Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel 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 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?