Page 24 of The Favorite Girl

Bradley turned toward me and sighed. “You’re safe as long as you don’t go looking for the answer to that question. Misha is waiting for you. She has a flight to catch tonight to go back home, so don’t waste time. You need to get to bed on time as well. Tomorrow is a busy day and an early start. They’ve been eager to have someone new clean The Ossis area of the estate.”

“The Ossis area?”

“That’s what you were hired for, Demi—to clean the most private area of The Ivory House. That’s what Misha’s job was. Didn’t you read the contract properly? Didn’t Conrad explain that?” Bradley furrowed his brows and rambled so quickly that my heart began pattering.

“No?” I felt foolish for sitting there like some high school girl with a crush when I was supposed to be paying attention to details of my new employment. How reckless could I have been?

“Demi, we don’t have time right now. Just go meet Misha. Walk outside, make a left, and you’ll see the peony garden. If you don’t see it, you’ll definitely smell it. Misha will be waiting for you on the swing… She loves the swing.” He pointed into the darkness as if I knew what he was talking about.

“I’ll come back to pick you up and take you to your room in approximately twenty-one minutes.” Bradley patted my shoulder as I walked through the door and into the slight chill of the night air. I couldn’t see the moon; I couldn’t see anything beyond the stars. Rubbing my arms, I turned back over my shoulder to ask Bradley if he’d walk me to the garden, but he was already gone, leaving nothing but a dark, empty hallway behind me.

“Hell,” I groaned and begrudgingly dragged my feet in the strange platform shoes. I began sniffing the air like I was a dog. I couldn’t see any flowers. I didn’t even know what a peony smelled like. But as soon as I grew more irritated, I did smell something.

Something beautiful, sweet and comforting. A small gate no higher than my waist was engraved, ‘The Peony Garden.’ Unlatching the small lock, I strolled through and inhaled the incredible aroma. Small fairy lights were strung up all over and provided enough light to see the stunning blush-pink and white flowers. It was like an absolute dream. A kind of place you’d want to get married in.

Cutting through, I could see a picturesque, intricately carved swing, and I heard a light creaking echo through the fragrant air.

“Misha?” I called out. I could see her silhouette on the bench swing and looking into the distance.

“Hi…” I took a seat beside her, almost falling since she didn’t stop swinging. Her head was pressed against the bar of the swing, and she didn’t even look at me.

“Misha, thank you for meeting with me…” I started again and planted my feet on the ground as hers dragged. Stopping the swing, her body suddenly folded in half.

“Misha!” I screamed and quickly pulled her back up. I looked at her in the darkness and I noticed all the blood dripping down her neck, soaking into her silk gown. “Oh my god!” I shook her shoulders as my entire body tensed and I couldn’t breathe. The scent of peonies choked me as I repeated her name over and over.

Grabbing her hand, a knife clattered to the ground and I lifted it up.

“No, no… Why, Misha? Help! We need help!” I shrieked as I pressed my fingers against her wrist, praying I’d feel a pulse. Nothing. She was lifeless. I grabbed her body, holding it against mine, and began to cry as her blood splattered across my flesh.

Stomach acid teased my esophagus as the scene felt all too familiar. It felt haunting. Reminiscent of times I’d tried endlessly to suppress in an altered state of my conscious.

“Demi?” My body shook violently as I laid Misha onto the swing and turned.

Dr. and Mrs. Ivory stood there in a matching all-white scrub set and looked at the knife I had clutched in my hands.

“Oh, darling Demi, what have you done?” Mrs. Ivory slowly walked over to me as I aggressively shook my head.

“What? No, I didn’t… Please, you don’t understand.” I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t move. My vision grew fuzzy and suddenly, it was all too much. My body and mind were in overdrive.

Mrs. Ivory lifted a small needle and tapped it. “It’ll be okay, darling Demi. We will protect you. We will protect you because now, it’s your turn to be the favorite girl.”

“I didn’t…” I coughed and choked on my saliva as panic had a hold around my neck.

And with a trifling sinister smile, she pressed the needle into my arm, and the all-white world around me turned black.

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

“Hello, Miss Rao.” A woman’s voice woke me from a deep sleep as I gradually opened my eyes. I fully expected to awaken and be on some weathered park bench where a police officer was asking me to leave.

But instead, I was in the room from last night. My new room. A woman with bright blonde hair and thick wrinkles across her forehead and eyes was looking down at me.

“Who are you?” My voice sounded hoarse, my eyes sticky, and my mind completely disorientated.

“Miss Rao, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Carla Cross. I was the one you emailed your inquiry for this position at the Ivory House.”

“Carla… Cross.” I nodded slowly, remembering her name. “I don’t know what happened last night…” But that was a lie; I did remember as I looked around my small new bedroom. I remembered Misha’s body gushing blood; I remembered her striking face, lifeless, as her thin body folded over. I remembered lifting a sharp knife as Dr. and Mrs. Ivory walked out and assumed I had done the heinous crime.

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