooden balcony and comfortable furniture, and the most beautiful view of the lake. It was the first time I had ever been here but I loved it, it just felt natural, it felt like home.
ISABELLE
"Too bright… it's too bright." Lifting my arm to block out the piercing light hitting my irises I struggle to stand, but I cannot lift my body. Is this normal? I feel everything so it cannot be that I am numb or paralyzed. I feel everything! And I am alive? As my vision begins to clear and my eyes focus I am greeted with the stars, and a sense of sadness washed over me as tears come to my eyes. Is this my own heaven? Back in my family home staring at the stickers in the shape of stars that glowed when it was dark, stickers I put up with my dad. There was a time I could not sleep without looking at these stars.
"I'm sorry Belle, but aunt insisted that the curtains stay that way." A soft voice said beside me, I remember that voice…
Turning my head to the side I am meant with a familiar face and if I was sad before then now I was just plain heartbroken. I am in heaven! Thank God, I wasn't sure I would be coming to heaven after everything I had done in my life, but even God could see that I truly lived a sad life. "Marianne" streaks of tears fell down the side of my face as I tried to reach for her.
"Are you crying? Are you still drunk?" Marianne asked, squinting as she leaned down to sniff around me.
It took longer than I intended but finally, I could lift myself off the bed with some difficulty though, I pulled Marianne into a hug. Tears flowed down my cheek as I held my sister.
"Wow, you're definitely still drunk." She muttered behind me, tapping my back.
"I can't believe you're here right now," I sniffled pushing back and holding her shoulders. Marianne only blinked at me with those big beautiful brown doe eyes, when I pushed back her beautiful brown bangs that framed her forehead.
"I know, I know, you said I shouldn't enter your room without your permission but aunt was about to bulldoze in here and I know that loud noises and hangovers don't go together." She said with a nonchalant look on her round face.
"Aunt? She's here too?" If that witch was here things just took a drastic turn.
"And why wouldn't I be here?" My eyes widened, I would recognize that voice in my sleep, it was the star of all my nightmares.
"Aunt?"
"Wow look at this wench, you must still be drunk. Would you get up and get cleaned this instant!" She screeched, even Marianne who wasn't hungover grasped her ears to protect her sense of hearing, imagine how I felt? A headache throbbing so hard it felt as though my skull would split open.
This doesn't make any sense! How can this be heaven? I slowly crawled out of bed but I was on the floor before I realized what was going on, I tripped on my sister's wheelchair. "Oh! Belle are you okay? I'm so sorry about that."
"I've told you countless times to stay out of the way with that chair of yours. Just because you are handicapped doesn't mean you have to inconvenience the rest of us." My aunt spat. And an odd feeling of deja vu washed all over me.
"Don't speak to her like that!" I spat, "do not forget that you are our guardian, just because you're in charge of the family company right now doesn't mean you can open that disgusting mouth of yours and spew whatever. You don't own anything, it's all mine and if I were you I would be very careful about how I spoke."
There was a short moment of initial shock and silence and when that passed it honestly did not come as a surprise when she slapped me. But I did not regret saying anything I just did, I have been dying to do so, and to think I died without doing that? Was way too peaceful, I have no idea where I was right now but it was certainly not heaven, no way this woman would be in heaven, and no way my sweet little sister would be in hell. She couldn't be in heaven and still be in a wheelchair. Wherever this was, as far as I was already dead I could do what I wanted and I would die again before she disrespected us like this again.
"You bitch! Who do you think you are talking to?! Do you have no fear? And don't even think of blaming alcohol because I know you are sober." She spat at me, this wrench must think she has grown up just because she is in college now."
College? What a minute, don't tell me-!
Turning to Marianne in a panic, "what is today's date?"
"Huh? The 1st, October." She answered with a curious look on her face.
"What year?"