Aefia was slumped against the cell walls, her head bent due to her weak spine. Her eyes were blown wide open, a souless black colour, that deeply contrasted with her pale skin. What have I done in life? I can't even kill myself... What kind of a useless am I? She thought while hugging her knees close to her, then burrowing half her face from the nose to the chin.
I think it was for good that I had been teleported to this world... At least my own biological parents aren't having to see this... Or they would be determined that I am absolutely useless... What have I ever been successful with in my life?! Why the hell was I even born?! Why didn't I listen to my mom?!
She felt a wave of grieve hit her as she buried her eyes with her knees, then letting out a laugh, which shoke her shoulders despite being weak. What have I ever done good in my life?! Which decision was ever a good decision in my life?! What did I honestly think?! That I was smart enough to handle my situations?!
The laugh slowly turned into a sob, then a scream. Her lungs burned as she stayed stuck to the dark, shadowed corners of the cell. Her blood stained red entire cell, despite the fact that she hadn't been walking since the time that George had left that order and left. It was probably the next day, and the bandages never arrived. There were a few words from the guards who had survived a close call.
"You are lucky... Your lying has saved us and for that... We will show you mercy. Now that the only thing left to do is... To find that snitch..." The fat one spoke, the one she had said it was a cobra's reason her finger was missing a digit. "I am honestly going to break his neck when I find him."
"Break his ribs from my side..." Aefia had replied while sitting down due to the dizziness. "No one asked!" Another shouted while walking away, laughter trialing them as they ascended the stairs. She didn't care about the cold, didn't care about the scary insects crawling up the walls and sometimes... Cobras. Why does George have to put his mind into matters where I am just trying to leave their family alone and protected? ... If he wasn't one of the few people I want to protect... I would have killed him... Why does he have to care about a disposable adopted sister?
Her sob subsided as her breathe came out shallow due to exhaustion. But nonetheless, her mind screamed, although her voice gave up and left her in a state of panic. The tears at her eyes caused the blood at the side of her face to turn liquid form again, making it seem like she had hurt herself to make the wounds bleed again.
Disgrace... I am a disgrace! That is what I am! What kind of am adopted child and member of the Imperial family poisons the very person supporting them?!
She hid her face, turning the cell silent again. Her fingers were on the brink of becoming limp, and her pinky finger felt like it was already ripped out from one side... Which technically was. The pain was the only one keeping her alive, and it was constantly making her mind jolt back into reality. She flashed a smile, but it was too hidden for anyone to catch. But given the fact that there was no one nearby, she didn't give a mind to smile to the wall in front of her.
Nearby, her finger caught hold of a chalk, and she picked up, turning the white into red. Then she turned to face the wall that was supporting her back. Despite the pain, she wrote onto the wall. It was too dark to see anything, but her eyes had adjusted a long while ago. And given that the chalk was white, she had the rare chance of visibility. She was still wearing her coat and vest from the previous day, and the layers helped to keep the cold from causing her more trouble.
The chalk glided over the smooth walls, as she wrote a few letters. Then immediately, she rubbed her bloodstained hand over the chalk and erased any possible stains coming from the wall. Then she snapped the chalk and threw it away, watching it crumble. Then glancing at the red powder of her fingers.
Why does everyone have to care about me? It would have been an easier life to have everyone hate me instead. I would have been able to get this world's mysteries settled and then return to Earth, fix everything there and then get a more normal life. And never getting involved with mystery and violence ever again.
She thought to herself as she heard the sound of footsteps coming from the stairs. Only a single pair of footsteps, but this got her worrying over so many things. It sounded like to were a guard, probably to deliver her food or anything of that sort. But to sounded more frantic and panicked, which meant it were not the guards. She slowly got up, dragging her limbs towards the darkest corner of the room where no amount of light reached. Then, she settled down, while keeping an eye for the outside of the cell.
She waited, with her predatory gaze locked outside. Meanwhile, her fingers scanned for sharp objects. If it were George, she could reach out and stab him so he never thought about rescuing her. There is still a chance... That I can force the execution. Her fingers suddenly felt the sharp edge of a crowbar, a she fished it out from behind the straws on the floor. She protectively wrapped her fingers around the handle and kept it in a position so she could swing it and knock them out.
Finally, a guard approached her cell bars while holding a lantern, causing the darkness to be gotten rid of. He held the keys to her door and used it to open her cell doors. Regardless of knowing the fact that George wasn't the one who approached her this time, her grip on the crowbar didn't loosen. She stared from a long time while pressing her back directly against the wall.
The guard held the door wide open, but keeping a straight face. He was the same person who had snitched about this situation to George, and he was also the same person she wanted to kill right now for ruining her plan.
"Get up. And get out of this cell." He spoke in a harsh tone, but didn't dare to raise his voice.
"Why?" She asked back while standing up in an armed position with the crowbar still clasped at her hands, as she held it above her shoulders.
"Didn't you want to be executed? Now go. The courthouse is ready." He answered back without breaking his character in front of her. "Master George said that if you don't leave within the next few minutes, he will force you to stay for the rest fo your life." He added a short while later.
