CHAPTER EIGHT

“You will stay here for the entire night!” The prioress yelled. “I’ll figure out what to do with you tomorrow but for tonight you will sleep here” and with those last words she left with all the other nuns following her.

Addilyn looked up at the students who were watching from their dormitory windows. Once spotted the girls ran away quickly and retreated to their beds

Addilyn and her friends were tied to a large mango tree that was in the center of the large orphanage compound, each of them hurting from the right ropes around their arms. It was a cold night and although it looked like it was going to rain it never did. And so the girls laid there tired,scared and angry anxiously waiting for morning.

“We should have never believed Birdie.” Saffron said sobbing.

“We? I never believed her one bit. You all trusted her too fast.” Odelia scoffed

“We’re pathetic” Eliana muttered

Nobody said anything for a long time, they all agreed with what Eliana had said even though they weren’t strong enough to say anything.

Saffron cried throughout the silence and her sobs got louder and for a while they were the only things that filled up the silence among the girls. It was a quiet night, and the echoing of her sobs made them all want to cry.

After a few moments Saffron spoke “I still have the money with me”

Odelia rolled her eyes and scoffed for the second time that night

“That’s not important anymore Saffron” she said

“I know” Saffron whispered sadly

Tears began to stream down Addilyn’s face and the other girls turned to look at her. Each one of them resented her but the more they did the more they felt like complete hypocrites for doing so.

“I should’ve never trusted her” Addilyn said wiping the tears from her cheeks

“You’re right” the girls said in unison

“I should’ve never done any of this” Addilyn sobbed louder

“Look at me now, I’m cold, tired and pathetic as I’ll ever be”

None of the girls said anything and as Addilyn spoke their thoughts were far away, each of them in a different world wondering what would have happened if they never involved themselves. Thinking of what life would have been like if they just stayed put and never thought of leaving Saint Grace.

They were all quiet after Addilyn’s break down and so the night got darker and colder and still none of them said anything to each other. Even when questions pierced their minds on where they would go, what would happen to them or if they’d stay together they never spoke. For they were too mad at each other to utter a word. No matter how much they wanted to they didn’t speak.

“Do you think they’ll kill us?” Eliana asked out of nowhere

“Yes” Odelia replied hopelessly

“Odelia!” Addilyn shrieked

“It is true, I don’t believe in them just sending us away theirs a lot more we don’t know”

“Just because we don’t know exactly what happens doesn’t mean they’ll kill us” Saffron intervened

“Doesn’t mean they won’t” Odelia replied softly

The girls went into another long silence that was disrupted by the opening and shutting of the front door of the orphanage that made all of them anxiously turn to see.

A small figure that was too far to make out was running towards them with a lamp in one hand and the other in her pocket.

Addilyn squinted her eyes to see who was coming closer but as the person approached close enough for her to see her face fell into a frown.

“Hello” Birdie said panting and to no surprise all she heard back were the sounds of crickets.

“I understand that all of you hate me now but-” Odelia looked up at the sky and cut her off.

“Lord, I know your word explains very well that we cannot commit murder but I don’t know how I can restrain myself if you keep bringing this….” She opened one eye and stared at Birdie

“This girl closer to me” she sighed in disgust.

Birdie didn’t look angry, she looked desperate to talk and by the way she was pacing and shaking whatever she had to say was important.

“Odelia please just let me speak” Birdie said with tears forming in her eyes. “Let me help”

She moved closer and reached for her hands

“Don’t you ever touch me!” Odelia said harshly making Birdie step back in fear.

She turned and looked at all the girl’s faces and with tears streaming down her cheeks she started“ Addilyn….” But of course to no surprise even she wouldn’t talk to her.

“Fine! alright hate me all you like but we’re leaving tonight” she said courageously.

“I’ve got a key to the gate and a knife to untie all of you” she said pulling out a key and a small butter knife from her pocket

“If you want to be stubborn be my guest but I won’t leave”

“We’ve got all night” she looked at all of them eagerly

The girls stared at each other and then at Birdie but still refused to utter a single word. Saffron looked at them and sighed heavily, she quickly stuck out her hands for Birdie to untie.

And even though Birdie was sure Saffron still hated her she couldn’t help but smile as she untied her.

The other girls though, looked at Saffron like she was the most disgusting creature on earth of which she shrugged to and said “ You heard Beatrice be stubborn if you want to, and I don’t know about the rest of you but I’d rather go with her than that pretentious rude Prioress.”

Eliana wuickly and put her hands out for Birdie to free, she mouthed a “I’m sorry” to Addilyn and once she was free she stood next to Saffron hoping that the other girls would give in as well.

Even though Eliana didn’t believe or even trust Birdie she would’ve rather died in her hands than in those of a mean old woman that treated like her a wild animal since she was eight. Just like Saffron had said but in different wording.

Saffron, Birdie and Eliana looked eagerly at Addilyn and Odelia.

Addilyn looked at Odelia who was shaking her head “no” and then she looked at the three girls infront of her and then back at Odelia and then back at the girls. It as like she was standing in the middle of the road to heaven and hell except no matter what direction she chose to take she wouldn’t know were she was going to end up.

“Come on then” Saffron said impatiently

“No she’s not going anywhere” Odelia said protectively. She moved closer to Addilyn trying to pull her away but with how tight she was tied every step she took just pulled her back furiously to her spot.

“What makes you think you can make a decision for her?” Eliana snapped at Odelia

“I’m not”replied Odelia defensively

“she doesn’t want to go!”

“We don’t have much time come on!” Saffron said looking back at the orphanage

“Addilyn come on!” Birdie grabbed her hands forcefully and tried to untie them

Addilyn was calm but scared at heart and she let Birdie untie her .

After she was free she walked over to Odelia and desperately begged her to come along.

“The gate is right there” she pointed at the rusty old black gate that was in front of the tree they were tied to

“ Right now that is the only thing standing in our way”

“Expect you of course” Saffron scoffed softly

Odelia looked at her and then at Addilyn “ What happens if we fail?” She asked

“I don’t know…but we’ll be together” Addilyn replied forcing a smile

“Not very reassuring” Saffron muttered this time earning a cold look from Addilyn.

“Okay alright do it” Odelia said giving in

And as the words escaped her mouth Birdie wasted no time, she quickly began to untie her faster than her fingers had ever moved before and once she was free all the five girls, in their long night dresses and bare feet ran to the gate just a few steps closer to freedom.