" Well , this is a lovely surprise. Glad to see you up and about ." Serena said to Henric , " You look very palid though. Sure you should be about ? "
Henric looked slightly pale it was true , and a slight red line could be seen on the side of his head, hidden by his hair . It was a scar from where he hit his head .
Four days had gone since Henric had awoken and the day before yesterday he had finally gone back to his duties . He hadn't liked sitting around , doing nothing but sleeping all day . But Sister Irene had been adamant and made sure he rested , even threatening to drug him again . He had reluctantly agreed .
Then on the same day she had allowed his brothers to visit him . Stuart had been crying , for who knew what reason and Link had just shaken his hand and said good on him for not dying . He thought it was one of the few nice things Link had ever said about him .
Others had come too , saying they had prayed for him and he'd been quite grateful to all of them . But then Sister Irene had forced them all out , demanding Henric rest . He'd gone back to sleep , his body still tired . He slept but didn't dream , thank God .
The truth was Henric was afraid to sleep now , which explained the paleness of his skin and the colorless look in his eyes . He barely closed his eyes before they popped open and he frantically looked around as if looking for something or someone right next to him . He never found anything .
It was madness and it was driving him mad .
" Snap out of it , you're like a statue . " Serena said snapping her fingers and Henric remembered where he was .
He stood in the kitchen stock room , collecting some ingredients that Serena had asked him to get . But honestly Serena had just wanted to talk to him without being obvious about it . She'd noticed that children here were treated in a very harsh and cold way and signs of affection or care was like a target placed on your back . She'd been nice to one boy when she started working and noticed that the rest of the day , he was treated like a traitor . No one talked to him , they just glared at him and the boy looked miserable .
" You know , " she said then , " this job I have is awful hard . Nobody said a cook had to be cruel too . "
" How are you enjoying your job , Mrs Serena . " Henric said softly and Serena gave him a look .
" Call me , Serena . I'll be working here now , should have atleast one friend in this place ." She said looking up at the roof .
" I can not . It is not proper . I can call you Miss instead . " Henric said , " The cook from before was called Cook A- "
" I know who she was , what she was called and even how she died ." Serena said waving her hand absentmindedly but Henric's eyes were wide .
" Cook Agnes is dead ? " He asked and Serena looked at him funny .
" Yes ... Was she a friend of yours ? I heard no one liked her around here . " She said with a raised brow .
" No , we were not friends . Cook Agnes was a very ... difficult person . But she was a - " Henric was hushed when a finger was held up infront of him .
Serena gave him a bored expression , " You say something kind about that woman and I will ask you to give me everything I gave you that day in my shop back . "
" Why ? " Henric asked .
" Because , that old hag slept with my husband , came to my shop and banged the door open . Then when she went inside , she found dead animals and started screaming that ' a demon is here , it's come for me ' . I was sleeping close by , kind woman let me stay in her backroom at her shop . I come outside and what do I see ? I see the woman light a match , toss it on my property and the next thing a fires consumed the whole shop . I ran as fast as I could , went inside and grabbed the only thing I could before I was burnt alive . And that woman , outside , watching me , praying I died no doubt . When I came out , I saw a look of disappointment on her face . I felt like slaughtering her but was too devastated by my loss . But I need not have worried , she must have used a leaking bottle of gasoline because a spark fell onto her and soon she was ablaze herself . I cried out , just as she screamed and people tried putting her out but too late . Burned and dead , they buried her yesterday , nice grave with a stone paid by her money from her bags . And me , homeless and jobless , relieved when I'm called back here and start to work , with my own room too . "
Henric had listened to Serena's story with a look of horror on his face . To think that the old cook had died so horribly or that she'd gone mad for who knew whatever reason was dreadful . Because she would have had to be mad to burn someone's home and pray they die in the flames , a horrid wish .
" I'm sorry she did that to you . I'm sorry about your shop , your things , your home and your husba- " Henric was cut off when Serena gave a chuckle .
" My home was rat infested , my business a sunken ruin and as for my husband , he's the definition of adultery and lust in flesh . I only feel sad about my things , I don't care about my husband , my home , my shop or that dead woman . Atleast not too much for the first things . What are you doing ? "
" I crossed myself . " Henric explained , " In response to what you said . "
" What I said ? What did I say ? " Serena asked him .
" You said you didn't care about the dead woman , and i had to cross myself as a sign and plea for mercy on your soul ." Henric said and Serena gave him a condescendingly smile .
" That's awfully sweet but no thank you . I don't believe in the Trinity god . Now , you best be going , I have work to do and as do you . "
" Yes Miss Serena . " He said and turned around to leave but Serena placed a hand on his shoulder .
" Oh , another thing ; that night you were running through the corridors with something in your hand . What was it ? " Serena asked him and Henric hesitated .
