I know you are the slave of no one
and that nobody rules your body and mind
You are the monkey of nobody
because nobody trains you to be kind

"Can you stop that for once?" Inquired the big monster from the smaller thing, because he just found this happy tune annoying. Especially on such a lousy day.

"No I can not. I'm a music box and singing is the only thing left for me." And so she let her voice sound merrily again. The bigger one grumbled annoyed and he was sure it had something to do with the arrival of this stranger, that everyone in the house play a little crazy. He had to get rid of the yellow bird as fast as possible. But he couldn't just leave the thief free. After all, the guy would learn nothing else from his act otherwise.

You're just dirt for nobody
and your love is called the same
You don't have to part with anyone
because nobody knows you, it's a shame

"Can't you at least sing another song?" Always hearing the same thing slowly drove him crazy. But the singer only shook her head sublimely.

"I can sing what I want and when I want. After all, you just walked in here like this." That was too much, and the master of the house angrily turned away from the window.

"You seem to forget who's in charge here!"

"In this tone.." She tried to resist, but the other came quickly closer and closed the music box.

"Enough! Everything here is mine! You and your silly friends dare too much here, and you're just as much a criminal as this stranger." With that, he locked the small box and flung the key around the room in rage. To make sure that there was really no sound, he put some heavy books on the box.

"Now you can think about how you can improve. I could have thrown you out too. But no, I'm so kind and let you stay here. In return, you should all show some decency and respect towards me." If she answered, he wouldn't hear it anymore, because he was already trudging in the direction of Dungeon, where the thief was staying.

You will someday serve someone
Someone who is softer and gentler than you
You will someday serve someone
Someone who is wiser and stronger than you.

The lady in the music box broke off and sighed. She thought it would help her to continue singing this song to stay strong. After all, it wasn't the first time that the master of the house dealt with her like this. He was just temperamental and maybe bitter. The others thought it was scary, but he had not harmed anyone until now. Sometimes it just happened that he quickly became angry. Sometimes she could even understand him, because he was probably never allowed to leave this place again. Just like the rest of them.

But finally, there was a glimmer of hope for them all, because after a felt eternity, someone managed to come here. She could barely remember the last visitor. There just seemed to be a dark shape in her head.

The longer they all lingered here, the more their memories fell into oblivion. It was still clear to her that she wasn't always living in a small box and singing songs. But what exactly happened before this life as a music box, she couldn't name exactly. She had the feeling of missing someone or something. Family? Friends? No matter how hard she tried to grasp it, the fog became denser in her head every day.

What will become of her and the others here, if that spell, or whatever it was, never dissolved again? Were they damned to live here forever? No, she had to do something to break this curse, because slowly it felt like one.

For now she wasn't only stuck in this estate, but also in this box. But she rarely came out here alone when the master of the house locked her up. Stupid only that her friends probably also looked into the cellar to marvel at the newcomer. So she would have to wait here for a while, until she came out of here again. Or at least until the music box is opened again, because going far without the thing didn't succeed. On one leg of her hung a chain. Although it was sparkling and beautiful to fit the rest of the box, she was still trapped.

Another sigh escaped her, because she could only hope that the visitor isn't upsetting the Lord to much. Even if he had done nothing so far, he could eventually lose patience. The guest had to go to the winter garden of all things. There was so much to discover and the bird immediately went to the holiest place of the flower owner. In addition, a rose was broken, which the Lord almost liked most. If you were locked up here, there were only such hobbies left to pass the time. Until it ended sometime. Whenever that may be.

As Chuck realized that the ground he lay on was hard and cold, he opened his eyes, because his nest usually didn't feel that way. He blinked, than in that sparse light it seemed difficult to see. How did he get into this dungeon? In front of him a locked lattice. Right, left and behind him only stone masonry. Except up there, there was a much too small window that let in a bit of sun. Still, it didn't make the place very bright here.

His attention was diverted from above when he suddenly heard noises.

"You had to choose the roses. Why not the weed right next to the door? That looks kind of interesting too." The yellow bird looked around in surprise as he stood at the dungeon door. He still saw no one, but he was sure he heard someone.

"He certainly didn't do it on purpose. He also seemed very polite at breakfast." A new voice sounded, but the owner of it was also not visible.

"You have seen that he almost.."

"Hello? Ehm, could you show yourself if you want to talk to me? Also, it would be nice if you can tell me how to get out of here." The prisoner now intervened in the conversation, because a shake at the door confirmed that he was really trapped.

