CH 44

Elusiana was looking down with a very haggard face. She was currently standing at the entrance of the stairs on the third floor. The maid, who disappeared, leaving only the words to wait for her, has been left without any news for an hour.

“No, why is the person who said she would come back soon still not coming?”

Strangely enough, no servant was seen in this spacious mansion. It was terrifyingly quiet, with only the exterior shining brightly. Did they get a group vacation? Where did everyone go?

Elusiana’s heart sank into a creeping anxiety. Suddenly, she remembered the story about the Sestein family that the drunkard Jake had once been bragging about. At that time, the story was so absurd that she heard it with one ear and let it go with the other.

“Lusi, have you heard the rumors of Grand Duchy Sestein? If you ever have to go there, don’t even go there. There is a saying that after the owner changes, they capture living people and use them as test subjects.”

Did he say that the owner used living people to test his magic performance and erase even traces of their dead bodies? That’s why there were only rumors going around. Still, they couldn’t use their hands carelessly at the imperial palace… said Jake.

D-don’t tell me…! Elusiana took a breath and widened her eyes.

“That’s ridiculous. No way they let people off their guard like this and use them later as test subjects, right?”

Elusiana’s heart began to beat fast. The rumors, which she had tried to ignore, seemed quite credible when they matched up with the current situation.

“…Then all the servants I can’t see… were taken as test subjects— Gasp!”

Elusiana’s trembling eyes turned to the hallway. Only the hallway on the third floor was black, like an abyss where no light could enter. It was then. Tak. Tatatak.

“Kyaa!”

The dark hallway was bathed in bright light. Elusiana reflexively took a step back when the light turned on.

All of a sudden, what is this? Why is the light turning on all of a sudden? For a moment, Elusiana widened her eyes and watched the hallway. Only then did she understand the situation and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Fyuu, I thought my heart was falling.”

Apparently, the lights here were magically set to turn on automatically after a certain amount of time. Elusiana, who swept her chest, glanced at the hallway again.

The hallway, covered with dark red carpet, looked no different from the hallway she had passed so far. It seemed there would be no harm in looking at the art objects in the hallway unless she deliberately entered the room.

Shall I go? Elusiana nodded naively at the thought. She was a little bored because she had been waiting for a long time. She was reluctant to go there before because the hallway lights were off, but the lights just happened to turn on now.

“Alright, let’s walk a little bit. My legs hurt from standing up all the time, and I might accidentally cross paths with the maid who leaves for no reason.”

If the maid didn’t return by then, she intended to return to the parlor and wait. She made me wait a long time, so there’s no way she would blame me for coming back alone. 

Elusiana, who concluded so, carefully walked into the hallway. Strangely, it felt creepy that she was lonely for no reason. But it was probably because of the vicious rumors Jake had spoken about.

When she got exactly halfway there, Elusiana stopped her steps. Tuk. Tuk, tuk.

“W-what is that sound? I think I just heard something.”

Feeling ominous instinctively, Elusiana turned around. The empty hallway with dark red carpet. Only then did Elusiana realize that she had gone too deep into the hallway.

When did I come this far?  She only took a few steps, but it felt like the place where she stood had changed instantly. It was bizarre as if the space were folded.

Elusiana nervously turned her head from side to side. Her scarlet eyes, trembling anxiously, quickly scanned the surroundings.

“I have to go back.”

It was when Elusiana, who swallowed dry saliva, looked toward the entrance. All of a sudden, the magic lights flickered madly and then went off with a snap sound.

“…!”

Elusiana stopped her movement. She inhaled and had no time to exhale. In the blink of an eye, darkness descended upon her.

* * *

The time when Elusiana was swallowed up in the dark. The maid, Heilla, was reporting to Louis in the parlor.

“She just entered the hallway on the third floor.”

“You’ve held out for a long time. Has it been about an hour?”

“Yes, Butler.”

Louis, who revised the basic employment contract, meticulously looked through it and nodded to see if there was anything wrong.

“Butler, is it okay if we just watch it like this?”

