AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And you are?”
“Albert, Miss, been here twenty-five years, so I can probably answer your question if you have one.”
He grins and I stop for a moment and say with interest.
“So you know how things work around here?”
“If I don’t by now, I guess I never will.”
He flashes me a toothless grin and I point to the costume in my hand. “Do you know what this is?”
He appears slightly surprised because, of course, it’s obvious what it is and I say hurriedly, “I mean, why would this be considered my uniform?”
“Why not? You get fairies in fairyland, don’t you?”
“Fairyland?”
“On the fourth floor. From the first of November the house of horror is transformed into all things Christmas and fairyland is our theme this year. Obviously, you’re one of the inhabitants of that, which could be worse, I suppose.”
“It could?”
I’m seriously doubting that right now and he shrugs. “The girl before you was a zombie. Quite an ugly one at that, and she hated every minute of it.”
“I’m not surprised.”
I regard my outfit suspiciously, and Albert smiles through the gaps in his teeth.
“I think you’ll make a pretty fairy, miss…”
“Taylor.”
He glances around him and lowers his voice. “Word of advice, don’t trust anyone. This lot would stick a knife in your back if their life depended on it.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because they’re ambitious. They all want a piece of the pie and they’re hungry.”
He whispers, “It’s why people don’t last long at Harvey’s. They see the pretty things and head home to poverty every night. They can’t afford the lifestyle they sell and resent it.”
Albert is now my new best friend because he could be the wealth of information that I need right now, and I edge a little closer.
“I’m guessing you have some intriguing stories about this place. What can you tell me about our illustrious leader, Mr Harvey?”
“Not a lot.” Albert shrugs.
“I’ve seen him a few times, but he doesn’t mix with the staff. He rules over us like a king, and only the chosen ones ever get to speak to him.”
“Then he’s a fool.”
I curl my lip in disgust. “What sort of man employs hundreds, if not thousands of staff and doesn’t even bother to interact with any of them? He sounds like a complete loser.”
Albert cackles, which slightly unnerves me, and then winks, a toothless grin accompanying his words.
“Keep on telling yourself that, love, and you may still be here next year.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because a young pretty girl like you is just the sort to get ideas above her station and try for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”
