Warning: This chapter contains sensitive content including sexual harassment. Reader discretion is advised.
"Those damned rodents!" Eleora yelled out, clenching her fists until the palms of her hands turned red and left behind faint fingernail prints.
Eleora's life wasn't all unicorns and rainbows. In fact, she had yet to believe that they were real, especially in the small town near Seattle. A life as an orphan was the broad definition of misery. From kids that tugged on her red flaming hair, to caretakers forcing all the chores on her, to a pervy doctor who didn't know the definition of boundaries. But that wasn't all, Eleora's attitude seemed to attract trouble more than anything else. She was sure the cause of her fiery character was the scorching fire she referred to as her hair. Others might say it was just her lack of education and parental guidance.
Eleora was never once adopted. It almost seemed that the hair didn't just bless her with a terrible attitude, but also became a parent-repellant. No one wanted a red-haired girl or an old one at that. Especially now that she had just celebrated her sixteenth birthday two weeks ago.
As the eldest at the orphanage, an unknown target began to form on her back that the younger children used to express their frustration. Eleora knew better than to fight back. Getting locked up in the basement became a regular punishment and was not something she fancied. There was no light or warmth down there. And she was no Cinderella to make friends with the rats that ruled over that territory.
So here she was, letting it go and attempting to control her anger.
This small room became her bedroom and it was a birthday present from the caretakers, the only gift she ever received from them. A raggedy bed in the corner of the room stood on three legs, the fourth tilted against a rock that was brought in from the outside. A single table accompanied by a brown chair stood sturdily opposite the bed. It brought no use to her whatsoever, she never wrote any letters or much less had a pencil and paper to write on. The yellow-tinted wallpapers were peeling, revealing cracked wooden walls. A small lightbulb in the middle of the room attracted moths and bugs of all kinds but only after the sun began to set.
Home sweet home, she called it. Her paradise.
She was grateful for a change in scenery and didn't have to live in one room with the other little girls. But this room didn't come without strings. It was very close to the quarters of the headmistress, Mrs. Mayner, who would wake Eleora up as soon as the sun rose.
It was an upgrade of some sort, a promotion. She had officially become a janitor full-time. From the moment she opened her eyes until it was time to go to sleep, she had to sweep the floors, wash the windows, water the lawn, do the dishes, and do other tasks that kept her on her feet. The job itself was easy but only if it wasn't for the pests who would run around and cause trouble to make everything difficult. The other children seemed to have an easy life, they weren't forced to do chores and spent their days either running around or being educated by the headmistress who believed that smart kids get adopted faster.
Eleora glanced at her bed, small holes were cut out from a blanket that she had since the first day she arrived here. Her pillow was stabbed numerous times, and the small feathers were spilling out from in between. There was no way she could fix it, she did not know how to sew and it wasn't like she even had the materials for it. She sighed in relief, it could have been worse. At least her blanket was still somewhat useful.
It looked like a massacre of some sort. A declaration of war from the other kids.
Eleora wasn't the type to let things go easily but as of late, she had been learning to control her short temper. Maybe it was the age? But she did feel like she had become somewhat mature. Instead of lashing out and picking a fight with her fists, she was going to let it go and not give the kids the satisfaction of seeing her explode.
"Eleora- What in the world? You crazy wench, look what you did!" Eleora turned around, glaring at whoever burst into her room. It was one of the caretakers, second in charge, Martha Hudson. She was a short, plump middle-aged woman. Her black hair was tied up in a bun, and her small round glasses sat lowly on her nose. Her dark eyes remained on the destroyed bed, observing and trying to understand what happened before glancing back at the redhead.
"As if I could have done that!" Eleora protested, fighting back to defend herself. Of course, no one would have believed her. After all, she had a label plastered on her forehead and it read 'Warning: Attention-seeking Child'. It seemed like only adults could read it.
