Page 41 of Ethereally Tainted

But instead of answering me, she continues straight ahead. “Where were you?”

Her words hit me like a wave. Had it been anyone else, I would have snapped at them, telling them it isn’t their business. But there is something about Rebecca that makes me see myself, and I know how fragile she is, needing affirmation rather than scolding.

“Mostly in my room, not feeling well. I’m sorry for not telling you. How are you?”

I ask her again, and this time she stops and looks at me with hazel-brown eyes. The lamp light glints off them, masking the hurt she struggles to keep hidden.

“Don’t know. I miss her.”

She looks at me with a vacant stare, wholly broken and crushed by the pain of losing her mother, and I feel an unbearable weight of sorrow in my chest. I do the one thing I never thought I would do–I hold her close, the comforting beat of my heart echoing in her ear. I’m only slightly taller than her, the top of her head just barely reaches my shoulder.

“She’s always with you.”

I don’t understand where the words come from, words I don’t even believe in, yet I know she needs to hear them. She gives me a faint, bittersweet smile when I utter those words, signifying I said the right thing. I cock my head to the side, motioning for us to keep moving, and once I’m sure we are out of hearing distance, I pull her aside.

“Listen, there’s something I need to ask you.”

She tilts her head warily and nods. “Go ahead.”

“Do you know if there is any way out of here?” Before I can get the words out of my mouth, she’s shaking her head, the denial evident on her face.

“Please, think about it.”

“Naya, there is no way out. The only way to survive is to finish the new program, but it’s thirteen months until you transfer. If you even do.”

The aching in my chest increases as my hope diminishes, but I keep clinging to it and refuse to give up. “You don’t understand. I cannot stay here for that long.”

I know I won’t make it if I stay. The oppressive atmosphere of Grimhill Manor during my seventeen months there nearly drove me to despair, and I vowed never to let that happen again.

“No, you don’t understand!” It is the first time I’ve heard her raise her voice, making something flinch inside me. “There’s no way out. They’ll hurt you if you try, Naya. Murder you!”

“They can’t do that,” I whisper, feeling the truth weigh on me.

They have already shown that they aren’t like the usual institutions and are capable of doing so.

Rebecca scoffs at me. “They can, and they will. Stop fighting, stop disobeying them, and do what they say. Please, listen to me. It’s better that way.” Her voice is just above a whisper, sending shivers through my spine.

“Ladies.”

A booming voice echoes behind us, and there he is, the very person I didn’t want to encounter.

“Lily, Rebecca, what are you doing here?”

Rebecca glances at me, her face a mix of confusion and surprise, and I detect a hint of hurt in her eyes. I shake my head in disbelief, my hair swaying with the motion.

“My name is Naya.” I clench my jaw, my hiss rumbling in the back of my throat.

“Very good.” Mr. Ricci’s face fills with a hint of amusement as he looks between us with a smirk, the Italian accent entering his English. “What are you whispering about in the corridor?”

An icy chill runs down my spine at his menacing voice, and I fear he overheard our conversation.

“Nothing, Mr. Ricci. We were talking about me getting my period and needing a girl to talk to. I’m going to leave now.”

Rebecca is talking nonstop, but her answer is so perceptive that it takes him aback, and he slowly nods in agreement, granting her permission to leave. I’m not sure where I muster up my strength and bravery, but since the incident occurred, I have been troubled by a question.

“What happened that night?”

He surveys me with a puzzled look, his eyes fiercely focused on me. “What night?”

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