Entrapped

In a small room, the wooden walls seemed to have formed a few cracks here and there due to many years of negligence. One small so-called window allowed sunlight to enter the dark space, making the person inside know it was still morning outside. Afternoon to be exact, with the sun shining brightly upon the sky, making him know this all wasn't just a nightmare at the darkest hours of the night and instead it was all real, very real.

The person sitting on the wooden bed was not very comfortable but it was enough for a night's sleep. His hands grasped his head in a defeated manner, his elbow on his knees. His suitcase was next to the heaps of clothes on the bed.

"Still not done packing?" A female voice called out from the doorway, "Tsk, you are useless." He didn't even hear the creaking of the door which used to be loud enough to wake him up from his slumber and many times he did curse his roommate for opening the door while he was deep in sleep.

His gaze raised to the new person standing leaning against the doorway. She had her arms crossed, her plump body rested against the wooden doorway. She wore an irritated expression on her face. However, as soon as he caught sight of the woman, his sullen face lit up, full of hope.

"M-mam-"

"Shut up. Don't call me that. Do you even know how far it has gotten?" the woman said, annoyed. The man's upbeat expression immediately transformed to one of dread upon hearing the negative response.

He asked, "W-what happened?" with wide eyes.

"What do you mean what happened? Master is very mad he wouldn't even listen to anything I have to say. He said that you spread certain rumors that the master is worthless without the mistress. And now he wouldn't even listen to anything related to you" the woman said with a frown, clearly upset at the male.

"B-but I never said that. I never spread such rumors" he stuttered, trying hard to convince the woman in front of his innocence. "I never spread such rumors," he said with desperation in his voice. "I'm not guilty! Someone is setting me up," with a stern voice he continued.

"Who cares whether or not you say it? No matter what I say, Master won't listen. If all I have to do is demonstrate your innocence, he has just told me to leave"

She raked her finger through her auburn hair in frustration. "Just grab your things, and leave. I don't think I can do anything for you anymore. You have been a faithful follower of mine, so I tried to help, but it's enough. I'm out of options to assist you. She said, "My reputation is being damaged for helping you," before turning around and leaving.

The male swiftly got to his feet and quickly grabbed the woman's legs. The woman jumped at the sudden action and turned to face the male below.

"Are you insane? What are you doing?" She spoke furiously as she yanked him away, "What if someone sees us"

He desperately clung to her, "No. You have to help me! My father needs money. I can't go back home. I helped you with your underhanded work and did all of your dirty work. You can't leave me like this," She was attempting to separate him as he pleaded with her desperately, "Please help me."

"Let go of me, I said let go!" The woman then kicked him hard. The kick landed on his stomach and he rolled on the ground, slightly growling in pain.

"I helped you as much as I can, but now I can't anymore. And if you love your life then get out of here as soon as possible" The woman turned around and walked away.

But before she could fully go out of the room she turned around once again, and in a low voice she said, "And you better not tell them about our job together. If you ever did then you know what would happen right? Since your sister is still yet to repay the money she borrowed from me". The woman spoke in a malicious tone. A warning to him not to open his mouth to anyone. And then turned around and left him alone in that room.

After she left not another sound could be heard in the gloomy room where he had been residing for almost two years. And now he had to leave it behind. He recalled how delighted he was to receive this job. How his entire family celebrated that night when he received the letter. At the time, he questioned how a rural boy like him would be hired for such a position at a noble's home. The job for which many people would wait their entire lives but are never chosen. Back then his sister said it was luck and that's what he believed it was. Mere luck.

The fact that he was hired for such a position, that too in a noble's house. The fact that salary was sufficient for his family to get by without his mother and sister working long hours to make ends meet. The fact that his father was showing signs of improvement after one year. Yes, he thought it was a coincidence. Finally, God was being kind to him. But who would have guessed he fell into a trap laid perfectly by someone.

Emily Second. His savior. The woman he swore to spend his whole life serving. The woman that helped him get this job, the woman that made him do the work he never thought he would have to do. She made him a criminal, a killer. And now when her job was done he was being discarded like a used rag.

The man grabbed his stomach, the throbbing pain was making it hard for him to move. She did hit him hard.

Suddenly, the dreary room reverberated with the sound of chirping birds. He raised his head and peered out the tiny window that connected to the world outside. Two sparrows were sitting on that small windowsill as they were singing their monotonous high notes. Playing together joyfully. They then spread their wings and took off after a little while.

He watched the two feathered creatures fly away. Small droplets formed near the ends of his eye's corners as he bit his lip. He wrapped himself into a cocoon, his body shivering.

What would happen to him now?