"Oh brush your hair back properly and don't hide your face. Doctor Tobb is here for your monthly checkup," Upon the mention of his name, Eleora seemed to forget how to breathe. Shivers made their way down her spine and her fingers twitched. The woman grabbed her by her shoulders and pushed the girl towards the door. Eleora snapped out of it and immediately dodged the woman's grasp. She jumped away, cornering herself in her room.
"I don't need a checkup, I'm perfectly fine. Haley seemed to have caught a cold, you should send her instead," She replied swiftly, her heart racing like a small animal being haunted. He was a perverted old geezer, with eyes that seemed to always be staring elsewhere but her own.
"Oh, don't be silly. You are a young woman already, we need to make sure you are in good health," Mrs. Hudson said laughing it off. She proceeded by grabbing Eleora by the arm before threatening her. "You best behave yourself, if you know what's good for you."
"I can walk on my own," She snatched her hand away from Mrs. Hudson and walked down the stairs. The woman walked very close on her trail to make sure the girl wasn't going to lock herself in a closet yet again.
"Doctor, there she is!" Mrs. Hudson's voice changed like it often does when she answers a telephone. A high-pitched and happy tone filled the air, much different from her usual scowl directed at Eleora.
Doctor Tobbs was indeed an old man. His hair had already started turning white and a bold spot began to form in the crown of his head, only becoming visible when he would sit down. His wrinkled face pulled into a smile, displaying his yellow teeth caused by too much smoking and drinking on the weekends. Despite being a doctor, he lacked the proper certificates and showcased his so-called skills by carrying a briefcase filled with all sorts of tools a professional would use.
"Ah, there she is, my lovely ruby! Happy Birthday, sweetheart!" The doctor walked towards the young girl, his hands open and ready to tackle her into an unwanted hug. She was about to dodge but Mrs. Hudson had already come to see past all her tricks. She lightly pushed Eleora towards the doctor, suffocating her in his cold embrace. She stood as rigid as a doll until he finally let go of her.
"Ah, it's been almost two months since I've last seen you. You've grown so well and so fast!" He said, his eyes gazed elsewhere.
Mrs. Hudson excused herself, closing the door behind her and leaving them alone. Eleora gulped nervously, all the hairs on her neck standing up feeling like a cat attempting to defend itself from a beast.
"Now then, let's get to it. Any pains anywhere? Are you feeling ill? Dizzy? Or fatigued?" He asked, she shook her head in reply to all of them. He laid his black suitcase on the table, clicking it open from both sides. Taking out his Stethoscope, he put it in his ears and motioned for Eleora to come closer with his hand.
"Don't be shy," He said slowly, his voice itself made her feel like she was going to get a heart attack. He glanced into her eyes, and inched closer to her, seeing as the girl was unwilling. Eleora knew not to run away because of all the trouble she would get into so she stayed as frozen, not moving an inch.
"Breathe in. Breathe out," He whispered. She gulped nervously knowing that this would all be over in five minutes, and she wouldn't have to deal with him for another month. She could do it. She had to, she had no choice. The last time she gave him shit, she was locked up in the basement for almost a week. The chestpiece rested on her heart as she breathed rapidly to try to speed up this process.
"It makes me very happy when your heart beats like that," He said softly. "But I can't seem to check if it's healthy or not. Mind if I?"
He didn't wait for an answer, his hands were already on her. Eleora clenched her fists, he was taking it further today. Never had he put his hands on any unnecessary part of her. And today, he seemed brave enough to cross another line. His hands rested on her left breast for a split second.
"Healthy," He said, glancing to meet her eyes. He took his Stethoscope and placed it carefully into his suitcase. Eleora had an angry expression on her face, it amused him knowing she was completely defenseless. He took out a pair of gloves and put them on, slowly, enjoying every moment of her reaction. From the way she gulped, to how her eyes immediately looked the opposite direction when his own met hers. She looked like a scared bunny. Oh, how much did his bunny grow up, she used to be so innocent and naive. And now look at her. A bright, young flame had grown into a full-fledged woman.
