It was barely morning when Aurora sprung out of bed, the nightmare took a while after she woke up, to fade from her mind.
As she sat up and held her chest, breathing heavily and coming in view with the darkness that had enveloped the room; the realisation of her secured whereabout, brought a sort of calmness to her body.
That night, that horrible night and its event, every one of it-- rushed up to her head with a grasping force; licking her memory with it's disheartening recollection.
As she stared into the dark space, letting the thoughts overwhelm her, tears welled up in her eyes; sleep vanishing with an uneven force.
She tried hardly to muffle her voice as she cried and to lessen the trembling of her body.
She couldn't help but think about her parents crime that warranted them to be murdered in such a cruel manner, what crime could possibly lead to murdering a whole family? She could only imagine what would have become of her if those guys had perhaps gotten a hold of her, she would have probably shared In her parents fate.
And it's even worse for her when she begins to think of her fault in that inhuman murder, if she had obediently done as her parents advised then they wouldn't have died just yet and she would still be with them, under their protection.
She wouldn't have to be a maid and under the protection of a mafia Lord, a ruthless and fearless one.
Who were those people? Why did they kill her parent and were after her? Are they the reason she and her parents had to live in the depth of the woods with barely any natural light in view?
Does her parent perhaps know this people? is there a debt they owed to them that warranted their murder?
As much as these questions ate her up, Aurora had no answers to them, the people who could answer her were already sprawled in the woods with their throats slit, the only thing she knows is that those people are enemies to her family.
She wished she could know what connection her family have with those people, and above all she wished she could turn back the hands of time. If she could, she would have been more obedient to her parent and carried out every of their orders.
She wouldn't have walked past the woods that night and given their hideout to the enemies.
She buried her face in her palm, her crying increasing. The ferocity brought a stinging pain to her head but she could barely do anything to stop it, her emotions had completely enveloped her.
"Aurora?" She heard her name and when she raised her head up, she realised that the day was fully seeping in and the bright sky faintly illuminated its light in the once completely dark room.
"Are you awake?" Juan asked, walking towards her bed.
Fortunately for her, Juan could barely see her face, thanks to the faint light. She might've guess it was her sitting up since it was her bed.
"Yes" Aurora answered before she could get closer. With swift hands, she wiped her tears continuously, getting rid of every visible trace of her crying.
"Can't sleep?" Juan asked.
Aurora cleared her throat before responding, "kinda"
"You must have been awake for long then. I'm not a deep sleeper myself. It's morning already and it's almost time for work, should we go freshen up before the others wake up?"
"Um actually, I'm starting to feel a little sleepy now, so I'll just meditate for a while. You go ahead"
"Oh Okay" Juan answered.
Aurora laid on her bed, drawing the duvet up to her head and completely hiding her body in it, she forced her eyes close.
It wasn't long before a blaring ring reached her ears, jerking her up from her meditation.
She pushed the duvet off her body and sat up to see the rest of the girls already up and making attempts to prepare for the day.
"Good morning" Juan walked to her bed with a smile, she was already dressed up in their designated and customized working clothes. "It's work time, that's what the sound means" she explained to her.
"Oh" Aurora rubbed her eyes.
"Come-on and go freshen up, now madam Paula asked me to show and assist you with your work portions since you're still healing"
"Okay"
***
"Aurora dear" Paula met them at the entrance.
"Good morning, madam Paula"
"Morning. I believe Juan already told you, she'll be working with you today. Your major work for now is to learn how to clean Rodriguez's chambers and she will assist you so you can learn from her" Paula said and Aurora nodded.
"Run along now, you two. Make sure to finish up before eight"
"Yes, madam Paula" Juan answered.
"Eight is when we have breakfast" she explained to Aurora.
"Oh okay" Aurora nodded.
They reached the brief lane that demarcated their building from the mansion and before it, Juan insisted they go through the vast field.
As they walked on the neatly trimmed green grasses, Aurora noticed some guys, about six in number , they all had on heavy shooting gadgets for protection and were having a shooting range. It was many feet from where they were but Aurora recognized Rodriguez as he coordinated them, his cold voice as he guided them, reverberated in the vast land; sending coldness to Aurora's spine.
She looked away at once, her slender fingers gripping the bucket handle.
"They are the new intakes and they are undergoing ferocious training. Rodriguez hires them if he finds them capable after the training is completed" Juan explained, as if reading her thoughts.
"Hire them as what?" Aurora couldn't help her inquisitiveness.
"Guards, messengers, spies, sometimes as warriors. Anything he deem fit" Juan expatiates.
"Those jobs are risky, right?" Aurora asked, "why would they want to risk their lives like that?"
"Life itself is risky, Aurora. And these people, they've taken more of life risks than any of us. Rod is like a savior to them cos most of them are just weak homeless beggars, begging for a chance to a real life" Juan explained, "unlike other Mafias you'd see out there, Rodriguez is very different. He picks his men from the scratch; helpless and Defenseless and trains them to be bold, courageous and warriors.
And even though they don't end up getting hired, they have self-defense and a view of reality" Juan said, her voice filled with pride for her boss.
"So..reality is being ferociously trained by a mafia and probably getting hired in the end?"
"To them Aurora, it is" Juan smiled. "And it's nice to know we're discussing at length"
Aurora looked away from her, drawing her gaze back to the field and where the 'intakes' were. At a more observant view, she could see a blood-like stain on the bare bodies on this men and Marks of tortures. She could only imagine how ferocious these trainings were and if it really worths it.
Drawing back from her thoughts, she took her time to stare at the intakes one by one, although it was a blurry view; she could see them clearly enough to be able to tell who it was, if she happens to see them at a closer view.
She noticed one of the intakes staring at her, his gaze was lingering and she suddenly felt discomforted by it.
"Come-on, let's hurry up before Rodriguez takes a break" Juan took her attention for a moment and as they increased their steps, Aurora pushed her gaze to the training ground and found his gaze still plastered on her.
She tore her gaze away from his and walked ahead of Juan, not sparing even a glance backwards again.