Chapter 7:The Monster in the Mirror
1373 Words
Marie’s Point of View
••••
The morning sun crept through the curtains like soft golden fingers, kissing my face awake,but my body refused to rise with it.
A crushing heaviness pinned me to the bed. Every attempt to sit up sent violent waves of dizziness crashing through my skull. My migraine throbbed mercilessly, each pulse feeling like a hammer striking against my temples.
My hands were freezing,my feet trembled uncontrollably beneath the blanket.
Even breathing felt exhausting.
I curled deeper into the floral bedsheet, clutching it tightly against my chest in search of warmth my body could no longer create.Suddenly,the door burst open.
“Marie? I’m here to clean"
Doris froze midway into the room, balancing her bucket and cleaning supplies awkwardly in her hands.
“Oh! Sorry, Marie,” she said quickly. “I thought you had already gone to Mia’s room.”
“It’s… weekend…” I whispered weakly, my teeth chattering.
Doris frowned immediately.She dropped the cleaning cloth onto the chair and hurried toward me.
“Marie?” she called softly, sitting beside me. Her palm landed gently on my forehead.
The moment she touched me, her eyes widened.
“Oh my goodness!” she gasped. “You’re burning up!”
“I’m fine…” I murmured weakly. “It’s probably just the AC.”
“You call this fine?” Doris snapped softly, panic creeping into her voice. “Your body is literally shaking!”
“Please…” I whispered. “Can you just switch off the AC?”
“Marie…”
“I’ll be okay.”
Doris stared at me for a long moment before sighing heavily.
“Alright. Let me finish cleaning, then I’ll bring medicine downstairs.”
“You don’t have to…” I protested faintly.
But she ignored me completely and continued arranging the room.
By the time she finished, I felt half-conscious.Like my soul was drifting somewhere between the living and the dead.
“Wow,” Doris suddenly muttered proudly while dusting the dresser. “This room looks pristine.”
Her voice pulled me faintly back to reality.I managed the weakest smile,then she left.
Moments later—
A loud voice thundered from downstairs.Sir Kelvin.
Even from my room, his anger vibrated through the mansion walls.
“What kind of irresponsible worker abandons her duty and disappears without anyone noticing?!”
I shut my eyes tightly.
Oh no…
George the gatekeeper replied nervously, “Sir, I’ve been at the gate since morning. No one has left the estate except David who went for a run.”
“What are you implying?” Sir Kelvin roared. “Are you trying to say I don’t know what I’m talking about?”
“No, sir! I only meant...”
“Then shut up!” he barked. “Do you even know Mia has been crying uncontrollably because she couldn’t find Marie this morning?”
Silence.
Then his voice came again, colder this time.
“Children in her condition are emotionally delicate. If anything happens to my daughter because of your negligence, I swear I’ll hold every single one of you responsible.”
My heart squeezed painfully.
Mia…Crying? Because of me?
The thought alone pushed adrenaline into my weak body.
Ignoring the dizziness, I forced myself out of bed.
Pain exploded through my head instantly.
I stumbled toward the bathroom, using the sink for support. I barely managed to rinse my mouth before staggering toward the door.
Every step downstairs felt impossible.
My vision blurred.The voices below became clearer.
Then,Silence.Everyone was staring at me.
“Marie?” Mike asked in shock.
I reached the last few steps weakly.
Then I saw Sir Kelvin walking toward me.
For one foolish second,I thought he was coming to help me.Instead,
SLAP!
The impact sent my head violently sideways.Pain exploded through the exact same bruised cheek from yesterday.
My body lost balance instantly.The staircase twisted before my eyes.
Doris voice echoed from behind.
"Sir, she’s sick!”
And then,Darkness swallowed me whole.
---
Sir Kelvin’s Point of View
For the first time in years, I woke up early enough to see the sunrise.Sleep had barely touched me.
