The Underworld

chapter nine

This week has been a bit stressful but it all payed off so here's another chapter. Enjoy!

comments + votes are appreciated ❤️
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Three weeks had gone by since I started working at the main house. I run by the same routine every day. Wake up at seven in the morning, get ready in thirty, whatever chores I can get done till one, thirty minute break, and chores again until seven before getting ready for bed.

There was always something to do around the house besides the usual — laundry, cooking, and cleaning. If you finished early or thought there was nothing to do, Diana and Anna always had a chore.

There was no time to watch television, swim in the pool, or enjoy the many entertainment rooms this house had to offer. You weren't allowed to do anything besides work. It was why they bought you and any disagreement would get you into trouble. I no longer had any connection to the rest of the world. I believed that my parents and Dean were still looking for me. It had only been a few weeks and I knew that they wouldn't give up on finding me.

But would they ever?

I learned a lot during my time here. This house was property of the Coldwell family — Mr. and Mrs. Coldwell, and their two children, Louis and Annabeth. Since the day I was assigned to be sent here, I haven't run into any of them and the likelihood of ever doing so was slim. They were barely here mainly because this house was meant for many of their employees to live in. The Coldwell family only slept here when they had business nearby.

There was always one girl gossiping about the higher ups of the house. This house was one of the many properties of the Coldwell family. I knew from first hand experience, they were involved in human trafficking — buying and selling men, women, and children. They smuggled and sold drugs as well as weapons in and out of the States. One girl even mentioned they were somehow involved with the mafia. I found it hard not to believe them, but at the same time I didn't want to believe that this is what life had planned for me.

I was on my way to the laundry room, basket filled with clothes in hand. We were only allowed to be in the areas in which our chores were or else the rest of the house was off limits. None of us knew the layout of the house since most of our chores were the same every day. Whenever I was on my way from one place to another, I'd sneak glances down different halls and rooms. Trying to escape at this point was a stupid idea but if I studied the layout of the house and the patterns of anyone who stepped foot in it, I think I can do it and succeed.

As soon as I was about to turn into the hall, I ran into someone. Immediately I knew who it was. I had seen her very few times during my shifts but everyone knew her.

Annabeth Coldwell.

"I'm sorry!" I held onto the basket for dear life, thankful that none of the clothes spilled out, and stared down at the ground.

She didn't speak. I felt shivers run down my spine as her gaze swept through me. I continued to stare down, waiting for her to speak — preferring that the ground below me would open and swallow me.

"What's your name?" She asked.

"A-Alaina."

"I would be more careful next time. Someone else would've not taken it lightly and not let you go off easily."

"I understand." I gave her a quick nod. She said nothing else and walked away. I didn't waste any more time and resumed walking.

After lunch, I brought my plate back to the kitchen and started helping the girls make food for the house residents. White rice, asparagus, and spaghetti with meatballs was today's dinner. There were certain of the men and women that would request an extra side including either mashed potatoes, salad, or beans. If there was any leftover food, those assigned of making that specific meal could eat it or else it would be taken to any of the other maids who wanted it.