By Ariel
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: mild child abuse/scolding, references to NCS, Ariel POV
Disclaimers: From now until I feel like adding the other important borrowed people, all ideas and characters are mine. *grins* Don’t take. It won’t make me happy and then you won’t like what will happen.
Author’s Note: I’m moving things along because a certain someone wants to make an appearance sometime this year.
Dedicated: This chapter, to Adam. ~ Grâce à une cauchemar très horrible, tu as réussit de me faire peur et de me rendre nerveuse. *soupir*
The weeks continued to pass. I was no longer watched like a hawk stalking its prey but now it was only instead when I showed any indication of pain. It wasn’t as often but it still occurred and I was now moving with much more ease. The other wounds and sores were tolerable and only the injury I had sustained on my left hip hindered some of my movements.
There was a scab which I was sure would leave a scar about three-inches long. If I moved the wrong way or rubbed to roughly against it, the bleeding would start. And not wanting to get on Ms. Haine’s bad side so soon, I was very careful to not strain parts of my body in any way. As dirty as the carpets were, she had made it crystal clear that she didn’t want to find a bloodstain anywhere or else I would be cleaning the area and more.
The few days after I had woken up from the incident had shown me a side of the headmistress that I was sure none of the other girls had ever seen. There was a kindness deep in her cold black eyes that she usually kept well hidden. The tender way she washed and bandaged me was touching and it was the start of my craving for warmth, love and kindness that I definitely lacked in my young life. However, I didn’t take advantage of her rare concern but it created a ravenous desire deep inside that began to frighten me with each passing day.
The only person I whole-heartedly trusted was Tru. She knew my pain because she would see the way I would shut myself down from others, she and Ms. Haine excluded. She took to sharing my bed and hugging me through my nightly cries until we had worn ourselves out and fell asleep. She never asked questions but listened when I started talking, never interrupting and only showing me her undying support.
Tru was the only one I had recounted the details of what I had been told was called rape. She told me that Horace managed to convince the headmistress to not contact the police because it would bring unwanted attention to the orphanage. That was also the reason as to why I wasn’t taken to the hospital, not that I wanted to go there. Being there after the death of my parents and developing amnesia was more than enough. But again, too many unwanted questions would have arisen and neither Horace nor Ms. Haine wanted to deal with them. Still, my friend made sure I knew that I wasn’t alone and whatever happened, she would be there.
A part of me believed her.
~~~
A few more days went by and I had dish duty after lunch. I was standing upon a small stepstool, hunched over a sink full of warm soapy water. I had not been feeling well for most of the morning and I was looking forward to taking an afternoon nap after I finished my chores. Everything was going well until I felt a sudden sharp pain race through my body starting at my hip. I had failed to realize that I had been leaning against the counter and the material from my clothes was rubbing against the semi-healed cut.
I whimpered in pain, dropping a dish into the water as my hands flew to my side while I sat down on the stool, fighting off the tears of pain. Tru had stopped drying and rushed to my side, urging me to lean against her. I was grateful she was there because at that moment, Ms. Haine made her presence known.
“You should try to be more careful, Ariel. Those dishes are not yours to do as you wish with them.” I heard the sneer in the headmistress’ voice, which made me whimper again and lean further into Tru. Things seemed to be back to normal between the headmistress and myself.
“You should be more worried ‘bout Ariel bein’ in pain than your stupid dishes.” Tru’s voice held more venom than should be allowed for any child our age. This eruption of emotion startled me and I turned to stare at her as she glared darkly at Ms. Haine, holding me protectively closer in the process.
The headmistress didn’t like her outburst at all. She stalked towards us and I flicked my eyes towards the woman. Ms. Haine was absolutely seething with anger. “How dare you speak to me in that manner, child?” She snarled at Tru. “You children mean nothing to me. And for your information, I can be concerned about whatever I please.”
True didn’t back down only seemed to get much more stubborn. If I wasn’t in such pain, I’d be cheering her on even if I knew she, and I, would get in major trouble. “Then you shouldn’t be in charge of a orph’nage then. We’s need someone to like us an’ care for us – and you don’t!”
