"MADELINE!", a boy called from afar.
"W-wait for me!", the petite girl panted, she's been running for so long her knees started crumbling apart.
"You still couldn't catch me yet", he sat down laughing, feeling the tender grass.
"You're freaking fast!", Madeline complained, "Pause! Let me have a water break first!"
The poor child walked back to a shade, her mouth almost drooled at the sight of her tumbler. She haven't even reached it when the boy called her again.
"Hey! Not that waaayy!!!", the boy aggressively waved his arms.
"I'm thirsty! Can't you wait?", Madeline still kept going without looking back.
"To the other side! Walk to the left!", the boy began standing up. "There's a hole- MADELINE!!"
The girl rolled her eyes, "The heck is he talking about? I've went this way before and there was no-"
Her foot lost its balance and began slipping downwards. Thanks to the rain last night, the mud was slippery enough to drag the poor child to a hole. Madeline would've noticed the opening if the grasses weren't as tall as her.
Suspiciously, that hole was small but enough to swallow Madeline's body.
Her hands managed to grab some grasses. "H-help!! Hey! Help me pleeeassee!!".
Her eyes began tearing as she looked down her feet, it was nothing but void. She still held tightly to anything her hands clawed.
The boy ran towards her, "Hold on, I'm coming!"
The boy was about to reach for her hands but unfortunately, Madeline's hands were small and her muscles weren't strong enough.
That moment, all that was heard was the yell of regret.
"MADELINNNEEEEEE!!"
She couldn't remember anything after that. All that she heard was her name, and all that she saw was the boy's desperate face.
There's always this saying in her place: Listen to the older ones. That boy was just one year older, was it even necessary? They all ran everywhere, but why now? Why was there even a hole all of a sudden? Who could have possibly dug that up in a random grassy field? Did the hole summon itself?
She still hears him calling out her name until now.
"MADELINE!"
"AH!", the woman tucked her short hair, turning her head to someone.
"The rose is gonna get fat with all that water, you know.", the older lady pointed at the pot overflowing with water.
Madeline realized she's been watering the rose for almost 30 minutes.
She immediately stopped. "A-ah! How long have you been up, Ma'am Jess?"
"I should be the one asking you that, it's still four in the morning."
"I woke up really early, I'll be ready later on 'cuz I'll have to wake up his highness.", she emphasized the last two words and the two chuckled.
"Fine, fine. I'll wake up the others once I'm ready.", the lady gestured as she walked away.
The embarassed woman glanced at the rose and sighed, "I'm zoning out again. Well, time to work."
Madeline showered and ate her breakfast. Before going out of the employee dorm, she fixed the curtains and decorations first. She left out the other chores, the other employees were about to wake up anyway.
She then entered a large building, "Casa Dela Muerte". Sometimes, she smiles at the comfort she feels in that name.
Who wouldn't be glad to work for a 5-star rated, award winning, and infamous hotel?
"Good morning ,Miss Madeline!", the security guard waved. "Pretty early today, huh?"
"Psh, she's always up early, man. That's Madeline alright.", the other guard quipped.
Madeline stopped to her tracks, "Good morning too! There's already brewed coffee in the kitchen, help yourselves."
"Nah, we're done. Thanks."
The receptionist came. "Hey, you guys want some bread? It's still early." Her nametag has 'Margie' in it.
"Oh nice."
"I'm getting one."
"Oh, you guys eat. I'm full, I already had my breakfast.", Madeline refused as Margie handed her a piece.
"Girl, come on! It's still early today."
Madeline lowered her voice. "Well, you know, I'm waking up his highness."
"Oh shit, right.", Margie chewed.
"Oh it's monday, right, you gotta go. Please tell the boss to not raise hell again.", the other guard tapped Madeline.
"Y'all are making it sound like the boss is ovulating every monday or something. Well I mean he kinda often does-". Margie nudged the guard before he could finish.
