Chapter four is here everyone. Nit picks are welcome  

Chapter 4 

A Whole New Life 

The rope tugged at my wrists as I jogged by the carriage. I tripped and fell unable to keep up with the horses anymore. The rope pulled me along the dusty ground in the wake of the carriage as I tried to get back to my feet. I eventually stood up; my small dress was covered in dust and mud from the experience. I began to run again, breathing heavily. I looked towards the end of the road and stared in amazement as I saw the house to which we were heading. It was like a mansion to me, old and ornate. I could see in front of it, a small fountain in the centre of the gravel drive. There were other carriages parked there and I guessed that he had a stable with horses somewhere in the grounds. I wondered if I would ever get to see them. I stopped that idea as quickly as it had come. There was no point wishing for things anymore, I wouldn’t be allowed privileges. The carriage slowed as the horse’s hooves touched the gravel, making a crunching sound. The chauffer got down from the front of the carriage and opened the door, my master stepped down. A servant opened the door to the house and held it open for my master. He whispered something and pointed to me. The servant nodded, and closed the door behind him, walking down to me. He untied the rope from the carriage and from my wrists. He grasped my upper arm and led me around the house.  

“This will be your entrance to the house. You should be neither seen nor heard unless spoken to. Understand.” I nodded and he let go of my arm, ushering me inside. I followed him down a dark flight of stairs to what appeared to be a cellar. “You will sleep down here.” He said lighting a small candle. “You will have to make your own food and bring it down here to eat. You will see the master in the morning and he will tell you your duties.” He marched out, leaving me the candle.  

It was dark and cold down here, moss grew on the walls and the light couldn’t quite reach into the far shadows. I didn’t like it. The dark had always made me uneasy.  

“Hello?” I started as I heard a voice from the shadows. A small boy stepped forward.  

“Who are you?” I asked backing away picking up the candle from the floor and holding it out in front of me to provide some protection.  

“I’m James, I’m the chimney sweep.” He showed me a stick with bristles on the end that was covered in soot.  

“It must be horrible.” I said to him lowering the candle a little now that I was a sure he was a child. I tried to imagine what it would be like to crawl up such a small space. 

“And dangerous,” he stated. “How old are you?”  

“I’m six, seven in 3 days.” I replied. I placed the candle back on the floor and stepped forward. He entered the circle of light. 

“That young.” He whispered slumping onto a thin mattress on the floor. I noticed another one beside it. It looked slightly newer than his but I had no doubts that it would end up that way, worn thinner and thinner.  

“How old are you?” I asked.  

“Eight.” He smiled. I sat down on the mattress opposite him. He handed me a piece of bread, it was a little sooty, but it was food.  

“Oh.” I said, as I took the bread. I had assumed that he would be the same age as me, he was really small. But I guessed that you needed to be to fit up a chimney. I nibbled the bread and then realising how ravenous I was I attacked it, hungrily.  

“Sorry,” he said when I had finished. “It was all that was left, I wasn’t expecting visitors.” 

“You talk like an adult.” I observed aloud. He nodded grimly.  

“It hardens you up, this life. You learn to be older than you actually are.” I nodded. I already felt like I had been plunged into something that I, as a girl of six was incapable of. But I guess now I would have to be older. Act older and speak older.  

“You never told me your name,” He asked curiously. 

“Lila.” 

“It’s pretty,” he said absentmindedly. I smiled and nodded. 

“It’s unusual too,” I said. He laughed at me. 

“There you are saying I talk like an adult, what kind of six year old says unusual?” I shrugged and laughed along with him. It may be dark and damp down here in the cellar. But James was like a point of light, friendly and warm. And as long as we are young, the dark cannot touch us because we are children, innocent and simple.