That finally set Ms Haine off. She grabbed Tru’s chin forcefully, making the girl wince in pain. Angry black eyes met defiant hazel as I was pushed to the side. I held back my sounds of pain as I curled up on the floor, keeping my face void of emotions even though my eyes showed the real pain and concern over Tru’s well being.
“You’re right, Tru.” Ms. Haine’s voice was calm and steady, chilling to the bone. “I could care less for any of you.” The girl’s eyes didn’t change; her anger only seemed to please the headmistress. A slow, evil smirk crossed the woman’s face. “Very well. For your insubordination, you will clean the upstairs bathroom. Alone.” She let go of Tru’s chin and yanked her by the arm towards the door. “Go!”
Tru turned her eyes to meet mine. She gave me a small smile and I knew she wasn’t mad at getting in trouble. I barely nodded in acknowledgement, my eyes shifting to see Ms. Haine glower at my friend. The girl pulled herself free and stomped down the hall and up the stairs.
Not wanting to get the headmistress angrier, I carefully stood up, pressing a hand to my side in a vain attempt to ease the pain. Turning back to the dishes, I tensed when I felt Ms. Haine’s presence beside me, clearing her throat to get my full attention.
“I will not tolerate being spoken to like that, however surprising – and amusing – it was to have someone as quiet as Tru actually say what they felt.” Her black eyes held my pained ones. Yet deep inside hers, I could see a slight concern as well as amusement trying to surface. “Is that understood, Ariel?”
“Yes ma’am,” I answered quietly. She continued watching me - something that was quite unnerving. When she finally broke contact, I turned back to my task, ignoring the pain as best as I could for the moment.
I gasped when she touched my elbow and gently pulled me away from the sink, motioning for me to get off the stepstool. A very rare smile, however slight it might have been, joined her whisper. “Go clean up the cut, Ariel. I’ll finish the dishes this once.” She nodded when I eyed her suspiciously, but after a moment, I knew she was being honest.
I carefully climbed down, dried my hands on a rag and headed towards the door. I stopped just before stepping out, turning to regard the woman now doing the remainder of the dishes. “Thank you, Ms. Haine.” I saw her back tense – apparently in surprise that I was being quite polite – but I didn’t wait to see, or hear, her reaction.
~~~
Two more weeks had gone by since the headmistress rare act of kindness towards me. I had thought it unfair that Tru had gotten punished for me and I went to help her. Of course, it only got me in trouble but I received the same punishment as Tru. We were to work together and clean the downstairs bathroom as well as finish the upstairs.
I had seen the amusement flicker in Ms. Haine’s eyes at seeing me willingly help my friend. Fortunately, there was no yelling, just a calm cool voice telling me that I had disobeyed her strict orders of the bathroom being cleaned alone. It was alright. Tru and I finished the job and even got complimented for doing it decently.
It was now Adoption Day. Would-be parents spent the day in and out of the orphanage. These were couples that had passed all tests and checks, rendering them capable of adopting a child or more. Tru and I remained inseparable and only spoke when spoken to. We had seen some of the other girls get chosen and after some paperwork, Ms. Haine bid them well and goodbye. I’m positive the process was much more complicated than that but I wasn’t going to dwell on it all that much.
The day was hectic but by evening, it seemed as it had suddenly calmed down. The remaining children were seated at the table in the dining room, eating dinner with Ms. Haine. The woman was obviously tired and she tried to keep watch over us. We all cooperated and cleaned up the table as quickly and as quietly as possible.
Tru and I were doing dishes when the doorbell rang. We didn’t actually pay it any mind and continued chatting as we worked. The dining room had been cleaned out and the kitchen was almost finished. The other girls had already gone upstairs while Tru and I started drying and putting everything away, when Ms. Haine walked in.
“Tru. Would you please come to my office?” I glanced up at the headmistress and her eyes were unreadable to me. I frowned, already thinking the worst but I nodded when Tru whispered in my ear that she would come back to help me as soon as she was done with Ms. Haine. I thought my friend honestly had no clue as to what I had been thinking and perhaps she thought it wasn’t anything big.
