And My Name is Amy — Chapter 2

Months ago, about the time that I started this blog, I had a weird dream that was hard to explain, and the details of the dream faded quickly. I wrote down the main concept of the dream before I forgot it. A group of kids were kidnapped and given new identities. I was sure that I would be able to make this idea into a book, or even a series of books. I choose to take my time writing out details. I wanted to write character descriptions, backstories and have an outline prepared before I officially started writing the story out. This proved to be too difficult for me. I lost focus since I also needed to keep up on writing stories to post each week. But I couldn’t get this idea out of my head. The writer’s block I have had hasn’t helped any because “Amy” the main character of this story just wanted to tell her story. So, I threw my whole plan out the window of planning everything out and I just started writing. Before I knew it, I had the first rough draft of the first two chapters. I have decided to share this first draft with you. No updated versions will ever be posted, but I plan on putting in detail later that will take this from armature story to a novel worth trying to publish. I hope you enjoy this for now though. I will post chapters as they are written.

“Danny, Eric, Joann, Stephine, Clayton and my name is Amy.” This has become a mantra that Amy needed to hold onto, she never wanted to forget her friends or herself and so she would repeat their names repeatedly. She did this before bed each night, she did this while on the floor scrubbing the mud tracked in by the family, she did this while her feet were killing her standing at the sink scrubbing dishes and worse she would do this when she was being beaten by the members of the house of Crimson. Today the household staff were being lined up and evaluated by Lord and Lady Crimson. They would be hosting a Victory Day Celebration at the manor and only wanted to show off the best of their staff. Amy knew she wouldn’t be chosen and wanted to get back to scrubbing the guest bathrooms so she wouldn’t be up too late tonight.

Lord Crimson finally reached Amy and looked her over. There was a mat in her hair from not being able to wash and brush it properly. She had never been given any other clothes, so she was in the tee shirt and jeans she had been wearing when her hometown was raided. Only now they were caked with dirt and fraying at the edges. Her black eye from her last beating was fading and was that ugly green color. Lady Crimson had a look of disgust on her face, same one she always wore when looking at Amy. But the look on the Lord’s face was evaluating.

“Well, Millie has been here three months now. She could be a refreshing change. Obviously, she would need to be issued a uniform and be given a good cleaning up. The bruises seem like they will be healed in time. What do you think my love?” Lord Crimson said all this matter of fact, as if Amy was an object not a human. Though Amy supposed she was an object to him. She was told at the holding center she was now their property.

“I do see your point in that a new maid would be a refreshing change,” Lady Crimson agreed though still with a soar look. “However, this one keeps trying to talk back when we correct her work. She isn’t fully broken in yet.” Great now Amy felt like a wild horse.

“True.” Lord Crimson sighed and Amy thought he was going to move on. Instead, he looked at her full in the eye and said, “Millie, you were such a quite and pretty girl when you came to us. What do you say? Would you loke the chance to prove yourself?”

This caught Amy off guard. She wasn’t expecting to be given a choice. Her first instinct was to reply with a snarky comment, but she didn’t want to be hit again. Besides clean clothes and a shower would be amazing. So, she nodded once and said “Yes, Lord Crimson”

“Excellent, Matilda, see to it she gets what she needs and show her what will be expected to do.”

Matilda replied, “Yes Lord Crimson” and the lord and lady dismissed everyone back to their work. Matilda walked right over to Ammy. Matilda was to head maid and obviously hardened by the time Amy had arrived at Crimson Manor. Amy was sure whatever had landed Matilda here was not a happy story but talking about the time before the war was a criminal act, so Amy didn’t even know Matilda’s real name. Amy stayed looking straight ahead to not upset her.

“What were your assigned duties for the rest of the day?” Matilda asked.

“I am meant to scrub all the guest bathrooms today. I have five left to do.”

“Very well, finish that today and we will get you cleaned up tomorrow. I will also have a uniform for you then too. Remember Millie, just because Lord Crimson wants to give you a chance doesn’t mean you’ll get to serve during the celebrations. Lady Crimson has the final say and from what I have seen she doesn’t like you. I don’t know why but she will be extra harsh when it comes to making her choice. You will need to work hard there will be people coming that you will want to meet.”

Matilda then walked away leaving Amy to wonder what she meant, that Amy would want to meet some of these people. Amy thought about that while she finished scrubbing the bathrooms. Laying down for the night she started repeating her friends’ names again so that no matter what came her way she would have them with her. She fell asleep with their faces running through her mind.