"Open," He directed, she opened her mouth and he checked her gums and teeth. His finger brushed past her warm tongue. He licked his lips in excitement. "If I had it my way, I would have taken you home today. But we must be patient."
"W-What do you mean?" She spoke for the first time since she stepped foot in the room. His eyes lit up upon hearing her lovely voice.
"Just be patient my lovely ruby. All will be well soon," He reassured her, not answering her question. Eleora wasn't stupid, she might act without thinking, but she didn't lack common sense.
Something must be happening, something behind the curtains. Was he adopting her? Is that what he meant when he said that?
She gulped despite her throat being dry.
Anyone but him.
She would be more than happy to stay in the orphanage for the rest of her life than be adopted by the likes of him.
"Now then, off you go. I'll see you soon, my little ruby." That nickname alone sent shivers down her spine. She ran off the moment the words 'off you go' rolled off his tongue. She was gone in a blink of an eye, leaving the man alone. He breathed out slowly, lifting his hand and licking his thumb glancing in the direction that the young girl had run out.
- - -
"Don't get close to her, or you'll catch it too!" Someone whispered. Eleora rolled her eyes as she clenched a broom. She reminded herself that she's sixteen, she's a mature young adult now.
"Catch what?"
"The Orphan Curse!" They said together in a haunting voice that was then followed by some giggles.
"Ha ha, very funny. Don't you think that joke is getting old?" Eleora asked the three kids that followed after her like mosquitos in the summer.
"Definitely, not as old as you being here." The boys burst out laughing, Eleora glanced around to see if anyone was watching, she then whacked one of them on the head with her broom while the other dodged.
"That hurt, you old witch!" The boy said, holding his head.
"It's about to hurt more once I'm done with you." She said threatening them, the boys got scared and ran off screaming.
She was in no mood to go on a goose chase, in fact, she came up with a better game.
Playing detective.
She had to find out exactly what the Doctor meant by that remark, and if her suspicions were right, then she had to find a way to get out of this situation. Every child that gets adopted goes through an application procedure and copies of their adoption papers are kept in the office. Luckily for Eleora, they never lock anything but the bloody basement. She was positive that she would be able to find Doctor Tobb's application if there was one.
Eleora walked around, finding the office with ease. She pressed her ear against the door, trying to hear if there was anyone inside. After giving it a light knock and being met with no answer, she happily let herself in. The clock had struck twelve, and all the caretakers helped themselves to a nice warm meal in the dining room. The kids are usually left with leftovers or sometimes something even worse. It was unfair but there was nothing she could do about it. This was the way of life, those in power ruled over the helpless and the poor.
She creaked the door open and closed it quietly behind her. The office was one of the places that she had hardly stepped foot in and so the orphan found herself unfamiliar with this environment. A large polished brown desk stood in the back middle of the room facing away from the windows. Grey cabinets hugged the walls on her left and paintings hung crookedly on the right. The wallpaper was rather old but vintage-looking, it had brown shades of faded flowers and green leaves that matched a big potted plant in the corner of the room near the window.
She didn't waste any time gawking at the computer that she never laid her eyes on, or the number of books that sat on the grand table. The drawers were organized alphabetically. Since it was rare for the orphans to have last names, the caretakers used their first names to file any paperwork. They kept all sorts of documents and information about other kids and those that had already been adopted. Pulling the drawers open, it didn't take long for Eleora to find her own file.
She pulled it out and placed it on the desk. The first thing she saw was her picture which was taken three years ago, as a form of identification. It read her first name, the age at which she was brought into the neighborhood, > 5 years old. As far as she knew, they had found her on the doorstep with no ounce of memory of her parents or where she came from. She wasn't the only child who was delivered this way, however, parents usually make decisions to abandon their children earlier in their life. She continued flipping the pages, not wanting to think about her parents. Her eyes landed on a sheet of paper and she gripped the corner tightly, as if she was afraid the evidence was going to vanish right before her eyes.
