Page 11 of Ethereally Tainted

“Everlee?” I breathe out, confusion striking me once again.

How long has she been here?

As I look up at the clock, I’m reminded of how fast the hours have passed by with the clock’s ticking, and a feeling of apprehension begins to make its way into my stomach. What happened?

How could I have lost so much time without remembering anything?

My gaze slowly drifts to the floor, where there is no rotting body nor any odors associated with death. No longer does it smell like urine from the master when he took his last breath. Was the entire thing a figment of my imagination, or did it actually happen?

There’s a captivating beauty in life’s uncertainty, which tethers us to a desire that will never be fulfilled. I’ve never dreamed of anything else but being free, a feeling we all share at Grimhill Manor. The murky environment and dismal atmosphere of this place make me unable to imagine anyone finding solace here.

We were all forced here by loved ones who betrayed us by selling our souls to the devil, or those who just couldn’t protect us enough to keep us safe.

They are all liars and monsters, perhaps even worse than the maniacs in this place, me included.

There has never been a time in my life when loved ones have not betrayed me, they deceive us all and do nothing to find their lost child. Many children here scream at night after their parents, but they won’t ever come. There is, after all, a reason why we are here. Grimhill Manor manipulates people and makes them believe this is for the best, the organization strips every single human being in here of their humanity until nothing is left but a dull shell.

Trust no one, and I will never do that again because the people you love the most can turn you into a monster, or make you feel like one. And that is the greatest betrayal.

Now that the master is gone, all I can feel is hollow, gray bleakness, even though I should feel happy.

I have no one to return to.

The people I loved betrayed me with the greatest sins and sent me off like a package ready to be delivered to its next destination.

“Are you okay?” There is a soft voice in front of me, and friendly eyes look into mine attentively.

With what I have left, I’m holding onto Everlee’s sweet, bumblebee-like voice, which I imagine bees and bumblebees would love. I muster a nod as a response, but I feel numb all over, as if I can’t even feel my fingers. A sympathetic smile stretches across her lips as she holds up a backpack.

Mybackpack.

“I, uh, packed the few things you have.”

With a slight lift of my head, I take in the scene around me and notice that all the remaining children at Grimhill Manor have gathered in the parlor room. How long have I even been sitting here?

One of the larger tables is stacked with food from the master’s pantry and refrigerator. Everyone is given something to take with them, and leaving this manor seems to be the only plan.

I have no idea how we got to this point, but yet again, my perception of reality is lacking.

A warm hand grabs mine, and the floral scent of Everlee fills my nostrils as we make our way out to the hall, where we line up.

“We don’t know what awaits us out there, so the best chance of survival is to just run. Try to stick together, but we can’t all go to the same place.” A clear and steady voice calls in the hall, and everyone murmurs in agreement.

The room is filled with at least sixty people, anxious as they wait for their chance to survive. All that’s uncertain is whether everyone will make it out alive.

The doors open, allowing a cool breeze to enter the room. The people closest to the door are the first to dash out, and the remainder follows in a flurry, their shoes clacking against the concrete as they all frantically seek to get away.

The rusted gate that separates us from the forest is back-lit by the falling sun as mist billows through the trees, over the thicket, and hangs low in the air to obscure the route ahead.

Maybe this is what freedom feels like because, for the first time, I don’t have to worry about the master finding me.

As I think we may finally have a chance of surviving, the hum of multiple engines closes in, and the chorus of horrifying screams tears through the near darkness. Wheels skid across the gravel road, and numerous armed men walk toward us with determined steps.

I hear metal clanging as several people try to break through the gates from the yard simultaneously while children cry in horror as they bump into each other, causing the gates to bang. My eyes fill with tears as I watch them tumble and fall over each other, like a row of dominoes toppling over. Several children lie injured next to the fence, bleeding from their knees as they sob so loudly that I can feel my own knees weakening. Everlee’s hand is torn from mine, and I stare back in true horror as I see her stumble, just like those children do.

“Run!” she screams, her voice hoarse from the sobs wreaking havoc inside her.

“I refuse to leave you!”

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