Zelle Cannot Leave The Mansion

…….

“Zelle… I’ll bring back your lost smile…”—Raine.

…….

“Did you kill Sophia, Raine?”

The moment her master accused of her, she fell on her knees and promptly shook her head, “No! No, sir! I would never!”

Zeppelin was not convinced. It wasn't a question, it was a confirmation... Was she not the killer? Only Raine knows Zelle better than everyone else in the mansion... because she's been with her since she was a little child...

Wasn't she the one?

“Zelle's trusted friend and her personal little maid. Above all, you know the truth... you have every reason I could think of right now. Are you looking for vengeance?” Zeppelin exclaimed.

“Sir…” With heavy breathing as if her life depends on her answer, Raine begged, “Master! I swear to God! All I want to do is be with Zelle! I promised you! I would never hurt anyone! The past is no longer relevant! Zelle is the only one I care about!”

“You pled your life to me seven—no, eight years ago, exactly like you are doing now. You would have died if you didn't have what I need,” Zeppelin stated, throwing a photo to her. “You said you know this mansion because you were trusted with the keys, you should know where that room is.”

Raine had a glimpse of the headless body of Sophia hanging on the walls as the picture fell to the ground; it was the photo that came with Zelle's red gift. From shocked, Raine whimpered and shook her head, "N-no, sir... A-though I-I know m-most of the r-rooms in this m-mansion, t-there are places w-where o-only the Heirbert k-knows,”

“The only Heirbert left is Zelle, now you’re putting blame on her?” Zeppelin mocked her, “—and you said you care for her.”

Raine pleaded once more, tears streaming down her face, “No! That's not what I was trying to say! Master, do you remember what I said y-years ago?”

Zeppelin waited, his eyes squinted.

“T-there were t-three rooms that we maids were not permitted to enter!” Raine whimpered as she crawled to his feet and pleaded, “The library, m-master’s room, and office! What if the other maids or workers had seen something in those places throughout the years? ”

Zeppelin remained silent and contemplated what happened; it has been eight years since the incident; what if there are now more people who are aware of the incident? Aaron, his son, learned about it a year ago... Didn't he likes going to the library with Zelle? What if he saw something in the library?

Looking at the begging maid at his feet, it's also possible that the lurking killer isn't a worker.

'Whatever game this is, I can't let things go wrong now,' he stated in his mind.

“Prove to me it wasn't you,” Zeppelin said, looking at her with indifference.

“Y-yes, master!” Raine said repeatedly. “W-whatever you say!”

“Follow me,” Zeppelin said, dragging Raine into the torture room and tying her up with a chain and cuffs. Raine was aware of this place because it had previously been used by the Heirbert family to interrogate someone... and she had been one of the witnesses... as well as the keeper of the keys.

And eight years ago, he handed over the keys to Zeppelin Randolph.

“S-sir, please... don't kill me…” she cried as Zeppelin started covering her mouth with a masking tape, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Don't make a noise. If you really aren’t the killer, you would behave,” Zeppelin said, locking the door behind her and leaving her in this secluded and dark room to weep alone.

Raine wiped her tears with her garments as she saw Zeppelin leave. Despite being shackled, her face was able to reach her shoulder and wipe the sweat off her brow. Only rustling sounds could be heard in the darkness.

“Sigh...” Raine shivered from the cold, “It's been eight years already...”

Everything has changed in the last eight years. She remembered her fourteen-year-old youth, with a belt jingled on her waist, she was racing around this place with Zelle.

Zelle lost her smile due to an accident, and she does everything she can to cheer up the ten-year-old through games, cooking, and other activities.

If only she didn’t open the door that night… She wouldn’t give the keys to them in exchange for life.

The rooms that were intended to be locked would be completely closed... And no one would have known what they shouldn’t know…

Zelle, on the other hand, wouldn't have to lose her memories that day...

“Hang in there... Zelle... I'll bring back your lost smile..." she mumbled as she became drowsy from crying.

 

As her heart fell into darkness with no windows, no light, Zelle was drawing a flower in a broad daylight. After what happened early morning, Zelle shivered her way to the garden for some fresh air and to forget what she had seen. She sat in the midst of the flower bed in the garden, on an empty spot.

Without a care of the blazing sun on her hair, she was more concerned with the cool breeze caressing her light dress. Zelle drew the red dahlia, devoted to Sophia's lost soul, using a pen and a sketchpad on her lap.

With small teardrops added on the paper, she finally finished her drawing and added Sophia’s full name on it. 

“Miss?”

Zelle slowly looked up to see the gardener friend that she just spoken to not long ago, “Cohen,” She wiped her cheeks and smiled at him, “I-is the work here heavy?”

Cohen shook his head, “Not as heavy as what you felt,” He sat next to her and removed his gloves. “I don't know Sophia very well, but I heard she always takes care of your meals. Does miss knows what kind of meal Sophia likes?”

 

“She always claim she loves everything I love... but I know she likes her mother's dishes the most,” Zelle said, tears streaming down her cheeks as she heard his question.