It was an adoption application, but it wasn't Doctor Tobb's.
Ms. and Mr. Davidsons. Denied.
Mrs. West. Denied.
Ms. and Mr. Keller. Denied.
Denied. Denied. Denied.
There were maybe eight or nine as she skimmed through them, all dated back to when she was as young as five. They stopped coming in when she reached thirteen.
She stood there in shock, why were they all denied?
Usually, the orphanage is quick to give up a child, as it is considered as one less mouth to feed. Even if it is to families that don't fully meet all the requirements. Elora heard footsteps in the distance, she quickly put the file away and walked towards the door only to realize that the one who was approaching was Mrs. Mayner, the headmistress. She could recognize the clacking sound of her heels from miles away, they took pride in tormenting her in even her dreams.
She was a very tall and slender woman, she stood at six foot two and was more strict than anyone Eleora had ever known. If the headmistress herself would find her here, she'd be looking at the basement as her permanent residence. She quickly hid underneath the desk, not knowing what to do at that moment. She squatted down silently and held her breath, hoping that the woman would just be passing by.
"Did he already depart or is he planning on staying for lunch?" She had asked, and a distant voice of Mrs. Hudson's answered her back. They briefly paused outside the office, Eleora was positive that they were going to come in any second now.
"No, ma'am. He left in a hurry."
"Good, good. If it wasn't for the large amounts of money he contributes to this orphanage, I would have kicked that pervert out long ago."
"It must be because of that girl, ma'am. Eleora. He seems to fancy her."
"Ah yes, lucky for us we will be seeing less of the two of them soon enough." The headmistress replied, the door opened and Eleora immediately closed her mouth with her hand, hoping to stop herself from breathing so loud.
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Hudson asked confused, not aware of Mrs. Mayner's schemes.
"Well, Doctor Tobbs had always liked the girl since his first voluntary visit. Something about how the red hair resembled his long-deceased wife. He asked to have her numerous times, and out of the goodness of my heart, I denied his request. Said the girl was too young. And now that the girl is of age, I proposed a deal. If he continues to contribute the way he does now and check the children now and then, he can have her."
"So he is planning on adopting her?"
"Oh no, Martha, he plans to wed the girl."
"Oh my..."
"Oh my indeed. Well, he is old, he'll most likely drop dead soon anyway. Men his age are prone to heart attacks. Eleora will most likely be a widow by twenty and will inherit his estate and business. I'd say her life has already been laid out for her."
"But Mrs. Mayner, you ought to see the way he looks at her. He has no pure intentions for the young miss!"
"Please Martha, one must always make sacrifices. She has no choice in the matter, he had already submitted the papers, and the certificate would be here any day now. She will be Eleora Tobbs, whether she likes it or not. Now, of course, we mustn't tell her. Make her believe he adopted her, she'll be happy with that much information. Leave the rest to that bastard," The voice trailed out of the room and Eleora sat there, her hands shaking against her mouth. It was all too much to take in at once.
She was being sold off? To Doctor Tobbs of all people?
Eleora Tobbs. The voice rang in her ears, her mind going blank. Time seemed to fall still, the room was dead quiet, and the only sound heard was the soft ticking of a clock that hung above the door. She got up, leaning against the table. Her knees were as shaky as her breaths. It didn't take long until the young girl broke into a run, out of the office, and this orphanage. She continued running until her knees gave out and she stood in the middle of the street in her small insignificant town.
She let the tears blend in with the light shower of rain that she felt against her cheeks. She stood there for what felt like forever. The rain dripped from her drenched hair, down to her hands, and off of her fingertips. Her knees felt weak and they soon gave up underneath her. They hit the cold stone ground, but she did not wince. Her mind was elsewhere, her surroundings were the last thing on her mind. She didn't know if she was shivering from fright, cold, or her nerves.
There is no way she would let her life be ruined like this. She had to do something. She'll fight back, whatever it takes.
And with that, she let out a long silent cry.