Madeline then went to the elevator's direction. The hallway was neither small nor big, and several rooms faced each other at both sides. The place was big enough to confuse people even those with the hotel map. There were staff that greet Madeline every time they pass by, she smiles in return. She's currently holding her tablet while observing the aisle like a supervisor. The designs, the curtains, the paintings, all were clean and proper.
To be the acting assistant of your boss and the head housekeeper of a hotel is no joke but this woman somehow manages to be sane.
The elevator dinged, signaling that she arrived to the highest floor. Where this 'prince' resides, and where the source of her headaches came from. There were several paintings, sofas and other decorations but there was only one hallway and it only led to one door alone.
Madeline sighed after positioning herself in front, she was about to knock when the door opened. A man with brownish messy hair and a frowning face surprised her.
The guy looks a bit young for someone who's about to turn 30.
Madeline was stunned. "O-oh, good morning, Sir Enzo-"
"Nothing's good in this morning, Madeline. I've been trying to find something for almost 30 minutes, I'm about to go nuts and I still haven't found it." The tired guy left the door open to rummage through his stuff again.
The woman entered his elegant bedroom, the room's design will take someone back to the 19th century because of how vintage it looked. The gothic elements were perfectly blended with modern twists from the chandelier to the gold-colored carpets.
The man was obviously not the type to enjoy minimalism.
"What are you looking for? Documents? Clothes? I'll find them for you, sir so you can get prepared". Madeline's gaze followed the man left and right.
The guy didn't respond, he just kept on searching for something as if his assistant wasn't there. How important was that thing, really?
Madeline checked the time, "Sir, I think it's already-"
"Ah right!", Enzo blurted making the woman slightly jump. "I already handed that thing to the staff, silly me. I'll check my schedule later, I'll be taking a shower first."
"Okay, sir. I'll-", Enzo immediately closed the door, shutting Madeline up.
In the end, Madeline fixed the mess he created. Can't you believe it? All that 30 minutes for something he already handed over to someone? The woman sighed and made sure the room was spotless.
The sun was already peeking through the windows. Another day for a heavy responsibility, another day for Madeline to clean up some people's mess around the hotel.
<><><>
"Madeline! Call the maintenance crew, please!"
"Miss Madeline, there are casualties in the kitchen and the staffs' are not even here yet!"
"Somebody call the fucking HR!"
"Ma'am Madieeeeeee!!!"
Madeline here, Madeline there. If it weren't for her efficiency and consistency, she wouldn't have been assigned as Enzo's right hand. She's the superman of the hotel, just one call away.
"I'm just the head housekeeper, not the general manager.. Well, fuck. I'm the assistant general manger, alright.." she thought.
Due to her cursed gift of being too helpful, she always earned titles and was admired by many.
In the afternoon, she accompanied her boss who's walking the hallways down. It's his routine to visit the floors during the time of the day, there's nothing more enjoyable to see your employees bow whenever they see you after all. But that's not his purpose, though.
"Madie." Enzo calmly called her as they walk, his cane tapped on the floor in every step.
"Yes, sir. What is it?", she still tapped on her tablet.
"I heard there was a disturbancenear this floor last night."
A cue.
Madeline looked up from her gadget. "Oh, well, don't worry. I'll handle it right away." She displayed her usual smile before walking to a different direction.
"Wait.", Enzo's hands were quick to reach her shoulders. "I've heard rumours around. Is it true that people, including you, call me 'his highness' behind my back?"
She gulped at the intimidating voice. Being part of name-calling somebody is always risky. "Ah, that-"
"You know better than that Madeline."
"Well-"
"I am NOT some prince, Madeline. I'm a king, you get it? It would be more accurate to address me as 'your majesty'. I didn't work my ass off to get to this position only for you people to call me 'your highness', you know."
During mondays, he's usually full of anger. But this time, he's full of himself.
Madeline faked her smile. "Of course, of course..."
She went to the other floor rolling her eyes. She hated it whenever her boss displayed narcissistic behavior but she had to hide her annoyance, that's why her professionalism is the standard to the employees.
The head housekeeper went to the certain part of the floor that was closed down by the staff. It was oozing dark smokes that only someone with the third eye can see.
