Chapter Text
Faking his own death was no easy feat. Especially when that meant ending up in the kitchen in the home of Dr Scarabus. Oh well, best to wait down here til everyone went to bed, he supposed. Or that's what Adolphus Bedlo thought as he hid in the broom closet just two yards away from the large brick oven. What he didn't account for was a tiny twig of a girl scampering in after the cook had left to turn in for the night. She tried to be as stealthy as possible, sneaking over to the bowl of apples and looking about before grabbing one to take back to her room. She hesitated for a moment before grabbing another one, eyeing the large loaf of bread on the kitchen counter.
Bedlo tried to get a better look through the peephole in the door but he accidentally bumped against a broom which sent a whole bunch of other brooms and mops and whatnot clattering about, startling not only hum but the girl. She clutched the apples close and started running toward the door. "Wait! Wait! Come back!" He called to her, trying his best not to shout "I won't tell anyone just don't go!" "Y-You promise?" She squeaks, slowly creeping toward the door. "Yes I promise. Just don't tell anyone I'm here."
"I-I wouldn't tell a soul! I don't want to get in trouble with Dr Scarabus!" The girl flinched at the mention of his name. Adolphus' brow furrowed at that. "Does he mistreat you…?" He asked softly, his eyes filled with concern. Watchet nodded, bowing her head. "I was sent here as an indentured servant….I was supposed to pay off a debt my father owed to scarabus…." She murmurs "the debt's already been paid and he keeps saying he'll let me go but every time I think I'm free he always adds on some extra task or something to keep me here….I-I haven't seen my parents in seven years…."
Tears filled her eyes "I don't even know if my mother is alive….she was gravely ill when Ieft…." She hid her face in her sleeve, weeping bitterly. It broke the poor doctor's heart to see such a young girl in this pitiful state…she couldn't be more than 18 years old…how could Scarabus be so heartless?! He sighed and gently pulled her into a hug. "It's alright…we'll get you out of here and return you to your family." He murmured. "You….y-you will?" She looked up at him with hope in her eyes. "Yes…we will." He replied, "I promise…"