"What do you suppose I do?" asks the boy without looking at her.
"Do you have a phone?"
"My apologies, I do not." He says.
"Will you look at me?" she asks.
The boy looks up at her with his blue eye; the other is covered by the patch.
"Have you come to apply for the job?" asks the boy.
"What the hell are you taking about?" she asks.
"No need for vulgar language." Says the boy.
"I don't know anything about any job! I just need to get out of here!"
"The door you come in through goes both ways." He says.
"I'm not going back out there with that beast that's waiting for me!" she screams.
"Then perhaps we can get on with the interview then." He says.
The woman looks at the boy as if he just grew an extra eye in the center of his forehead.
"Why won't you help me?" she cries.
She goes up to the boy almost in a rage. Just as she makes it to his chair the butler appears.
"Your dessert my lord." He says as he puts the pie in front of the boy.
"Thank you. Will you conduct the interview please?" asks the boy.
"Right away my Lord." Says the butler.
He turns to the young woman inspecting her from head to toe with his eyes. She recoils, his eyes, they were red yet different from the entity's so she doesn't act out.
"Follow me." He says.
The woman decides she better comply or else they may throw her outside.
She follows the butler up carpeted stairs. He actually has a very handsome face and if she were here under different circumstances she might have told him that.
"Where are you taking me?" she asks.
"Not into the drawing room. I can assure you. We take our interviews very seriously, regardless of the applicant." He says looking her over again.
"I didn't come here for an interview." She says.
"Why else would you be here then?" he asks.
"There was something chasing me through the woods."
"Yes, that old tale again." He says.
He takes her down a hallway.
"Why don't you believe me? Why else would I be barefoot and dirty?"
"It's not my business to speculate about your affairs, Ms.?"
"Sophia."
The butler opens the door to a room on his right, she follows him inside.
"Have a seat." He says
He points Sophia to a chair in front of a polished wooden desk and he sits on the other side.
"Have you got your references Ms. Sophia..?" He asks.
"My name is Sophia Marie." She says.
"You didn't present a full name so I assumed you lacked one." says the butler.
"I didn't come for a job but yes I have worked for a few families in London." Says Sophia.
"A few you say?" he asks.
"Yes the Cromwell's, Addington's, and the Morley's."
"What was your position held?"
"Maid of course." Says Sophia.
"One can never be too sure." Says the butler.
He looks Sophia up and down again.
"I was no one's mistress if that's what you're implying." Says Sophia.
"What was the duration?"
"Um…three months for the Cromwell's, six for the Addington's, and almost a year for the Morley's."
"Are you currently employed with the Morley's?"
"No I have been unemployed for almost two weeks now." Says Sophia.
"Do you desire an early start?"
"I don't understand what you mean." Says Sophia.
"Why should I hire you for the position you clearly aren't suited with your dreadful attire."
"I didn't come here to be insulted. I just wanted some help but if you aren't going to I guess I have no choice except to leave." Says Sophia.
The butler folds his gloved hands on the desk.
"If I may entertain this little fantasy, whom may I ask was chasing you?" asks the butler.
"It was a thing…it had these red eyes and it had legs and stuff hanging out of its mouth!"
"Red eyes you say."
"Yes they were sooo red I have never been so scared in my life."
"How did your paths cross?"
"I got an invitation to a dinner party."
"You?"
"Yes… and I don't know—I used my savings to buy this dress and I went."
"Surely you're not anyone special or important. Why would you be invited to a party?"
"Why are you so rude to me? I have been courteous to you."
If Sophia didn't know better she would have sworn a quick smile crossed the butler's lips.
"What took place at this—party? Who was there?"
"I didn't know anyone that's why it was so strange. I ate the meal and drank the wine. After that I started to feel dizzy. Then there was this strange guy that kept talking to me. He took off my shoes and rubbed my feet. He said something about loving my red toenails."
"Then?"
"I tried to leave but he grabbed my arm and said something about me joining him in another part of the house. I pulled away and ran out the door. I started walking and something chased me."
"And that's why you can't go outside?"
"Yes! It was after me. Thank goodness I made it here!"
The butler is definitely smiling, Sophia can see it now.
"Can you start tomorrow?"
"Um…"
"Speechless? That will change."
He stands up behind the desk and narrows his eyes at Sophia.
"Any questions?"
"You expect me to stay here?"
"It is part of the job." He says.
Sophia looks down at her dirty gown.
"What am I supposed to wear?" she asks.
"There will be suitable clothing in your room." He says.
"Where is my room?"
The butler goes to leave and Sophia jumps up from her seat.
"Go up the stairs, turn right then left down the hallway and follow it to the end and then make a left. It will be the first door on the right."
"I have—no idea what you just said." Confesses Sophia.