It was true he liked Serena , in a strange way , because of her worldly ways but he didn't trust her . He couldn't trust her and swallowed before speaking .
" Nothing . Just a trinket a Sister gave me . " Henric said and Serena nodded her head .
" You don't trust me . " She stated and Henric looked startled ," Tis alright . That makes you smart . You should never trust no one you don't know . "
" I'm sorry , I just ... I believe I should go ." Henric said and left Serena standing , looking at his back .
A grim look was on her face . She'd seen it , coiled around the boy , like a vine and when she'd placed a hand on his shoulder to feel it . It had moved away and held him tighter , as if in warning or for solace .
She knew the boy had lied to her , especially with that thing around him . He probably didn't know he had it , or what it was . This could be trouble later , she knew and made plans to flee incase something did happen . She'd run at the first sign of danger and make up a new plan afterwards .
But as Serena walked back to the kitchen and ordered a few boys to stir and slice this and that , she remembered she had also lied to him aswell . About the woman who burnt her shop .
Serena , as her shop burnt , had noticed a bottle of gasoline , probably how the cook started the fire . She'd grabbed it and poured it on her hands and then she'd ran towards the cook and wrestled with her , and touched her all over as she did . Finally , She'd backed away as if retreating , only to chant three words . A moment later , the other woman was ablaze and Serena watched with icy coldness as she died .
Serena took the knife on the table and looked at the reflection of herself in it .
It was not her first time killing someone and it would not be her last .
....
Sister Terry snapped her ruler on her desk and all the boys fell silent . She glared at them slowly and they felt a chill down their spines . They had been practicing French phrases and wordings , all the boys saying what Sister Terry instructed .
The fact that she had hit her desk meant , someone had said something wrong . And presently she was looking for him and when she found him , he'd be in trouble .
" Again . " She said and the boys continued from where they stopped . After three minutes , Sister Terry hit her desk again and the boys went quiet .
Finally Sister Terry realised who did it .
" Henric . " she said with leer and the other boys gasped .
Eyes turned toward the boy who was pressing his lips together nervously . He hadn't meant to make a mistake , he just slurred by accident .
" Everyone . Sit . Except Henric ." Sister Terry said and the other boys say down .
" Henric , you slurred . Now say the phrase once more and for each slur you make , I'll punish your uncontrolled tongue . " She said and Henric nodded his head .
" Yes Sister . " Henric said and started saying the phrases again . He finished , his face tense , he'd slurred twice and the sister hadn't stopped him. Which meant each hit was going to be painful .
" Come here . " Sister Terry waved him over with her ruler . When Henric arrived she looked into his face and growled .
" You believe because you're back from the infirmary I'll be kind to you ? I won't punish you ? Well boy , prepare to learn . Your hand ! " She said crossly and Henric presented his hand .
Sister Terry raised her ruler and placed it on the palm of his hand . She moved it slowly , feeling his hand shake as she only touched him with it . A smile formed on her lips that was far from holy .
" One ! " She shouted as her ruler rose and fell onto Henric's palm with the force to break a bone but luckily Henric's didn't . Instead a pain like touching a burning piece of coal formed on his right hand .
" The next one. " Sister Terry said breathlessly and age waved her ruler , " The next hand . Come now . "
Henric raised his left hand and Sister Terry touched it gently as she had done his right hand . Then with a whack ! she delivered a viscous blow on his left hand , giving the same numbing pain as his right hand had . Henric dropped his arms , making them limp at his side's .
He turned around , ready to go back and sit when Sister Terry raised her ruler and aimed a strike at him again . Henric felt a gripping sensation and a moment later , Sister Terry's ruler fell to the flow as she doubled over as if suffering a stomach ache .
" Sister , are you alright ? " Henric asked her and she raised a hand to tell him to stay away . After a moment , she stood up but kept a hand on her stomach . Her face was grim and pained but she did not cry out or even moan . Instead , she turned and walked out of the silent room .
" What did you do Henric ? " One boy asked him softly less Sister Terry come back .
" Nothing . I did nothing . " Henric said and then he tensed .
He looked around the room as if checking for something but saw nothing . He went back to his seat and sighed , before closing his eyes .
He feared the look in the other boys eyes , the look of distrust there .
It had been in everyone's eyes , ever since he woke up and learnt the Reverend father was still unconscious . The accusation , silent and angry , he saw it all and he had never felt so alone . Those who had come smiling at him with reassurances of their prayers , now glared at him like he was a murderer . Even his friends could not stop the glared he received from his brothers and from the sisters .
{ Weeping }
Henric opened his eyes then , when he heard it , in his mind , like a cool touch from ice . He looked around and saw the other boys had begun writing in their books , practicing French phrases . He sighed and took his pen in his hand but quickly let go . His hands were in too much pain to hold it .
He had to act normal or else everyone would have a reason to let out all the anger behind their eyes .