Chapter 3: Servers Manual

It was 6:17 in the evening, almost time for supper. Ryuu focused his attention on the vintage pendulum clock hanging on the wall above the door. He closed his eyes and composed his breathing till he could hear the ticking sound of its arm swinging. Gradually, he began to calm down and relaxed his trembling nerves, and by a quick few seconds he opened his sharp eyes ready to face what the Hub would serve him, outside the small four corners of the walls where he could take a few naps of rest. His only moment to repose these past three days. His lack of ability to fall asleep shortly only by staring at the wooden wall in their house, was no effect in his new room.

Three days of sleepless nights that put him to edge, and his astute mind would badly affect his surroundings. He was not happy with everything. He never did. If his roommate could sleep like a log in their state, what method was he using?

Ryuu shook off the thought of adding a garbage topic thereupon transpired its own procedures. It was stupid – showing behaviors of being at peace in his current state, yet the young boy's weary eyes; a faint shade of black under his eyes, verged him to think of reasonable ways that would put him to deep sleep.

The water from the faucet gushed down the washbasin, the sound of it swallowed the drain. Cold water dripped in Ryuu's hands. He gently washed his face in order to wake him up. Droplets of water from the tip of his bangs flopped down the sink as he stared at his youthful face in the mirror.

As the lens of the camera focused itself on his features, from the back of his nape to the fringe – the smoothness of his black hair glistened. His impassiveness, apt to his straight edged nose and  defined eyebrows, enhances the enchanting face of a diamond. However, visible scars of small cuts on his cheek and narrow chin brought about the cataclysm of his new world..

A droplet of water flopped on the sink, the back of his left hand wiped the liquid on his chin, and reached a dry towel that hung on the towel rail. It was placed right beside the bathroom cabinet. A small single-door cabinet. Their room was not the same as those expensive rooms for VIP clients. There were less objects you could find, and those things which were here are all basic necessities. Like the single bar soap which his roommate had to share, and one medium bottle of organic shampoo. Although, he spotted his roommate keeping a load of hygiene products in a small luggage under his bed. There was a single bathtub, though. Next to the bathroom cabinet, the bathtub was the only thing Ryuu holds a fancy of.

Ryuu glanced in the direction where the ventilation was built. For the Nth time.  His instinct was telling him to take a peak of the inside, but there was hesitation of his body to move cooperatively. The coldness of the ceramic sink brushed his slender fingers as he turned around and stepped out of the area. A sudden warning of his mind notified him that he had no luxury to be late for supper, or he would be punished for washing the dishes in the kitchen. His step halted. Wide eyes flashed a circle ray of light from his pupils, and he put his index finger on his lips and nibbled the skin on its meridian part; the colon. His puzzled mind moved, like a missing piece was found. Ryuu breathed silently and sauntered to the bedside table. He grabbed the wooden chair and sat on it. A familiar book was reached by his hand on the book rail shelf standing above him, and he opened it at a random page.

'The Proper Etiquette on the Table'

                Servers Manual

An earthly, faint scent of coffee breathed in. Ryuu smiled feebly. The book name was found at the top margin together with the page number. However, in a typical book, the author name could be seen as well which this one revised it. Outside, top and bottom margins were closed in size. Opaque paper was filled with a regular silk serif font - a typeface which creates illusion of connection, a delicate and legible yet sophisticated style. The texts were printed, a sign that it was exclusively produced by a wealthy owner. Printed text usage on any papers was not economical. As a matter of fact, this place was located in the city of Tokyo where imports were transported first. Their country was not yet a common place for advanced technologies. However, wealthy individuals had their massive share of them.

Ryuu was not a bookworm. He could easily fall asleep on the first of a book, and this one was no exception. On the contrary, that was him when he lived comfortably near the small town of Wakayama. The thought of his carefree life gave rise to groan. He was already on the brink of having a breakdown. He needed to divert his attention on things that would help him leave the Hub. His slender fingers brushed through the smooth texture of the paper, the prints in the text would show that it was only a copy of the original, as it appears blurry. His thumb flipped the gutter and saw the book cover made up of buckram paper backed cloth, with a garnet red wine - the color of the classic at the peak of their maturity.

Ryuu did not know about those hidden meanings, the author does.

The room was filled by the ticking clock. Ryuu was hooked on the topic in the manual he found. By scanning thoroughly, it was in detailed practice on how to interact with a wealthy person and the proper table manner to present a dignified acquaintance. 'Of course, this place needs to teach us discipline not to be a disgrace for them,' a witty thought, the boy scoffed.

A creak sound was heard outside the door, Ryuu averted his gaze on the shadow - feet of someone. The person knocked once. "Ryuu? Are you asleep? It's almost done for supper." Ryuu did not move. He intended to come to the dining room after the other servers finished their dinner. Aika was being too watchful. Although, her treatment of him last month was different. As if he was not included in the other servers whom they had to monitor and take care of their basic needs.

The boy's thought of interrogating paused as the lady knocked again. He sighed without a sound, and his feet wearing a black Frontier 'Room' shoes sauntered through the door.

The lady had a key to their room. She could come in anytime she needed to. "I was studying the manual. I lost track of time," he said and shifted his gaze towards the book on the nightstand. Aika smiled and nodded, as her eyes were on the book as well, she asked the boy to follow her and eat his supper. No other excuses he could come up with, Ryuu closed the door and followed the woman. They walked into the left hallway. As expected, there was something unknown on the right route. What he could see at the end of it?

The two stepped down on the wooden banister, an open newel staircase where steps were 19 in total. The riser height was 45 degrees and there was a landing at 180 degrees. It was nearly steep because the tread was slippery. Although, it could not be noticed easily from the type of shoes the servers usually wore when they were out of service. The eight inch feet of Ryuu reached the first floor. The dark wood floor had done great care daily.

From the open space under the stairs, there was an antique vestibule cabinet with expensive flower vases and Ilmenau figurines of four young angels of boys representing the four seasons, and a wall painting of a colorful cocktail glass. The wall is suede and across the stairs on the left side, a huge mahogany door was intact. About 80 inches high, 30 inches in width. There was a rectangular transom on its left side and a radius top glass in the center. It was the entryway. The way outside the vicious place. It might seem it was easy to open the door, to walk casually and twist to click the golden doorknob. However, no one had the courage to do it again. Aftermath of an incident...