After Louis recovered, the rich man sent one of his servants to bring him in a lavish carriage. Louis was stunned by how luxurious and expensive it looked.
They arrived at the house of Jake, the wealthy man. Jake had a beautiful daughter named Lucy, whom he loved dearly because she resembled her mother, who had passed away two years ago.
Lucy saw Louis and was immediately impressed by him.
Jake said,
"This is my daughter, Lucy. From now on, you will be her servant."
Louis bowed his head.
"Yes, sir."
Jake then called another servant and ordered him to prepare everything.
Louis began organizing and cleaning the house, learning every task he was assigned. Mr. Jake also arranged trainers for him, so he could learn how to defend himself and protect Miss Lucy.
Two months after signing the contract, Louis approached Jake.
"I want my pay. I'm leaving," he said.
Mr. Jake suddenly laughed.
"Are you stupid, boy? There are no kind people left in this world. Did you really think I'd make you sign for just two months?"
He threw the contract at Louis's face.
Louis picked it up and read carefully. His eyes widened in shock when he realized it was one year, not two months.
"No! No! What have you done? You despicable man!" Louis shouted.
Jake looked at the servants and said coldly,
"Take him to the filthy dark room so he can think about his mistake."
Then he punched Louis in the stomach.
"You filthy servant! How dare you disobey me!"
The servants grabbed Louis as he tried to run. They beat him while dragging him away and locked him in a small, dark, filthy room. They denied him food and water for a full week.
After some time, a servant passed by the door. Weakly, Louis called out,
"Please… water… food… anything…"
The servant glared at him.
"Do you want me to lose my job for a foolish, reckless boy like you?"
Then he left.
Louis whispered to himself in despair,
"Well… Dave… Alex… I guess I'll never leave this place unless I'm dead… and my dream will never come true."
Tears welled up in his eyes, but he forced himself to hold them back.
Later, Mr. Jake entered the room. He looked at Louis with pure contempt.
"Do you want to leave this place, boy?"
Louis shivered from the cold. The room was freezing.
Jake laughed mockingly.
"I have never seen someone so pathetic in my life. You're… amusing. Hahaha."
Then he added, cruelly,
"I don't think you have a bright future. You look just like those street dogs, shivering from hunger, cold, and beatings."
He continued,
"And the longer you stay here, the longer your contract will be extended."
Jake then ordered the servants to leave and lock the iron door behind them, so he could be alone with Louis. They obeyed, shutting the heavy door.
The rich man slowly approached.
Louis backed away in fear until Jake suddenly grabbed him by the hair.
"Don't be afraid, little puppy. I'm not going to kill you. I still want some entertainment. And… maybe I'll even let you out."
He leaned closer and asked,
"Do you want to leave this place?"
Louis stammered,
"Y-yes… yes, sir…"
Jake burst into loud laughter, barely able to control himself.
"Pathetic… pathetic!"
Then he walked toward the door, sneering.
"Are you still stupid enough to believe everything? I'm not letting you out."
Louis begged desperately,
"Sir… please… I'll die here…"
Jake looked at him indifferently.
"Do you think that matters to me?"
He picked up a stone nearby and said calmly,
"Look… haven't you wondered why this place smells so terrible?"
Louis trembled in fear as he looked closer. His eyes went wide.
It was a human skeleton.
Louis collapsed to the floor, screaming, crying like a child.
"Please, sir! Please! I don't want to die! I'll do anything… just don't kill me!"
Jake replied coldly,
"I won't kill you. My daughter Lucy said she really wants to study with you. I haven't seen her this happy since her mother died."
Then his voice turned threatening.
"But if you do anything against my orders… I won't hesitate to kill you."
Louis asked weakly,
"So… will you let me out of here?"
Jake said,
"After two days. I told Lucy you went out with your friends, and that you won't return for nine days."
Louis pleaded,
"Please… I can't stay here two more days with these skeletons and corpses!"
But Mr. Jake ignored him and walked toward the door.
"No, sir! Please! Don't leave me!"
Jake was already gone.
Before leaving, he ordered the servants to give Louis food, water, and a blanket.
Later, a servant brought them. Louis ate greedily, as if he had never eaten before.
Afterward, he tried to sleep but couldn't. He was terrified of the corpses and skeletons surrounding him.
He began crying again… and this time, he could not stop himself.