Little bird

Ariella felt a strange mix of relief and frustration as the days passed without anyone calling for her. Four days had gone by since her encounter with Sebastian, and the silence was unsettling.
She wasn’t sure if she was being ignored or if something more was at play. The other girls seemed to be busy, often called upon, but not her. The long days dragged on, filled with anxious anticipation and uncertainty.

On the fifth day, everything changed. Nancy approached her with a smirk. “El Rado wants to see you tonight,” she announced.

Ariella's heart raced as she prepared herself. El Rado’s reputation preceded him, and she couldn’t shake off the nervousness. She had heard rumors about his intense and often unpredictable nature. As she left the room, following Nancy’s instructions, she tried to calm her mind, taking deep breaths to steady her nerves.

Walking down the hallway, she unexpectedly encountered Sebastian. His presence was commanding, and her pulse quickened. He seemed to exude power with every step, his dark eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her knees weak. Their eyes met, and he asked, “What are you doing?”

“El Rado called for me,” she replied, her voice wavering slightly. She couldn’t help but feel a spark of fear under his scrutinizing gaze.

Sebastian’s expression darkened. “No, go back to your room,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Ariella hesitated but then obeyed, turning on her heel and returning to her dorm. The other girls stared at her with a mix of curiosity and confusion as she entered. She could feel their eyes burning into her back, their whispers starting up almost immediately.

Nancy's laughter cut through the silence. “What happened? Did he send you back?”

“No, he just told me to go back to my room,” Ariella explained, still trying to understand the situation. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that something significant had just happened.

Nancy’s expression darkened for a moment, but she said nothing more. The following morning, Ariella heard whispers among the girls about El Rado being upset. One of them mentioned overhearing Nancy talking to him before breakfast.

Later, El Rado confronted Sebastian, but his irritation only met with Sebastian’s cold indifference. “Why are you talking to me like this over a girl?” Sebastian snapped.

El Rado apologized for his tone, and Sebastian reluctantly accepted. “It’s just a woman. There are many. If you want her, take her like you usually do,” El Rado said, trying to smooth things over.

Sebastian smiled slightly. “No problem,” he replied, but the tension lingered as they walked to breakfast together.

Ariella tried to focus on the day ahead, but the heat was on in the house. She had heard from one of the girls about Sebastian’s bold announcement during breakfast. He declared that Ariella would be his alone. No one else was to touch her.

“Sebastian made it clear to everyone,” the girl said. “He wants you all to himself. El Rado was pissed but played it off with a smile.”

Hearing this, Ariella’s worry grew. She didn’t want to cause problems, and her anxiety only increased when Nancy approached her with a smile. “Sebastian called for you tonight. I’ll escort you to his room,” Nancy said sweetly.

Ariella felt a mix of excitement and dread. She tried to sleep, but her mind wouldn’t rest. Hours later, she overheard someone crying and shouting from Nancy’s room. Curiosity got the better of her, and she crept closer, listening in on Nancy’s tantrum.

“Ariella this, Ariella that,” Nancy ranted. “She’s changed everything! I wanted Sebastian to look at me, but now it’s all about her. Even El Rado started calling for her. She’s ruining everything!”

Ariella’s heart sank as she realized the depth of Nancy’s resentment. She knew she was in a dangerous position. When the time came, Nancy led her down the hallway, blindfolded, claiming it was for a surprise.

Ariella’s skepticism grew as they neared their destination. She stopped, asking questions, but Nancy insisted they continue. Suddenly, Rat Face appeared, his stern expression making Ariella’s pulse quicken.

“Why are you here?” Rat Face demanded. “You’re supposed to be at Sebastian’s room, not El Rado’s.”

Ariella ripped off the blindfold, glaring at Nancy. “What’s going on?”

Nancy played dumb. “I was just taking a detour.”

Rat Face wasn’t convinced. “Sebastian’s request comes first. You know that,” he said, glaring at Nancy.

Ariella felt a surge of gratitude towards Rat Face but knew she was still in a precarious position. She turned and walked back towards her dorm, her mind racing.

As she rounded a corner, she came face-to-face with El Rado. His presence was as intimidating as ever, and she froze, unsure of what to expect.

The tension in the house was palpable. Ariella noticed the way the other girls whispered and glanced her way. She overheard snippets of conversations, pieces of a larger puzzle she couldn't quite put together.

The next day, Nancy approached her again, her smile unnervingly sweet. “Sebastian has made it clear to everyone that you’re his alone. No one else can touch you,” she said, her tone laced with hidden malice.

Ariella nodded, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. She didn’t know what to make of Sebastian’s possessiveness. It felt like a double-edged sword, protecting her from the others but placing her directly under his control.

