𝒊𝒊𝒊. | THE COLOUR RED
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❝Nothing ever ends poetically. It ends and we turn it into poetry. All that blood was never once beautiful. It was just red.❞
— Kait Rokowski
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When Mina woke up, the first sight she saw was a stunning bouquet of flowers in a crystal vase at her bedside table. However, her brain couldn't fully appropriate the beautiful shades of pastels or the expensive glass blown in intricate swirls. Her head felt thick and groggy, her vision slightly blurred at the edges. Blinking owlishly, she tried to lift herself up from the cotton bed but her limbs were slow to cooperate with her sluggish mind, her arms felt heavier to manver than lead.
"Good morning, Mary," Mina groggily mumbled her usual greeting. She didn't expect an answer, Mary never answered.
Mina pushed aside her covers, grimacing when she felt an uncomfortable tug on her shoulder. She slid her legs over the edge of the bed, planting her bare feet on to the cold floor. The shivers which traveled up her calves helped to rouse some of her sluggish thoughts. After letting her feet adjust to the frigid temperature, Mina stood, but blood rushed to her head and the room began to spin. She swayed and staggered, falling onto her bum back on the thin cot.
Looking around the drab grey room and several empty cots, Mina couldn't remember where she was or how she got there. Huh, where am I? Her gaze landed on the barred window, dully watching as a picturesque blue sky passed by the thick bars. Wait, the sun is out?
Mina was late for work. She was never late for work nor did she miss a day, she couldn't afford to.
Hearing shouts, Mina looked toward a large arched doorway that led out of the room. Men and women who were all dressed in white rushed past her line of vision, wheeling an item that looked a lot similar to the bed she woke up in. Curious, Mina slowly stood to her feet again, sluggishly venturing out of the room. By the time she stepped out into the hallway, the corridor was empty and the voices were gone. Listless, she glanced side to side before ambling in a random direction. The soft sounds of her bare feet padding across the stone floor echoed gently, offering her mild comfort as the sound helped to give her something to focus on. She passed a few people on her walk, some were wearing white while others were wearing baggy long-sleeved gowns, but none of them paid her any mind, and she didn't bother to stop and ask them where she was or why she was there.
A pool of red. Soaked, seeping into every nook and crevice. Mina stopped mid-step. Images flashed across the forefront of her mind, but just as they appeared they were gone. Her brow furrowed as she tried to decipher the memories on her own, but her hazed mind was too slow and she found herself developing a sharp and painful headache the longer she tried to concentrate.
Mary was Mina's conclusion. Yes, Mary. Mary would know what happened. Where's Mary?
Mina continued down the hall, chuckling to herself. Mary often tried to convince Mina to do new and 'interesting' things, to be more adventurous and carefree before she settled down with Jonathan. "You work too hard Mina. Take a day off – just one! – and come with me to town, it will be fun!" Maybe Mary managed to finally shove a few tankards of ale down Mina's throat? Good thing Jonathan was away on business, Mina didn't want him to see her in this condition — dazed and confused.
Finding a door that carried a sign labeled 'exit' above it, Mina let herself outside. She shivered when she stepped into the biting cold. The icy temperature caressed her skin, creating a protective layer of an odd combination of tingling numbness. Her gaze swept across the towering buildings and bustling street beyond an iron-rod fence, searching for familiar landmarks to tell her exactly where she was.
As Mina walked, the other day walkers gave her a wide berth. Murmurs were whispered at her back, but no one spoke directly to her. Just another, average day.
Taking a right into a narrow alley, Mina headed to a solitary door hidden behind wooden crates. The servant's entrance. Mina entered without knocking, just as she had done every morning since working at the Duchess for the past four years. She was out of uniform, but she was sure that once she explained her situation to the Head of the Chambermaid Staff, Ursula, she would be given a temporary uniform for the day.
My sister got me drunk and I woke up in a strange place with no recollection of how I ended up there. May I please borrow a uniform? I promise this won't happen again. Yes, that would do quite nicely. Mina always kept her promises.
Loud gasps and more murmured chatter went in one of Mina's ears and out the other. She didn't pay the other employees any attention, they were most likely gossiping about the hotel's guests, again.
