The streets of Ketterdamn were quickly flooding from an onslaught of heavy rain. The water poured towards the canals and drenched anyone brave enough to face the storm within seconds. Rain was common in Ketterdam, but a furious storm ensured that even the most desperate patrons stayed inside. Regardless, two individuals are walking in heavy coats. Hoods were pulled over both their heads. The two jog as quickly as they can without slipping on the streets. Both individuals kept to the alleyways. The taller and heavier set than the other continuously took out a soggy piece of paper and checked it, checking door addresses. Finally, they turned down a street, passing a large building on the corner of the Lid and Warehouse district. They walked along the old structure until they reached the back and found a heavy, rusted metal door. The taller individual put their arm around the other and knocked on the door with their free hand. The smaller individual leaned into their companion. The door opened a crack, and an older woman emerged behind it. Her eyes roved over the two individuals for a long minute. Water poured into the room where she stood. She waved the two in. They quickly shuffled in, removing their coats rapidly. The first individual was a large, stout woman with her red hair tied up in a high, tight bun. She wore a traditional and conservative dress with an apron tied around her, still covered in black streaks. The second individual was a young girl, no older than 14, with unbound, wild red hair that hung far down her back. It was wet and matted, with a face full of freckles and pale green eyes filled with tears. She wore drab, olive clothing and kept her face staring determinedly at the floor.
The older woman, who had allowed them inside, examined the girl up and down and muttered, "Likely to bring lice…" under her breath.
The two newly arrived women stood awkwardly, holding their dripping coats. The older of the two began looking around their surroundings.
They were in a small makeshift office with a gas stove, a large sink with a running faucet, four wooden chairs and a round table. On the stove was a pot and a metal cupboard up above. Not a single thing adorned the walls, no view to the outside, but another door was just as substantial as the one they had come in through. There was a crack in the ceiling where water steadily dripped into a pot on the floor.
"So….we heard that this was the place we obtained a special service," the woman said, trying to clean off her apron as she noticed its black streaks. The older woman clicked her tongue in response and waved her hand, dismissing her comment. Her age was undetectable, her hair was ghostly white, with a severely wrinkled neck, but her face was very smooth and young looking. She had thin lips painted bright red with lipstick. She was dressed in bright, richly woven clothing and looked entirely out of place in the decrepit room.
"Yes, yes, take a seat, please. I'm guessing it's for the girl and not for you?" She nodded towards the young girl, silently crying, tears wetting her cheeks. She blindly reached for a chair and sat in it, the older woman sitting beside her.
"Yes, I'm her Aunt Leore, and this is Georgiana. I promise she's at least 16 years of age-"Leore was cut off by the old, elegantly dressed woman.
"Oh, my dears. There's no need to discuss that just yet. You must be freezing from the rain and the cold." She knocked on the door they had not entered. In a swift motion, the door opened wide, and two girls were seen. One looked the same age as Georgiana, and the other appeared much younger. Possibly less than ten. The younger girl had jet-black hair, dark olive skin, a more prominent nose, and dark eyes. Her face was unreadable in its expression, and she wore a brown dress with a large, similarly brown apron overtop. The older girl was almost her opposite, with dirty blonde hair tied in two buns on the top of her head, dark blue eyes, pale skin, and a large bright smile. She was wearing a sleeveless light blue top and trousers. She took a glance at Leore and Georgiana and waved, smiling brightly. She motioned to speak, but the older woman cut her off abruptly.
"Yes, now let's go through introductions. These two assistants help me and must be in the room throughout the procedure. Will that be any problem?" Leore and Georgiana quickly shook their heads. The older woman nodded and snapped her fingers at both girls. They set to work, and the dark-haired girl filled a kettle with water from the faucet. She lit a fire under the stove with a match she took from one of her apron pockets. She continued by removing several leaves and jars of spices from her apron. The older, blonde girl took a seat at the table. She took a small notepad and pencil from the pocket of her trousers and waited, alert. Finally, the older woman nodded and began, remaining standing.
"Now, my two sweet dearests. We here at the Widows understand that this can be the most trying of times and one of the scariest decisions ever. However, we must insist that you be completely honest about everything; it is for the safety of your health. " The old woman pronounced in a voice dripping with sweetness.
Leore felt Georgiana grip her arm.
"As I said earlier, I am Georgiana's aunt. Her family can and must not know about this. If they were even to suspect, the trouble that wou-"
"Of course, of course. It would be unthinkable for us to allow anyone to access our records. We respect privacy and confidentiality above all else. I pray that you can trust us." The older woman gave a saddened, concerned look.
Leore hesitated and looked to Georgiana, who looked back, the tears no longer falling but still forming in her eyes. Leore looked for a long time, then looked to the older woman and finally nodded. The older woman raised an eyebrow at Georgiana, who also nodded tentatively. Leore plucked her courage and stammered.
"But what of these two girls? They're so young and could say anything to anyone or even recognize Georgiana and reveal her."
