Winchester (8)

Year 1853

Thea's breathing echoed in the silent room.

The two of them fell silent when Xander, who returned from taking the first aid kit, stared at the bloodstained stone that Thea had thrown.

"I didn't do it! I swear!" she said with wide eyes. She really didn't do that. Who would have thought that her foot touched something liked evidence of Jane's attack.

Xander looked at the stone on the floor. He sighed and then told Thea to come closer.

"Sit here. I will treat your wound first."

Thea obediently sat beside Xander, who immediately did his job.

"Is the wound really worse? I mean, Jane?" she asked, hesitantly.

Xander muttered. He was sure Thea didn't do the evil deed even though he didn't know how to explain it. It happened so fast. Someone sneaked into the orphanage and Jane happens to run into the culprit. Thea, who was in her room couldn't possibly know what had happened.

The other kids only took their anger out on Thea because the intruder mentioned her name.

Actually, who is Thea? Why is anyone looking for her? Does it have to do with her parents who died? Various questions swirled in his mind. But seeing the condition of this child who was so shocked from being dragged away and beaten, he felt sorry and chose to hold back his question.

"Miss Yerez will be back soon. You can rest first. "

"Where are you going?" Thea pulled the hem of his shirt.

"I will return this box."

"C-can you stay with me?" she grabbed Xander's shirt, afraid the other kids would be back and bother her again.

"Okay, let me do this first," he pointed to the box.

Thea waited anxiously for Xander to return. Thank goodness Xander didn't take long and came back. The two of them sat in the multipurpose room until sunrise.

She endured the pain, occasionally falling asleep beside him. Although sleepy, she didn't let go of her grip from the hem of his shirt.

After a restless and torturous night for Thea, they finally heard Miss Yerez came back shortly.

"How's Jane is doing, Miss?" Xander asked as soon as he saw her enter. He has known Jane since they were a child. Both of them were abandoned in this orphanage when they were still newborn.

Instead of answering Xander's question, Miss Yerez looked at Thea, who was standing behind him. Should she transfer her to another orphanage?

"Miss Yerez!"

"Yes?"

"What are you talking about?" Xander cleared his throat.

Miss Yerez realized when she said what was on her mind aloud. She turned her attention to Xander.

"Don't worry. She will get better soon, maybe tomorrow she allowed to go home."

"Oh, thank goodness," Xander glanced at Thea. "Uhm, Miss Yerez-" He wanted to tell what happened to Thea but Miss Yerez looked away.

"Let's talk another time. I have to prepare some things for the other kids." Miss Yerez interrupted Xander's words, gazed at Thea once more and immediately left.

Their orphanage is just an ordinary orphanage. It was only supported by a few nobles, so she didn't have many people to run the orphanage. There were only her and two other people who helped organize the kitchen and the basic necessities of the orphanage with nearly fifteen children.

"I'll tell Miss Yerez about the other kids do to you. Don't worry."

"I'ts okay. I know she's tired," Thea tried to smile even if her whole body hurt badly.

From the start, there really was no justice in this orphanage for her. Since MIss Yerez accepting her here, she could see that Miss Yerez only cared about children whom she considered had a clear background. She too should have been treated better because her parents were nobles of high rank. But ... right now, it doesn't matter. She could only rely on herself.

"Thank you for this," she pointed at her hand, which wrapped in bandage. "And for accompanying me. I should back to my room now."

"Okay. Rest and don't worry about it. I'll try again later."

"No, you don't need to," she waved her hands. "Please tell me later about Jane. I hope her recovery soon."

"Yes. Please be careful," Xander said after a pause. The culprit hasn't been caught and that worries him.

Thea smiled at Xander and said goodbye before excused herself and returning to the room. She heard clearly the thoughts of Miss Yerez which wanting to move her out.

She had to be prepared if that really happened. The good things was she had no attachment to this place. For her, anywhere is the same. As long as she could sleep and eat under the safe roof.

She never stopped feeling sorry for herself, since she had no parents, her life was like nothing. In fact, no relative is willing to take her.

All the families that bear the McCollen name were gone. Thea heard that as the Sisters talked about it. Since then, Thea never used that name again. She intended to keep her mouth shut until Thea could understand all of this. 

She couldn't confirm whether it was true or not either the whereabouts of her aunts, uncles, or cousins. While on her mother's side, Thea had no idea what was going on.

Thea picked up the blankets and pillows that were scattered on the floor from all the previous turmoil. She rearranged it on the bed with a bitter heart then laid down on the bed.

This bed was very different from the luxurious one she had when she was still in McCollen's mansion. When she first arrived here, she couldn't even lie down on the extremely hard bed, yet now it was all a matter of course.

One more thing she missed the most was the time before going to bed where her mother accompanied and invited her to chat about what happen in her daily life that day.

She pulled off the blanket and was again enveloped in silence.