“I don't know how to cook, but I can ask uncle about it... A-and...” Zelle shows the red dahlia she drew, "Sophia likes dahlia, and she likes the color red... I don't know what to do for her except draw what she likes... I don’t know what I can do… for her…”

Cohen hold onto the sketchpad, “Miss Sophia would like you to eat three times a day,” Cohen remarked as he stood up and covered her with his hands. “...and not dehydrate yourself beneath the sun,” he added. “Miss Sophia would be delighted if you were well and happy."

“T-thank you...” Zelle bit her lower lip.

“The red dahlia is a symbol of strength and power. You need it, Miss Zelle,” Cohen encouraged her, “some people give it to others as a get well soon present. I'm sure Miss Sophia wished for you to be well."

“I-I'll be s-strong... for her...” Zelle rose up, tears in her eyes.

“You are a strong person, miss,” Cohen smiled and a nod.

“I will be heading back to the mansion,” Zelle said, his hands still above her as if protecting her from the burning sun. She took his gloves and held his hand as she put one glove on his hand, which shocked him. “I appreciate what you said, and I hope you don't get sick from this heat.”

“Yes, Miss Zelle, thank you,”

After making him wear his gloves back, Zelle left with her sketchpad and went back to the mansion… unaware that detective Val had accidently overheard them, “Red dahlia also means betrayal and dishonesty.”

Detective Val paused for a moment, his chin resting on his palms. He still has a lot of assumptions, but he can't verify any of them with real evidence.

Meanwhile, when Zelle walked back to her room, Zeppelin, who was passing by, saw her and exclaimed, “Zelle! Is it okay if I take a moment from you?”

“Sure, uncle,” Zelle answered as she shifted her attention to him and followed him to his office. “Did the detective find the killer yet?” she asked as she sat down on the couch. What are we gonna do with Sophia? Has her family been contacted? ”

With so many questions, Zeppelin could only shake his head, “I'll handle her burial and everything, worry about yourself. So, what are your plans? How are you doing? Are you okay after what happened?”

Who would be okay witnessing such gift? 

“I don't know uncle... Every time I close my eyes... I keep seeing her dreadful face...” Zelle twitched as she responds, “I just wanted to stay in my room for the time being… I-I'm not sure what to do..."

Seeing the frightened child, Zeppelin caressed her back, "Yes, you should rest for now. I'll let the maids handle your birthday party, although it’s not right after what happened to Sophia; this birthday of yours happens only once. I hope you understand.”

“I understand, uncle... I just… want some rest,” Zelle nodded and stood up. She was about to walk away when she heard her name.

“Zelle,” Zeppelin wanted to know what she wanted to do with a killer who was about to kill again, but when she turned back and met his gaze, he saw shame and suffering. He was well aware that Zelle blamed herself for Sophia's death for whatever reason. “Take it easy. Dinner will be delivered to your room.”

“Thank you, Uncle,”

When she left, Detective Val hiding nearby, sat on the couch, “That child is a saint, isn’t she?”

 

Zeppelin warned him, “Don't touch her. How's it doing with the investigation?”

“They say the same thing,” Detective Val shrugged. “So far, nothing is useful."

“Then, catch the killer in action.” Zeppelin stated as he sat in his swivel chair, sorting through his papers.

“What about that someone in your mind?”

"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it."

“Yes, sir.” Detective Val exited the room. 

But, as soon as he walked out the door, he passed by Zach and Zach knocked, “Father!” He walked inside the office next ignoring the detective.

“What is it?” Zeppelin asked, without looking at him.

“Please, why can’t we just leave this mansion? Staying here is a torture to Zelle!” Zach slammed his hands on his father’s desk.

“No,” Zeppelin responded emphatically.

“Father! There’s murder at the mansion! We should have contacted the cops and had her brought out!” Zach felt troubled.

Zeppelin glared at him and yelled, “Zacharias Randolph!” 

He flinched when he heard his father use his full name; his father rarely uses his name unless he is furious.

“I did not forbid you from leaving this mansion; you are free to return to our estate, but Zelle will always remain here ‘till the end!” Zeppelin declared, his voice hard and booming.

Zach grimaced and lowered his head, wishing he could ask why but unable to. Zelle may dislike stepping outside, but how could she possibly stay after what happened and is about to happen?! “Yes, father…”

Zach left the office in vain.

As he walked out of his father's office, he stumbled with Aaron, who had presumably heard the loud voice say, “Don't you believe food can be a double-edged sword?”

Zach frowned, “What?”

“Food may satiate our hunger, refill our energy... but it also has the potential to poison us,” Aaron grinned as if hinting him. “The same way a kitchen maid is harmful.”

“What the f*ck are you talking about, weirdo?” Zach ignored him and turned around, but he heard him mumbled before walking away. “Zelle cannot leave the mansion. That is, until that person arrives.”

Zach turned back and was going to asked when Aaron already walked away leaving him hanging. He knows nothing… What does Aaron knows?

‘What was that all about?’ He asked himself. But he can’t get any answer.

In the meantime, Aaron went to the sala, watching a maid cleaning. He gritted his teeth and walked away after staring at her for a while.

As for that maid, she knew someone was staring at her… As the eyes gone, she sneered, “No killer will be able to kill me,” she rolled her eyes and walked out of the sala.

_______

KircheLeaf

SEASON ONE

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~ END of CHAPTER FIVE ~