The older woman nodded with understanding. She first gestured to the dark-haired girl.
"This one here is sadly deaf. She can't hear a thing and wouldn't be able to repeat anything. She makes the concoction and knows the recipe but doesn't know or understand what's occurring. And this one," she gestured to the blonde girl. "Has been working as my assistant in keeping my records for four years and has never once revealed anything and would understand the consequences if she did, isn't that, right?" She raised her eyebrows to the blonde girl, who nodded solemnly.
"Then, my name is Georgiana," she said hesitantly, looking at the blonde girl who began nodding and writing furiously. The black-haired girl watched the kettle, waiting for a boil.
"What is your age, dear? Truly?" The older woman said, trying to be kind. But unfortunately, Georgiana found it menacing, though she wasn't sure why.
Georgiana took in a shuddering breath and breathed out
"Fourteen."
The blonde girl slapped the table and looked up while still writing
"Hey! Same as me!" She smiled warmly at the girl, then took in the circumstances and put her head back down to continue writing. The dark-haired girl continued to stare.
"Do you know who the father is?" The older woman asked, and no one answered. The blonde girl stopped and lifted her head to look at Georgiana, who began to breathe in a panic. She clutched more intensely at her aunt's arm. The kettle started whistling, and the dark-haired girl took it off the stove and took out a mortar. Without reacting to the room behind her, she began putting leaves and spice in the mortar to grind them up.
"Well?" The older woman insisted and slammed her fist on the table to snap them to her attention. Leore responded.
"Yes, we know the father. Why?"
"I want to know who could come looking around here and wanting answers and demanding them from my door."
"He doesn't know, and we're trying to ensure he never knows." The old woman held Leore's gaze and did not blink but finally curtly nodded.
"Now, how far along is she?" Leore looked to Georgiana, who stared back. Suddenly, her breathing slowed, and she looked confused and frightened.
"We're not sure…. we think approximately three months. We had to be sure." The older woman tapped her finger on the table twice. Leore began babbling nervously.
"When we were told about this service, they weren't clear if there was a deadline of minimum or maximum time." As Leore spoke, the blonde girl reached across the table and grabbed Georgiana's free hand. She looked at her gently and whispered to her.
"Hey, look at me. Just breathe." Georgiana held her gaze, and she could feel her heart beating in her throat. The blonde girl could also feel another heartbeat through their held gaze and hands. She slowly pulled her hand away and nodded to the older woman. She then wrote down something in her notes. The dark-haired girl put her concoction in a tiny pink cup she pulled from her apron and filled it with boiling water. The older woman settled back against the wall and folded her arms.
"Finally, we must discuss the horrid reality of the payment." The older woman put up her hand to stop Leore from speaking. "We don't require money. It would create a disparity in those who could access our service. We do, however, require an indenture agreement to us. It will be a contract that is signed. Because of this girl's age, we will require both of you to sign it."
"But, ma'am, I'm sorry, but people will ask questions if we do work for your…for your type of establishment," Leore replied.
The older woman smiled gently and glanced at the blonde girl whose eyebrows raised.
"We offer either continuous work or an incidental servitude. The contract will outline it, but we cannot predict the labour we'll need. When or if we ever call upon you must respond. Without question, or we will bring it to the courts and possibly have you thrown into Hellgate." She said with a slight nod as if she was powerless to these options.
"But would it be legal?" Leore pushed.
The older woman gave a sad, simpering smile.
"Oh, of course, we would never work outside the confines of the law."
"But Georgiana, she is so young. Too young to be in this situation and to possibly sign something she may have to do later on that could put her at risk and reveal what happened."
"I see. Well, I wish you luck then. A newborn child can be a blessing, even birthed by one so young." The older woman said, smiling and moving to leave. The dark-haired girl waited, keeping her back to the room. Georgiana spoke urgently.
"I will sign, but please don't make my aunt sign. She only accompanied me here. I'm fourteen, the same age as this girl. She works. I can work too." Leore's eyes widened at this.
"No, Georgiana. Only I will sign. This is how it should be." The older woman shook her head.
"I will take the girl or both of you."
The blonde girl spoke up. Her voice was still gentle.
"I know it's not fair; none of this is. However, we require your indenture; we must support ourselves and ensure we can offer this service to others. We're not looking to create profit, only a form of protection."
Georgiana and Leore both nodded, tears finally spilling over Leore's cheeks.
"We will both sign, Georgiana. I do not want to hear it." Georgiana looked to interrupt. "I am with you on this. We are together. I would pay with the money I saved, and now I will pay with the time I have left."
