Chapter 168
(Myra’s POV)
“Ms. Hill you were calling me?” I knocked on the warden’s door and asked.
She clapped her hands and muttered sweetly to me, “Ohh you are finally here, come.” Her voice was quite unusual but nevertheless, I didn’t mind this change in her demeanor.
Ms. Palmer was in her night wear, a black and red lacy dress like super short nightgown with a same-colored robe on it. To be completely honest, her dress made me uncomfortable but who am I to say anything or judge. She always dresses like this so maybe she likes such clothes.
I lowered my head and took slow steps, as if walking on thin ice. She is like a ticking time bomb. I don’t want to deal with her fury. So, I can’t risk any single mistake. My palms were sweaty and I was feeling nervous. ’Is she going to beat me because of that dress? Did I behave out of line in from of the guest? Did I do something wrong?’ My mind was filled with such thoughts.
I stood at some distance and raised my head to look at her. To my utter surprise, there was no trace of her usual anger, she didn’t seem upset and was even smiling at me. I gulped hard and gave her a stiff smile back. She told me to take a seat.
I sat on a chair which was at some distance at far from where she was sitting. She got up and came towards me with a glass of milk in her hands. She extended her hands and spoke kindly, her words dripping like honey, melting my heart, “Myra, you have had a rough day. You must have been exhausted. I prepared warm milk for you. It will help you sleep well p>
I was stunned and a bit dazed by her cotton candy like tone. She never spoke to anyone like this, especially not to me. None of the adults here ever tried to offer me a glass of water, forget milk. My nose itched as I was on the verge of crying. This was new to me, something I always craved.
’Maybe, just maybe, Ms. Palmer has turned over a new leaf. If that is it, then our bad days are over. I shouldn’t disappoint her p>
I took the glass with both hands, thanking her, “Thank you, Ms. Hill,” as a genuine smile made its way on my lips. She ruffled my hair playfully, turned around and settled on the edge of her bed.
“How did you find Mr. Jeffery, the person who came today?” Ms. Hill inquired about what impression I got from that polish man.
’Is she testing me? Should I sugarcoat it or should I tell her the truth p>
“Mr. Jeffery, who came today, he seems very nice and kind. He even asked for my name and complimented my voice,” I told her truthfully.
“If he adopts you, do you want to go with him?” she asked me a question, which stunned me.
My mouth agape and I was left speechless for a few seconds. ’What, wh~ is she saying?’ I couldn’t believe what she was asking me. “Does he want to adopt me?” I asked her expectantly. There was a glimmer of light in my eyes as I waited for her to reply.
“What do you think?” she questioned me again. This time her voice was a bit odd though she was still smiling.
I was overjoyed at that time. Although, all the children in the orphanage were like my family, I cherished them with all my heart but I really wanted a family of my own. Mom, Dad, whenever someone said those words, it made me feel envious. I wanted someone like that in my life.
She looked at me and said, “Why aren’t you drinking the milk? It will get cold. Hurry, drink up,” she urged me and without any hesitation I took a sip. It was rich and creamy, truly delicious, so I drank some more.
Ms. Palmer, with a wide smile she muttered, “You know he is married and has a girl child of your age. Still, he is so generous and wants to adopt you. What did he saw in you?” Her last sentence was audible because I kept yawning.
My eyelids were getting heavy and I felt lightheaded. Maybe, I was just too tired because of Mr. Jeffery’s visit. I was feeling drowsy and sleepy. Whatever Ms. Palmer was saying, my mind couldn’t connect to it.
I leaned back on the chair, as my eyes were on the verge of shutting down. Suddenly, Ms. Hill got up from her bed, where she was sitting and walked towards me. With narrowed eyes, I looked at sultry figure coming closer and closer. My eyes lingered at her eyes and there I saw something odd, maliciousness but the smile on her lips remain intact which perplexed me.
Her lips moved as I heard her faint voice, “Ohhh dear, today has been a very long day for you. You must have been exhausted. Sleep, Myra, because it is going to be a very long night for you p>
My hands loosened, the glass felt off and my eyes closed completely.
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“What have… yo~ u… done? Are you really going to kill her?” I heard an unfamiliar male voice. It was faint but still audible.
I tried to pry my eyes open but my head was spinning. A grunt escaped my mouth as my body felt sore all over.
Some muffled voices reached me, “Or what? She is such a bane of a creature. I have been trying to impress Jeffery Yates and she; she ruined everything. First, she tainted my dress. She poured that damned juice on my expensive dress. I can’t even return it. My $100 has been wasted p>
I knew that shrill, peculiar voice. It belonged to Ms. Palmer, the warden. ’Who is she talking to? And why can’t I see anything p>
My mind was all jumbled up and every part of my body ached, like it was set on fire. I couldn’t help but groan in pain. My voice must have alerted her and the person accompanying her. I could hear footsteps approaching towards me. ’Something is wrong. Definitely wrong p>
I tried to remain still and sealed my mouth.
The person stopped in front of me as a pungent smell of smoke hit my nostrils.
The next thing I knew, someone pulled off the cover and everything came to light. I squinted my eyes as daylight reached me. I tried to look at my surroundings but Ms. Palmer’s cold voice reached me, “Ohhh you are finally awake. See Lance, she is alive and seems okay. You were making fuss for nothing p>
She then grabbed my chin roughly and barked rudely at my face, “You bitch, do you know what you have ruined? You ruined my dress as well as my chance to become rich. Arghhhh p>
My eyes widened at the way she said that. She looked disgustingly ugly, giving me panic attack.
I started sobbing and said, “What what did I do wrong, Ms. Hill?” I was confused by her change. I remembered, the last time we were talking, she was behaving all sweet and kind.
She even offered me a warm glass of milk but why did she change so suddenly. I was totally confused.
“SHUT UP. You are nothing but a damn curse. You were a curse to your own parents, that is why they abandoned you in that dumpster. And now you are ruining my chances of getting glory,” Palmer shouted at me. Some of her spit, her saliva landed on my face.
“Palmer, don’t over do it. If something happens to her, you know~,” the person named Lance grabbed Palmer Hills shoulder.
I looked at him but couldn’t recognize.
At his words, Ms. Palmer got even more angry as she dug her finger into my cheeks, her nails piercing my skin, “He wants to adopt her. Jeffery Yates wants to adopt this bitch. Do you know what that means p>
I don’t know what she was so angry about. I know I was wrong to ruin her dress. I was feeling guilty for that. But other than that, I didn’t remember anything to piss her off.
Her next words left me horrified, “Lance, don’t worry. I have a plan. We can just cut off her tongue. That way she will become mute and won’t tell anyone p>
I shook my head violently, trying to shake her off. But she didn’t budge.
My hands were tied to the back of a rusting chair. Its edge was digging at my back.
I pleaded with Palmer Hill, “Ms. Hill, please please spar~ e me. I won’t *sniffle* I won’t tell… *sniffle*… anyone about this. I promise. Please, pleaseeeeeeee let me go p>
Ms. Palmer started laughing, as if I have cracked a joke. Her laughter grew as it pierced my ear, “This bitch, who has never pleaded in front of me, even when I beat her to a pulp. This curse is crying and begging me p>
She was enjoying my helpless situation.
To Be Continued……..