Page 24 of Souls We Rip

“And where is this master of yours?”

“I am not allowed to tell you.”

“Fine,” I sighed. “Can you, please, make the room warmer?”

“I am not your servant!” he shouted, bawling his fists.

“You’re not. At least show me where you keep the logs, and I will take it from there.” I was not afraid to work my stay there. My parents shaped me to do many things to keep a household afloat.

The ghost tsked, pondering my words. “Next time. Now, it would be faster if I made it. Be still and don’t do anything stupid.”

I nodded and thanked him.

Before leaving, he turned around. “Tomorrow, you’ll start working around the house.”

My head dipped again, and I watched him step straight into the walls. Chills seeped their way down my spine, not believing my own eyes.

I stepped on the stone with great care.

This was not my reality, was it? Where was I? What place was this? And where was this master who took me and left me here alone with phantoms?

While Andrei, the ghost, brought wood and made the fire in my chamber, I roamed around the cave.

There was a bathroom with a large bathtub and an iron bucket next to it. An abundance of soaps of different fragrances was neatly arranged on a wooden shelf. Rags and robes were placed on a hook. Each of them was void of colour.

In the middle of the ceiling stood a chandelier with candles. The same wheat-coloured candles were placed here and there throughout the cave.

The room left me in awe. We did not have this at any of the houses in my village. We were used to bathe under the sun, in the summer or inside in a room which could not be called a bathroom.

I stepped further into the next chamber. There was a cramped library, with only three shelves filled with books to the brim, and tomes that contained texts in other languages, not spoken in my village. Their tempting smell drew me near them.

My fingers touched the thin yellow pages, bringing me the best sensation I could have in my confinement. Vines decorated the bookcases, giving me the impression they were long forgotten.

A pang hit my heart, remembering my family and their sorrow. I should have been there with them, helping them stay afloat.

Angelica will have to go with Gavril at some point, leaving our mum alone with our father. The silver lining was that he couldn’t hit her anymore.

A few tears filled my eyes, but I expelled them. It was not the time to grieve. I made my choice, and I had to carry it with me.

My burden was heavy, but I would wear it proudly.

I made the cross sign, sending a small prayer for my mum and sister, hoping they would not have to suffer for my judgement.

Next to the library was my room, but straining my neck, I saw another hole in the cave’s wall, opposite to mine. Light came from it, the flames flickering, drawing my attention.

Curiosity overcame fear, and I crept towards the hole. My fingers skimmed the stone until I reached the room.

I could only peek at the thick cloak left ajar on the same rug as in my room, parchment papers fallen under a table. I couldn’t make out the handwriting, but I had the impression the words were not Romanian.

All of a sudden, my heart started to pound faster, as though it would run out of my chest and hide away from the brute.

“Curiosity killed the cat, peasant!”

The Goat Man

“Know your victim before condemning them to torment.”

That was what the Elk told me when I was turned by him into the Goat Man.