The Beast

chapter 1

Hazel's POV:

Did you just shelf it yet?

I snap out of my daze and turn to my mom. She stands by the entrance with her arms crossed and taps her foot impatiently.I slide off my chair and straighten my white apron. "Almost done"."Hurry, you need to join the others and prepare lunch and fix your bun" Yes ma'am, I reply reaching for my auburn hair to tuck away the wayward. strands. she scans me one last time before walking away. she can tell that I've been more distracted than usual. the duster rests untouched on the table. truthfully, I haven't dusted a single shelf today. there's no need to. there's not a single speck of dust in this room. I know because I dusted it yesterday and the day before that for the past 10 years I've been repeating the same task. I've grown tired of the numbing rituals. my black and white made dress and the dimmed hallway lights in this Mansion of a mystery. I've been at the belly of this mansion for 10 years, locked away from the world. I still remember the war. my mother and I were lucky to be taken inside the Mansion along with the other servants, but it has been 10 long years and the older I get the more my questions festered. I think that's why my mom assigned me indoor jobs to keep me away from the walls that I dream of scaling. The outside keeps calling my name. it's time to see what's past those gray walls. the mansion that was once massive has become tight. I can't escape my mom's glaze or the larynx supervisors. perhaps I would feel more loyalty to this place if there weren't so many secrets if I knew who we were serving, but I don't even know our master's name. I've never seen his shadow with a sigh. I pick up my duster and sweep it over the immaculate shelves. I dread that I'll have to do the same thing again tomorrow. my eyes remain on the window as I clean off all the leopards in the sky. wishing I could see what they do. what does the world look like? why aren't we allowed to leave the estate grounds? I do not care about the rules anymore. I'm being reckless and I've been a servant and daughter for too long tomorrow night. I'm executing my plan. I just can't get caught or I'll be banished. once I dust the shelves I'll report to the kitchen. Catalina. my close friend shows up with her new apron correct in her skirt wrinkled I chuckle and shake my head as I wash my hands." had fun in the supply closet again". I whisper and she nudges me with her elbow. she and her boyfriend have been inseparable since they got together. we're the same age having entered the Mansion together 10 years ago. Catalina shares the same curiosity as me. we often spend time speculating what's past these balls lately. she's been too story-eyed while staring at her boyfriend. I'm glad that she's distracted. we've been whispering about hoping the wall. but I've been wary of taking her with me. if we are caught we would both be banished. I would rather be found alone. why aren't you two working ass Dakota? she's our supervisor. she loves to micromanage. she wants us to be machines and she puts her foot down whenever she specs for having fun. she is a beautiful girl a bit older than me. her skirt is navy blue instead of black displaying her rank. that's another mystery of this estate. no one knows how promotions are decided. Dakota has been at the estate for 5 years and already has more seniority than my mother and I name or his height. I've heard everything from 6 ft to seven. his identity is well guarded secret and I'm determined to get a peek. I've been festering in these questions for over 10 years. I want to know what became of the world and who I'm serving. although I'm grateful to have been fed and sheltered. something is calling for me to explore Everett every book and entered nearly every room in this Mansion. I need more before dying from old age without resolving a single mystery. I'll wash and chop the vegetables. as Dakota tends to the chicken, we fall into a natural routine. I know to steer clear of her. once lunch is served I take a walk down to the garden. I study the mansions windows. nearly all the curtains are drawn and I wonder behind which one the master is hiding. the Victorian style Mansion has been here for a long time even before the war. it's weathered but bulky and strong. when I think of the master I picture him as being old as this house he must have lived through a lot and have plenty of stories to tell hell maybe he's a woman. maybe Dakota is secretly the mistress of the state and that's why she hacks high and mighty or maybe the master as a cat. I don't know the first thing about him asking the great concrete wall. one last time the guard and the Wash Tower is ending his shift. I've been washing them for so long that I'm familiar with their rotations That's how I play my journey. I've been pushing my plan back for the past month but it's time tomorrow. I'm climbing the wall.

Next day:

today was a normal day. I slid off my bed and put on my uniform. my roommate Gwen had already left. I reported to work and did the same shelves as yesterday. I looked out the same windows, walk the same holes and wash the same plates. my anxiety increases with every pressing hour. when my mom came to visit me in the library she could tell something was wrong I just lied and said I hadn't ironed the dresses that I was in charge of. she believed me because I often push back on my duties to finish reading. I ate dinner with Catalina and Gwen and was too distracted to offer much conversation. I excuse myself from the table and go to My room I take a shower and Pace the room. should I hop the wall today or should I push my plane back another day? no, I have to do this tonight. I am wearing a t-shirt and long jeans. we're allowed to wear casual clothes after work. although it's hot, the long denim jeans will protect my legs from scratches. I've prepared a small satchel with cash, a mirror, a tiny knife. I stole from the kitchen and a flashlight. I have no cell phone practically no one does. I doubt there are many past the walls I leave a note on my bed telling Gwen that I'm going to stay late in the library and to not stay up for me. We are not allowed to walk the Halls late Monday through Thursday but today is Friday and no one will question my presence I checked the time. it's almost 9:00. the guards always share a cigarette when they are switching, giving me about a minute to run for the wall. sneaking back home will be another challenge. I ducked my head as I stepped outside gripping my satchel and counting my steps.

tonight will either be the best or the worst night of my life.