Marie’s laughter from the previous night… Mia’s notepad… the coffee…
Everything lingered in my head like unfinished conversations.With a tired sigh, I adjusted my robe and decided to check on the children before heading to work.
David’s room was empty.Of course,the boy had probably gone for his usual morning run.
I stopped outside Nikki’s room next.
Knock.
“Nikki?”
Silence.
“I know you’re awake.”
Still nothing.
My jaw tightened slightly.Ever since Maya died, Nikki had mastered the art of punishing me with silence and perhaps,I deserved it.
Defeated, I walked toward Mia’s room instead.The moment I entered, my heart clenched.
Mia sat curled on her bed, crying silently into her teddy bear.
“Mia?” I rushed toward her immediately. “Princess, what’s wrong?”
The moment she saw me, she reached shakily for her notepad.
Her tiny fingers trembled while writing,then she held it up.
“Nanny Marie left like Mum.”
My chest tightened painfully.
“What do you mean?” I asked quickly, kneeling before her.
She scribbled again through tears.
“I went to her room this morning but she wasn’t there.”
I frowned.Marie… gone?Without telling anyone?Impossible.
I questioned Mia carefully again to make sure I understood correctly.
Each answer only deepened her panic.Soon she was crying harder and something inside me snapped.
---
Minutes later, every domestic worker stood assembled in the living room.Fear filled the air.
“Where is Marie?” I demanded sharply.
Nobody answered.
George finally stepped forward nervously.
“Sir… I’ve been at the gate all morning. Nobody has left the estate except David who went for a run.”
I turned slowly toward him.
“What exactly are you trying to imply?”
“Nothing, sir! I only meant maybe she’s still inside the...”
“Then use your brain before speaking!” I thundered.
The workers flinched.
“Mia has been crying nonstop because she thinks Marie abandoned her!” I snapped furiously. “Do any of you understand the emotional condition of that child?!”
Nobody spoke.Anger boiled hotter inside me.
“If anything happens to my daughter because of negligence...”
Suddenly,movement.Everyone turned,Marie.
She looked pale,weak,barely standing,but all I saw in that moment was the chaos my daughter had suffered because of her absence.
“Marie, where have you been?” Mike asked carefully.
I strode toward her before anyone else could speak.
“You lazy girl!” I barked.
And before reason could catch up,I slapped her hard.
The sound echoed brutally through the mansion.Then,everything changed.
Her body swayed,her eyes rolled back and she collapsed right there, in front of everyone.
My breath stopped.
“Sir… she’s sick!” Doris cried out in horror.
The words hit me like a bullet.
Sick?
I stared at Marie lying motionless on the floor.
The same bruised cheek.The same one I had struck yesterday.
And suddenly,I felt it.Not anger,not authority,not pride,but horror,pure horror.For the first time in years…I felt like a monster.
“Dad!” David’s furious voice exploded from behind me.
I turned sharply.
My son stood at the entrance in his running clothes, chest rising heavily.
The moment his eyes landed on Marie unconscious on the floor,disgust filled his face.
“You’re heartless!” he shouted at me. “Completely consumed by your grief!”
The words pierced deeper than I expected.David rushed toward Marie immediately.
“Help me carry her!” he shouted to the workers.
Nobody moved,fear froze them all.Fear of me,fear of losing their jobs and somehow…that hurt even more.
I couldn’t breathe properly anymore,the walls suddenly felt suffocating.Without another word,I turned and walked away,straight into my study.
The moment I entered, I slammed the door shut behind me.Lock,silence.
My hands trembled slightly.Outside, I could faintly hear hurried footsteps… worried voices…
Then Nanny Ann’s voice.“Kelvin…”
I shut my eyes tightly.“Go away.”
“Kelvin, open this door.”
“Please…” my voice cracked faintly. “Just leave me alone.”
Silence followed,but downstairs,the sound of chaos continued and somewhere within that chaos,Marie still hadn’t opened her eyes.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD