21. Dig Locken Sack

Days had passed. I was still stuck in Africa with the son of a bachelor and Karim, and I didn't know when I was gong back home, nor did I know what to do when I did. Aunt Brank would definitely chop my head off as soon as I entered the house, I knew that for sure. I'd lived under her roof for years, and I knew most of what she was capable of.

The canal was still under way and still being built everyday. But what the rich prick wanted wasn't up to the labourers standards. They all worked relatively slowly, with less collapses occurring than when I had first arrived here. I wondered what to do about it all. I wondered if I should go down there in the middle of the night and lend a secret helping hand or not. Then again, I didn't really know much of how to work more than half of the items to be used to build the canal. Of course, I could use a shovel but... But nothing! A voice said in my head. A simple shovel to dig farther out to where the canal should go is enough! And I realised that it technically was right. Should I go now though? It was definitely dark, and I did not think that I would be able to see much of anything, even if my eyes grew adjusted to the night.

Well I cannot sleep. I don't feel anywhere near tired, and I have nothing better to do, so why not? And so I left the ship and made my way as quietly as I could into the canal.

Everything was hardly visible. I didn't know how to get to the bottom of my canal, seeing that there were no stairs. How unfortunate.

But the canal walls seemed to be slanted... It wouldn't hurt to go down the slanted walls, would it? No, probably not. And so I carefully began to make my way down the walls of the canal. Step after step I took and within a short while, I made it to the bottom of the canal. All I could do was thank god that there was no water in it. I looked around and found hardly much to look at. Only because it was dark. I looked up and tried to figure out how I was supposed to get back up. I figured that I had to scale the wall, sighed, and turned back around.

What now? I had reached my destination, but it was too dark to see much of anything. I doubted I'd be able to dig away the canal, let alone walk to the wall that was not acting like a barrier from the sea. Maybe this had been a bad idea... Nonsense! You are here now, are you not? If so, then you might as well continue with your mission!

Well, if I insist...

I walked over to my right, hand on the wall, fingers brushing over little bumps, cuts and edges. I had a feeling that I had been at the near beginning of that canal and that I would have to walk for an awful long time to reach the other side. I put my other hand out in front of me and continued walking, waiting for another wall to reach my fingertips.

After ten minutes (or so) of walking, my fingers touched something hard and jagged. I pressed my entire palm against the wall and came across more edges and bumps of it. It felt... Strangely calming. I removed my hand, shaking my head. Nonsense. Rocks can't calm people.

I lightly brushed my hands together to remove any dust and dirt that had been there. Then I started moving my feet, hoping that I'd come across a shovel, or at least something to dig with. And then I stubbed my toe.

I clapped one hand over my mouth as the other grabbed my foot and I hopped around like that, trying not to scream.

Well at least I'd found a shovel.

When the pain had subsided, I put my foot down and used the other to find the shovel, yet a little more gently. My foot prodded against something and I bent down to pick it up. This darkness was as if I had no eyesight! Why must it be so utterly dark? I grabbed a stick and held it up to the sky, which was vaguely lighter than the ground. The shape of the stick.. Wasn't exactly a stick. It had a strange U-shape to it on one end and nothing on the other.

"Jackpot." I murmured, lowering the shovel. I walked back to the wall and nudged it with my shovel. Would it work? Guess I was just going to have to find out.

* * *

Twenty minutes had past and I was finally used to shovelling away the dirt. It was an easy process, but considering that I'd never done it before, it took me a long while to get used to.

And trying not to make any noise was even harder.

Each dig into the earth was really quiet and soft, but when my shovel hut a rock, the sound was loud and made me cringe. But I continued nonetheless. Little noises like that wouldn't stop me from anything.

So many minutes passed and I only stopped when my arms grew tired. I put the shovel back where it had been, at least somewhere nearby, and then brushed the dust off of me. I walked back to the spot where I'd first arrived and then looked up and down the wall. I didn't know how I'd get out, but I guess I'd manage somehow. But first, in the very vague morning light, I looked around for a ladder or something of the sort to help me get up the wall and over the canal. I found one on the other side and walked over to it.

I climbed it up and brushed off any extra dust from climbing and then looked around. Aaaaaaaand the ship simply has to be on the other side! I thought, with a flash of annoyance. Sighing, I walked around the canal before walking and reaching the ship. Up the ladder and back to my room. I thought. When will I be able to get home? I shouldn't have stayed here. Maybe I shouldn't have come at all. Nothing good was the result of this trip.

I finally reached my room and shut the door, turning and flopping onto my bed, tired. I was almost asleep when something started stroking my head. What in the world?

I tried getting up but I was too tired. Come on arms! Move! I urged them to, but they didn't. Soon though, the stroking became soothing and I stopped trying to get up. I closed my eyes and fell asleep, vaguely hearing the sound of some sort of lullaby.

* * *

When I woke up, the sun from the window stabbed my eyes and I nearly fell off my bed in eye pain. I definitely knew I shouldn't have gone outside in the middle of the night, especially when it was very very dark. I sat up and stretched, arms aching from all the shovelling. I didn't know what the outcome had been, but I hoped that what I did wasn't known to everyone. Maybe I shouldn't have done anything at all. Kept myself shut in my room. But what good was there in that?

Yawning, I left my room and nearly crashed into Monsieur Rich and Silent. "Why d'you-" I was unable to say anymore as he had grabbed my collar and began dragging me off to God knew where.

"Hey! Let me go! What the hell are you doing?"

"Language and manners Mr. Linton." He responded and I tried hitting him but failed.

"You can take the damned language and manners and stick it where the sun doesn't shine! Let me go I say!" I continued struggling against his iron hard grip but it was no use.

