Is he still there?

"Is he still in there!?"

"Yes, Madam Thornston."

"I am at my wits end! How long will I tolerate this? The only useful and sensible son I have has turned into a lunatic and self-imprisoned himself because of a seducing succubus or whatever they call them nowadays, and – a-and the other one…. oh my!" The middle-aged Mrs Thornston shook her head and held her forehead as if she was about to faint. She stumbled back a few steps.

The maid closest to her sprang into action and stretched her hand to catch her in preparation for when she did fall. Thankfully, Geneva Thornston stood firm and that never happened. She waved her hand to signal that she was okay.

A long line of men and women dressed in black and white with creative bowties and thin gloves lined a wide and brightly lit hall. They all had their heads bent, unwilling to make eye contact with the woman lest they be made an example.

No one wanted to cross or be in the presence of an upset Mrs. Geneva Thornston. Even her husband tried to stay clear of her on days such as those.

Geneva straightened immediately and continued, "The new girl is coming in today! Did I not tell you to drag him out of the room if you must?"

"I-"

"Must I do everything by myself! What does a woman have to do in a whole house of workers to get ONE thing done? Why have I employed all of you if I must do the work myself! USELESS! Utterly useless!"

The people around her all had helpless looks about them.

'It is like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one side, we have Mrs Thornston, and on the other side, we have Master Ian. We can't afford to offend either, so what do we do?'

All their thoughts were synchronous on this, but who would be brave enough to say these words? No one!

They exchanged looks sideways and resumed their respectful poses.

Geneva, who looked as sophisticated as could be in her click-clacked shoes, made her way from the living room, which was in the central part of the estate, down some pathways towards her son Ian's room, in the East wing, muttering in annoyance. 

"I heard girls were difficult to raise, especially when it comes to relationship problems or when such issues arise… but why did no one say that the same applies to men?!

It is absolutely ridiculous! A whole man in whose presence people tremble reduced to nothing but a shell of himself all over a girl! An ordinary one, too!" She kissed her teeth and walked so fast that it looked like she was gliding on the floor. 

The long train of maids and man servants followed her quietly, trying to be inconspicuous.

"Get this door opened right now!" Geneva ordered when they arrived in front of Ian's room.

"Ma'am- it-"

"Don't make me repeat myself!"

"Yes, Madam Thornston,"

The person who was following closest to her and looked slightly older than her spoke. She was in charge of all the workers in the Thornston Household and had served the household from childhood, as did her parents before her. She was Katie. Katie knew how Geneva was and did not want to add further to her worsening mood, so she signalled one of them.

The man hurried to the front with a bunch of keys, fumbling in his rush. He dropped the set of keys about twice before he got to Geneva and Katie.

"Useless!"

"I'm sorry ma'am-"

"Get on with it!"

"Let me," Katie stepped up patiently and took the set of keys from his trembling hands. The man sent a grateful smile to her, and she nodded curtly. She examined the keys and brought out one peculiar-looking one, inserting it into the keyhole and twisting it.

"What is taking so long?" Geneva asked as her voice rose a tad, along with her annoyance.

"Ermmm…." Katie squeezed her face and took it out.

"Well?"

"There seems to be something wrong with the key, Madam Thornston,"

"What could possibly be wrong with the keys?"

"Master Ian's locks are very different from the other locks in the house, so only this key can open the door, but it is not working for some reason."

"Is the incompetence in the house spreading to everyone? Get the 'master key' if this one is not working!"

"Ian! … Ian! Open this door this moment!"

"…."

"Ian! How long are you going to stay cooped up in there?"

Geneva called out several times but got no response from Ian.

***

The stark darkness on the other side of the door looked so heavy that one could barely see anything a few meters from them. The loud sound of the turning doorknob echoed in the silent room.

Ian still lay on the bed and did not even bother to look towards the door. It was as if, this scenario had occurred many times. But, it had not. A sad smile crossed his face as the warm tears continued to flow.

"Leave me alone," he whispered, but he was the only one who heard this. He made no move to get up and open the door nor block it from the inside; neither did he care if they could open it up. Deep down, he knew they could not open that door. As for how he knew? He had no idea himself. It was like a gut instinct.

***

Outside….

"Here it is…."

The first man who had been fumbling with the keys earlier appeared just then with the master key. In as much as he was scared out of his wits in the presence of Geneva, he was kept in employment because he acted independently and efficiently all the time, just like he did with the keys.

"Thank you," Katie smiled and took the universal key from his hand. She inserted it into the lock and turned it several times, but it still did not turn the lock.

"This is quite strange. The master key is still not working."

"Break the door down then!" Geneva deadpanned while she tapped her feet impatiently. She was one who was used to be waited on and never the other way round.

"I need Ian here today and right now, so get one of the able-bodied men or get a locksmith here to break this door down!"

Geneva turned and started back to the living room, pausing briefly,

"Get that door open in the half hour!"

"We'll get it open as you wish," Katie offered a small bow and started giving instructions to complete the task.

"Is everything ready for her?"

"Yes, it is, I-"

"Excuse me, Mrs Thornston, the new bride-to-be is here,"

"Bring her in!"

*********

Thank you so much to all for your votes and comments! I hope we can keep it up ^_^