"First annoying the Lord and now also making demands. It's getting better and better!" One of the unknowns grew louder, but that didn't bother Chuck the least. Previously he thought the flower thing was just a dream. That he landed here because of other circumstances. But he was just confirmed that everything was real with the overnight stay in the strange property and the broken rose. This also meant that this monster, what he had to see, was really existing. He got goose bumps just by closing his eyes and remembering that gruesome sight.

"Are you even listening?!" He was asked louder and finally he could see someone behind the iron gate. He blinked again, not wanting to believe his eyes. Because before him were no birds or something like that. Objects looked at him. He shook his head. Everything here had to be a strange dream. But even when he pinched his side and even plucked a feather, nothing changed on this place.

"Shhh, not so loud! Otherwise we will still be heard." The one creature tried to reassure the other, but it seemed in vain.

"How so? The Lord will certainly like it if.."

"Enough!" Someone yelled down the stairs and it still sounded so awful to the yellow bird. The creatures both fell silent immediately and hid themselves again. Chuck's heart was throbbing faster with fear as heavy footsteps came in his direction again. He could be very fast. So why didn't he use his time to escape? But again his body felt paralyzed.

"I ordered you not to go down here!" The monster's voice sounded at the bottom of the stairs again. With soft apologies, the little creatures disappeared. The yellow couldn't see much of the monster yet, because a cowl had thrown over it. Or was this there before and he just didn't notice it? He didn't care when the big something put a candle aside so you could see more in the room. As the monster approached, he was now glad that he was locked up. At least until he remembered that his counterpart probably had a key to the lattice door.

No. It can't end like this. My life should finally start to be nice. I still have to find a way out of here. Maybe I can talk to that something without it eating me up.

Chuck quickly considered what else he could do. It may also be that there can be no negotiation or something, because he had to simply exploit the carelessness of the monster. Although he thought it so nice, still his legs still didn't move. He also stared spellbound to the floor, so he didn't have to face the big something again.

"You can choose if you want to serve me as your punishment or you stay here." It sounded loud and clear and he winced.

"I.. I want to try to work for you." Because he would certainly starve in here if he had chosen the other thing. But think again, because he already got something to eat here. And it tasted more than acceptable. Surely the little creatures were responsible for that.
When the door started to squeal as it opened, he didn't want to brood any more, but finally started to run. Even if he was afraid to pass the monster. He was quick enough and so it wouldn't catch him.

Thought, done and he almost run over the creatures on the stairs. He would like to look at the two creatures longer, but he had no time for that, because he had to come out of here. At the top of the stairs, there was a corridor with several directions.

"You can't escape!" He heard the monster roar from below because he stopped. He just hurriedly took some way, hoping he got out there. In fact, he quickly found a window that he could open to jump out. Outside there was now a windy and icy weather. He was probably locked in this cellar for too long. That didn't seem to matter and he didn't even take the front door, but climbed back over the sharp fence so he could get away from here. By the day he would surely find better to his village.

At least he thought that confidently as he left this place behind. But his sense of direction had to play crazy because of the deteriorating labor, because suddenly he stood again in front of the entrance of the house, from which he wanted to run away. The owner stood at the gate and he didn't dare to look him in the face again. The wind would only expose him to that ghastly grimace. There was something incomprehensible grumbling, but he didn't want to hear it and turned around again. Because he was careless, a branch scratched his head. Almost the wood hit his left eye, but he didn't care anymore. What was a small wound against captivity by such a monster?

"No! How is that possible?!" He cried almost desperately, as he again arrived at the fence with the sharp tips. He took no shortcuts, but just ran straight all the time. Yeah, he dodged the trees, but still he shouldn't have came back here. Chuck tried to take a deep breath to think about what he should do with his remaining energy. He didn't feel his feet for a long time, but his will to survive was strong enough. Otherwise he wouldn't run away again when the monster stomped on him.

"Now wait a minute!" As if he would listen to that thing and just doing what is said. Maybe they chat a bit about the architecture of the house and then dine together. Only he couldn't eat, because he is going to be the served meal. Would he be cooked first or would it devour him raw? These sharp teeth didn't look like as if they were rejecting such a little yellow bird. At the thought it shook his whole body in fear. Or was he slowing down from the freezing cold? But he just had to keep running, because he heard that his pursuer was faster. He was slowing down, but even as he stumbled, he still tried to hide behind a thick tree trunk. This puffing thing was coming closer, but he hoped it couldn't smell him.