Some of the chambermaids liked to place bets, hoping that they could seduce themselves into the beds of a wealthy man. Their plan was to get impregnated so that they wouldn't have to work another day in their life, to live off of the blackmail money. Sadly, most times their attempts would be successful, and because so most gentleman patrons actually expected for 'bedroom activities' to be a part of the chambermaid's normal duties. Mina worked the morning shift because she was less likely to be propositioned during daylight, and she didn't want to be confused for a woman with loose morals.
Of course, Mina didn't hold any prejudice against her fellow chambermaids, they were free to live their life however they pleased. The Lord and his Father would judge them once their time of living came to an end.
A hand grasped Mina's forearm, gently tugging so that she turned around to face its owner. The aged and weathered face of Ursula gazed at Mina with wide and worried eyes. "Mina, what in heavens are you doing here?" she questioned in a harsh whisper.
"May I borrow a uniform? It won't happen again," Mina inquired, monotone. Her sluggish mind purged half of her carefully thought out excuse. "Wait, no... That's not right..." she mumbled, her eyes fluttering shut. She tried to think out her excuse, again. "Mary, she..."
Red. Lots of red. Sticky. Why did she feel sticky? Her hands and her face, coated and slick with… Mina blinked. Gone was the red, replaced with the brown warmth of Ursula's concerned stare.
"Mary. Mary knows. Where's Mary?" Mina wondered aloud.
"Oh dear," Ursula murmured lowly, her expression turning wary. Her gaze flicked up and down, from Mina's head to her feet. "Go to my office, wait there, don't move. I'll go make you a fresh cuppa. You must be positively freezing!"
Mina only heard snippets of Ursula's request. She tried to form a coherent thought, to focus intently on her boss, but her hazed mind refused to cooperate.
"Call the Yard. I don't think she was released," came Ursula's softly spoken request to a passing chambermaid.
Mina tensed, a sense of panic sending a jolt down her spine. No, no, no! Mary, Mary knows. She had to find Mary, and then she could get back to work. Mary would explain and then everything would be okay. Mina never missed a day of work. Never not worked. She had to work! Work hard like her father said so she could go to heaven! She had to go to heaven, she had to work more, work harder— RED. WHY WAS THERE SO MUCH RED?!
Mina clutched her head, her eyes clamping shut. There was a horrible screeching sound, and laughter filled with glee. Why was he laughing?! HE WAS HURTING HER!
She had to find Mary!
Mina took off running as fast as her feet could take her. Small, loose pebbles stabbed at the bottoms of her feet, and more than once did her toes painfully collided with the uneven walkway, but she stumbled on, catching her falls and ignoring the feel of the skirt of her dress riding up her calves.
Whitechapel, it wasn't exactly the most desirable part of London, but Mina and Mary had managed to make it their home, befriending some of their fellow lower-class neighbours. Mina expertly weaved her way through the maze like streets, taking back alleyways and narrow paths to reach the small loft she shared with her sister.
Feet bruised and battered, Mina came to a stop in front of the nook where her home resided. Her breath came out in rapid pants, in sync with her heaving chest, and a white mist of condensation formed around her cold, cracked lips.
In an instant, Mina's world shattered.
Memories flooded her mind: Mary's death, the lady in red, the reaper with the sharp teeth and a bizarre killing machine, Ciel and his servant Sebastian, a pain in her shoulder — so much blood, it was everywhere!
Mary's blood.
Tentatively, Mina raised a shaky hand and cupped her left shoulder. Tangible evidence she hoped was all in her imagination. She gently prodded her fingers along her back, feeling out a large square padding that was taped to her shoulder. 'A black, sleek handle with several inches of silver stuck out from her tender flesh'… Mina shook off the image. She expected for the wound to be fresh, sensitive with pain, but all she felt was sore muscles stretching uncomfortably from lack of use. Her hand dropped listlessly back to her side.
Police tape barred the entrance of Mina and Mary's home. The door was closed and contained a bulky iron lock on the latch. Mina doubted she could unlock such a contraption with her simple brass house key.
The stain of Mary's blood on the cobbled street had been washed away, but if Mina looked hard enough, she could catch a faint tint of crimson between the cracks.
"It wasn't just a nightmare," Mina murmured aloud, her tone hollow.
"I'm afraid it was not," another voice replied.
Mina jumped, sharply turning to face the unexpected presence. Sebastian stood directly behind her, hovering so close above her she was amazed she didn't feel the temperature from his body heat against her back.
