CHAPTER SEVEN

Birdie kept watch while Saffron looked around. Unfortunately for them the Prioress had taken the candle that lit her office up with light and left the room dark and the darkness around the room made the supposedly easy plan harder.

Saffron kept bumping into things and making them drop to the floor which irritated Birdie.

"You're going to get us caught if you keep knocking things over!" Birdie harshly whispered

"I cannot see anything it's dark as night in here, the only light I'm getting is the one coming from outside" Saffron harshly whispered back

"The light that you keep blocking with your fat head! So move aside so I can get this done"

With those words leaving Birdie shocked and also a bit terrified, she quietly stepped away from the door and kept looking out to see If anyone was coming their way.

Now that Birdie was out of the way Saffron stopped knocking things over. The light from the candles in the halls that helped her see around the room was almost close to useless until she spotted the drawer at the very back of the office in a corner.

Saffron was relieved, she quickly but quietly ran to it and fidgeted with the little key to get it open. She opened it successfully but the darkness made it so hard for her to see what was inside. Nothing seemed to be working out right then and just as she thought things could not get any worse Birdie saw someone coming.

"Saffron, out now!" Birdie whispered just loud enough for Saffron to hear but she didn't move. Her arms were shaking and her heart thudding against her ribcage so loud that she heard the beating in her ears.

As the person she saw in the distance got closer Birdie whispered louder telling Saffron to get out.

Saffron began to sweat, she still couldn't find the money or see anything but then she felt it. Relief filled her heart but it did not replace the fear. She didn't even have time to count it so she removed it all out sticking most of it in her shoes and putting the rest in the pocket of her night dress.

"I'm coming Birdie." Saffron called out to her friend while she basically sprinted to the door. Saffron stopped when she saw the Prioress standing at the door and pulling Birdie's ear angrily and in that moment her heart sunk.

Correction it stopped beating. She felt sick to her stomach and without any warning she threw up.

********

It was everywhere, on the desk, on the fancy carpet right in the center of the room, at the hem of Birdie's nightdress, some of it on the Prioress's shiny black shoes and the rest on the door.

It was awful and the worst part was Saffron looked like she was going to do it again.

Birdie was horrified at the sight and so was the Prioress. Their mouths hang open in shock while Saffron wiped her mouth. The Prioress looked angry she was basically steaming and Saffron knew exactly what was to come next.

"Come here child" The Prioress said and Saffron stepped closer.

"Come closer" The Prioress said looking directly at her and Saffron didn't move

"I said come closer" The Prioress repeated

'"Sister Christine this is all a misunderstanding-" WHACK!

The Prioress slapped Birdie across the face.

The slap was so loud it echoed down the hallway. Saffron began to shake just like she had that night in the tank. Birdie was the headgirl she never got punished let alone get slapped like the rest of them did. Birdie was headgirl and Saffron was just another normal girl at the orphanage if Birdie was slapped Saffron knew that worse was coming to her

"I said come closer child." The Prioress repeated calmly.

Saffron looked over at Birdie, her eyes were filled with tears but not once did she let them fall.

"You won't come?" the Prioress asked

"Should I come to you?" Saffron still didn't move.

Sister Christine pushed Birdie aside and walked up to Saffron so close that Saffron was sure she could hear the beating of her heart.

"What were you doing in here?" she asked calmly.

The Prioress had never yelled at anyone, even when she was just angry, she was always calm and always spoke to everyone in a calm tone and to Saffron that was the scariest thing about her. You never knew what she could do next.

"Speak Child" The Prioress said a lot louder than normal but still not yelling.

"We saw a rat go in here and we wanted to stop it so-" WHACK!

The slap the Prioress gave Saffron was louder than the one she gave Birdie. It echoed louder and Saffron was more than sure that everyone heard it.

The Prioress pushed Saffron aside and stared at the two girls. Birdie was quiet but clearly angry and Saffron was quietly sobbing.

"Tell me the truth Beatrice" The Prioress said looking furiously at Birdie

Birdie glanced at over at Saffron who slowly shook her head no, then she looked at the Prioress who was waiting for her to speak.

"To get money" she finally said and Saffron felt like she was going to throw up again.

"The both of you?"

"No....just her" Birdie whispered the words that left her mouth

"I came here to stop her.....and theirs two girls in the attic waiting." she added

"YOU LIAR!" Saffron screamed as she lunged herself towards herself towards Birdie. She wanted to hit her, the anger that radiated off her body made her want to rip Birdie apart. In short, Saffron wanted Birdie dead.

The Prioress held Saffron firmly and Birdie stood terrified in a corner, tears stung at the corner of her eyes again but like always she didn't dare let them fall.

The Prioress pulled Saffron by the collar and led her upstairs to the attic with Birdie following closely behind. Saffron screamed and begged and lunged herself even harder at Birdie. The last time she did, she was able to grab onto her hair and pull viciously hard at it. So hard that Birdie's perfect ballerina bun was ruined.

"Please Sister Christine Please! I didn't do anything....SHE HELPED!" Saffron screamed as she pointed at Birdie. So loud that people that were sleeping in the dorms woke up and even the matrons and nuns came out of their rooms.

The Prioress didn't stop dragging Saffron up the stairs and to the attic. She held onto her collar tightly until they got there. Once they got there they were greeted by Eliana, Odelia and Addilyn who were sleeping soundly on the cold dusty floor.

"Wake up girls!" Sister Christine shouted and the girls moved but none of them woke up, If anything, they got more comfortable.

"Girls" she said louder

Eliana woke up first and quickly woke up Odelia who also woke up and shook Addilyn furiously. In front of them stood the Prioress holding tightly onto the collar of a crying Saffron and behind them stood Birdie who wouldn't dare meet eyes with them.

"Oh no" Addilyn whispered

"That's them"Birdie muttered and the girls stared at her completely dumbfounded

Three other nuns came into the attic to watch what was happening and soon after crying, screaming and begging the girls were led outside.

Eliana didn't look up at Birdie as she walked past Birdie and was led outside the room like a criminal.

Odelia looked Birdie up and down and muttered something to her that no one else could hear.

Addilyn looked at Birdie and even when they pushed her to move faster she didn't.

Birdie tried not to look at her but Addilyn kept on glaring until she looked up and their eyes met.

"Why?" Was all Addilyn asked. She moved along and looked back at Birdie who was already looking at her, but it wasn't a condescending look, she looked sad and if you looked harder Birdie looked almost guilty.