Chapter Twenty-Eight
Vale Estate
Sophie hadn’t stopped crying since Lucy had locked them in the dark room.
It was pitch black outside, and Poppy remembered how Lucy had waited for them with a small lantern near the house next to a stone wall.
She had rushed them down stone steps and through several thick wooden doors and long hallways.
It had been completely disorienting, and when Lucy had brought them through the last door, Poppy had just followed her without questioning it.
In their rush, she had hardly had time to look around in the dim light of Lucy’s lantern before Lucy had stepped back through the door and slammed it shut, locking Poppy and Sophie into the darkness.
Poppy had spun around, but all she heard was a key being shoved inside an iron lock from the outside and how it turned.
That and Lucy's laughter.
Poppy had reached with her hand into the pitch black, and she had felt the door in front of her. She had called out to Lucy, yelled and screamed, but to no avail. She and Sophie were suddenly surrounded by complete darkness and silence. The air smelled musty and slightly earthy.
Not knowing what else was in that room, Poppy had sat down at the bottom of the door and pulled Sophie close. Where were they? Why had Lucy done this to them?
Dear Heavenly Father, please protect us from evil. Please keep us safe wherever we are. Please find a way to get us out of here. Please, God, where are we?
Poppy hadn’t been able to hold back her tears, as she prayed over and over again, rocking her terrified little sister gently back and forth.
She prayed that this was just some kind of misunderstanding and that Lucy had simply forgotten to light another lantern or candle for them, that this was just another room in the servant quarters...
Poppy knew it wasn’t.
God, what is Lucy’s plan? Will she just leave us here? Will we die here?
Her heart broke. What had she done? Why had she left the ranch? Why had she believed Lucy? Why had she allowed Lucy to lock her and Sophie into this dungeon?
She and Sophie cried together for a long time. At some point, Sophie fell asleep, but only for a little while.
Poppy had no idea how many hours had passed, but a faint beam of light appeared in the middle of the room, pointing straight down to the floor.
At first, it was almost too faint for Poppy to make out anything.
But the light grew ever brighter, and Poppy realized that it was morning and sunlight was breaking through from somewhere.
It gave her hope when she was finally able to roughly make out her surroundings. It really was like a dungeon. A dark, damp prison cell with stagnant air and no windows. Poppy didn’t even want to think about the squeaking noises coming from one corner.
“Look, Sophie,” she whispered to her, hugging her tightly as she looked around. “It’s not dark anymore.” But Sophie shook her head, hid her face against her neck, and whimpered quietly.
The room wasn’t big, with a bare dirt floor and no wooden planks. There were several crates and boxes stacked up on one side, where the light beam broke through. The opposite wall was made of bare stone, and a plain, narrow cot was pushed up against it.
Was that supposed to be their bed? It was barely wide and long enough for one person, let alone two.
Poppy wondered if she would still have to work for Finn or if that had been a ruse to get her to leave the ranch. The threat of Finn telling Neil about her working at the brothel still loomed over her, but now she didn’t know whether Lucy would uphold her end of the agreement.
Sophie’s stomach growled, and in that muffled room, it sounded even louder than it should.
“I’m so sorry, sweetie,” Poppy whispered into Sophie’s soft hair.
“This is all my fault. I should have never brought you here. I hope you can forgive me for being so naive. I am so very sorry!” Fresh tears filled Poppy’s eyes, and she let them freely roll down her cheeks.
Her life had been turned upside down once again.
“God will protect us,” Poppy said to Sophie. “He will save us and get us out of here. Have faith in Him. He’ll send help. I know He will.”
The light beam faded. All too soon, it was gone, and Poppy and Sophie were once again plunged into near-darkness. Poppy had switched from their spot in front of the door to the tiny cot. At least, they were off the damp ground now.
The more time passed, the more Poppy started to panic. Would they bring them food? Water? Would they just leave them here and forget about them? Poppy was terrified, but she knew that she had to be strong for Sophie. She didn’t want to scare her sister even more.
At some point, Poppy succumbed to her exhaustion and fell asleep.
***
The sound of rattling metal woke her. The door was opened, and a lantern was crudely shoved into their faces. Poppy had to shield her eyes from the sudden light.
“Get up!” a male voice shouted from the dark.
A rough hand grabbed her arm, then another one grabbed Sophie, separating them.
Poppy screamed as she tried to reach for her little sister, but she was yanked outside through the door, along the corridor, through several doors, and up some stone stairs.
The whole time, Poppy was listening for Sophie’s crying and whimpering.
It seemed as if she was right behind her.
Suddenly, they walked up wooden stairs, and behind the next door was a tiled hallway opening up to a small foyer.
They finally released Sophie back to her, and the one man walked off somewhere else.
Poppy pulled Sophie close to her chest and hugged her tight as she walked to where they pushed her. Sophie clung to her with all her might.