Now that he was sitting here, he found the place very pleasant. Of course, the cold wind still whistled around his head, but he finally needed a break. Only briefly, so that he can draw new strength. Maybe close the eyes a little, because he didn't see the monster anymore. Also, Chuck slid down the trunk a little so that no snow was blown across his face. A quick nap and then he would surely find his way home.

Pleasantly warm. Did the sun shine again or did spring came into the land already? That was nonsensical, otherwise he would have spent months in the forest. Maybe other birds drove the monster away and finally brought him to the village? Delighted by the thought, he slowly opened his eyes. Only to find that he had landed in this horror house again. The window that showed him a heavy blizzard in the sky, he saw that from the outside, when he wanted to go here for the first time. From the beginning he should have ignored these flowers and immediately run home. Now he was probably stuck here forever as a slave.

But now he wasn't in the basement, but in a soft nest, with a cuddly blanket. He finally felt his feet again as he moved them.

"Finally he is awake again. Quickly give the Lord the news." When he heard a new voice, he looked around without leaving his seat. Somehow he didn't want to get up yet. On the one hand because he was afraid of the monster and on the other hand he found it nice and comfortable. Small feet trudged on the floor and to the door. He should probably stop it.

"Down here!" He couldn't pay any more attention to the other creature, because a small but beautiful box stood in his nest. He didn't notice it before. She was open and a small figure looked at him. He touched his head. Was he slowly losing his mind? But he felt a bandage. The wound from the branch must have been worse if he was treated like that right away.

"Really. You could have frozen out there." Said that little pink something that looked like a tiny princess, or at least a beautiful dancer.

"What else should I have done?"

"Staying here, for example, would have been an option."

"I couldn't wait until this ghastly thing eats me and that only because of a little flower." Then the door was opened and the monster stormed in.

"This isn't just a little flower!" Shouted the owner of the house and the little figure sighed a little annoyed, as her guest hid anxiously behind the nest.

"You are so loud again."

"But how am I supposed to explain it to him? The yellow bird didn't want to listen to me before. Maybe it was because he was hard of hearing." It spoke out loud, because of course, thinking it was right.

"Maybe he wouldn't have ran away if you didn't always react so rude." Explained the figure from the box and then looked back to Chuck.

"And you shouldn't have just ran away after you took the rose without asking."

"It was only one.."

"Do you know what...?" It echoes again through the room and all but the dancer hid themselves again.

"What did I just say about the volume of your voice?" Annoyed, the monster snorted that the birds knees were trembling.

"But he talks so disparagingly about my roses. It was a lot of work to maintain the plant." He heard now and that's right, Chuck didn't think of that for a moment. Whether monster or not, he behaved a bit like the worse evil here.

"Come on. The Lord will not hurt you." He tried to trust the little creature, also because he certainly needed her help to get away from here. When he cautiously looked to the owner of the property, this stepped into the shadows and pulled his robe over him. Thinking what he should do, he looked down. Then he noticed that his clothes had disappeared. Hurriedly, he wrapped the blanket around his body.

"Why did you tear my clothes off my body?" He wanted to know a little embarrassed.

"Don't say it as if it gave me pleasure!" With that, the monster again began to get angry.

"There was no other reason besides you wanting to eat me. Am I right? I'm still too thin now. That's why I got this big breakfast."

"Why do you expect him to eat you?" It came confused from the music box. The biggest creature in the room was still trying to stay calm, but clenched fists under the cowl.

"I saw it. The monster had blood on its muzzle. It must have met a poor bird before me. Now I know why birds disappear from the village. You take them here, to eat them. I'm just an accidental victim because there is too little on me. And I wanted to take a walk with Gale's uncle through the forest. Now I am glad that he refused, otherwise he would have landed in your stomach." He didn't even know where he had the courage to say it all out, but that would really explain the disappearance of some villagers.

"Enough!" The yellow fell silent again, but didn't hide this time.

"You absolutely want a monster and you will get it." The cloak dropped to the ground and the monster stood right in the light. The shock paralyzed the bird again and this big paws lifted him up.

"In your forest exploration, you've certainly noticed that you can't just leave here. And so it will stay until you have finished your punishment!"

"But I have an appointment.." It came out of him relatively quietly and the face of the monster came closer.

"You should have thought of that before..." Chuck couldn't hear any more because he was already passing out from this fear and nausea again.