He dragged me on and on for a long time and before I knew it, I grew tired of struggling and let myself be carried away as if I were a dead body. "Much better Mr. Linton." My blood boiled at his words and I wanted to start struggling again but couldn't.

"Might you be so kind to tell me where you are dragging me off to?"

"No."

"Damn you then." I scowled the rest of the way until he finally stopped, pulled out a ring of keys, unlocked a door and shoved me inside. "Hey!" The door slammed shut before I was even able to get up.

"Those papers of your resignation will be ready by tonight. Sign them then, or else I will make like old and have you walk the plank." He said and left before I could utter a single word.

This... This couldn't be happening! I can't resign! I didn't do anything at all! Could he have possibly seen me...? Is that what this was all about!? But I was just lending a hand! In secret yes, but still doing it nonetheless!

And I hadn't even received my pay check! What is he doing? Why is he doing this?!

Each question gnawed at me all day before something physical began gnawing at me. I was curled up in a corner of the room and didn't know why or how he was doing this or going to anyway. I can't resign! I'm not going to! He simply cannot! What's gotten into him!?

Hours later he finally arrived and I heard the shuffling of papers. I closed my eyes and a chill went through me. This can't be happening. This can't be real. I must be dreaming! Surely I am!

"Your resignations papers are right here Mr. Linton. Sign them now or else you'll walk."

"I will not."

"You what?"

"I said, I will not." I gritted my teeth.

"You indeed will and I will make sure you-"

"What wrong have I even done?"

"You were not following directions!"

"What directions?"

"Did I not specifically tell you that you were not to leave your room at any given time?"

"No! You said no such thing!"

"I am most sure that I did tell you something of the sort Mr. Linton."

"I told you, you didn't! If you had then I probably wouldn't have gone! And why were you up in the middle of the night anyways?"

"Reasons you don't need to know. And you still would have gone. I've come to notice that you tend not to listen to me when I give clear instructions. For example, right now. Sign the papers."

"I will not!" I stood up and marched over to the door. "Why are you making such a big deal? Can you not simply let me off and give me a warning?"

"What good will a warning do? You will obviously do the opposite of what I asked and leave your room anyways!"

"Alright then, maybe a warning won't do. But why are you asking me to resign? Isn't resignation supposed to be my choice?"

Silence. And I knew I was right. He simply couldn't force me to resign. I didn't want to!

"But, if you really do not want me in your employ, why cannot you simply sack me? I mean, is that not what you wanted ever since that day you found out the truth behind who I really was." More silence. What had I just said!?

"And, you are still looking for ways to have me out of your employ too, are you not? If that remains the case now, well you have a perfect opportunity now. So say the word and send me home. I'll be away from you for the rest of forever. You won't have to worry about me at all."

"No." He finally said.

"No? What do you mean no?"

"I will not sack you. You will come back to the Empire House after some time and beg I give you your position back."

"Oh really? You really think I will do that? Why don't you try me? See if I actually do not come back." I said with a hint of anger.

"Alright if that's-" he stopped.

"What? What's the matter? You think I'm not going to be able to last a day without showing up here?"

"It's not that."

"Then?"

"Just the simple fact that you will be tied to my enemy for the rest of our lives." Now I was the silent one. I placed a hand on the door and closed my eyes. I couldn't believe I'd forgotten about that bastard! And that I was going to be married to him!

"Well... Then you can... Or at least... I um..." I sighed opening my eyes. "I've got nothing."

"Another thing, I cannot sack you because of what I said two years ago on Urania."

"What did you say two years ago on Urania?" There was a noise of annoyance and I almost smiled.

"I said that sacking you would not be the same of getting rid of you. Memories of you would still haunt me everyday without end."

"Bah. Can't you just sack me and forget? Out of sight, out of mind, right? Besides, with you being so busy, wouldn't that benefit in forgetting me? You have this canal to finish and I am sure it'll take you about ten or so years to complete it. By then, I won't be in your employ, nor in your mind! Wouldn't that be enough for you?"

"No. I don't... I don't want to lose you."

"Why not?" It was a great pain in the arse that I wasn't looking at him. At least if his face was impassive, his eyes might give it away!

"Because.. Because... I..."

____________________________________________________________________________________

y'all: fck you man.

me: BITCH, BE HAPPY THAT THERE'S A NEW CHAPTER OUT!!!

LMAO

HEY GUYS, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING???

SO IM NOT DONE WITH MY EXTRA CLASS, BUT I WILL BE SOON. I JUST KNOW IT :D

I WANT TO GIVE OUT THE BIGGEST SHOUTOUT TO YOU ALL RN.

THANK YOU BEAUTIFUL BASTARDS (any filthy frank watchers out there?) MY WONDERFULLY FLAWLESS FLAWLOERS EVERY SINGLE DAMN ONE OF YOU READING THIS DIDDLY DARN BOOK.

WHY!?

BECAUSE I GOT ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND FCKING VIEWS ON IT THAT'S WHY.

-Victorian cheers and me sobbing in the background-

Honestly, I'd never thought it'd happen.

I'm just a little high school girl with big dreams, crazy friends and with awesome creativity skills. (IMO I think they suck lol)

Thank you all so much for getting me here today. I could have never done any of it without y'all.

ThankYouSoFreakingMuch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Literally, this number is hella old because I found out on Sunday the news and tried updating but failed. lol

BUT HERE YOU GO SO LOVE ME

XD

who's ready for the update -raises hand-

PLEASE AS PER USUAL, LEAVE ALL YOUR DAMN COMMENTS, YOUR DAMN THEORIES, YOUR DAMN EVERYTHING BECAUSE I LOVE IT ALL.

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I will most definitely...

See you later!