Poppy was surprised to see that it was still light out. She thought she could smell food from somewhere when they walked past a hallway that presumably led into the kitchen area. Then came more steps, more doors. Finally, they were shoved into a large, bright room that was nothing like the dungeon.
Tall walls were half clad in light wood paneling.
The other half seemed to be covered in light blue fabric.
There were framed paintings, potted plants, soft furnishings, plush-looking cushions and chairs, tables, and bookshelves—all expensive-looking.
The opposite wall was almost entirely made of tall windows, which let in so much light it was almost blinding.
Poppy narrowed her eyes and peeked out of one. Lush gardens stretched out as far as she could see.
Another door flung open, and Finn marched in. He was banging his walking cane on the floor, exactly like Madam Marveau used to do.
“Oh!” he exclaimed when he laid eyes on them. He stopped in his tracks, turning his head in obvious disgust, and immediately pulled out a handkerchief to cover his nose with it. He blinked his wide eyes as if they burned.
“Where did you put them?” he finally asked, releasing a not-so-subtle cough.
Lucy sauntered into the room, glanced at Poppy holding Sophie, and laughed at Finn as she walked over to a far table with all kinds of baked goods and cakes on display. Poppy hadn’t even noticed any of that.
“Somewhere safe. You’re too soft,” she mocked Finn and popped something round and sugary into her mouth. Looking directly at Poppy, she made a sound of utter enjoyment. “Mmm! This is delicious! Aren’t you hungry?” Lucy asked with a mean smile.
Poppy looked away and directly at Finn.
“Am I supposed to work for you?” she asked him directly. Lucy’s pearly laugh penetrated the room. Finn raised a single eyebrow.
“As what?” he asked nonchalantly as his gaze wandered all over her body. Lucy was quick to walk over to him, slinging her arm around his shoulders.
“I have no use for you,” he said, obviously still struggling with their apparent stench. “But a good friend of mine knows someone who does,” he continued, which made Lucy giggle as she stared directly into Poppy’s eyes.
“Let’s just hope that person has a bath, or it won’t be much fun having you around,” Lucy said. Poppy gritted her teeth.
Finn sighed and peeled Lucy’s arm off of him. Then he stepped closer to one of the large windows and looked outside, while Lucy walked back to the same cake stand.
“Would you like to know who it is?” Finn asked nonchalantly. “Who’s bought you from me?” He wiggled his eyebrows when he looked back at Poppy.
Poppy’s heart began to race. This conversation started to take a rather dark turn, so she covered Sophie’s ears.
“Someone has taken a keen interest in you,” Finn continued with a smug smile. “Personally, I don’t really know what the fuss is all about with you, but this person seems to have unfinished business with you.”
Poppy’s blood ran cold. Of all the people she had ever met, there was only one who fit that description. Only one person could claim that Poppy had wronged them in any way.
“Madam Marveau told me that you left her quite unexpectedly. She told me that she would like to... let’s say ‘charge’ you for your unfulfilled services.”
“She wants to punish you,” Lucy called ever so helpfully from the other end of the room. “It’s her revenge for you leaving her so suddenly.”
Poppy closed her eyes. This was her worst nightmare. Madam Marveau could be cruel to those who disobeyed her, so returning there would most certainly mean a life full of torture and pain. What would happen to Sophie?
Poppy shuddered as icy panic gripped her body with full force.
“Please, sir! I’ll do whatever it takes,” Poppy begged, as she sank to her knees in front of Finn. The man recoiled, pressing his handkerchief over his nose.
“Please, Mr. Vale! I can’t go back there!” Poppy tried to fight the tears, but her fear was too much. “I’ll do anything. Please, I beg of you! Don’t do this to me!”
Finn stepped away from her as if Poppy had the plague.
“It’s a done deal, I’m afraid,” he said sardonically. “She already sent me the payment, and I’ve already spent it,” he added with a smug grin. “Sorry, sweetheart. You’ll leave tonight.”
“What about Sophie?” Poppy asked with a shaky voice as she clung to her sister.
He shrugged nonchalantly and walked over to Lucy, who fed him one of those sugary treats with a laugh.
“Madam Marveau has already got a job for her,” Finn said, chewing with a full mouth. “She’ll be well taken care of.” Both of them laughed menacingly.
Poppy felt nauseous, and her shuddering breath came in forceful bursts as she sank into a small heap, tightly holding onto Sophie. Poppy let her tears fall freely. There was no point in holding them back any longer as she prayed.
Dear God, please help us! Please don’t abandon us now! We need you! Both of us! Please save us, Father! I can’t protect her without your help. Please, God!
Suddenly, the door opened, and several men marched inside.
They aimed straight for Poppy and Sophie.
Before Poppy knew what was happening, a fabric sack was thrown over her head, blinding her completely. Then she heard Sophie scream, while strong hands started to bind her hands and legs. Then they grabbed her, lifted her up, and carried her away.