"Seriously, Claire. What happened?"

Marie and I ran inside a small servant room, where we shared a small bed made of straws covered with wool cloth. A rat ran under the bed when it heard the commotion, and I shut the door behind me, leaning against it. I could still feel my heart racing against my chest when Master Ralph told me to pack all my things up and meet them at the main hall of the mansion.

My hands automatically grasped both sides of my head. "I feel like I'm going crazy, Dhana! This can’t be happening!!!"

With wide eyes, she tried to calm and steady me by holding...