OSHA
I fiddled with the parchment the Store Keeper gave me, impatiently wondering its contents. Ollie's shoulder brushed mine as the cart eased over a hump in the road, groaning under the weight of the crates. I once again fell prey to Ollie's unyielding gaze. I tried to keep my occupied on the miracle before me. I watched as the town slowly faded around me, to lush trees lining the uneven road before us. The sea of green glistened in the evening light, taking on a rather remarkable hue. Birds sang love songs above us whilst the squirrels scurried along an invisible path only they seemed to know. Such a beautiful land, land which I'll never get to tread. I thought bitterly, sweat beading along my hairline under the unrelenting sun. I let out a sigh, silently praying for a gust of wind. How different would my life had been had you lived? "Hey." Ollie murmured forcing me from my dance with self pity. I met his eyes, there was something strange in them I could not place. A feeling, but what feeling? It almost resembled that of guilt . "I meant what I said, we could run away together Osha." Sadness welled in my chest, "Ollie.." " I know you have this weird tie to the Prince but aren't you tired of it all? He interrupted. "Don't you want a life for yourself? To live wherever, do whatever we wish, the right to fuck, marry, have kids.." His voice trailed off as he raked his fingers through his messy hair. "What I mean is, we could leave, we could even bring Gertie, I don't mind." His hand slid into mine. "Since the moment I first saw you, something within you, gave me hope. I don't want to see that end, to see you hurt." I squeezed his hand in return. I gave him hope. Something inside me bloomed proudly. I was able to give someone hope. "Ollie, thank you, that means the world to me…" I paused and sighed before continuing, "But how could we ever escape them? How could we leave the others behind? How could we live with ourselves knowing we were free at the many's expense?" I shifted, focusing on Ollie's face searching for understanding. "I don't know if I could live with myself if I did that Ollie." His breath caught as we climbed and groaned up the hill, the castle coming back into view. I looked out once more, bidding the world before me goodbye. My heart began to sink. Ollie squeezed my hand again. "I could make you forget, making it impossible to think about but us." His molten eyes regarded me in a manner that mimicked Misha. I found my face growing hot, "Ollie what's gotten into you?" I placed a hand over my mouth to hide my shyness. Shyness that saturated me before I knew it. He removed my hand from my face. "Don't hide it." He pleaded. His thumb rubbing circles into my palm. I haven't had the touch of a man, like this, since….well Pasha. The touch of gentleness. Kindness. My eyes focused on his thumb. "Hide what?" I inquired. A mischievous smirk crossed his lips. "Tell you once we're done." He leveled his face with mine, locking me in a heated cage. The cart came to an abrupt halt. Had we arrived already? I looked about and sure enough the castle stood. In delirium I hopped off the cart to help unload.
OSHA
Once we had unloaded everything and brought it up to Gertie, we were looking as if we got into a scuffle with a bear. "My goodness you two! Here sit and have a drink before you collapse. My mind was swimming with Ollie's words. I wasn't really sure what I wanted in terms of a life. His words came back stronger, "the right to fuck, marry, have kids…" my face grew hot again at the thought. Is that what Ollie wanted? A family? A pang of guilt settled in my bosom. Of course I wanted those things however, in my idiocy I had convinced myself none other would do but Pasha. I only wanted that life with him. I could almost remember his taste. His touch. How I mercilessly longed to wallow in his essence What it would feel like to have his child growing inside me? I grew wet thinking of it. A gentle nudge tore me away from my delectable fantasy. "You alright dear?" Gertie asked, conceding marking her features. "Oh-" I cleared my throat glancing between her and Ollie who once again gave me this heated glance. He licked his lips in a way that appeared to be taunt. I blushed before continuing my eyes instantly on my crumpled hands. "I just got a little lightheaded, please excuse me." I cracked a smile trying to ease her doubt. Her analytical gaze swept over me once more. "There's something that needs addressing." She straightened herself up and dusted off her apron. "I need to know if I can trust you two with something rather enormous." She paused waiting for our response. Almost simultaneously we replied, "Of course!" She tsked before continuing, "I'm afraid this is a situation of the utmost secrecy. If you decide to decline my request please, please, keep what is about to be shared to yourselves. This is a matter that is larger than us all." Ollie and I exachnged a glance before we both nodded. Gertie sighed, her lips lifting into a small smile which disappeared as quickly as it came. "As you know, along with the other extravagances we've been scurrying about to stockpile. There will soon be a new shipment of us coming in from the village this evening. I assume more than half among them will be children." She stopped, meeting our tortured expressions. "We can by no means save them all but we could save some of them, of the children. There are friends in many different parts of this castle that we can rely on. The job for us would be to lead them out of the castle without anyone noticing. Osha-" Gertie grasped my hand in pleading. "I would need you to gather and guide the children throughout this place, you not only have knowledge of our quarters but theirs. We may have a general sense of direction but you've been shown a few alternative routes." I knew she was referring to Misha and