Winchester (6)

Year 1853

Thea's neck was sting and sore when the dirty water touched her wound.

Adel's eyes widened. After pushed and splashed her with water, she immediately threw the bucket in her hand. She seemed to have just realized what she had done.

"My hand slip accidentally! I didn't do it on purpose," she said, panicked. "You know too, don't you, Rose?" she was trying to justify herself when she saw a truly terrifying sight. Then Adel ran away from the place.

"Adeeellll !!! Where are you going?" Rose cursed. She turned to Thea "A- are you okay?"

"AAAAAAkkhhh! Help me! Aaaaaa, it hurts! Help me! " Thea was crying. She opened and clenched her fists, not daring to touch her neck. "Call someone. Anyone! Help me! "

Rose still stood dazed. She ran looking for someone, when she saw Miss Yerez not far from where she was standing, she shouted.

"Miss Yereeezzz !!!"

"Why are you running, Rose? A woman can't–!"

"You must immediately follow me, Miss! The new kid was injured. Hurry!"

Rose ran ahead. Miss Yerez was forced to raise her skirt a little while in pursuit, and when the two of them reached the end of the corridor, Thea was already motionless.

***

Jane reluctantly lent her the newly sewn clothes. An unpleasant aroma mixed with the smell of medicine filled the room. She looked at the girl opposite her in disgust and concern.

Thea took the clothes that Jane put on the bed, then headed for the bathroom. She slowly  cleaned herself. Fortunately Miss Yerez immediately called the doctor. Thea did not know what would have happened had she lay there alone.

The pain was so immeasurable that it made her faint.

Thea walked straight into the back garden. Once finished the changed, she did not return to the room. While she was there, out of the corner of her eye, Thea caught Jane's attitude, who kept on snorting and covering her nose. It seemed that her presence was very unwelcome.

She sat by the pond. The pain and heat of the wound were not as bad as before, but her irritation and anger did not go away. She picked up a small stone and throws it. She'd never been taught to swear at anyone, but this time, as if naturally, Thea was cursing her with every kind of bad words she'd ever heard in secret. When the maids or servants and guards argued without them knowing Thea was hiding not far from them.

Whenever Thea passed the childrens, they always whispered and gossiped openly at her. The children talked about it all week. Miss Yerez began to look at her with strange looks. It was as if the gossip Adel had spread was true.

"Never mind, don't bother with them. Your ears will burn if you keep listening to that nonsense," Xander said one time.

Thea shrugged. She looked at Xander curiously several times. "Why are you so nice to me?" Thea asked him once.

At that time, Xander laughed. "I don't know, there's no particular reason to be friends, right?" he replied casually.

Come to think of it, only Xander was willing to befriend with her. The other children never stood less than five steps near her. After what Adel done to her, Thea didn't care about them anymore.

"Hey, Xander! Don't come near her! She can kill you," A boy shouted not far from them. Thea ignored him. She was stared at and treated like that too often.

"Come to the pond. We better go fishing," Xander said, avoiding them.

Thea realized that the more Xander was with her, the more shunned he was from the other children.

"Are you sure it's okay?" Thea asked.

"What?" Xander was holding his fishing rod.

"They are starting to stay away from you."

"Leave it alone. Don't mind me. Are you alone? Is your wound okay?" his chin pointed at her neck.

Thea nodded. "It's still recovering."

"Good. Nahh, let's have a match! Who gets the least fish, must take over the work from Miss Yerez. Agree?"

Thea nodded again. "Agree!"

… And Thea didn't get a single fish. She was forced to take over all of Xander's duties that day. Even though she lost, Thea was happy. This was the first time she had felt happy since arriving here. She did all his duties without exception, but halfway through, Xander couldn't bear it and stepped in to do his own thing.

"You lost, but you look happy," he said.

"Am I?" Thea didn't replied. Occasionaly, he could hear her humming.

"You are weird."

"You are the weird one."

"Why me?"

"Why are you so nice to the weird me?" Thea asked.

Sometimes, she talked like an adults and it made Xander confused. "Nice? I don't think so. I just did what I thought it should be done."

Thea glanced at Xander. She felt a kindness she had not felt since leaving her majestic house. They talked about anything not in particular and completed all the tasks without exception. Thea, with a full smile, returned to her room. Today wasn't so bad, for her.

"Are you dating Alexander?"

Thea spun around. She saw almost nothing in the dark. The room lights were off when she entered, but Thea could still recognize Jane's voice.

"What?"

"Are you dating Alexander?" Jane repeated her question.

Thea was surprised. Jane has never cared about her so far and suddenly she asked about Xander. Thea got into bed. She did not feel obligated to say no.

"Are you deaf?" she hissed.

Thea deafened her ears. But she could still hear Jane stomping and coming out of the room.

She was far asleep when she heard a commotion outside.