Our story begins with a chilly Sunday morning, Grezel, a 23-year-old college student, comfortably lying in her bedroom, surfing the Internet on her Macbook.

"What the hell is this?" - She said as she stumbles across on a random video on Youtube. Grezel clicks on the play button. It was a video about Africans being tortured in horrified and inhumane methods back in the day which disgusted Grezel out. Being an American-African, she feels goosebumps and shivers when imagining she is in their position. Her grandparents, great grandparents, great great grandparents probably have to go through all of this, all the despair and misery. Grezel then remembers the story of her father and mother, where she was told that her father had disappeared when he entered the attic in the house she is staying. Her mother sadly passed away not too long ago after her beloved husband gone missing, left Grezel with her only aunt.

The history of this house is just as interesting. This place was used to be a theatre named Indulis where Caucasians visited to watch actors and actresses performed. Well-known plays such as Death of a Salesman have had its story reenacted several times here, attracted many noble class people. Suddenly, Grezel finds a connection between the house and the mysterious disappearance of her father, it immediately raises her curiosity. An urge to find the key to the house grows inside Grezel. The attic’s door for the first time since her father's entrance will be open once again.

It does not take Grezel long to find the key. It has an old-fashioned look, similar to something that would open a treasure chest. Facing the attic’s door, she holds on to the key tightly as she slowly puts it into the keylock. Grezel's heart pounds rapidly as she gently bites her lower lip.

"Clack"

It is unlocked. Her eyes cannot stop staring at the interminate darkness behind that door which is about to be revealed. The door squeaks as the door knob turns and all Grezel can feel is pure obscurity starting to take over her. Grezel takes her first step, about to encounter the unknown. Holding the flashlight in her hand, leaving the light behind her back, she tipped toed into the darkness.
Suddenly, the door slammed shut and locked itself.

"Hey! Is there anyone outside? Unlock it! There's someone in here!" - Grezel tries to pound away at the door but it seems like the door moves further and further until she can no longer reach or feel it. When directions cannot be determined, she staggers and terrifies before hearing someone murmurs into her ears.

"Be...
prepared...
for...
the...
castigation..."

"What... what do you mean by that?" - Grezel turns around and around in confusion to ascertain the voice's direction, however, it encompasses her from head to toes. As she is filled with dumbfoundedness, Grezel feels like something is approaching her. Raising her hand doubtfully, right at the moment she touches and realizing that it might be a curtain, it unexpectedly drops. Stage lights darts their beams at Grezel, making her cower under the brightness, blinding her for a second.

"No freaking way..." - As Grezel lower her hand, it is a theatre that is packed with top-class people, but there is something very strange. They are definitely not people from this era. Men are dressed in formal big suits and trench coats, women are outfitted in knee-length A-line dresses with puffed shoulders, some wear white button-down blouses and plaid A-line skirts. Grezel recognizes this fashion style from her history classes. Without a doubt, it is from the 40s.

"Oh my Lord... did I actually travel back in time?" - Grezel stands still in silence, all eyes are on her, what is she going to do?

"Betty, my handmaiden, what are you gazing at?" - a silvery voice comes from backstage that is so soothing that makes Grezel, for a split second, forget her current state and slowly gazes to her left.

"I... I..." - Grezel stutters when trying to think of an answer, she looks down at the ground and notices that she is wearing a drab wrinkled dress with a white apron on top. Grezel turns around and she sees an ancient brick based mansion replica, the windows from one of the bedrooms which face the audience is opened wide. Yes, Grezel, you are in a play.

The person who asked Grezel did not wait for her to answer, she picks up her lacey lavender calico and casually steps out from behind the curtain. The lady is a 25-year-old mistress whose name is Charlotte Hallewell, a glorious name for a glorious woman. Charlotte is gifted with flawless fair skin, on her cheeks lie light brown freckles which are complimented with rosy color, making her look so youthful. That is not the only thing which causes men to fall heads over heels for Charlotte, but also because of her dreamy crystalline turquoise eyes that can stop time from moving, stop birds from chirping, stop stars from shimmering just to have a glance whenever she walks by. Her wavy reddish auburn hair smells like cinnamon which is just a small compliment to her perfection. Her presence lightens the atmosphere as she moves toward Grezel, where people are stunned by the majestic beauty of the actress that they clapped their hands and cheered tirelessly when Charlotte approaches the stage.

"Oh, the starry night probably has caught your attention." Charlotte steps one step forward from where Grezel is standing, she looks up at the ceiling of the theatre which hangs glittery stars and rising her hands softly, trying to reach them. Grezel did not sign up for this, but she knows she has to do what it takes to find a way back home.

"Mistress, the sky has darkened, the wind breeze has given me goosebumps, why are you still standing here?" - Grezel asked as she slightly bows down at Charlotte.

"William Lancaster, the man I have so fallen in love with, his nicely unkempt blonde hair flows so perfectly with the wind. With his sharpened jawline and those deep-set shrewd grey eyes, oh God, I find myself weaken whenever our eyes meet." - Charlotte expresses her feelings, putting her hand on her chest.

"He is revered by many men and women, do I have a chance to own a position in his heart?" - With her sole preoccupation, Charlotte cannot lay still on the bed, she would toss and turn all night when imagining her beloved William with someone else.

"It is certainly not something you should concern, my lady. No man can resist your alluring beauty." - Even Grezel herself cannot stop taking a peek at the young mistress, "How can a man deny such perfection?", she thinks.

"If only William think that way." - Charlotte's voice turns brittle, she quickly leaves the stage and enters the staircases, leading to the room that has the opened windows. Charlotte leans herself on the window frame, places her chin on the palm of her hand and dreamily looks at somewhere so far away.

