3 Insanity

"Who is that girl! Where did she come from?" The shrill voice of a woman pierced through the frozen stillness of the morning.

A man, dressed in a tattered shirt with hands clasped together, looked up from his seated position. "That girl…" he spoke, letting out a sigh. "Is the daughter of a noble."

The woman peered intently at his face, her eyes narrowing, her face contorting. All of a sudden, the woman showed a dazzling smile. She started to giggle, uncontrollably, hysterically. She laughed so hard her eyes teared up.

"Are you joking with me?" the woman asked, wiping her eyes. "Couldn't you have spun up a more believable lie?" Her expression a mixture of despair and madness, she pleaded the man.

The man sat on his stool and stared at her indifferently, without an ounce of emotion on his face. The woman's head drooped down, her eyes downcast, her face crestfallen. She whispered hoarsely, "When did I ever wrong you?"

Silence was his answer.

"Is she your child? Is that why you brought her home!" The woman screamed.

The woman bit her lips, gnawing on them as the space between her brows twisted into a tight knot. An overwhelming feeling of disappointment washed over her – her eyes reddened, and her breathing became quicker. The woman spoke while trembling, struggling to keep her calm. "Was it a mistress? A prostitute? Your lover? Which one?" The man simply stared, just as he had always done.

The woman gritted her teeth, "Fine, if that's how you want to play it." Smiling bitterly, the woman turned around and stumbled her way to the door. Before she left, she paused and muttered quietly, "Watch me lay ashes to your precious girl."

…

3 years later – present time

A man with dark, wavy hair rested on a wooden stool, his arms loosely crossed atop his chest. His eyes were closed, relaxed and tranquil. The man breathed deeply, his chest rising up and down in a rhythmic fashion. Without warning, a drop of icy coldness fell onto the man's neck, startling him awake. He instantly reached an arm to the back of his neck, wiping away the water. The action made him groan in pain. The man sluggishly lifted his eyelids and sat up, gently massaging his back. The crisp sounds of rain thundering down brought the man conscious. Observing through the cottage opening, the man saw lasers in the form of rain hit the ground at a rapid pace. That's right, it was also raining that time.

He thought back to a few years ago – on that day, he had felt giddy with delight. He had succeeded in procuring the wealth she had so desired, the only wall barring their relationship. He had arrived at her house with a bouquet but had found her embracing another man. Upon discovering this, he had turned tails and run off, not looking back. For five days, he had gotten himself drunk and gambled away his money. And for those five days, she hadn't visited him once. But on the fifth day, she had rocked up to his doorstep, smiling at him and chatting to him, like how she had in the past.

She wanted his money, the man knew. By that time, the whole village had known of his wealth. She had come, and he was clear on her motives. She had betrayed him but turned back around like it was nothing. She thought she could play him like a toy, but she was wrong. He wouldn't forget what she did to him, ever.

The man mused to himself, she deserved to disappear. Away from me, away from the girl, even if my hands are now stained. She deserved it, he repeated in his mind.

…

A girl sat in deep thought, swinging her legs on a makeshift swing. A gentle breeze parted her hair, blowing a few strands onto her face. She reached out with her hands to pull them behind her ear. Her face serious, her eyes cold, not a hint of immaturity could be seen on her young face. Staring up above her, she saw the setting sun glittering through the tree leaves. It shone through the holes in the forest top, sprinkling the ground with spots of white. I should go back now, she thought.

She grabbed the ropes on either side of the swing and used them to pull herself up. Landing steadily on her feet, she walked briskly in the direction of the dilapidated cottage. Just as she turned a corner, she bumped into something solid, falling hard on her backside. A painful sting shot through her body.

"Watch where you're going!"

The girl pursed her lips "I could say the same to you"

"You… you…" Mary stuttered, her face growing red. "Perhaps now that the old lady has disappeared, you think you're all that, do you? With no one to put you in your place, you're just a wild dog. And that old geezer, you think he would be nice to you? What reason would he have to treat you well?" Mary huffed, finishing her rant, her chest heaving up and down.

The girl frowned, "What do you mean? Who are you to say how he treats me?"

Mary rolled her eyes, "He's just a stupid gambler. Everyone in the village knows about it – he gambled away a huge amount of money and he married his wife without a cent to his name."

The girl gripped her hands tightly, creased lines forming on her head.

"You don't believe me? Then go ask for yourself."