Madeline picked out salt and garlic from her pocket after sensing a creature of darkness.
There she saw a mixed creature that looked like a dog which has the body of a kangaroo walking backwards with two horns of a goat. It was busy devouring on something before sensing Madeline's presence.
In the Philippine mythology, it's called Sigbin.
With a powerful dagger at hand, Madeline immediately dodged the roaring creature when its tail was about to slash her. She quickly scattered salt to the creature causing it to growl louder. Madeline kicked the monster and managed to cut off its wriggling tail, the dark blood trailing on the beautiful carpet of the hallway.
The Sigbin is considered a pet of some ghouls, it is nothing but a creature of darkness.
The dog kept growling and went more mad. The housekeeper was about to throw another pinch of salt but it vanished into thin air.
"Shit.. It turned invisible before I could even..", she started running around because the creature could be just behind her.
She stumbled upon a sack of charcoals, this might be the reason why a Sigbin appeared. It found a food. "Who owns this?" Madeline commented and grabbed something from her pocket.
Madeline ran around again so that the creature won't feed on her blood by sucking her shadow, it's a good thing that she has enhanced senses, she can still feel even if you're invisible. When the Sigbin finally showed itself, she immediately held her hand mirror up to the creature.
"RAAAAAAAA"
The mirror reflected the sun rays and Madeline kept the specific angle to burn the creature. Its skin was burning before fading away like ashes. The sound of its last growl was eerie, but creatures like that are the friends of witches ang ghouls. No one should ever pity them.
Madeline's job here was done, but she's still got a long day ahead so she fled the area immediately.
"This is strange, there were no sightings of dark creatures in the hotel for so long. How come..?", she thought while walking towards the elevator. "This is not good."
<><><>
"The third floor has already been taken care of, some staff will come to clean up the place." Madeline called the receptionist.
"That was fast. Alright, copy that.", Margie replied.
Madeline went to the top floor to report what happened. Somehow, she was expecting to hear something great from her boss.
"As usual, Miss Madie. You did the work again!" Enzo took a sip of his coffee. "I'm concerned about the hotel's state but I'm confident that things will work out because.."
Madeline waited for him to finish, is she gonna receive a praise from her boss?
"Because I'm the boss!", Madeline almost lost her composure. "Oh! And you too.. I guess. Alright, you can go now." He took a sip again.
You know, why would you even expect a narcissist to give you a tiny bit of recognition?
Enzo's voice became serious. "Just kidding, you did great. But please don't be comforted yet by the fact that you killed a creature, it's not a good sign. Take care."
She nodded before going out of that place. Madeline decided that she needed a 5-minute break for all the things she has done that day. She sighed as she descended down to the ground floor.
"Miss Madie! There's a problem in Room 333!"
"Hey Madie, have you seen your other staff earlier?"
"Miss Madeline! Can you lend a hand please?"
With great power comes great responsibility. Madeline's higher position was no joke. As a head and the acting assistant of the general manager, she'll have to do things left and right. But that's nothing new to her.
Her hand found the dagger in her pocket, its violet design and shining blade reflected Madeline's pale face. She then put the weapon back to her pocket before going.
"Coming!"
Only the employees knew about the creatures and history of the hotel. Only the employees knew about Madeline's abilities and the others who are also the same as her. Only the employees knew when darkness was about to strike.
But nobody knew why a creature appeared out of nowhere. Any entities like those are nothing but the allies of ghouls and demons. They are the minions of darkness, that's why some people had to "clean them up."
And that's why the housekeeping department needed to stay strong.
Promoting Madeline to that position was the right decision, no one objected to that because of her will to help and kill despite the fact that she has connections with the Dela Muerte family.
She always remembered where she learned to fight, who she owed her life and when was her first fight. But what she didn't remember was her name.
Madeline is not her real name.
Maybe she preferred to be addressed that way because of her memories. Maybe she wanted to remember a fragment of her past, where she came from.
But no matter how many times she hears that, her memories will never be clear as the windows in the hallways.