Georgiana began crying again, shaking her head no. Leore squeezed her hand tightly and then nodded to the older woman. The older woman walked over to the cabinet and pulled out two contracts already drawn up. The blonde girl took out a small ink bottle and a tiny quill pen. She opened up the bottle and dipped the pen in. She spelled their names on the contract once the older woman placed it on the table. She motioned for Leore to sign first, handing her the pen. Leore signed next to her name and then gave it to Georgiana. Georgiana released her grip on her aunt from her left hand, grabbed the pen and signed her name. The blonde girl noted how her signature looked similar to her printed name, much younger and more innocent than the situation. The older woman went over and printed her name, Margaret G. Harding; she then signed it with dramatic cursive and looked up at Georgiana and winked.
"You can call me Granny." Georgiana did not appear soothed at this. Granny stood up, reached for her ankle, and came back up with a long, skinny knife and held it at the two of them. "Now, you may have heard of me through my reputation," she leaned into the two of them, smiling still, but they both found it more threatening. "Although that reputation has been greatly exaggerated, it would suit you both well to believe some of it."
Granny pointed her knife toward the two of them. The room was silent except for the dripping of leaking water. She finally put her knife away and grabbed the contracts. She folded them up and returned to the cupboard, where she retrieved a wax and a stamp to apply to the contract.
Granny nodded to the black-haired girl, who appeared to return to life. She walked over to Georgiana and put the cup of recently poured, rust-coloured liquid in front of her. The blonde girl stood up and walked around behind Georgiana. She put her hands on the back of her shoulders. Georgiana put her hands on the table, palms flat but still trembling.
"Ok, Georgiana, here is what's going to happen. You're ok; I will stand here and calm you. Everything is ok. You're going to drink the tea when I tell you. First, you must finish the whole cup as quickly as possible. Then, you will sit here for approximately five minutes to ensure no immediate adverse effects. Don't worry; there rarely are. Are you ready?" Georgiana nodded, her eyes tightly shut.
Leore gripped Georgiana's thigh and said, "Oh dear, are you sure? We can always figure out another way." In response, Georgiana grabbed the cup and brought it to her lips. She poured the liquid back. She drank without reprieve, despite its heat. The dark-haired girl stared blankly at the two of them. The blonde girl held firmly onto Georgian's shoulders and began muttering, "You're ok," but also focused and closed her eyes.
Once Georgiana finished, she gently put the cup on the table and put her hands on her stomach. She began to try to move away from the blonde girl's grip, but she held her in place firmly.
"Not yet. Sit still; please wait five minutes." The room quieted, everyone staring at Georgiana and the blonde girl who continued to close her eyes. Leore stopped crying and raised a slow eyebrow.
"What is she-"she began to ask, but Granny snapped in her general direction for silence, and Leore tightened her lips shut.
Georgiana's hand went to her stomach; she winced and twitched in her seat. Another minute went by, and finally, Georgiana released a very soft "Oh…" and looked down; she looked the same but winced again, her hand still clutching her abdomen. The blonde girl waited another ten seconds, then took a long breath and stepped back.
"You're ok; you did well. There may be pain for a few days, so I am told." Georgiana and Leore both looked confused and worried. Granny did not wait. She grabbed Georgiana's wrist and held it down against the table. Leore and Georgiana both exclaimed loudly in shock.
The dark hard girl emerged back into their view. In her hand was a thin, sharp needle dripping with ink. Leore made to protest, but Granny responded by taking out a small pistol and pointing it at her.
"It's just our insurance, madame," Granny stated, no kindness heard in her voice. Georgiana's eyes widened, and she cried out in pain as the dark-haired girl dragged the needle on the top of her hand, just underneath her thumb. The girl worked quickly, pulling away once it was complete. Georgiana saw a small, almost imperceptible printed 'W' left there. The dark-haired girl moved towards Leore.
Granny looked to Leore and nodded her head to the table, who slowly moved her hand onto it, exposing the top of it. The dark-haired girl repeated her actions, Leore wincing in pain as the needle made contact. She looked at the blonde girl, who held a pitiful smile.
Upon completion, Leore immediately pulled her hand back into her body, looking at Granny in horror.
"When we need you, an individual will approach you, possessing your contract as proof. You must respond. Someone will be following you at a distance when you leave, but it is one of our workers to ensure you return to your location safely; we offer no other services afterwards. Understood?" Leore and Georgiana both nodded. The blonde girl noted the small, red stain beginning to form on the back of Georgiana's skirt. Leore began to hurry out; Georgiana stole a last look and mouthed a "thank-you" to the blonde girl, who nodded in return. They opened the door, being hit by a spray of water as the rain raged, and they shut the door behind them.
"Oh, Granny, did you have to show them a knife? They look too poor to leave Ketterdam, even if they wanted to escape the contract." The blonde girl said, flopping back into her chair and putting her feet on the now vacated one Georgiana had been sitting in. The black-haired girl's face finally showed an understanding of what they were saying.
"You're lucky it was me and not Zelda, who I know holds a gun to some of their heads while they drink the tea. Now, both of you, back to work. And good work Clementine, you're getting faster". Clementine nodded to Granny, grabbing the dark-haired girl's hand and returning to the room from where they had come in.