The curtains close, the next scene is up. Grezel leaves the stage and prepares herself for the next scene in the backstage.

The curtains open again, this time, a fancy dinner has been set up, two gentlemen wearing black big suits are sitting opposite each other. Grezel is supposed to serve them food while they are talking with each other.

"You can leave now." - The wizened man with a demanding voice speaks up.

"Yes, I shall excuse myself." - Grezel bows down and leaves but she hides behind the door to eavesdrop their conversation, she senses what is going on.

"Now, Mr. Lancaster, have you thought about my suggestion?" - That last name rings a bell to Grezel, it is just that this is definitely not William because of how grizzled he is. It is William Lancaster's father, Thomas Lancaster.

"I did, Henry. I do think it is a good way to corner the Hallewell family's enormous fortune." - Grezel guessed correctly, this is clearly a really classic plot for a play.

"Good thinking, sir. I know you would be smart about this, so I have planned out a step by step procedure for you. Firstly, your son will have to approach Mistress Charlotte which is a very easy task due to her genuine love. That would lead to marriage very quickly, then, when her father is gone, their large fortune is going to be ours." - The man calmly explains their evil plan which worries Grezel at first, but she knows she cannot let this happen.

"Mistress Charlotte, I have something to say." - Grezel returns to Charlotte's room in the next scene, she has to tell her immediately what kind of cruelty that she will have to face.

"I am using the powder you chose from George the seller, just speak up, I will listen. " - Patting powder on her face, Charlotte is getting ready to meet up with William since he has asked her out earlier. Of course, William Lancaster is not a wise man himself. He has a broad figure due to his time of strength training, but that is all he got. Owing to William is an obedient son to his father, he does not question his father’s request.

"It is about William Lancaster, my lady, you ought not to meet him!" - Grezel raises her voice in concern.

"What are you talking about? You know how much I feel for him." - Charlotte surprises at Grezel's demand and she feels irritated when someone talks about her man like that.

"They are going to use you, Mistress Charlotte, I cannot let them do that to your family!" - Her voice becomes tauter and it might have annoyed Charlotte more than she thinks.

"Know your position, Betty! You are just a black handmaiden that my family bought you from the market. How dare you raise your voice at your master?!" - Another side of Charlotte reveals unexpectedly which shocked Grezel, she does not know a decent woman like Charlotte could have this filthy personality.

"Don't you ever feel the hatred whenever I stand next to you? Don't you ever feel the uncomfortableness from me whenever you touch my belongings? That's right, you don't have that kind of authority to EVER stand beside me! Me pretending to be nice with you doesn't mean you can cross that line of being a slave!" - Charlotte is more furious than ever, she yells, stomps her feet and bashes the table.

"You racist... mother-" - Grezel mumbles in anger, but someone cuts her from finishing her line.

"Take this woman away!"- A croaky voice shouts from behind, two more muscular men come in and grab Grezel's arms.

" What... what are you people doing?!" - Grezel staggers as she tries to make her way out but their grips were too strong.

"The powder you are using is poisoned, Mistress Charlotte. You should wash it off your face immediately. This solicited piece of trash was trying to destroy your beauty so you could not win Mr. Lancaster's heart." - This is one of the two people whom Grezel has eavesdropped from, it is Henry Rooth, the man that has maliciously planned to pillage the Hallewell's wealth.

"No, that's not it! You deceitful snake, you plan to kill Charlotte's father and take their family's fortune for your own good!" - Grezel cannot take it anymore but screeches at the man.

"He's gonna make you and William married and then-"

"I know that. I am willing to do anything for love, there is no barrier to stop me from whole-heartedly consecrating everything I have for William." - Charlotte with her monotonous tone makes Grezel speechless, she was about to finish that sentence. Now her mouth just cannot close itself.

Grezel is being taken away by the guards to the basement of the mansion, the darkest, filthiest place to punish slaves. The basement is built from stone and is equipped with a wide range of torture methods. The stench from rat excretion, blood and the prisoners' rotten bodies ghasted Grezel. At this moment, she sees something which is going to haunt her to death.

"Oh... my God. Dad... is that you?! Dad... oh my goodness!" - Grezel notices on a departed body a very familiar necklace, it is the same one that she has on her neck. Every person in her family owns one, it represents the special connection between each and every individual. Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing your loved ones lie on the ground filled with gore, lifeless and his body is not even intact. Grezel violently scream-cryings, trying every way she can to squirm out and run to her father's body and hold him in her arms.

"He tried to poison Mistress Charlotte's water and got what he deserved." - Henry's voice is flat and hard as a stove lid.

"YOU MURDERER FRAMED HIM!" - Grezel blubbers as she is tied up, the price she has to pay for being a person of color. Grezel hears the audience's disturbance while she was yelling:

"She is such a disgrace!"
"Boo!"
"Kill that monkey!"
"Go back to picking cotton!"

...

Grezel bursts into tears, she sobs uncontrollably, those tears are filled with desperation and resentment. Nevertheless, no one is crying for her, for the fate of the innocence. Mistress Charlotte, William Lancaster, and his father came down to the basement to witness the purging of Betty the ungrateful handmaiden.

"You shall be killed, be cleansed by the fire OF HELL!" - Henry firmly pulls out his sword and slit Grezel's throat with no hesitation. Blood flooded the stage within minutes, Grezel last breath is taken as she widely opens her eyes to stare at the Caucasian audience.

It is all very blurry, but she hears claps and cheerings...

Everybody is standing up to applaud for a tarnish has finally been removed, for such a happy ending.