That evening, as she lay in bed trying to sleep, she heard muffled cries coming from Nancy’s room. Curiosity piqued, she tiptoed closer, pressing her ear to the door. Inside, she could hear Nancy’s voice, filled with frustration and anger.

“Why does she get all the attention? Ariella this, Ariella that. It’s not fair!” Nancy ranted. “I’ve been here longer. I’ve paid my dues. And now, because of her, everything’s changing!”

Ariella’s heart sank. She knew she wasn’t welcome, but hearing Nancy’s jealousy so plainly made her situation feel even more precarious. She backed away, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping, and returned to her bed.

The following morning, Nancy approached her with a false cheeriness. “Sebastian wants to see you tonight,” she said. “I’ll take you to his room.”

Ariella felt a mix of dread and anticipation. She nodded, trying to muster a smile. As the evening approached, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Nancy led her down the hallway, her grip on Ariella’s arm tight. “We’re taking a detour,” she said. “I need to give something to El Rado first.”

Ariella’s skepticism grew. “Are you sure this is the way?” she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

Nancy’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Trust me.”

As they continued, they encountered Rat Face. He looked at them with suspicion. “Where are you going?” he demanded.

“To Sebastian’s room,” Nancy replied smoothly.

Rat Face’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t the way. You’re heading towards El Rado’s room.”

Ariella felt a surge of fear and anger. She ripped off the blindfold, glaring at Nancy. “What’s going on?”

Nancy’s facade cracked. “I was just... I mean...”

Rat Face wasn’t buying it. “Sebastian’s orders come first. You know that,” he said, his tone stern.

Ariella felt a rush of gratitude towards Rat Face. She turned and headed back towards her dorm, her mind racing. As she rounded a corner, she came face-to-face with El Rado. His presence was as intimidating as ever, and she froze, unsure of what to expect.

El Rado’s gaze lingered on her, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “Where are you going, Ariella?” he asked, his voice silky smooth.

“Back to my room,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Be careful, little bird. Not everyone here has your best interests at heart.”

Ariella nodded, feeling a shiver run down her spine. She hurried back to her dorm, her mind whirling with the events of the night.

---

Ariella spent the next few days on edge. The tension in the house seemed to be reaching a boiling point. She could feel the eyes of the other girls on her, their whispers following her wherever she went.

One evening, she overheard a conversation between two of the girls. “Did you hear? Sebastian made it clear that Ariella is off-limits to everyone else.”

“Yeah, I heard. El Rado wasn’t happy about it. He’s been fuming ever since.”

Ariella’s heart pounded in her chest. She didn’t want to be the cause of conflict, but it seemed inevitable. She couldn’t help but feel a mix of fear and guilt.

Nancy approached her later that day, her smile as sweet as ever. “Sebastian wants to see you tonight. I’ll take you to his room.”

Ariella nodded, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong.

As they walked down the hallway, Nancy’s grip on her arm was tighter than usual. “We’re taking a detour,” she said, her tone slightly too cheerful to be genuine.

Ariella’s suspicion grew. “Are you sure this is the way?” she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

Nancy’s smile was strained. “Trust me.”

As they continued, they encountered Rat Face. He looked at them with suspicion. “Where are you going?” he demanded.

“To Sebastian’s room,” Nancy replied smoothly.

Rat Face’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t the way. You’re heading towards El Rado’s room.”

Ariella felt a surge of fear and anger. She ripped off the blindfold, glaring at Nancy. “What’s going on?”

Nancy’s facade cracked. “I was just... I mean...”

Rat Face wasn’t buying it. “Sebastian’s orders come first. You know that,” he said, his tone stern.

Ariella felt a rush of gratitude towards Rat Face. She turned and headed back towards her dorm, her mind racing. As she rounded a corner, she came face-to-face with El Rado. His presence was as intimidating as ever, and she froze, unsure of what to expect.

El Rado’s gaze lingered on her, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “Where are you going, Ariella?” he asked, his voice silky smooth.

“Back to my room,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Be careful, little bird. Not everyone here has your best interests at heart.”

Ariella nodded, feeling a shiver run down her spine. She hurried back to her dorm, her mind whirling with the events of the night.

The next morning, tension filled the air. The other girls avoided her, whispering behind her back. She felt like a pariah, isolated and uncertain of her place in the house. She tried to keep to herself, but the whispers and glances followed her everywhere.

Sebastian’s declaration had shifted the dynamics, and Ariella was caught in the middle. She overheard snippets of conversations, pieces of a larger puzzle she couldn't quite put together. The sense of being watched, of being an object of both desire and resentment, was suffocating.