Page 10 of Ethereally Tainted

What the fuck, Naya?

I’m losing my mind here, being too paranoid and scared. The scent of rot is strong in this old house, and the children surely don’t benefit from the stale, unhealthy air. Despite our pleas for help, the master has shown no interest in our well-being.

As my anxiety increases, my wrist becomes irritated and red, and my foot begins to bounce as I scratch it. One thing I detest is uneven skin from blisters. It always causes a wave of panic to wash over me as it does now.

I’m currently waiting for a moment I know will come sooner rather than later, when the master will punish me for not attending his latest game. The never-ending wait has my nerves on edge, and I decide to go to Aurora, who is reading her books. I need to occupy my mind before the darkness takes over again.

With a heavy sigh, I stand up, and the floorboards groan, echoing in the room as I walk over to her. But before I can reach her, someone else does, and I’m startled as I hear the unfamiliar sound of the stranger’s voice ahead. In the hall stands another man, a person I’ve never seen before, and my heart skips a beat when I realize that the first doll master has come to collect his doll.

The man has an imposing figure, even taller than my five-foot-nine inches, and his chocolate brown hair hangs in front of his eyes, yet they’re directed at Aurora. From this distance, I notice the golden glimmer in his amber-colored eyes, the light making them shine brightly, the intensity of his gaze making me feel uneasy, even though it isn’t directed at me.

His deep, soulful eyes tell me a story of secrets and sins, and I can sense mine within them. Mine are the same as his, full of scars and turmoil, with little to nothing left to live for. Despite the atmosphere, I cannot help but notice how his body relaxes as he takes in Aurora’s curves, or the unmistakable tension of sexual energy in the air between them.

I take a few steps back to the table and observe quietly, noticing how his expression changes when he looks at her, the oppressive feeling of his inner demons dissipates, and I can almost feel them going quiet.

There is something so imposing in how he carries himself, and it’s as if his whole being is surrounded by darkness that sweeps over the room. His face is an unreadable wall, except for those piercing eyes that drift into relaxation, sending a chill down my spine.

“Don’t misunderstand me right now, by any means. I do not mean any harm. She is the one no one wants. At nineteen, she’s too old for people to want her. I can promise you, you will never want her. She is too old to learn to obey another master. Choose another girl, Mr. Scott.”

The master’s voice is like an annoying buzzing in my ears. It replaces ringing laughter and grows in volume with each passing second. His voice is something I wish I could erase from the world.

From the look of the stranger, I know he’ll select Aurora. She’s nineteen, one year younger than me, and somehow a feeling of betrayal seeps into my mouth, coating my tongue with a harsh, metallic taste. Throughout the months I’ve been here, I have silently hoped to be chosen, so I can seize control of the new master on our way out of here, giving me a much better chance of escaping. No one ever chose me, and I don’t know if it’s because I’m too old or because the master had a say in it.

A fury of emotion wells up within me, causing my body to shake and my breathing to become labored as I witness the master taking Aurora toward the stranger.

The instant their eyes lock, I can feel the tension in the room rising and thickening. It’s as if a bridge has been built between their souls, and they have a tangible sense of belonging. I’m sure everyone can feel it. Even though the stranger stares at Aurora with such hatred and annoyance, it’s as if something has been brought to life within him. He won’t admit it to himself any time soon, but I know he can sense the spark, too.

I am so deep in my thoughts and observations that the sudden silence in the usually lively room takes me by surprise. No longer can I hear the melodic voices of the children singing their songs or their laughter echoing in my ears. An atmosphere of death-like emotions fills the room, the kind of silence I can only imagine hearing in the afterlife when you are not reborn.

It doesn’t take long for the silence to be shattered.

“Is that a reason not to give her something to drink? Don’t you know water is the main reason we’re alive?”

The stranger’s voice is loud and defiant as he speaks to the master, and I suppress a chuckle, for no one has ever dared to challenge him before. They’re all too afraid of his wrath to risk it. At the stranger’s sentence, the master’s old body quivers, as if a blast of terror overwhelms him.

Fucker deserves to be afraid.

Several minutes pass as I tear the skin off my bare feet, unable to calm my anxiety. The stinging pain leaves me with a satisfying feeling.

As they communicate, their mouths move in an animated fashion and their hands express a range of emotions, yet I cannot decipher a single word of what they are saying. Nothing but a constant buzzing fills my ears, like a blurred sound that drowns out all other sounds.

I have lost track of time.

It is not until a loud noise is heard that I wake up, one that scratches my ears at what feels like a distance of several kilometers. The sound of it conjures images of a balloon bursting.

I recognize that sound all too well, all because of the master.

An explosion rips through the walls, making a high-pitched scream resound. It’s a heart-wrenching scream, and I want to disappear from the earth.

The mere thought of the day I was brought here causes me to shudder, and I can hardly bring myself to recall it.

My eyes flutter open, and I am instantly petrified by the sight that greets me. There’s a corpse lying a few meters away. At first, my mind is a jumble of confusion, but then a smile of amazement and contentment slowly spreads across my face. Amidst the pool of blood on the floor lies the torturer who has tormented me for months. I am in a state of confusion as I see the stranger tuck his gun away inside his coat, the fury in his eyes evident, and it’s then I know he killed the master. He and Aurora leave in a hurry, leaving the decaying old body of the master on the floor. His eyes are filled with desperation and hopelessness, begging for mercy yet still not receiving it.

Then, chaos erupts everywhere. Everyone speaks over each other, their voices strained with emotion. Some are shaking on the floor, rocking back and forth in frantic movements. Nobody understands what happened. I certainly cannot comprehend anything. My eyelids feel heavy and ache as I struggle to keep them open, finally giving in and closing them.

“Naya!”

Someone touches my shoulder, such a soft and soothing touch, but one that makes my body twitch. The unexpected sound of footsteps makes me look up, and there is a brown-haired girl with a captivating face, her eyebrows knitted in worry.

---