Bella woke up, drenched in sweat.
The room was entrenched in darkness, and there was no other sound around. Bella knew she was probably being silly, but she just could not seem to get his image out of her mind. She could not see past his horrible leer, as he had come towards her, as she was polishing one of the windows on one of the upper floors. She could not see past the feel of his hands reaching and catching hold of her body, as she tried to writhe away.
Again, and again, she processed... to the ripping of fabric, as he ripped the apron away from her, with one large hand, keeping his other one covering her mouth so she could not scream. She remembered the way she felt totally helpless, as he turned back to look at her, a creepy grin, stretching from ear to ear.
Bella now stared into the darkess, her arms around her knees. She had been working in Haver manor, only a few months. But , it had only taken a few months for her to catch his eye.
He had tried talking to her at first. Acting friendly. But she had politely dismissed him.
She was well aware , that she should not talk freely to her superiors. Her mother had told her to keep her head down, and just do the work. That way, she should stay out of trouble. that was Bella's rule.
However, seeing that his friendly approach had failed,he had become quite willing to try something else. He had changed his tactics. He became like a love-sick boy, always following her around the house, always by her side, and always, always chatting to her. She had been flattered, at the time, but soon realised, that he was trying to woo her. She backed away at once.
He had grown irritable.
Annoyance at her formed and grew, until at last, he decided, that if she would not take him willingly, then, he would take her by force. And that is what happened. Bella remembered the pain. The utter blinding split second beforehand, that a thousand thoughts rushed to fill, before the agony of the pain, that she was forced to endure in silence, for she could not be heard.
When he was satisfied, he had risen, and warned her, nothing of this was to pass her lips, or he would expose her as nothing more then a whore, throwing herself at him. Bella's frightened face nodding, was the last thing he had seen before he turned away, fixing his tie as he went.
Bella did not even dare to think about the consequences if her tongue loosened. His face, so angry, red, and flushed came back to her , in flickers. No, she must not tell. That would be disasterous. Faintly, when she had started here, she remembered a woman, clearly past her middle years, telling her to bear in mind that the reputation that surrounded this house was unstained, unlike some of the other large houses in the county, and that she wanted it to remain that way.
Bella remembered asking her why she had been so concerned. The womans answer was terse " Because, Miss Swan, although someone's life only lasts a certain number of days, a bad reputation lasts for ever."
Bella had understood immediately. " Yes, ma'am."
But now, what had happened? Bella had fallen prey to a rich man, a man whose reputation happened to be the best in the county. No one would believe her, anyway, if she told someone. they would call her a liar. She could imagine their very words.
"What a terrible young girl...making up stories about the master of the house..."
"That man is a honourable one. He gives to the local charities every christmas. How dare she make those accusations!"
"I know what I would do if one of my maids did that to me! I would throw her out onto the street, and ensure she finds another position, prefarably far , far away!"
Hot tears spilt over the sides of Bella's cheeks. She broke down right there. Those visions were so very real. She was frightened. She could not tell anyone, yet, how could she go on? How could she go on , being the innocent young woman of sixteen? She was no longer innocent, robbed was she of her last remaining gift; her virtue. Suddenly, she let herself give in to the sudden despair that the circumstance demanded.
Three days later
It was Marie who first thought there was something wrong with Bella.
She saw her sitting on the stairs one evening, her head in her hands, her bucket of water beside her. Then, a few hours later, she saw her again, she was in one of the large gardens, tending to the plants dejectedly. Ever since the rumours of war had begun, the Haver family had begun to tighten their staff. Most of the gardeners were dropped, forcing the other staff to shoulder this extra chore.
She noticed, that Bella was more quiet then usual. Normally, Bella was a shy young girl, but this was odd. Not a word passed Bella's lips, and everytime she laid eyes on the master, she seemed to make some excuse, and mover herself and her work to another part of the house. Her brown eyes were unusually dull, and lifeless.
Marie mused over the cause of this..
Only fifteen years old, Marie's early past was largely known by the rest of the household. Brought up in a nearby orphanage, ( her parents had perished, in mysterious circumstances..) she had left when the amount of children being admitted to the orphanage had become too much. The women who had worked at the orphanage , had helped her gain a place at Havor Manor, and she's been here since.
Red haired, loud, and rather a plump girl, she was nevertheless, once you got to know her, quite a friendly girl. Bella had nodded to her once, as they'd passed by each other, but in those days, Bella was learning to keep her head down.
Marie had always been facinated by Bella. The brown haired girl who rose at five each morning to stoke the fireplaces, and kept her eyes down, until she went to bed, late that night. Maria didn't know how she did it.
So, it was a shock when one night, Marie was just finishing her dutys around the house, to find Bella sobbing quietly in the back of the servents quarters. Marie's feet had been killing her, and she had been just cursing her luck, when she had laid eyes on her. At the sight of Bella's silent tears, however, she immediately stooped down, and asked her what the matter was.
"Bella?" Marie asked quietly.
