"'Girl! What's that you're holding?'"My foster father's voice boomed, making me jump.
The mop handle slipped from my trembling hand. I bit my lip, staring at him, as he stood there wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist.
*I'm sorry, sir,' I stammered, finding my voice. I walked to my bed, clutching the duvet to my chest, my nails digging into my lips.
"Why are you sweating, my daughter?' he asked, approaching me. 'I'm fine, sir. I just felt a bit hot in here and wanted to come out, but the door was locked."
"No, the door wasn't locked"he said, his tone firm.
"Sir?" I questioned, confusion written all over my face.
"The door wasn't locked at all. What are you talking about?" He stressed further.
He took a step closer, his eyes fixed on me.
"Let me help you unbutton your dress. You should be in your pajamas."
He reached out, his fingers brushing against my dress, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
"Sir, I can do that,' I said, trying to step back, but he didn't seem to notice my discomfort.
"It's fine, then. Just remember, I'm your father now.' I nodded, feeling a sense of unease. He turned to the AC and switched it on before leaving the room. Once I was sure he was gone, I approached the door and tried the handle. To my surprise, it opened easily.
Was I losing my mind? Was I imagining things? Doubts swirled in my mind as I sat back on my bed trying to get the broken pieces of puzzle together while Mia remained asleep, oblivious to the entire exchange. If I told her about this, would she think I'd lost my grip on reality too?
I can help with correcting your plot scenario. Let's go through it together.
I was lost in thought until I drifted off to sleep, who robbed me of my thoughts. The next day, Mia woke me up.
"You must have slept quite late." I yawned lazily, responding with a simple
"Kind of."
After her bath, Mia came out of the bathroom, beaming with excitement, and wrapped her arms around me.
"Hey, don't get water on me!' I said, laughing.
"I told you this place is amazing,' she said.
"The bathroom has lukewarm and normal water options – you can choose!"
I cut her off, removing her hands from my shoulder, my mind still reeling from the previous night's events. Mia fell silent, and I didn't try to reassure her. Instead, I headed into the bathroom. Just as I began to undress, I felt a hand grab me from behind. I tried to shake it off, but it was too strong. Something wet and rough licked my back downward. It felt like a tongue and I screamed, breaking free from its grip.
The door burst open, and Mia rushed in, her face steamed with concern.
"What's wrong? What happened?" She asked, looking around frantically. I was too shaken to speak, my voice caught in my throat as I shivered uncontrollably. The next thing I knew, I was hearing my name being called from a distance.
When I came to, Mia was crying profusely, her head resting on my chest.
"I should have listened to you. I'm sorry Lila. So, please wake up" She cried not knowing I had woken up.
I tapped her and she stood up unsure of what to do or say. She burst into another round of tears and hugged me tightly.
"Mum and dad called for a nurse. They're just so worried "
"Mum! Dad!" I exclaimed forgetting we had moved into another house a day before.
"What's wrong with you?" She asked with a cute face.
"Mia. What if I tell you that I don't like this house" I whispered
"No. I told you to stop saying that. That's more of the reason why you fainted. It's high time you stop all this drama of yours"
"Did you just called that drama!" I flared up. "Mia. I just fainted for crying out loud" I added standing up from the bed
"Dad said you have been like that since you came in. The nurse said they were your mere illusion "
"It's fine" I said and covered myself up with the duvet.
Just then, our foster mother came in and nauseatingly, Mia ran to her like a baby.
"Mum!" She said hugging her
"Hello my darling. Breakfast is ready" She faked a smile.
"How's your sister now?" She disengaged herself from her and walked up to me . I saw it as a way if pushing her aside. Mia! Poor girl!
She sat beside me and stroked my hair. It wasn't easy to deceive me because the looks on her face always betrayed her action. Even if she had to pretend. She would have done it right at least.
"My dear. Breakfast is ready now. You need to go eat to have strength "
"Mum. I don't have appetite" I replied too. My expression betraying my look which she sensed too. She gave a weird, side mouth sigh and walked out.
"I will bring it to your room" she said before going out.
Deep down, I just hated this woman's gut. It wasn't her fault anyway. It was Mia that had been close to her maybe it wasn't her fault entirely but that of Sister Margaret that gave us this disgusting fools she called foster parents.
Just as she went out, we heard one screamed so loud as if in pains. Our eyes widened with shock. We ran out but nothing was happening.
I exchanged glances with Mia and she still had doubt written all over her. That irritated me lot more but I kept quiet and walked back inside.
After breakfast, our foster mother called us out and ordered us to clean the whole house.
'"They're good people right?" I asked annoyingly
Mia kept silent and refused to talk again. I held her but it seems she was cold all over. I shook her but she seems to had become frozen. Holding onto the broom while standing, staring at the space.