Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

“Bethie, quick, I’ll get this spot over here and you-” My words trailed off, as that cold, hard, numbing fear flooded me, turning my blood to ice and raising goose bumps on my skin. It was too late. She was here.

“It is, I believe, that special time of the week, my dears,” announced Matron, striding grandly through the room. “Inspection!” she rapped, immediately dropping the sweet sticky tone. “Whoever here has failed to do their share of work will receive a most severe…” She was fingering her thick, heavy belt, I noticed, shivering. “…Punishment. Up!” she bellowed, and the twelve of us shot up from the floor and into a line before her.

Matron walked before us, her heavy steps thudding on the floor. She stopped before Nancy, who was shaking like a leaf. “Hold out your fingers,” she said softly.

Nancy slowly extended her tiny hands. Her little fingernails were lined with dirt. Oh God, no.

“Where did this dirt come from?” said Matron softly, her eyes narrowing. Nancy’s face was pale with fright, her eyes wide and fearful.

“I just w-w-wanted to p-p-play in the garden,” she whimpered tearfully, rubbing her tears on her ragged sleeve. “I d-d-didn’t mean to-”

Matron grabbed Nancy by her collar, as poor little Nancy wriggled and cried in terror. I wanted to help her, but my legs had become jelly. “There will be order here,” Matron hissed. “Did I give you permission to go out into the garden, you little brat? DID I?”

Tears were streaming down Nancy’s face now. “N-no, I’m s-s-sorry, I’m sorry!”

“Leave her alone!” Mary Ann screamed, taking a step forward. Her face was red with fury. “She’s young and didn’t know better!”

Matron abruptly released Nancy. She fell to the floor with a yelp of pain. Felicity immediately gathered her up and held her close, murmuring soothing words into Nancy’s tousled blond hair.

“I do not tolerate insolence. Down on the floor, Mary Ann. I hope this will show you what I think of defiance.”

“No!” I cried, but Jane covered my mouth.

“Shush, Samantha. She knew this would happen if she stood up for Nancy.”

I didn’t like this answer, but I stayed quiet and Jane took her hand away.

Mary Ann dropped to the floor. I could see the hatred burning in her eyes, a look I’d never seen on her usually docile face.

“Pull your skirts up.”

“Close your eyes, Sammie,” Leah whispered solemnly. She had one hand over Ruthie’s eyes and the other over Alice’s. I snapped my own eyes shut.

“What? What’s she going to do?” I heard Eleanor question as Felicity held her and Nancy tightly.

“Nothing, honey. Nothing. Just keep your eyes closed.”

CRACK.
CRACK.
CRACK.
I heard a high scream.
Then silence.

(C) 2008