"You had us worried when you disappeared from hospital, Miss Murray," the butler had said, though his tone held no warmth or concern, contradicting his remark. Plus, he was wearing that same smile that put Mina's nerves on end — fake, practiced. "My master, Earl Phantomhive, is requesting your presence at his manor."
"Earl Phantom- Ciel?" Mina gawked, surprised by the revelation.
The young boy who had came to her rescue was an Earl? Yes, she knew he was wealthy. Why else would he have a well trained servant like Sebastian? But to be of noble blood with the high title of Earl...?
Why was an Earl dressed as a commoner, hunting Jack the Ripper? Mina wondered.
Mina turned back around, facing away from Sebastian. She gazed at her barren home, wondering when – or even if – she would return. All of her possessions: her clothes, her money, her pictures... Her entire life was in that loft.
"What day is it?" she asked.
In the other cases of the Ripper, before she became bedridden, Mary would often badger Mina to visit the crime scenes out of morbid curiosity, sometimes mere days after the horrific crime. Why wasn't anyone gathered around her and Mary's home?
"It has been two weeks since the incident," Sebastian answered.
Mina felt her face slack in shock. Two weeks? How…? Why was she just waking up now?
"Mary. Where is she?" Mina demanded, her mind racing. There were preparations to make, and she had to tell Jonathan– Oh, Jonathan! Did he write? Where was his letter?
With her memory restored and her mind sound…. it was all too much, Mina felt a sudden rush of lightheadedness. She was the last Murray, soon to turn Harker, and in Jonathan's last letter he had informed her that his stay in Transylvania was going to be extended due to unforeseen circumstances. He had been gone for nearly three months now, and Mina didn't want to come between him and his dream to become a lawyer. What was she going to do?
Dear Lord, she went to work dazed and confused! What must Ursula think of her? She couldn't afford to lose her job! She had to work. Had to work harder. Work harder to get into heaven. Work harder to plead with the Lord and his Father to let Mary pass through his gates.
"The Earl will be able to answer all of your questions, Miss Murray," Sebastian eloquently replied. "If you'd please follow me, I shall take you to him. I must insist we make haste, as my master is not a very patient boy."
Oh right, Sebastian was still there, bearing witness to Mina's internal turmoil. Why was he so calm? Was he not there? Did he not see what had happened? Did he not beat the Grim Reaper, Grell, within an inch of his life? Did he not know that she killed... she killed... sweet Lord she killed someone! She... she couldn't breathe! Mina's chest felt like it was constricting, her lungs couldn't seem to expand to their fullest capacity, unable to breathe in enough previous oxygen. Her vision began to fade at the edges, forming a dark and blurry tunnel, and the rapid pounding of her heart beat harshly against her ribcage. Mina stumbled forward, her hands clutching at her chest in hopes of calming her racing heart.
"Oh dear, I do believe you may be experiencing a panic attack." Sebastian blinked, concern flashing over his handsome features. However, his eyes revealed a different emotion, amusement.
Why was he…? Mina was unable to finish her thought. A wall of black appeared in front of her, and warm hands grasped the sides of her arms to steady her.
"Oh my, you are dreadfully cold to the touch, Miss Murray," Sebastian noted aloud, with faux surprise. He make a clicking noise of disappointment from his mouth. "We wouldn't want you to return to hospital, now would we?"
"I can't… I can't..." Mina gasped, her lungs attempting to greedily suck in large gulps of air and failing.
"Yes, yes, I understand completely," Sebastian cooed in a honeyed tone, softly petting her hair. His warm breath blew enticingly against her ear, the feel of his lips ghosted along the arch. "You are unquestionably human, aren't you, Miss Murray?" he uttered so softly Mina almost didn't quite catch it.
Sebastian's words should've shocked Mina, should have sent her running for the hills screaming in fright, but he was so warm. She hadn't realized how cold she was until his arms enveloped her trembling frame.
"That's a good girl." Sebastian continued to pet Mina's head. "Breathe deeply, follow my pattern. Yes, yes, you're doing very well. Sleep, and when you wake, my young master will be ready to answer all of the questions you may have."
Mina was soothed by Sebastian's deep and rich baritone, the gentle vibration of his chest as he spoke added to the effect of the spell he seemed to be placing upon her. Her eyes fluttered closed, her limbs went slack, but arms of strength kept her on her feet, holding the majority of her weight until sleep fully consumed her.
"Such a shame I only like to do one contract at a time," Sebastian sighed in dismay. "You would have been delectable," he concluded with a purr.
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