Hearing this, she immediately dropped the crowbar while standing up. A sense of relief hit her as she walked out the cell doors with a glance back to keep in memory of the room she had been. But her steps didn't slow as she held her cuffed hand up and in front of her whole sprinting up the steps of the underground prisons. The last few days vividely settled into her mind, but her exhaustion slowing her down rapidly. Only the adrenaline of getting killed could speed her steps up.
Execution... Finally...
Within seconds, she was at the last step of the stairs. Without a single hesitation at her face, she hoped up in a showcase of childish behavior, then slowly walking towards the gates of the palace. She glanced back, to see if the guard was coming, and luckily he was. She didn't give it much mind until she stepped towards the door and walked over to push it open herself. But the guards at either sides didn't allow for it, slamming their long spears in a cross right in front of her. "Why the heck...? ... Am I already took late for the execution?" She asked in a soft voice to the guards at either sides.
Suddenly, a hand landed at her shoulder, which caused her to subtle half a step with her weak and bleeding self. "Thanks... I will take it from here." George spoke from behind her while stepping beside her. He looked down to face her, while she gritted her teeth in anger, knowing that she had been played. "What makes you think I will allow them to execute you? You seriously should think of the consequences... Of taking your life. Once you do it, you won't be able to return."
"I don't have a wish to return. I have settled everything that needed immediate action so I have no regrets." She replied immediately, without turning her gaze towards her. Instead, she shook off his hand form her shoulder and stepped away, with her cuff's chains rattling against each other. The fury inside her mind was too much to calm down instantly, and she didn't plan on quiting so fast. "What was the point of bailing me out if I wasn't going to get executed? It would be rather better that I returned to my cell immediately. It is best to not harbour a fugitive in the palace."
"Since when was a planned suicide supposed to be related to being a fugitive? I know that the public would know it when we show them the letter you had sent to the hitman and how you used a non-lethal dose to poison the duchess. Not everyone has a brain that useless." He answered back while signalling the guards to force her to move. "And the reason you were brought out... Was because mom wanted you out of that cell. And she personally called you into her room. Do you want to die with the guilt of having poisoned her so you could die?"
"Does an already dead person have to apologize and feel guilty?" She asked back with a straight face. George didn't change his expression, despite clearly being able to feel the goosebumps at his arms. "You better get moving. She will decide whether you die today or another given date." He replied, while stepping towards the staircases that led to the top floors of the palace.
When she didn't move a single step, they pushed her from the back, making her stumble towards the floor with her face. It was their hatred for her, but they honestly didn't think she would have become that weak within just a day. They had seen her walk through the palace with injuries that are fatal, and she still returned alive.
She wasn't able to regain her footing in time, before she had be caught by George from a further descend. "Who was that?!" He shouted with a strict tone of voice, which had been a chance that occured within the matter of a second. He lay a protective hand on top of her head while his other hand held her shoulder to keep her there until she regained her balance.
Aefia pushed him away as soon as she managed to return her footing. "Whoever did it... It would be a matter between me and them. And I don't plan on making this a conflict that I want to keep my eye one." She spoke with a harsh tone, devoid of whatever respect she may have had for him for a long time. "Do remember the fact that if I were ever executed, I won't die carrying the name of this family. And given that... Recent conflicts... I hate you... And I definitely don't need to be under your care anymore."
She walked past him, and turned towards the Duchess's room. It pained him to listen to her say she didn't need to be under his care anymore, given that he had practically raised her the entire time she had been at the palace. But anything you say. He thought to himself as a reply as he walked behind her towards their mother's room.
And even until now, even after her full day dissappearance, Lewis or Henry didn't know a single thing. The part that Aefia had been secretly trying to kill herself, it had never even reached their ears.
As soon as she reached the door to the room, her cuffed hands unhesitatingly turned the knob, revealing the interior. Her eyes turned widened with the shock of seeing the guards who had put her into the cell, were knealing at the centre of the room, facing the duchess who was perched on the edge of the bed. She was sitting cross-legged while holding a knife at her right hand. She had fully recovered and looked with a calm face at Aefia's direction.
Behind her, she saw George locking the door then stepping forward to where the guards were on their knees. "I had ordered them to bring you bandages... So where is it?" He asked while grabbing the fat guard by his head and yanking his head up. "Wasn't this the one who cut off your finger? Don't lie here..." He asked at the direction of where she was standing.
"No one cut my finger! Let them go!" She answered in fear as she backed up. Her eyes turning almost teary in the realization that she was trapped a second time. Why have I suddenly turned so naive?! I was never like this!
Finally, the duchess stood up and walked towards Aefia's standing place. Her hands held her in place, while forcing her to stare as George withdrew a knife and slaughtered the guard he was holding by the hair. Then, she leaned in towards Aefia's ears, whispering with a soft voice.
"Aefia... If you don't say who cut off your finger... I will let Henry and Lewis know that you were going to kill yourself..." She spoke while watching the way the girl's eyes turned soulless and horrified. Suddenly, without a response, and like she was draining of her consciousness, her knees buckled. She fell to the ground with a loud thud, with the remaining of her body hauling towards the ground.