I also knew she was right. "You know very well that fate awaits them if they stay. " she finished. A heavy silence hung in the air, starngling out any oxygen. We knew all too well. Misha would be furious but I put him and thoughts of Pasha aside. I glance at Ollie who looked reluctant, a slight grimace placed upon his lips. I'm sure my swallow was rather audible in that quiet moment before I spoke. " I'll do it, you can depend on me. I will see this done. Either way." I could see Ollie's head swivel in my direction from my peripherals. Gertie grasped my hands in hers, squeezing them firmly. Her eyes welled with emotion. "I cannot thank you enough. She choked out before dropping her hands to hastily swipe away a tear. Her face turned grim, she need not speak for I knew what she was about to say. "I'll end it before they can catch me. I know I wouldn't be able to withstand much from them if they really wanted to get something out of me. I won't let it come to that. I only ask that I have time to leave behind a simple item. I ask that it be delivered to the proper person upon my departure from this world." "You can't be serious!" Ollie shrieked. "You'd be going straight to your death! Think about this for a second I beg you!" Gertie withdrew, making her face impassive as she observed. "Ollie, think about your life for a second!" I hissed, turning to him. " Think of all that you endured. Would you honestly stand by and let another innocent boy or girl just like you were once, be killed or worse, end up like us?!" His eyes widened at my sharpness, guilt blooming over his features. "I know alright, you don't have to remind me. I am a coward, I flee from everything instead of standing my ground. I let everyone and everyone and everything slip through my fingers!" He spat, kicking a nearby crate. "I wish I were different, like you two, but I'm not. I'm a worthless piece of excrement that deserves my fate, that doesn't mean I'm not terrified of it all the same." He balled his fists, tears lining his cheeks. "Believe me, I hate myself more than anyone else ever could. I can't help you but I will NOT betray your confidence." Ollie withdrew a few steps. "I'll keep watch whilst you two discuss plans." Gertie moved swiftly grasping at Ollie's sleeve. Her eyes morphed into those of a parent. "It's perfectly well Ollie my dear, feel no shame." She held his gaze, placing a her hand that just grasped his sleeve over his chest. "Breathe dear boy." Ollie replied with a gut wrenching howl and fell into her arms. "Oh come now my sweet boy, it's quite alright. You can help in a different way by keeping our secret." She soothed. I couldn't help but feel a tad sense of indignation. Ollie knew the fate that awaited them should they stay. A small seed of disappointment sprouted. I didn't agree with Ollie's decision but I couldn't hate him for it. Lord only knows what he has seen, especially in The Pits. I swallowed my feelings on the issue and waited silently. It was Ollie who broke the silence. With a cough and clear of his throat he croaked, " I'll keep watch outside. If I don't know the plans I'll have nothing to tell." Gertie gave the impression she was fixing to argue but her mouth pressed in a hard and she nodded once and very swiftly.
Once Ollie vacated the kitchen, Gertie turned to me. "We only have a small frame of time in between the shifts to explain this so pay close attention."
Dusk had finally set, the clouds held a foreboding darkness to them. Different hues of midnight blues and early morning greys swirling around large and billowy. The sky cracked and groaned with pressure, a gust of wind swept my hair upwards causing me to gasp as I hurried to the kitchen to help prepare for the feast. You could feel the tension in the air but praise the Lord for the weather as it cloaked us. I turned the corner on the corridor leading to the kitchen when I felt another gust of air sweep over me. It was immediately followed by his scent. Misha. The butterfly of fear metamorphosed into that of desire and excitement. My mouth tingled, my palms grew sweaty. I couldn't for the life of me control the bird desperately fluttering about in my chest. Warmth filled my cheeks, speading to flush my breast. Tiny beads of sweat threatened to adorn my hairline, and I scrambled helplessly within in my mind to conjure some semblance of a reasonable excuse for my edginess. "Something is amiss here." He surmised, feeling his gaze prod and inspect my features for some clue. I could feel my neck begin to prickle. "I admit I'm apprehensive to some reason today." I half chuckled and rubbed the back of my neck to make the moment feel more authentic. However Misha had always been keen in all his senses. He wasn't buying it and I didn't have the time nor luxury to be idling explaining myself to him at the moment. "I really do have to get going, Gertie is relying on me, especially today. I don't want to let her down." I turn to hurry off before more could be said or asked but Misha's cool fingers found their way under my chin, grabbing it in a vice.
"I'll find out either way you choose to go about this OSHA, the question is, how much are you willing to pay for it?" His eyes stripped me down, like every thought I was having was on clear display and he was reading them all. I tried to avert my gaze. I tightened my thighs, for as much as I was scared of what he could do, I was as much thrilled by it. My breath hitched unintentionally at the thought. I could see the faintest of twitches in his lip. He enjoyed frustrating me. Why, I'll never know, perhaps he feels like I ruined his brother's life, I'll never know for certain nor do I think there will ever be a reality in which he would even discuss such matters with me. I swallowed hard. "I have to go.." I managed, then turnt on my heels and proceeded to make my way to the kitchens.