Her disappearance[1]

Meanwhile, "Gloria" sat on the rough ground of the basement, proud and unaware of the things happening to Frei outside. Then an abrupt, thunderous clang ruptured through the air, it reverberated so loudly that the pent-up emotions of the person banging the iron door could be felt, an angered reaction. She could feel the vibrations erupted from the sound, and even after the echo had vanished, she could still feel the strong vibration.

Which then she realized, it wasn't the door or the sound that caused the vibration. It was her. Her body was shaken in fear of what was about to come next. Unable to even lift up her fingers, she lay down on the ground, sweating profusely as her anxiety rose. 

Then she heard light footsteps.

*Tip*

*Tap*

The sound of leather shoes seeped in, approaching closer and closer. 

Her anxiety grew, like a full-grown tree still sprouting, however she felt glad that she was able to get Frei out of the place she and he despised so much. In the midst of that, she cracked a smile within all the anxiety and paranoia she felt all her life. For once, the melancholy in her mind dissipated and she began to feel hopeful, that maybe one day her chains will too be broken, just like Frei.

Then a shadow emerged from the staircase, engulfing the light in the dim basement.

She looked up at the person that stood between her and the door, in the midst of orangish light coming from behind the shadow. His face is familiar, like someone she've served for a long time. It was CornWall, First born of Wall. 

"I see you help…the subhuman escape." He said, gesturing towards the cut up shackles.

"He…is just a kid. He doesn't deserve this kind of treatment." She replied 

"You know. Father doesn't know anything about this, so only he would get the punishment, not that would do anything if he's chained up here." 

"Why would you…" She understood the meaning behind those words, that he only wanted to use her.

"Well, you see, I'm very fond of you." He said with a smirk in his face, while he gently slid his fingers across her jawline. "Very. Fond of you."

She shook her head away from his fingers and asked reluctantly "What… Do you want?" 

"I want you. You're too beautiful for anyone as low as the monkeys outside, or the subhuman. You are only suitable to be with me only."

"What would the madam think? That you would stoop so low as to have an affair with a maid."

"I'm sure she won't mind, I mean I have the blood of a Cornwall, she should feel lucky that she's my wife." He affirmed.

"What… if I decline?" She replied instantaneously.

"Well… I wouldn't know, how about asking your mother or… even better. Your sister?" He said with a sadistic tone in his voice. 

His words shook her with anger and rage.

"Oh wait! One's dead and the other doesn't care about you!" He chuckled loudly. "Did you think that your twin would care for you even after you sacrifice your life to work here?" '

"I…" 

"I am going to just say it out loud. I want you to satisfy me, I could care less for you if it wasn't for your beauty. It'd be even better if I could get my hands on your sister too. TWO 'GLORIAS' in my grasp? Can't you imagine that?"

"My sister isn't so weak and fragile for a man like you to take." She said with determination in her voice.

"You know, you should watch your tone. I could do it, catching your twin and maybe have her be fed to the soldiers as a treat. Well, whether you like it or not, you got no choices, woman." He exclaimed, smiling sadistically showing similarities to his father. "So open your mouth now, wide. You half-blooded bitch."

"..." She wrapped her arms on her shoulders.

Yet another shadow emerges from the staircase, however this time there weren't any footsteps to be heard or any presences to be felt.

"This place smells different than 12 years ago. Though it looks like you didn't change much brother."

A sudden voice, different yet oddly familiar, emerges directly behind CornWall, which was something he hadn't expected or heard in his years of living. His face dropped, his expression shifted, the sadistic smile on his face turned into uncomfort, his eyebrows raised and his eyes widened.

"H…Haydn?"

"Yes Brother?"

"You… Son of a bitch." He said angrily.

"You're insulting your own mother, you know."

"Why are you here?" He demanded.

"Only came to see the cell that the kid was chained in. It looked cleaner than before but… I can still feel the vileness in this room. Has Father not stopped?"

'Kid?' her face dropped and her anxiety rose again.

"Oh yeah? Why would you care? You were the one that spent 12 years studying in Latanna, taking away my future and is observing things the only skill you learnt there? Distinguishing between things like a dog?"

"That means you didn't smell the vileness in this place? Which, I guess would mean that you're less than a dog then."

"I guess you also learnt how to be arrogant. Now piss off, I don't have time for you." CornWall turned his head back, away from Haydn to leer at "Gloria". 

"..." Haydn didn't say anything, except staring at his brother whom he thought was pitiful. "I guess that's why I'm named Haydn and not you."

CornWall pretended to not hear the words of his brother, for the words reminded him of his shameful past which was something he wished to forget. He turned his head back to frown his anger towards Haydn, but he was already gone without a sound.

"Damn it!" He exclaimed in anger as he slapped "Gloria" in the face as a pathetic attempt at quelling his anger. "Little fucking shit."

*Tip*

*Tap*

The distinct sound of leather shoes tapping against the floor and the rhythm of the cane approached closer, and even without laying an eye on the person coming. The two of them knew who was approaching. 

CornWall hurriedly cooled himself, quilling his anger to not offend his father. His back straightened and his hands placed behind his back to welcome his father's arrival.

Wall came back into the basement holding Frei with one arm against his shoulders, and abruptly asked, "What is she doing here?"

Her arms dropped from her shoulders upon seeing Frei. Her eyes widened as she stared emptily at the boy she helped escape. Thoughts flooded her mind and she froze in shock. The hope that she held, dissipated into nothing.

"Nothing Father. I brought her here." CornWall defended her.

"Whatever it is you want, leave. Be sure to welcome your brother home." Wall said in a gentle tone, a tone that "Gloria" had never heard from the old man before.

CornWall nodded, and promptly grabbed her by the wrists, forcefully dragging her limp body against the staircase. 

When the two of them reached upstairs. CornWall threw her against the floor, whilst she did nothing to retaliate, her soul seemingly gone. 

"Well. The kid's no more. He won't see the daylight ever again and neither will you if I didn't stand up for you. Shouldn't you reciprocate my kind gesture?" He gently slid his fingers across her jawline yet again. "You like him, don't you? That's why you've been feeding him. I will let you see him, I will even let him outside, if you just do what I asked."

She didn't reply.

"Oh and your sister is safe too. It is a two in one package, a deal worth taking. No?" He chuckled. "Well, of course unless… you decline, but you aren't that stupid right?"

A tear slid down her face.

CornWall smiled and placed his hands gently on her hair, patting her. "Good girl." He whispered into her ears.