Blades

12 (New)

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...

That same night
1:23 A.M.

        Cherish sat at the edge of her bed, leg shaking as she bit her nails. Something wasn't right. Throughout the day her mind kept drifting off to Xamani without any reason and at one point, it started to worry her. Anytime she constantly thought of someone it wasn't because she missed them and wanted to be in their presence. It was because sooner or later something bad was going to happen or...it already did.

           Her stomach churns.

          Has something bad happened to Xamani? In hopes to calm her nerves, she goes downstairs and turns on the light in the kitchen, making herself a glass of water before leaning on the counter. She lived alone. One bedroom, one bathroom. It was pretty small but she wasn't complaining. It was big enough for her. Her father gifted it to her on her 16th birthday. This was after she dropped out to pursue her crystal business. Father wasn't upset when he found out. If anything, they had sat down and talked about it. If you have strict parents, he would be what you called: the cool dad. But in reality, he was just an understanding parent who was aware that school wasn't for everyone. Just how people say college isn't for everyone. He knew his daughter would flourish with her business so he didn't take a second to agree that she could drop out. Did it surprise Cherish? No. Did it surprise her brothers that finished school out? No.

       Why?

       Because they also had the option to drop out. But they didn't. They loved sports and they wanted to continue doing what they loved while they still could. Now they were all off doing their own thing.

       Should she call them? Usually, when she got like this she'd call them and let them know what was up. All of them had a good head on their shoulders and they knew better than to ignore their gut. She contemplates before refraining. Knowing them they'd probably break her neck for waking them up at 1 AM.

       She sighs before taking a sip of her water. She knew she couldn't do anything right now but as soon as daylight peeked, she'd be on her way to the orphanage.

         Seven hours later and she was walking up to the entrance. Her eyes were red and they had bags under them. She never went to sleep after she had her glass of water. All she could do was lay down, stare at the ceiling, and hope Xamani was alright. To keep her alert while driving, she had to drink coffee filled with tons of sugar and eat on candy. She liked neither but they did the job when needed.

        She drinks the last of her coffee with a grimace before tossing it in the outdoor trash can.

         "Welcome to Happy Hill Orphanage," the lady at the front says, it wasn't Trudy. "Are you a volunteer currently participating in the Social Expansion Activity?"

         Cherish smiles weakly. "Yes."

        "Okay. And who are you here to pick up?" The lady behind the desk begins navigating on the computer.

       "Oh, I'm not here to pick anyone up. I'm here to see Xamani Arielle."

        The lady pauses and looks up at Cherish, her demeanor changing. She hesitates before rolling to the buzzer. Cherish couldn't hear what she was saying but she assumes that the lady is calling for Xamani. But she's wrong when Tammy comes around the corner.

        "Cherish!" She exclaims. "You're not scheduled to pick up Xamani today so to what do I owe this visit?"

        Cherish smiles. "I just came to check on her. Make sure she's okay."

        Tammy gives a solemn look. "It's funny that you say that. She isn't doing...so well."

        Cherish's smile falters. Her gut had been right. "What's wrong with her? Is she okay?"

        "Yes, she just has a little fever."

        "Can I see her?"

        Tammy shakes her head. "I'm afraid not. We have a policy that we are not allowed to put any orphan in a position to be seen unless they are 100% healthy. I'm sorry, it's the law."

       Cherish's face visibly saddened. "...Okay, but she'll be okay, right?"

        "Of course! She just needs to rest and take her hourly medicine. Don't worry too much."

        "Okay, thank you." Cherish leaves the building and gets into her car with a sigh. The reassurance Tammy gave her relieved her somewhat but strangely, that reassurance wasn't settling in her body.

          Xamani squirms as she tries to stick her hand in her pocket. It was her second full day in this room and she was fed up. She was drastically dehydrated and to make matters worse, she didn't have a blade with her...or so she thought. If she would have remembered that she had one earlier, she could've stayed in this room a while longer with no problem. She wiggles her hand into the pocket, biting her lip out of frustration and anger. She had been trying to get the blade out for hours but with Tammy coming in every ten minutes, her time was shortened. But now that she had a clear timing of when Tammy was going to come back, she started moving according to it.

         Her finger grazes the sharp item and she bites her tongue. Just a little deeper and she was able to pull it out. "Yes," she whispers. It had taken her nearly the whole ten minutes and luckily, she wasn't stupid enough to start using it and instead tucks it under her thigh just as Tammy walks through the door.

       "Well, good morning, Xamani." Tammy smiles, setting a tray of food and water on the ground.

        Xamani glares at her.

        "Oh, girl, don't look like that. I've brought you food and water. Just like yesterday even though you were being stubborn and ungrateful. Let's make this easy. Will you eat, or not?"

        Xamani didn't want to take anything from Tammy. But her throat was drier than the Sahara desert so she really needed that water. "The water," she grumbles, her voice hoarse.

        "Oh! So she speaks. Now that's just wonderful."

         Xamani rolls her eyes. "Can you take me out this rope? How I'm gone drink it if my hands stuck to ma sides?"

         "Don't be silly. That's why I'm here." Tammy picks up the glass of water and holds it to Xamani's mouth but Xamani inches her face back.

        "Nah, I ain't no baby. You not finna feed that ta me."

         Tammy's face hardens. "Drink. It."

          Xamani grits her teeth before giving in. As she drank it, Tammy purposefully tilted it a little too high and it begins to dribble down her chin and onto her clothes. "Mm!" She jumps, yelping at the coldness but her yelp comes out more like a hum as Tammy kept the glass to her lips, forcing her to drink it.

        Xamani attempts to pull her head back, in need of a breather but Tammy doesn't allow it. "Stop moving and drink it!"

        Xamani's throat was beginning to build up with the need for air. She had no choice but to force herself to quickly drink it because if she didn't, she knew she'd begin trying to breathe despite knowing the water would go down the wrong pipe. She squeezes her eyes shut and her face held discomfort as she intakes larger amounts, gripping at the seat.

       Once it's all gone, Tammy pulls the glass away and Xamani begins to gasp for air. Her chest was burning as her heart nearly pounded out of her chest.

          "Do you want your sand which," Tammy asks, sweetly. Xamani glares at her as she begins to cough. "No? Well, I'll be on my way. Don't want to bother you any longer. Have a nice day." Tammy closes the door behind her and Xamani's head falls back as she continues to pant. She had to get out of here.

...

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