Ailsa stood before the black door.
She knew on the other side was a world she didn't want to be in, but she no longer had any choice. Her owner had deserted her. Not only her, but the home she knew for years. One day he walked out and never returned, leaving behind all his things. His clothes, his books, his things.
Her.
She waited and waited and waited. Hoping he would return to claim his world and make things right again. But he never did. The morning star rose and fell in the sky while she did her assigned duties. Ailsa kept his house as it should, wanting it to be clean and tidy for when he returned. She washed his clothes, dusted the furniture, arranged his books, stripped naked and scrubbed the floor on her hands and knees.
And still he never returned.
Endless time seemed to go on and on and on. Then one day, men showed up. Entering the house unannounced, they showed her papers saying they were taking possession of the house and the things within. Seems the man owed them debts and, unable to find him, claimed everything.
Except for her.
Ailsa was told to leave and never to come back. All her things were kept inside. Some the man had bought for her, others she brought with her when the man had claimed her. All were left in the house, to be sold at auction. The intruders pushed her out the door and locked it behind her with a click. Ailsa walked away from the home she knew for so long, with only the clothes on her back, crying with each step as her world was left behind.
Ailsa tried the homes of the few friends the man knew. At each turn, she was told no one knew where the man had gone. Some of them told her tales of drunken fights. Others told her of places where the man would visit women who would give him money. Still others just sneered at her. None would take her in.
As the sun began to touch the horizon, she knew she would be unsafe outside at night. She needed a place to go, but had no money to stay anywhere. She knew of only one place, but resisted the idea. Still, her feet took her there.
Before long, she found herself before the Black door. A cold unfeeling thing as she ran her hand up it to the knocker. With great hesitation, she lifted it and let it clang, announcing her presence. Minutes passed with no answer. Then with unbelievable silence, the Black Door swung inward, showing only more blackness beckoning her inside.
With her head held high, Ailsa crossed the threshold. Quickly she disappeared into the darkness, as the door shut and locked itself behind her.