The girl grimaced, "Mind your own business." Saying that, the girl turned around and walked off, leaving Mary in a state of bewilderment.

As the girl walked on the path back home, she mulled over Mary's words. He gambled away a huge amount of money? But he was just a simple guard, where would he get that money from? She thought back to when she had been saved from hell. She had been living on the streets for 3 years. At first, she felt herself superior to the other children on the streets - she wouldn't lower herself to go and beg for food. She was still arrogant and prideful, as she was before she lost everything. But as the days passed, she realised that no one would give charity to beggars on the street. It finally struck her; her identity had changed. She was no longer the spoilt rich miss who could have storm and rain just by waving her hands. She was only a dirty orphan on the streets – no skills, no servants, nothing.

One sunny day, she spotted a man's figure swishing through the crowd. She felt that his back looked a little familiar. She watched him as he strode further away, his figure growing smaller in her view. The man, as if sensing her eyes on him, turned his head to the side. The girl gasped - she knew who he was. Her body had moved on its own accord. She dodged her way through the crowd, tripping over street rubbish and market stalls as she desperately ran towards him. When she reached him, a sense of euphoria came over her. Excitement filled her eyes as she pulled at his clothes, full of expectations. He turned around, frowning, disgust and annoyance evident in his expression.

"Mister, Mister it's you." The girl called shyly.

"Who are you?" The man's gruff voice sounded with a hint of irritation. He roughly pushed her hand from his clothing.

"Mister, you don't remember me anymore?" The girl pouted.

What nonsense is this girl speaking? He took a closer look at her – although she was dirty, she was also slim and petite. He thought, why does she look so familiar? No, that can't be right. That girl was a noble sitting high up in the hierarchy – there's no why she would've fallen so low. But this child… she looks so pitiful.

The man pulled the child to the side of the streets. "Little girl, where is your family?" The girl looked down and fiddled with her hands. She hesitated for a few moments before opening her mouth. "Mama and Papa… they aren't here anymore," her eyes grew red as she choked out that sentence.

The man frowned, pondering for a moment. They look so alike; I am certain if she is cleaned up a bit, they would practically be twins. This girl, she doesn't have any family to look after her. How does she feed herself?

The man looked to the girl, she had tears running down her face. Her eyes were now bloodshot, and she had snot dripping out of her nose. The man spoke gently, "Little girl, don't cry. How about I take you home with me?"

The little girl opened her eyes wide before nodding her head furiously.

"However, you have to listen to everything I say. Will you do that?"

"I understand." The girl vowed solemnly, wiping the tears from her face.

"Don't make any trouble for me. That's my only condition."

The girl nodded her head obediently.

…

6 years later – present time

The girl stood outside the cottage for a long time, deep in thought. Suddenly, her eyes gained clarity, and she escaped from her trance. Just like always, she knocked on the door, patiently waiting for the sound of footsteps to emerge. And just like always, the door creaked open, the straw on the roof shaking lightly. It revealed the smiling face of a middle-aged man, with dark wavy hair and a short stubble.

"Belle, quickly come in, it's cold outside." The man ushered her in, helping her with her coat. The girl smiled softly, stepping into warmth of the cottage.

"Mister," she spoke cautiously.

"Yes, Belle." He said, hanging the coat.

"Today, someone told me that you had gambled before."

The man froze for a moment, before turning around and smiling.

"Did they?"

"Yes," the girl lowered her head. She had noticed the man's hesitation, as brief as it was.

The girl opened her mouth to talk. Faltering, she pressed her lips back together. She raised her head, staring the man straight in the eyes. He smiled back at her, kindly and caringly. She looked away, troubled. "Mister," she began. "Did you perhaps, gamble gold?" As she asked this question, her heart raced. She clutched her hands tightly behind her back and waited.

The man twitched his mouth but didn't answer immediately. Something shook within his eyes, quickly disappearing as he regained his composure.

"Now why would you ask that?" The man spoke, changing the topic. Instantly, the girl understood.

It was this man, the one who haunted her dreams all those years. Suddenly, the girl felt dizzy and nauseous. Holding a hand to her stomach, she spoke. "I'm not feeling well, I'll retire early today."

"Alright, Belle." The man replied, his usual smile back on his face.

The girl dragged her body to her room, weak and powerless. Her mind was full of chaos, she couldn't think straight. She clutched her head as a sharp pain invaded her mind. She screamed internally. The man who had always looked after her… this was who he was?