The sun was rising. Coloring the ocean multiple shades of red yellow and blue. A beautiful side, yet unnoticed by many eyes.
The eyes of a young woman flutter open. If you look at her room, big and wealthy decorated, you'd say she is happy. If you look at her pale skin and her wavy brown hair, You'd say she is happy. If you look at the clothes hanging in her closet, you'd say she is happy. But as soon as she opened her eyes, you would see Mariette Summer, is in fact, not happy at all. Her unique eyes, with the left one dark ocean blue and the left one light sky blue, stare somber into the room. She sighed.
A knock on the door made her look up. She closed her eyes for a moment and then said with a soft voice 'Yes'. De door opened and two maids came in. One had a box in her hands.
Mariette recognized maids, one was Julia, a young maid who was very close to Mariette herself. She had an concerned look on her face. The other one was Lucy. Mariette didn't really like the grumpy old maid, because she always chose sides with her wealthy father.
'Miss Summer'. Lucy said with an annoyed voice. 'Are you still in bed? The sun is already up. Your father is waiting.'. She opened the curtains. Julia looked at Mariette, who could see the young maid was sorry.
The young woman closed her eyes. She was worried. Her father never waited, unless there was something important. Like a suitor… Since her she became nineteen, her father would come home with a suitor. Then he would suddenly turn into a concern, nice and completely fake father. They played an act to fool the suitor. Fool him into marrying her.
But the marriage never came, not with any of them.
This made Mariette happy, but her father unhappy. And as soon as Mister Summer was unhappy, you better run for your life. Then he would grab Mariette her shoulders in a firm grip and shake her hard. Yelling at her that she was a miserable creature and slap her where he could slap her without the bruises being noticed by the suitors.
When she was young, the little Mariette always dreamed of the nice and pleasant father. who hugged her instead of slapping her. Who told her stories, instead of shaking her. Who loved her, instead of hating her. But when she became older, Mariette stopped dreaming. She realized that the loving, hugging, storytelling father didn't exist. That dreaming about that kind of father, only would make her sad, because she would never have one. Then she realized that her father really hated her.
'Miss summer?' Julia poked Mariette carefully in her cheek. 'you don't want to let your father wait'.
Mariette nodded, she knew this sentence had a double meaning. So she stepped out of the bed and smiled a sad smile towards Julia. 'I'll apologize when I see him'. She said politely. But only to please Lucy.
She was directed in a corset by the two maids, and as usual she gasped in breath as it was tightened around her stomach and chest. Then she slipped in a light blue dress.
'It matches your eyes'. Julia said as she looked at her. Her eyes still said she was sorry. Mariette's unlikely eyes asked her what was wrong. But Julia only nodded at Lucy.
The old maid pinned Mariette her brown hair on her head, leaving several locks out. When she was ready, the young woman stood up and smoothed her dress around her slender, or rather thin, body. It was time to face her father.
…
Walking down the stairs, she already saw her father. He actually looked as if he was in a good mood. A smile spread across his face when he saw her. Mariette didn't like the view of it.
'you look beautiful, Darling'. He said as he inspected her head to toe. He mentioned her to turn around, and she did so. His hand suddenly smacked her butt and she gasped in shock. Her father only grinned.
He offered her his arm which she took hesitantly. But she immediately regretted it when she felt her being dragged outside.
It was hard to keep up with her father his fast pace on high heels. And she struggled a little with the arm who hold her arm in an uncomfortable grip. They walked towards the market, she saw. After being dragged through multiple small alleys and along many shops, they arrived at a big platform. Mariette's eyes grew big when she realized what it was. But she didn't have much time to think. Her father dragged her to the side of the platform. There was a building with guards in front of the entrance. They nodded towards her father, like they knew each other.
she began to feel more and more suspicious and threatened by his actions. But he ignored her struggle and walked along in the same pace.
…
Eventually the came into a large space. Mariette looked with in shock widened eyes towards the man and woman in the corner. Their hands were bound with shackles in front of their stomach. They were wearing poor and shredded clothes. But the thing that shocked Mariette most was the brands. At some man on the leg, at some arms. Even one man had a brand on his face.
She closed her eyes in horror. But the filthy smell of unwashed bodies and burned skin reminded her that if she turned around, the slaves would still be there.
Being the daughter of a wealthy merchant, Mariette knew about slaves. But she never thought it was this… this… She couldn't even think of the right words. She only knew she wasn't comfortable at all.
For only a second she looked up towards her father. She saw him look at her in disgust and mentioning someone with his hand. Suddenly her shoulders were taken in an iron grip and she was dragged back. Panicking, she looked at the two man who held her arms. Then she saw the shackles they were about to put on her wrists. Desperately she began to struggle. But it was no use. So she screamed. She screamed at her father, who was talking to an well-dressed man with a powdered wig, in the hope he would help her. The man looked at her with disgust and said coldly. 'make her quiet'.
A hand slapped hard in Mariette's face. Her eyes began to water at the hard slap. She felt her cheek sting. Through the tears from pain, embarrassment and fear she watched her father and the man. The man handed her father a pouch and gave him a sweet and fake smile. 'it was a pleasure doing business with you. sir'. Mariette heard him mumble.
Mariette was pushed towards the slaves who were cluttered in the corner. The guard pushed her roughly in someone his arms. The woman didn't make notice to the man and struggled to get up. She turned around, ready to storm towards the guards. But an arm around her waist prevented her attempts. She tried to scream as she hit him several times in her attempt to escape. But the man didn't let go. He pulled her against his body and kept her arms in control with one arm. He placed his other hand on her mouth.
Mariette felt the strength leaving her body. She noticed the man was also chained. That meant he was a slave too. Just like she just became.. she felt her legs tremble and she dropped on her knees. A pair of arms were placed around her. The man who held her back earlier, was now trying to comfort her. His hands stroked her hair in a kind of awkward manner. Her vision blurted in her tears and she couldn't see the man his face. She laid her head on his chest and cried. But she could hear the words he whispered.
'please don't ruin it. Luv'.
…
So. What do you think of it? Should I continue? Please be patient about my grammar, English is not my native language.
I think that the story is set before the first movie. But I'm not sure yet.
Review?
