NO GOING BACK
1388 Words
I couldn't turn back. The security guards and a good number of pit bulls stared at me threateningly, daring me to leave without stating my business.
I looked down at the black card Valerie had pressed into my hand before rushing out last night. It read:
Domus Vitale
Mayflower Road, Lake Forest
She had told me, “Don't worry, Frey. You will find it easily, just ask anyone for Domus Vitale.”
“I did find it easily.” I shrugged, remembering how the locals had looked at me condescendingly before directing me to the house.
One woman who reminded me so much of Nanny McPhee had huffed and told me I didn't belong anywhere around here. But she had been useful.
“Go on, girl. Just straight ahead. There are no other houses on the road and once you cross the border, you can't turn back—”
Tap, tap!
I jolted as rapping on my car window reminded me that I was still parked before the mansion gates.
A burly man dressed in a smart suit and wearing a black mask that only showed his eyes, nose, and lips was leaning toward my window.
I could remember Valerie again.
“Don’t be intimidated by anyone except the matron.”
“I'm here to apply for the job.”
“Do you have an invite?” I flashed the card proudly before him.
“Yes, I do. From Val—”
“Go in.”
He cut me short and walked away as the mansion gates slid open ominously. I snorted at his attitude but didn't say anything.
Driving in, I couldn't help but notice how cold the atmosphere was. There was an eerie silence hanging over the estate and there was no one in sight.
The road keeps winding with different barricades like an army barracks. Surprisingly, there were no guards, just…bazookas.
Slowly, the towering, stone castle came into view. It had a fountain in the middle with a masked man kneeling and water flowing out from a chunked-out part of his neck. It was artistic yet horrifying, as though the water would rather be replaced with blood.
“Well, that's creepy.” I parked my car in the garage across from the house that had a sign saying, “Staff only.”
I got out, my nerves working up. I smoothed my wild mane, as the traitorous red curls were already slipping out of my chignon. Valerie had told me to dress corporate.
“Keys, please.”
“Christ!” I cursed, turning to see a masked man in a black suit, holding out his hand. He was standing still like a statue and if it weren't for his eyes, I would have doubted he was alive.
“I'm new here. You could—”
“Silence…” I turned to see another masked man walking into the garage.
“...is the first job here, Miss Kensington.”
I was getting scared. How did he know my name? Valerie had told me not to send in any applications.
All she told me was that there was a job that could offer me a lot of money and all I needed to do was to show them the card. Why were these people behaving like aliens?
“Well, I'm sorry, Sir. I never —” He raised a finger to his lips, cutting me short.
“Keys, please.” The valet, I hoped, said again. They were all too quiet. Like this was some kind of cult.
I handed my keys over to him wordlessly. I was having a bad feeling about this job already. Was it possible to quit before I could be hired?
“Come with me, Miss Kensington.” The other man said and turning like a robot, started walking back to the house. Panic rose inside me as my instincts yelled at me to get out of this place while I still could.
“Wait, Sir! Look, I don't think I can work —”
“Silence, Miss Kensington. The third warning will have a punishment. Am I understood?” He hadn't turned back while saying all of this.
“042?” I turned around to see the valet waiting expectantly.
“X spot.”
The valet nodded and quickly got into my baby, driving away, soundlessly.
I followed Mr Silence as he hadn't bothered to introduce himself into the house. I almost forgot my safety senses as I ogled the beauty and history in the drawing room.
This was old money and it was exactly the kind I needed. Anything could happen to new money, but old money stays and I was desperate for a steady, high-paying job.
We walked through a door in the drawing room, hidden at the back of the double staircase. It was a locker room with numbers written on them.
“That's your locker. Get dressed and meet your colleagues in the study in two minutes. Do not waste a second.”
I nodded, knowing it was unwise to question him, and walked into the room. My locker had the number 9 written boldly on it.
I quickly opened it, and unsurprisingly, there was a black ladies’ suit, a pair of black oxfords, and a black mask, with the number 9 splashed boldly on the breast pocket.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I groaned.
Why did I ever listen to Valerie? I could still remember her words vividly last night and I had thought it was all a joke. Heck! I thought she was trying to scare me.
°°°°°
Last night,
“But Ashford Luxe pays a lot, don't they?” Valerie asked, lighting a cigarette.
The music in the club thumped loudly all around us and the neon light and smoke made it difficult to see her face.
“They do, Val. But I need some extra cash right now. It's getting too…hard.” I swallowed, looking away. It was always too hard to hide the truth from Valerie.
“You're gonna have to tell me what's going on one day, Frey. You're withering away and always in need of money.” Sighing, she opened her clutch dramatically and pulled out a black card.
“You always wondered where I work, right? This is it. Domus Vitale.”
“What's that?” I asked, my curiosity unquenchable. Valerie had always been evasive about her work and she was making thousands of dollars a month. A desperate girl like me would fall at her heels to thank her for this.
“You will know once you start working there. If you take this card, there's no going back, Frey. Are you sure you want it?”
I was worried for a moment. But this was Valerie, she would never be involved in something illegal.
“I don't even know what I'm gonna do there. I can't just waltz in there and ask them for a job.”
“Yes, you can. You can do whatever they ask of you. Trust me…or if you don't want… I mean they pay a lot.”
“I’ll take it,” I said hurriedly and reached out to take the card, but she suddenly held it out of range.
“Once you take this card, there's no going back, Frey. Are you sure?”
“Just give me the damn card already. Always so dramatic!” I laughed as she rolled her eyes and pressed it into my hand. She stood up immediately, downing her drink.
“You're going already?”
“Yeah. I have work.” Her usual excuse. I would finally know what work she did.
“Wait! What about an application? Other details?”
“You don't need an application. Just go there tomorrow, show the card to the guards, and don't forget to dress corporate.” She was rushing as she wore the heels she had discarded.
“How do I find it? I have never been to Mayflower.”
“Don’t worry, Frey. You will find it easily. Just ask Domus Vitale. And whatever you do, follow their orders, baby. Don't be intimidated by anyone but the matron.” She added as an afterthought.
“Or what?” Valerie was always unnecessarily dramatic.
“Or you die.”
- Writer
