Chapter 3 - The Leap of Faith
Sarah reached the base of the stairs just as Leo slipped entirely over the edge of the top landing.
The little boy fell through the air,
a helpless figure tumbling toward catastrophe.
Without a single moment of hesitation for her own personal safety,
Sarah stretched out her arms as wide as she could.
She threw her entire body forward,
positioning herself directly beneath the falling child.
With a heavy,
resounding thud,
she caught the young boy securely in her strong,
safe embrace.
The violent impact of the catch knocked Sarah backward onto the hard marble floor.
Pain shot through her back,
her shoulders,
and her knees as her body slammed against the stone.
Yet,
despite the excruciating pain radiating through her spine,
she held Leo very tight against her chest.
She wrapped her arms around him like a shield,
absorbing the full force of the fall so that not a single scratch touched the young heir.
Leo sobbed heavily against Sarah's warm coat,
his small body shaking uncontrollably with aftershocks of terror.
He buried his tear-stained face into her shoulder,
clinging to her as if she were his only lifeline in the world.
Sarah lay on the floor for a brief moment,
catching her breath,
her lungs burning.
She stroked the boy's soft hair gently,
whispering soothing words to calm his frantic heart.
Sarah: You are safe now,
my brave little boy,
I have got you,
nothing is going to hurt you.
Leo: She tried to hurt me,
Sarah,
she pushed me,
she wanted me to fall down the stairs!
Sarah carefully stood up,
keeping the shaking child held safely in her arms.
She checked his hands,
his arms,
and his head to ensure he was completely unharmed.
Once she was certain he was physically safe,
her trembling fear transformed into something terrifyingly powerful.
Her eyes flared with pure,
righteous anger as she glared upward toward the top of the staircase.
Up above,
Victoria was still standing near the railing,
looking down with a look of utter disgust and disappointment that her plan had failed.
Sarah's grip on Leo tightened protectively.
She knew that the quiet,
submissive maid Victoria was used to pushing around was gone forever.
Sarah: You evil,
vile woman,
you could have killed him!
Victoria: Watch how you speak to me,
servant,
you know nothing about what happened up here.
Sarah: I saw everything with my own eyes,
and I will make sure you pay for this!
Leo buried his face deeper into Sarah's neck,
still trembling from the near-fatal experience.
Sarah took a firm step forward toward the stairs,
May you like
ready to confront the wicked mistress of the house head-on,
no matter the consequences to her own job or future.
