All Chapters of Lost In Underland: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

She was ecstatic about reaching her destination. As the smaller, bland-looking cottages behind her gradually blurred and grand ones came into sight along the river, she knew she was close to the part of the village occupied by the affluent. The kingdom of Upland exhibited a marvelous cerulean sky, vivid as her simple dress made vibrant by the host of colors in mixed pieces of cloth, patched together to form the dress that flawlessly covered her beautiful figure. Favored by youth, she tenaciously rowed forward, drifting past trees, grasses, paddling ducks, folks on horses as well as feet and birds flying over the river until finally, her destination, admirable, appeared closely before her. It was a stone-walled one-story cottage that proudly overlooked the river and had a wooden dock protruding from its shore, its jutting edge, welcoming. Wrapped around the house was a short sturdy-looking wooden fence with medium post gaps. The fence housed an orchard with climbing vines resting ac

The afternoon was serene and Amber was not busy with any chore, therefore she stood inside the parlor downstairs, admiring the portrait of the mansion on the wall. A squeak at the main door caught her attention and she looked to find the door already swinging open by Isis’s hand as she let herself inside the house. The woman was always elegant, Amber thought. With her beauty, it was hard to imagine she could be as stern as she was. She looked like she couldn’t hurt a fly but Amber doubted that. She traded her thoughts over some manners now, remembering she had been raised well. (“You’re a good heart,” Her mother would say). Amber greeted Isis with a smile and went back to eyeing the portrait, pretending not to notice how Isis had just ignored her greeting by not returning the smile. She was also careful not to show how affected she was by the disregard. She was not even prepared to confront her because she had been there long enough to know it would turn out badly for her. She wou

Indeed, there was always a lesson to learn in life and Amber had just learned one that she needed to apply. Hence, she had to say something to stop her mother from suspecting she was going through any kind of hell at Isis’s home. “You worry too much mother, I’m fine. Remember, they even changed my wardrobe.” Miriam seemed convinced given the smile she gave Amber. Amber was relieved that her mother did not have to worry about how she was being treated at Isis’s house even as right there she remembered an ugly incident that always broke her heart whenever it came to her mind. She could still see the smoke that rose from her burning clothes on the ground around which stood a sad looking her, a laughing Rhea, and a disdainful Isis. They were all staring down at her burning clothes on the ground behind Isis’s house. She could still recall the dialogue that followed. “So you miss these rags?” Isis had scoffed. “I liked the dress with many colors.” Amber had said tearfully. “My mother m

Amber again reached for the cabinet, squatted down, and peered inside, seeking Isis’s missing bowl but it wasn’t there. She closed the cabinet, straightened up, and began chewing her finger nervously as she heard Isis’s voice from the dining again, a voice that she was growing to dread. “Amber” Isis called. Amber hastened to the stove and turned it off before answering with a dry cracking voice, a result of the fear that had gripped her. “Coming madam.” She forced her voice to sound brighter and repeated. “Coming madam.” She couldn’t help but continue to chew her finger and she looked around again, nervous as she remembered a scene that had taken place right there in the kitchen some time ago when she had first started to work in Isis’s house. She and Isis were in the kitchen and Isis was showing her the lost ornate-looking bowl which then was sitting on the counter. “This is my favorite bowl.” She said. “It’s from the king from when he had eyes for me. He pretended to be poor to

Hours after Amber’s disappearance, the stormy weather was already back to normal. Isis and Rhea were standing at their front porch looking around in their night dress. “Why isn’t she back?” Rhea asked. “It’s midnight.” “Amber!” Isis called out into the still of the night and her voice echoed, followed by a forlorn silence. “What if something bad happened to her?” Rhea asked. “It was stormy and besides, she said she saw a mermaid, remember?” “Don’t be ridiculous.” Isis chided. “No one has seen one in quite a long time and no one is believed even if they claim to have seen one. The last person that claimed to see one was Amber’s father and he was not believed.” “So mermaids have been seen?” Rhea asked, surprised. “Folktales tell that this kingdom used to worship one who disappeared because of the wickedness of many people. There are also tales of them giving wealth to good people but I think that’s just stupid tales. Let’s go back inside. When she’s tired of staying out, she’ll re