Heilla looked at Louis with a worried look.

“What are you worried about, Heilla? Is it because you’re afraid that he will eat her up?”

“It’s not like that.”

“He will take good care of her, so don’t worry about it.”

“But I don’t know if we have to go this far. If the young lady is scared to death…”

“She’s the one who’s been by his side so far. Contrary to what you see, she’s a very strong person. Trust the young lady.”

“…I understand.”

When Heilla reluctantly backed off, Louis put down the contract in his hand. He smiled heartily as he thought his master would meet the young lady.

“Please, may your will come true.”

* * *

Elusiana raised her shaking hands and closed her mouth tightly in the dark hallway with nothing in sight. She had to prevent screams from escaping out by mistake.

Elusiana thought rationally as she could. This hallway is straight. If I walk straight out in the direction I came from, I will see the stairs right away. Unless you’re an idiot, you would know that. But as soon as she stepped, Elusiana had no choice but to stand tall.

…Uh, I mean, which direction did I come from?  In an instant, goosebumps ran over her skin. Left and right, there were only two directions. But at this important moment, she lost her sense of direction. W-which way? Did she need to turn around? Or did she need to walk forward?

That’s right. It is in front of me. It was time Elusiana moved in a hurry, convinced by her thought.  

Thud. Crash.

Gasp! Elusiana backed away and slammed her back against the wall. As a result, she lost her sense of direction again, but she couldn’t afford to care.

What is that? I heard something crashing. Was it the sound of a fall? Elusiana was so surprised that she stopped breathing. She frantically rolled her eyes. However, nothing was seen in this place where the darkness fell.

What the hell! What is that? What is that sound? W-where was it? Elusiana, who screamed inwardly, bit her lips. It was that moment.

“Ugh, keheug.”

Elusiana’s body staggered instantly. Without realizing it, her legs became weak. She quickly pressed her body against the wall and turned her ear toward the sound.

It was definitely a human voice. The sound of breathing, as if they were in pain, sounded dangerous, as if they would run out of breath at any moment.

“Hu, huurgh.”

Elusiana’s pupils shook violently at the intermittent groan. She got goosebumps, and her whole body felt numb. I can hear them from around here.  There was a man now dying. Why are there people here? I don’t think what Jake said is true… right?

Experiment! There’s a test subject here! Elsuiana felt her mind wander. It seemed that if she stayed like this, she would be dragged into the darkness, and her body would be dismantled.

I have to run away. If I stay here, I’ll become a test subject too. But— Where should I go?

Right or left?

Front or back?

Which way!

Elusiana looked up and down with a pale face. She couldn’t think properly when fear surged through her like a tsunami. There was no light anywhere. Only the same darkness filled her sight.

It was the very moment. Creeek— A door opened somewhere with a chilling sound.

“Hi-hiik!”

Elusiana slumped down to her knees. The door opened right in front of her. She could tell without seeing it.

Why in front of me! Before she could come to her senses, something whitish fell in front of her. Terrified, Elusiana shook her head frantically, covering her mouth. No. G-go away. Don’t be in front of me and go away!

Elusiana opened her eyes wide to see the white, elongated object. It wasn’t difficult for her to tell because she had just gotten used to the darkness or if it was because something unusually white stood out.

That elongated object was a human arm. But it didn’t move at all. Gasp! I think this person is dead. What should I do?

Elusiana spoke in a voice that seemed to be audible after she picked up her breath.

“Mister. Are you okay? You’re not dead… are you? Mister!”

“…”

Elusiana was startled and reached out to that person without realizing it. She clasped tightly to that person’s white fingertips, desperately giving strength to her legs. She had to get out of here right now. Whether it was a test subject or not, seeing someone dead was a bad sign. No criminal keeps a witness alive who witnessed a murder

Elusiana’s movement stopped again as she forced herself to stand up against the wall. She turned her head around as if she had found something unbelievable. The white fingers clatter as if begging for help. Those fingers, effortlessly scratching the floor, reached exactly where she was.

…This person. I-is still… alive?