Bella didn't move. Curiously, the quiet sobbing had ceased.
Marie moved closer, and put her hand on Bella's shoulder, gently. Bella still refused to move , or even lift her head. Marie was worried. Was Bella ashamed, to have been found crying?
Marie didn't think it was because Bella was unhappy...no, that couldn't be it. Marie had always been quite comfortable with her position..and the others, too, she assumed. The Master was not a hard man. Although, he could sometimes, erupt into a short temper, it happened only occasionally.
"Bella..whats, wrong?" She tried again.
Bella didnt answer. She couldn't. She just couldn't. She couldnt tell a girl younger then her, of..of..what he'd done...to her...She felt like a piece of filth, she didn't feel she deserved this girl's kindness. At all.
Marie shook her shoulder. " Bella? You're worrying me, please, just tell me, what is the matter?" So, she was shocked when Bella suddenly rose. " P..Promise..you won't tell?" The frantic look that crossed Bella's features, made Maria automatically nod. " Of course not "
"Well, then.."
"Yes?"
"Marie...I don't know, how-how to tell you...I don't know if I should..you see...he warned me...." Bella's voice quivered.
"Go on, you can tell me, I won't tell. " said Marie , displaying a surprising amount of maturness, for someone of her age.
Bella swallowed. " I feel so....dirty. Unclean. Like..like....I could never be clean again..he's taken that away.." Bella froze. Had she said too much? She thought she had. Ans she could see from Maries alarmed face, that she was burning to know more.
Oh God.
"Bella...what exactly happened to you?"
" I-I...I-I..Oh, Marie.." And suddenly, it all came tumbling out. She couldn't keep it in anymore. It had been bothering her for days..
" He...he...touched me...he touched me...where...he shouldn't have...but he did...and I couldn't do anything to stop him..and...-" At this point,Bella found it impossible to continue. She callapsed against Marie's shoulder, tears now streaming down her cheeks.
Marie had been stunned into silence.
She could hardly speak. No wonder, Bella had seemed so detached lately...it all made sense! Yes...
She patted Bella on the back. The younger girl comforting the elder one. She knew , as if by instinct, that Bella was in no shape to dive once again, into the depths of her ordeal, or anything, but Marie suddenly felt a burning desire, to know...who did this ...appalling crime?
"Bella.." She began gently. " I know you don't want to tell me, and if I were you, I wouldn't want to either...but...which man was responsible for this crime? Who was he? Can you tell me that? Please."
It took a few more minutes, of Marie's coaxing to get Bella to raise her head, and still shuddering, she told her who had done it. Bella's voice broke on the last word. She gazed at Marie, knowing , that she would see the familar look of shock etched on her features.
She did. Marie could not hide it. She released Bella suddenly. " No.." she whispered. " No, Bella....that's not possible..."
" It is. Believe me." Bella said, misreably.
Marie shook her head. "No.." she echoed.
"You don't believe me." Bella stated , flatly. She knew this would happen. She knew no one would ever believe her. It was her word against his. And there was little doubt in her mind, who would win the public vote.
"No..It's not that ...." Marie shook her head again. " Bella...we need to do something.. you need to do something.."
Bella raised her gaze to Marie's. " Oh? Like..? Marie , in case you haven't noticed, I have a job, here, I have everything I could possibly-"
"Bella, you cannot stay." Marie said, quite firmly.
"Why?, I could act as if everything were normal-"
"But, Bella, you and I both know that they're not. Nothing is normal, anymore. Can you imagine, looking him in the eyes for the rest of your life, knowing, what he once did to you? Can you not feel the tingle at the back of your neck, in case, he caught you unaware again, one day, and the same thing happened again? "
For the first time,Bella did begin to reflect on what it would be like, to gaze into his bright blue eyes, those eyes, which had apraised her once too often. Those hands, which would twitch in her direction...
She felt her knees begin to shake. Marie was right. She couldn't stay here. But where could she go?
As if in answer to her question, Marie suddenly spoke up. " The Agency. "
"What?" Bella said, looking up at her.
" The Agency!" Marie repeated, looking jubilant. "Thats where you could go! You could get a new place in another house!" Marie looked at Bella, her eyes shining. Bella thought about it. "That is possible.." She concluded.
"Of course, it is...although.." Marie's brow furrowed. She was thinking hard." You will have to stay on here for a while, until they've actually found you a place..It might take them a few days.." her round face brightened up once more. " But, after that! Bella, when they've found you another place, thats when you can leave!"
Bella stared at her, a little dumbstruck. " I can...I can really d-do that?" She had now thought this was possible. Her mind had been so clouded the last few days...but now, now here was a miracle being presented to her.
Marie nodded vigorously. "Of course you can!"
"Oh my God" Bella breathed.
.........
A/N Please forgive me for the long absence, I was...annoyed.. Anyway, I hope none of you got confused in this chapter, but if you did, please tell me! I would appreciate your thoughts on this chapter!
Thanks!
~Dawn Run~
