EPISODE 3.
1098 Words
LUCAS' POV.
I guess I haven't introduced myself properly to you guys.
My name is Lucas Salvador, I'm probably twenty years old. Loyal servant of Hamilton's Tower.
My mom works as a cook here, and I'm only trying to help out. Life in Hamilton's Tower hasn't been that easy, especially when almost all the family hates you. I mean... Lady Margaret has got her eyes on me. She doesn't want me lingering around her daughter, which was fine with me.
And there's Zack, another problem disguised as a human. Zack has always hated me since childhood. He always finds a way to bully me... of course he's two years older than me, but that doesn't give him the right to bully me.
And he always hates the idea of me hanging out with his sister or trying to save his sister from him. I could remember a day when he helped his sister climb up a tree and left her there till dusk. I got mad when I saw her up there crying and shivering. I hurriedly got her down from the tree. Just a few minutes after helping her down, Zack came into view and started laughing. I was so furious and mad at him, I rushed towards him and punched him on the face. Then he turned around to glare at me, and that was when I noticed that his two front teeth were missing. That was when I realized what I'd done. Zack ran inside to get his mum, and I got the beating of my life that day.
And then there's the father...Edward Hamilton. Sir Edward is actually a good man. He hardly complains and treats everyone equally... except that his wife, Margaret, has a great influence over him. He's always warned me countless times to stay away from his daughter, Vivian.
I've been trying to do that, but since yesterday we had our conversation, I've been having second thoughts. When I saw her yesterday, all those feelings came back, and now she's trying to initiate a friendly relationship with me. I don't want to let Sir Edward down, so I decided to start avoiding her. I mean... how hard could it be?
My mom, on the other hand, has a great influence over me. She knows I'll do anything to make her happy. She's been warning me to stay away from Vivian, else we'll end up thrown out. I don't want to risk our business, trust, and dignity just for a girl. But soon... I'm not planning on staying long. I have plans for myself.
★★★★★
At least, that's what I keep telling myself.
But life here has a way of reminding me exactly where I belong.
Take Zack, for example. He's twenty-two, broad-shouldered, loud, and as full of himself as his father's whiskey cabinet. He doesn't just hate me...he enjoys making me miserable.
And last week was no different.
It was evening, and I'd just finished helping Mum in the kitchen. I was taking out the rubbish when I heard laughter from the garden. Loud, drunk laughter. Zack's voice.
He was sitting with a girl...a red head, dressed too fancy for someone his mother would approve of. I didn't pay them any attention; I just went about my business. But then the girl saw me.
"Who's that?" she asked.
Zack turned, saw me, and his grin faded. "No one," he muttered.
But the girl didn't stop staring. She smiled...at me. "He doesn't look like no one, he's kinda cute."
I froze, holding the bin lid in my hand. "Evening, sir," I said, walking away.
"Evening," she said before he could answer.
Zack's jaw tightened. He stood up suddenly. "Hey! Salvador!"
I stopped. "Yes, sir?"
He walked closer, glass still in hand. "Did I tell you you could be standing there like some bloody statue?"
"No, sir. I was just passing by"
"Passing by?" He chuckled, stepping closer. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?"
I looked at the girl; she was watching us now, half amused, half nervous.
"Apologize," he said.
"For what?"
He smirked. "For looking at my girl."
"I didn't," I said quietly. "I was just-"
And before I could finish, he slapped the bin out of my hand. "Don't talk back to me!"
The sound echoed through the garden.
"Zack!" the girl gasped, standing up. "Stop it."
He ignored her, grabbed me by the collar, and shoved me back against the wall. "You think because my father pities you, you can stand here and get looked at by the girls I bring home?"
"Zack, I swear I wasn't-"
He punched me in the stomach. Hard.
And then one on my face.
I doubled over, gasping.
"Zack, stop!" the girl said again, grabbing his arm. "You're hurting him!"
He jerked away from her, glaring at both of us now. "Go inside," he said to her.
She hesitated, but he shouted, "Now!"
She flinched and hurried off.
He turned back to me, breathing hard. "You stay away from anyone that comes near this house. You hear me?"
I nodded, still catching my breath.
"Say it."
"Yes Sir," I muttered.
He sneered. "Good."
And then he left...just like that...leaving me there hunched over, with blood on my lip and dirt on my shirt.
★★★★★
Later that night, Mum saw the bruise.
"Lucas..." she whispered, sitting beside me at the edge of the cot. "He hit you again, didn't he?"
I didn't answer.
She sighed, pressing a damp cloth to my face. "You should've kept your head down."
"I did."
"Then you should've walked faster."
"Mum-"
She looked at me with that tired, pleading expression I've seen a hundred times. "Please, son. Don't make enemies in this house. We need this job. We can't afford trouble with the Hamiltons."
Her voice broke on the last word, and I hated myself for making her worry.
"I'm not looking for trouble," I said quietly. "It just finds me."
She smiled faintly, even though her eyes were wet. "Then you keep running when it does."
But I'm tired of running.
Every insult, every bruise...it's like the walls of this house are pressing closer.
Zack gets to do whatever he wants, and I'm supposed to bow my head and pretend I don't exist.
But I'm not a ghost.
I'm not.
I tell myself to endure it for my mother's sake. But sometimes, when I see the smirk on his face, I wonder how long before I finally snap again...like that day by the tree.
And maybe... maybe next time, I won't stop at his teeth.
- Writer
