6| Darkwood Castle

Rain sat down with her back against the soft back of the chair. She could see into the distance through the carriage's glass window. There was a very majestic and towering black building in front of her. Moss and vines covered the surface of the black structure almost entirely.

The roof of the building consists of a collection of black domes and a pointed tower at the top. Around the top of the tower that soared into the sky, a thick fog continued to shroud. The dense fog slowly cleared as Rain's horse carriage approached the building.

"Wait, Mr Randall. Is what I see up ahead really our destination?"

"Yes, Miss Orwell. We'll be there in ten… nine… eight…." Randall continued to count down as the horses hooted.

"One!" said Randall at the end of the count when the carriage came to a complete stop.

Rain looked to the left side of the glass window. Dozens of steps lay before her eyes. At the top of the stairs were many giant gray pillars.

Some parts of the pillars looked cracked and chipped. Plants and moss also covered it. Some birds even make nests there.

Behind the rows of pillars was a giant black door that rose high.

"What place is this?" muttered Rain, who was frightened and amazed at the same time.

Rain suddenly trembled. Rain's guts shrunk. She remained seated in the horse-drawn carriage, tightly clutching her travel bag. Rain didn't move or say a word at all.

"We're here, Miss Orwell. Please continue your journey!"

"What? Where to? You're going to leave me here alone, Randall?" Rain protested in a slightly trembling tone.

"My job is done, Miss," answered Randall curtly without showing any expression in his tone.

"Then where should I go?"

Before Randall could answer, the carriage door suddenly opened without anyone touching it. Rain glanced out the door and saw no one there. Rain thought, maybe the carriage door opened and closed automatically with the lever in front of the steering wheel. She had no choice but to get off the horse-drawn carriage. Randall also didn't seem to want to be bothered any longer.

Brack!

Rain gasped and failed to get out of the carriage. The carriage door suddenly closed tightly again. Rain saw a girl coming out of the black door in front of her. The girl looked pale and frightened.

"Wh-who is she, Randall?"

Randall was silent. His pair of eyes reddened without Rain knowing. Randall hissed. "I'm late!"

"What did you say?" asked Rain.

"She's a job candidate who just arrived yesterday afternoon!"

"Why is she running and scared?"

"I don't know..." Randall muttered impatiently.

The girl came down the stairs. The girl paused for a moment beside the horse carriage that Rain was riding. Rain could see the girl's mascara smudging and blackening her cheeks.

Rain and the girl stared at each other wordlessly. The door of the horse carriage only separated their bodies. Rain reached out to the glass window. The girl had run away. Rain turned her head and followed her through the back window of the carriage. The girl ran to the path that Rain had just passed.

"Welcome Miss Orwell!" a woman welcomes.

Rain was surprised. She immediately got off the horse carriage. Rain tripped and almost dropped her travel bag.

An older woman was standing outside the carriage. The woman was wearing a slightly old-fashioned all-black suit. The woman's hair was in a beautiful bun. On the left chest of her coat is a brooch with the initials D made of gold.

"I am Erica Smith, the head of the Dauntees household."

Rain held her hand for a handshake, but she pulled it back again.

Erica greets by folding her right hand to her chest and slightly lowering her head, not a handshake. Rain followed suit by doing the same.

"Rain Orwell!" Rain introduced herself. "Sorry, I barely recognized your voice, Mrs. Erica Smith," Rain said while maintaining her cheerfulness.

Erica stood up straight. She just smiled kindly at Rain. "Yes, I spoke to you on the phone. Follow me!"

Rain walked quickly while tidying her appearance. She was sure her face, hair, and clothes were very messy that morning. As soon as Rain saw Erica's flawless appearance, She became insecure about her appearance.          

Erica climbed the stairs, which were enough to make Rain tired. Rain was impressed by Erica's agility.

"Even though Erica was wearing high heels and a tight knee-length skirt, she still managed to climb the stairs with ease. Can I not complain like her?"

Rain looked back when he reached the top of the stairs. Randall's carriage was no longer there. The girl had also disappeared.

"How could that be? I don't hear hoofs or anything! Where is he going?"

Rain walked as she kept thinking about the girl and the horse carriage that had mysteriously disappeared. Suddenly, she bumped into Erica, standing in front of the door.

"Yes, Miss Orwell?" said Erica.

"Oh, sorry, Erica! I must look really careless in front of you." Rain's face paled and panicked.

Erica just kept silent and stood stiffly in front of the black door.

"Before we go in and start all the interview stages, is there something you'd like to say?"

"Yes! Erica, what exactly is this place?"

"That's a question that can't be answered with just one word or one sentence," Erica sighed. "Actually, I already knew you would ask this. Every prospective worker who comes for an interview always asks the same thing. But, I can keep it simple for you."

"And what is it?" investigate Rain.

"You are at the Dauntess residence, in a mountain town called Darkwood to be exact!"

"But, it looks like a black palace, if I may say so."

"This place is indeed known as Darkwood Castle."

Rain felt uncomfortable. However, she held back and showed her best smile in front of Erica.

"Is there anything else you want to ask before we start the job interview?"

"Then, who was the girl who ran away earlier?"

Erica looked into Rain's eyes intently. "If you object and feel uncomfortable, there is still a chance for you to leave here."

"Ah, I..." Rain muttered. "How does she know what I'm thinking?"

Rain was terrified, but she couldn't give up. She needed this job. Primarily, she needed a place to stay. Rain bit her lower lip.

"She's a candidate who failed the interview test!" Erica answered in the end.

Rain sighed. She felt very lucky because the job was not owned by anyone then.

"Umm, fine, when are we going to start the interview?"

"I need to tell you! After going through this door, if you are selected as our employee, then you are not allowed to resign until the employment contract expires."

"What do you mean, we have started doing job interviews?" Rain stammers.

"Yes, of course! Now make your decision. Do you want to move on to the next stage or just stop here? If you object to this interview process, I can ask Randall to drive you back to Westlake Station."

Rain opened her eyes wide and swallowed hard. She stared at the pair of large, black wooden doors in front of her.

"What is behind this door? Why did that girl run scared?"

"Run!" whispered the girl before leaving Rain.