I watched them both leave the kitchen before I closed my eyes and sighed. Something was very off and it was doing a good job of upsetting me. I tried to shrug it off and continued cleaning, wiping the counter before I grabbed the broom and swept the floor.
Twenty minutes went by and I had even mopped the floor. I was about to sit on the stool when the door to Ms. Haine’s office slammed open and I saw… and heard… Tru storm out, running up the stairs.
I blinked in surprise and ran to the doorway. I was about to follow her but hearing the bedroom door slam shut halted me. Turning, I saw Ms. Haine shake hands with a lovely young couple and walk them to the main door. The man placed his hand on the woman’s back and led her out, thanking the headmistress.
Upon closing the door, I saw Ms. Haine hunch her back and sigh deeply. I think she knew I was there because the moment she turned and met my eyes, I knew that she had very bad news to tell me. One of my worst fears of the moment was about to come true – of that I was sure.
“Ariel…” Ms. Haine started before she saw my bottom lip quiver slightly. “Come, dear. Join me in my office.” She walked over to me, gently wrapping her arm around my shoulder and led me down the hall into her room, closing her door behind us.
She waved her hand for me to sit in the much too big chair across her desk. Taking a deep breath, she eyed me carefully, her voice quiet. “Ariel. I want you to be good about this. There will be some changes…” She stopped when I began shaking my head.
I sighed, looking at her sadly. My eyes must have been shimmering from unshed tears because a streak of pity flashed in the headmistress’ eyes. “Tru’s been adopted. Hasn’t she, ma’am?”
“I’m so sorry, Ariel,” she responded, nodding her head ever so slightly to answer my question. Her black eyes began to water a bit, seeing the emotions cross over my face.
“Don’t be, ma’am.” I gave her a weak smile. “It was bound to happen, ne. I mean, I’m glad. Someone’s gonna love her like she should be.” I knew I was rambling but I didn’t want to cry. Not when I still had to go up and face Tru now that I knew that she would be going away soon. “She deserves to be happy n’ loved.” Unlike me, I thought. My words were quiet, sad and if one tried, they would add hurt to how I sounded. My best and only friend was leaving. “When, ma’am?”
“Tomorrow afternoon, Ariel,” she answered me quietly. “Everything had been settled prior to them coming here and choosing a child. They had come by during the day and saw her with you. They left to tend to personal business and came back with the official state papers. Ariel, I am…”
I shook my head, stopping her. “Don’t. I-I’m gonna go up an’ see Tru now. G’night, ma’am.” I rose and gave her a slight bow before I slipped out of her office.
I took a few minutes to get upstairs, trying to settle myself. I knew that there was a possibility Tru could come back but I wasn’t going to dwell too long on that now. I didn’t want to set myself up for more disappointment. I stalled outside the door to our room before I walked in. The soft moonlight filtered in through the window. Two of the other girls had been adopted earlier, leaving Tru, myself, as well as two other girls to share the room. Tru was huddled on my bed and from the soft sounds I knew she was crying.
Sighing softly, I joined her, slipping under the blanket after taking my shoes off. “Hey Tru…” I whispered. I was silenced by her shifting to wrap her arms around my waist tightly, her face buried against me. I was at a loss for words. She was feeling the exact same thing as I and it hurt badly.
“I-I won’t forget you, Ar…” Her whispered words were like sirens in my ears. We hugged each other tightly and held on for dear life.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment. She shed the tears for the both of us. “I won’t forget you either, Tru…” She looked up and gave me a small, heart-breaking smile before she closed her eyes as I began running my fingers through her wavy hair, lulling her to sleep even if her crying had helped a great deal.
It took me a long time for me to actually get to sleep that night. I stared at the moon, silent tears finally escaping my eyes. Was I ever going to have the chance to actually have something of my own? Was I getting punished for something else?
First my parents died. Then I lost my memory. After that – a part of me, including my sense of security, was stolen. And soon – very soon, Tru and I would be separated.
What was going to happen next?
I wasn’t sure I really wanted to find out.
TBC...
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