The study was empty. Just as Seren had thought. Mr. Asche sat behind his desk, glaring at Seren in the doorway.

“Mrs. Houper said dinner will be ready in an hour and wants to know if you want it brought up.” Seren said.

“Why did she send you up here when we have an intercom system?” He asked. “And what the hell are you wearing?” Seren looked down at their clothes.

“My clothes are being washed.” They said. “I think Mrs. Houper just wanted me out of the kitchen.”

“Were you being annoying?” Mr. Asche asked irritably. Seren chose not to answer and looked down at the floor. Trying to keep the glare off of their face. “Stop fidgeting.”

Seren dropped their hands. Keeping still made them feel like a spring that needed to be sprung.

“What are you waiting for?” He snapped.

“An answer?” Seren didn’t mean to snap back and immediately froze. Trying to hold fast to the position they’d taken. Their soul withered under the harsh glare Mr. Asche was giving them.

“Go.” He said and Seren nodded. Turning around and trying their best to walk slowly and with force. Though as Seren walked down the stairs it felt like they’d run out of the room. The silence that stretched out and expanded in every corner of every room and hall made the house seem bigger than it was and Seren felt like they were shrinking in it. Their nose itched as Seren got severely homesick. They cleared their throat and shoved their tears down as they hit the ground floor. They entered the kitchen where Kalyani and Mrs. Houper were still gossiping.

“Uhm, Mrs. Houper?” Seren asked, feeling the empty silent pressure of the house weighing down on them, trying to shove them out.

“Yes, dear?”

“H-how long until my clothes are clean? I have to get home before my dad worries.” Seren fidgeted with their hands and shifted their weight back and forth. Avoiding any eye contact.

“I’ll check,” Mrs. Houper stood up. “If need be, we’ll send a message along that you’re staying over for the night.”

“Staying over?” Seren’s head snapped up in alarm.

“Yes, I’m sure we can make use of one of the several vacant rooms upstairs. I’ve taken the liberty of having a few of the housekeepers prepare a room, just in case.” Mrs. Houper said, her voice trailing off as she left out the second kitchen entrance. Seren spared a glance at Kalyani who started taking out the pots and pans to prepare for dinner.

Seren ran after Mrs. Houper just in case she wasn’t finished talking yet. They followed the head housekeeper around the staircase to a small set of double doors that Seren had suspected was a closet. When Mrs. Houper opened the door, they found another set of stairs down into a basement. From down in the warm glowing depths there was a smell of hot water and soap. Seren leaned on Mrs. Houper unconsciously. The basement seemed like a dungeon.

“No worries, my dear. It’s just the laundry room.” Mrs. Houper placed her hand comfortingly on Seren’s hair. Giving them a few reassuring pats and then pulling away so that she could descend the stairs. Seren watched her but couldn’t work up the courage to go down there themselves. They could hear growling and snarling just out of sight and it was all too easy for them to imagine monsters of all kinds caged up below. They swallowed the thick lump that welled up in their throat and stepped away from the wide-open doors. Nearly trembling as they waited for Mrs. Houper to reappear, or to scream.

Seren let out a breath of relief as Mrs. Houper reappeared from the staircase.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“The clothes are still being washed,” She said. “It’s still going to be another hour, or so.”

“Oh,” Seren murmured. They could feel tears touching the corners of their eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Mrs. Houper knelt down to Seren’s height.

“I just want to go home,” Seren said, their voice quiet as they tried to hold their tears back.

“Oh! Okay, that’s okay.” Mrs. Houper took Seren’s hands and squeezed them. “You just give me a few minutes, I’ll get you a nice coat and a hat and you can head home. Would you like me to walk you home?” Seren shook their head no, they just wanted to leave.

“Okay, you wait right here.” Mrs. Houper stood up and descended into the basement again. Seren covered their face and tried to steady themself and stop from crying. They’d done more than enough of that today and Seren didn’t want Mrs. Houper to think they would just burst into tears at every little thing. They held their breath until they couldn’t and let it out. Doing so over and over until they weren’t shaking anymore.

“All right, this belongs to my little Nienke, it should fit you.” Mrs. Houper said, holding up a lavender winter coat with a little purple hat. Seren slipped into the coat and the hat. Taking a pair of plain socks from Mrs. Houper and pulled them on as well.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you home?” Mrs. Houper asked. Seren shrugged the coat on their shoulders. It felt scratchy and sat wrong.

“No, I’ll be fine.” Seren said numbly.

“Okay, I’ll walk you to the door at least.” Mrs. Houper said. Pressing Seren’s shoulder and directing them toward the front door. Seren picked at their nails and kept their eyes down at the lines between the floorboards.

“Okay dear, you get home safe now. Okay?” Mrs. Houper said. Seren didn’t respond, they just nodded stiffly. Yanking on their new boots and heading out the door quickly. Stomping down the stairs to settle their boots. Which now felt tight, odd edges dug into their skin. The coat felt like ropes restricting them. Every article of clothing felt itchy or tight.

The sun was setting over the city skyline, creating long shadows that crept along the road after Seren. All around them, families were out in crowds with steaming mugs in heavy bundled clothing. Making last-minute decoration choices for the holiday season. The soft colorful lights hung everywhere available, brought a small amount of comfort to Seren.

The crowds noticed Seren, for the first time. Waving and calling out merry yuletide wishes. Seren awkwardly waved back with a wooden smile. They crunched the snow under their new boots, trying to figure out why suddenly everyone could see them.

Seren shifted under the uncomfortable jacket, passing the pub with its group of drunken carolers that sang off-key and cheered with a shower of holiday brew whenever acknowledged.

“Hey kid!” The most sober of the carolers yelled, Seren looked around for the kid the caroler was yelling at but there was only them. “Yeah you! Whacchu want f’r Yuletide?”

“Uh…” Seren shifted uncomfortably.

“Betcha it’ssa real nice thing. Like’a pony or a fleet of little wooden soldiers.” He continued, sloshing his mug around. “I hope you get that fleet of ponies, kid!”

“Okay, thanks!” Seren waved and continued out of the Summer district and into the center of the city. There were more groups of friends and families walking together through the snow. They waved and greeted Seren until their hand and emotions were exhausted. They ran through the Winter district streets and dove into their house, slamming the door behind them. Sliding down to the floor in a crumpled heap.

Sighing heavily and leaning their head back onto the creaking door that sagged under their weight.

“Seren, is that you?” their dad called, emerging from the curtain. “What are you wearing? Where have you- Oh my- What happened to your face?!” Their dad stumbled over to them and dropped to his knees. Taking Seren’s face into his hands.

“It’s nothing,” Seren said trying to turn away but their dad kept their face held tight.

“It is something! You’ve been gone all afternoon and you come back with your face busted up?” Their dad released their face to gingerly touch the bandage on their cheek. “Did you end up in the hospital?!”

“No, I-” Seren’s lip trembled. They sniffled and scooted closer so he could hold them. Their dad sat back and adjusted so that Seren sat in his lap. Wrapping his arms around them and holding them tightly.

“What happened?” He whispered to them.

“I was out, and I ran into Miss Jass. She cornered me.” Seren felt the weight settle over them again, like a crack in a dam that exploded. Letting free the water built up behind it. Seren sobbed into their dad’s shoulder. Completely unable to make any sense of the words they were saying. Their dad held them tightly, keeping them from shaking. They sobbed until there was no more pressure built up inside them.