Winchester (2)

Year 1853

Xander looked at the girl who walking away. As far as he could remember, the girl had just arrived in this orphanage this week. She was escorted by a man with a mustache who claimed to be a policeman.

She was so quiet, well ... it was natural that she's so quiet. Everyone who was sent to the orphanage will naturally be quiet, no matter how cheerful that person was before.

This place wasn't a very pleasant place to live, but at the very least, staying here was better than wandering on the streets.

Xander picked up one by one the trash that was scattered near the furnace, and then threw them all into it. He watched as the garbage was being engulfed in flames.

Parents.

Xander himself never once knew his parents. Miss Yerez said, Xander was found by a drunk near the garbage dump.

Yes, garbage disposal.

Everything that is useless and unwanted thrown in the trash. Including him.

Xander grimaced then sighed. Thoughts like that have run into his days. Xander was sure that the girl thought the same.

***

Thea ran her fingers through her hair. She still frowned slightly as water droplets from her hair fell on her wound. Thea tilted her head slowly. Her reflection in the mirror really nauseated her.

The wounds from the incident at that time were visible. Her skin was blistered and torn, leaving the red color of burning flesh, covering most of her neck.

She got out of there and sat on the edge of the bed, facing the window. The girl looked up, staring at the blue sky peeking through the white clouds. The sky above was still the same.

But the circumstances were not.

Thea thought about what really happened.

Why was all this happening? She felt fine a week ago. She was still joking and laughing with her father and mother. But now...

Thea remembered that a few days ago she saw four people looking for her father.

So what? Nothing, everything's fine.

Lie.

There was something she saw, but didn't want to remember. Something too terrible for a child her age to experience, something she mustn't remember.

Tears began rolling down from the girl. Her chest stinging, tightness with pain. Even more painful than the physical pain she was experiencing.

Thea sobbed loudly.

***

Jane came into the room running. Her movements stopped when she saw the girl sobbing at the end of the bed.

Yes.

That girl had cried a lot since arriving here. Jane didn't really know her herself. She felt that the girl was going through a difficult time.

She was only nine years old and had suffered such burns. The other children at the orphanage were disgusted by the sight.

Jane too.

She was trying to get used to it because the kid will be her roommate — for life, she thought.

Jane went awry. Miss Yerez told her to take the torn sweater for sewing immediately. The problem was, the shirt was under the new kid's feet and Jane didn't want to disturb her crying. She stood there long enough, until finally Thea's crying subsided.

"Erm ... hi?" said Jane, awkward.

Thea realized. She immediately wiped her tears. Her neck ached as she turned her head suddenly.

"Sorry, I don't want to disturb you. But… can you step aside for a moment? I want to take something," the girl pointed at Thea's feet.

"Oh ..." Thea immediately stood up.

"I'm sorry,"

Jane immediately took her sweater and walked away from there quickly. She didn't want to involve with the kid.

***

Thea was scared. She never thought that she would live alone like this. She did not know if she had any relatives - either the family of his father and mother - out there.

Thea's blurred vision gradually became clear. The sobs died down and the corner of her eye caught someone standing not far from her.

Thea hurriedly wiped her tears. The nape of her neck ached as she turned his head suddenly.

"Sorry, I don't want to disturb you. But… can you step aside for a moment? I want to take something, " she said, pointing at Thea's feet.

"Oh ..." Realizing what she meant, Thea immediately stood up. "I'm sorry,"

The woman who was older than Thea hurriedly left as soon as she picked up her belongings. From the first time she arrived, Thea knew that the girl didn't like her. As soon as Jane came out, a little boy came into her room.

"You are called by Miss Yerez. Now is the time to eat together."

After delivering the message, the boy rushed out. Thea moved reluctantly. She headed for the bathroom before entering the dining room.

She really didn't want to go in and repeat the same thing over and over.

"Thea? What are you doing here?"

Thea looked up. Miss Yerez looked at her, surprised.

"Come on, hurry up and eat! Before they clean it up. "

She was forced to follow the long steps of the head of the orphanage into the dining room.

"Now, sit down here," she said, pointing to one of the empty chairs. The surrounding children stepped away. Even willing to sit crammed at another table when Thea sat down.

They looked at her in disgust. Thea knew the wound was disgusting. She didn't like it either. But Thea would rather not have them stare at her that way.

"I don't think I finished my job earlier, miss," she stood up. "So I better finish it first." She ran outside. Ignoring Miss Yerez's screams, calling out her name.

The girl only stopped running when she reached the backyard of the orphanage. Her heart was still beating fast from running. Her chest felt tight. Her hands clenched into fists.

Thea picked up the stone and threw it into the pool. Drops of water flowed down her face.

Shewas pissed off. She's angry.

Why are they all staring at her like that?

Thea also didn't want to have this kind of wound.

Was it her fault that they all had to act this way?

What's wrong with coming out alive and getting hurt like this?

Maybe it would be better if she just died back then.