Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Chapter 1974

A maid's face twisted in horror. "Poor Lillian, the scene was just horrific!"

"What happened to her?" Estelle inquired with concern.

Ena replied, "I'll take you to her, but let's keep it low-key. We don't want the head butler on our trail."

Estelle nodded. "Okay, let's go, just the two of us."

Ena quickly agreed, and they left the mansion. Familiar with the estate's layout, Ena led Estelle through the wooded paths, avoiding security cameras as they hastened along.

They stopped near the estate's perimeter fence, hidden amongst tall grass, where a figure lay motionless.

Estelle moved forward, but Ena instinctively tugged at her arm, whispering, "Be careful!"

Acknowledging the warning, Estelle carefully stepped through the overgrown grass.

There, amidst the vegetation, lay a girl who could only be identified as a maid by her uniform and hair, for her skin was gruesomely ulcerated, oozing pus and blood. Her face was a sight too ghastly to bear. The decomposing flesh emitted waves of foul odor, yet not a single fly dared approach.

The girl seemed to sense their presence, weakly opening her eyes, her gaze filled with agony as she looked towards Ena.

Ena stepped back, her hand covering her mouth to stifle a cry of shock and sorrow.

Lillian tried to speak, but with her lips eroded away, revealing bare teeth, no words came out.

Estelle knew there was no saving her now.

"How is she?" Ena rasped, clinging to a sliver of hope.

Estelle asked coldly, "Has anyone touched her?"

Ena shook her head vigorously. "No, Martha found her. We knew something was off and didn't dare get close. Some guards came by later, and we all left."

Estelle nodded. "She won't make it. Don't touch her."

As Estelle spoke, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. She grabbed Ena, propelled her up a tree trunk with a strong push, and quickly followed.

Ena, with her robust frame, clung to the tree, wide-eyed in astonishment.

"Shh!" Estelle signaled for silence.

Ena covered her mouth, her eyes round with fear but also a touch comical.

A group of men were running towards them, shouting as they closed in.

"Over here!"

"We found her!"

Estelle hid among the dense leaves, peering down to see four men in hazmat suits cautiously approach Lillian. They lifted her with gloved hands and placed her into a sealed bag, all the while turning their heads to avoid the stench.

Before Lillian was zipped into the bag, her desperate, pleading eyes met Ena's. The look of utter despair was deeply unsettling, and Ena bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes.

Soon, Lillian was taken away, and the contaminated grass where she had lain was also removed, leaving a barren patch behind.

Estelle leaped nimbly from the tree, landing steadily, while Ena called out, "Ivy, help me down!"

"Jump!" Estelle urged.

Ena hesitated, shaking her head in panic.

With no other choice, Estelle climbed back up, grabbed her arm, and together they jumped down.

"Ahh!" Ena yelped upon landing, immediately covering her mouth, fearful of being heard by the departing men. Her eyes reddened as she choked back sobs. "Lillian's gone!" Estelle explained, "She was experimented on. There was no saving her."

"No!" Ena shook her head in denial. "The maids aren't used for experiments. There are rules against that!"

Estelle narrowed her eyes, pondering. "Then what happened to Lillian?"

Ena was just as perplexed, shaking her head slowly. "I can't imagine what it could be, but it surely wasn't an experiment."

Estelle realized she might be right. If Zion was willing to sacrifice even the maids, who would serve their researchers in the future?

What exactly had Lillian endured?