Chapter Text
It was a warm summer's day in England, 1825. Birds were singing, the leaves on the trees were softly bristling in the wind and the water of the pond was whispering their secrets of life beyond the surface, where fish swam, and algae flowed gracefully in the currents.
Yet, with the beautiful world calling people to go outside, a girl sat lonely in a room, a book resting on her lap. She smiled to herself as she traced her fingers over the yellowed pages. Information about flora and fauna, accompanied by beautiful illustrations of animals, flowers and trees. It was almost as if you could step through and land in a world full of wonders and miracles.
And you may be wondering, who is that girl that wished she could travel along the stars? That girl was none other than Miya Atsumu. She and her brother, Miya Osamu, lived with their aunt ever since their parents died.
It was a cruel life, harsh words shouted across the mansion, let not forget the hits she received almost daily. One wrong breath and she felt the back of a hand again. Whether it being from her cousin, Ayumu, or one of the maids.
Osamu tried everything he could in his power to protect his sister, but he, too, got beaten if he stood up for himself or Atsumu.
But now, everything seemed quiet and peaceful. But that quickly changed when Ayumu barged into the room, he was steaming with fury.
''Where is she?!'' he snarled and walked around the room, his two sisters, Ayako and Minako, followed him inside.
Atsumu stiffened and quietly closed her book. She tried to keep her breathing under control and prayed that the three didn't hear her heart that seemed to pound as loud as the church bells. With shaking hands, she pressed the book against her chest, and closed her eyes.
''She's behind the curtain,'' Ayako said. ''She always sits there when she reads.''
Atsumu could hear her niece's footsteps come closer until suddenly they stopped. It was quiet for a few seconds before the curtains got pushed aside and a hand grabbed her ear and pulled her from the windowsill. She got thrown hard on the ground, forcing her to drop the book.
The girl quickly scrambled to her feet, ignoring the pain from her right shoulder. She rushed for the book and grabbed it at the same time as her nephew. He held on tight to the cover and wasn't about to let go.
''That's my book!'' Atsumu protested and tugged a few times at the book, but Ayumu was way stronger than her and eventually she had to give in.
''Everything that lays in this house, belongs to me , little rat!'' Ayumu hissed and slammed the book hard across Atsumu's head, making her fall to the ground once again.
Atsumu's ears rang from the sudden hit, and she lay stunned on the ground for a few moments, blood trickling down her left temple. Her eyes began to water, but she quickly blinked the tears away and instead felt her body begin to tremble with rage.
As swift as a fox, she stood up and threw herself at her nephew and tackled him to the ground. Completely taken by surprise, Ayumu didn't have time to defend himself and Atsumu stroke her fists down, beating up his face and chest.
''Miserable rat!'' Atsumu screeched as she slammed his head against the carpet. ''You Devil! I hate you!''
Ayako and Minako were nailed down to the ground, eyes wide as they saw how their niece beat their older brother.
Minako was the first to snap back to reality and she rushed out of the room, calling out for her mother.
After five minutes Minako came back inside followed by Misaki, Atsumu's aunt, who pulled her off her son. Ayumu scrambled back and pointed at the girl. ''She attacked me,'' he claimed.
Atsumu was struggling heavily in her aunt's arms, and she quickly got taken by two maids who held her in a firm grip by her arms and legs. And even though how hard she fought, Atsumu wasn't able to break free.
''Lock her in the Red Room,'' Misaki ordered the maids.
''No! Not the Red Room!'' Atsumu screeched loud and began struggling harder. Fear was painted on her face and her voice trembled as she yelled. ''Osamu, please! Don't let them put me there! Osamu!'' Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she saw her brother running through the halls.
With a hard tug, Atsumu ripped her left arm free from the maid and reached her hand out for Osamu, but their fingers merely brushed before another maid pulled Osamu away from his sister.
''OSAMU!'' Atsumu yelled before she got pushed on a stool in the Red Room. One of the maids guarded the door as another tried to calm the struggling Atsumu down.
''If you will not sit still, you will be tied!'' the maid threatened.
''We're doing this for your own good.''
Atsumu sat still at last, the stress becoming too much. She shot her eyes to one of the maids who stared down hard at the girl, her eyes as cold as ice.
''Pray for forgiveness, Miss Miya,'' the woman said and walked toward the door. ''Or something bad will come down that chimney and take you away!'' She slammed the door behind her and locked it.
Atsumu was still for a few heartbeats before she ran to the door and slammed her fists against the wood. ''Have mercy on me, please! Let me out!'' But no matter what she did, no one came. With a final kick, she took a step back and her eyes slowly trailed to the dusty chimney.
The girl felt her heartbeat pick up as the maid's words echoed in her head, something bad will come down that chimney and take you away!
Soft whispers seemed to come from the chimney, as if a dark shadow was waiting there, ready to strike when she was asleep and take her to the depths of Hell. Suddenly a loud bang echoed through the chamber and a cloud of smoke came from the chimney. A faint high-pitched laugh rang in the room.
Atsumu yelled with fear, and she slammed her fists again on the door. ''OSAMU! HELP ME!'' she cried out, tears streaming from her eyes. ''Let me out...'' she whispered softly and let her hand rest on the wood.
Black spots began to fill her vision and her knees buckled. With a thud Atsumu fell on the carpet and let the darkness take her away. She was faintly aware of Osamu barging into the room and calling out her name before she lost herself in the dark void of unconsciousness.