Vendetta: Mysteries that surround it

Chapter 33

"Where do I go from here?"

"Take a left," Alexa instructed Christian in the directions to the orphanage.

The excitement to see Noah again grew in his heart as the orphanage started coming into view.

"Voila. We are here," Christian said with a huge smile on his face.

Alexa looked around," Where's your ice cream truck?"

He gave her a sheepish smile," They got a bit late. They might be here in fifteen."

Shaking her head Alexa took off her seatbelt and got out of the car.

They made their way inside the orphanage. A few children were playing outside in the garden, in another corner a group of children were sitting surrounding Mrs. Harris.

Alexa's eyes scanned the entire place carefully. Something was off.

Noticing the visitors, Mrs. Harris got up from her seat. Leaving the students behind, she made her way towards them with her same wrinkled, plastered smile.

" Mr. Belincias! Ms. Angello! What a pleasant surprise."

Knowing very well Alexa was not going to respond to the greeting, Christian forwarded his hand to shake it with the warden with a smile on his face," It's lovely meeting you again Mrs. Harris."

"So what brings you here today? Here to meet Noah?"

"Yes, of course. We even got gifts for the children in the orphanage."

"Oh, how sweet of you!" She signaled a caretaker to help Christian get out the gifts from the car.

Leaving Alexa alone with Mrs. Harris.

"So... Mrs. Harris?"

"Yes, Ms. Angello?"

"How long have you been taking care of the orphans here?"

"Oh... I and my husband have devoted eighteen years of our married life to this orphanage. Since we could not have kids of our own, we decided to take care of these poor souls instead. It feels like they are our very own," she replied while looking around.

Alexa raised an eyebrow," Oh? Your husband too?"

"Yes, he is the headmaster here."

Putting on the nicest smile she could master Alexa continued," I would really like to meet him. He seems to be an amazing person."

Staring right at Alexa Mrs. Harris spoke," Yes, of course." Her smile was not so big anymore, sensing the sarcasm in Alexa's tone.

Soon all the cartons of clothes were out and children were surrounding Christian in the hall, trying them on by turn.

Alexa was standing quietly in a corner observing everyone present there.

Where's Noah?

Suddenly she felt a tug on her shirt. Slightly turning her head, she looked down to see Noah standing there giving her the brightest smile possible.

"Alexa?"

Staring at him with her arms wrapped in front of her chest, she spoke while tilting her head a little," Hey kiddo."

"Did you come for me?"

"Christian did. He got you and your friends new clothes and he has another surprise planned," she said while signaling towards Christian.

"Really? Are those clothes mine?"

Seeing how it was difficult for him to talk to her towering figure, Alexa bent down on one knee to get on his level," They are all yours. Go get them."

He was about to rush there but Alexa noticed something on his hand.

She suddenly grabbed him to have a look at it, startling him in the process.

"Alexa? What happened?"

Ignoring his question she was about to roll up his sleeve to check when a voice stopped her.

"Ms. Alexandra Angello?"

Turning her head to the source of the voice, Alexa saw a wrinkled but well-built man.

"G-Good morning Mr. Harris."

She noticed Noah stutter and lower his head while greeting the headmaster.

So he is the husband?

"Good morning Noah. I think Mrs. Harris there needs some help, be a sweetheart and help her out please while I have a word with Ms. Angello."

Alexa saw Mrs. Harris stand on the other side of the room, signaling Noah to help her.

"Y-Yes Sir." Noah bowed a little and turned around to leave.

Alexa's eyes followed him till his figure disappeared.

She got back on her feet and extended a hand to greet the old man.

"Hello, Mr. Harris. Alexandra Angello, I am pretty sure you are aware of it."

Returning her stiff handshake, he spoke with a smile," So I have been informed."

"Ms. Angello," he continued," I am very grateful for you and Mr. Belincias, how you took out time from your busy schedules to get gifts for Noah and the kids here. You really didn't have to. My wife told me how you were the one to bring Noah back. Thank you very much."

Putting on a visibly fake smile Alexa spoke," That's my duty."

Both of them kept staring at each other, more as if glaring when an excited cheer from their side broke the ice.

"WHO WANTS ICE CREAM??!!!"

Alexa saw all the children rush outside with Christian.

"Should we follow them, Ms. Angello?"

"Sure. Before that could you please tell me where the restroom is?"

"Oh! It's right around the corner." He told her while signaling her in a direction.

"Ok. Please go ahead, I will follow you right behind." And she left in the direction she was told to.

But instead of making her way to the bathroom, Alexa suddenly changed her path and checked out all the rooms on the floor.

Where did she take him?

These people seemed very sketchy to her. She opened every door and checked every room in her way.

That's when she heard a voice from a room in the corner and muffled sobs.

Her steps fastened. As she moved closer the voice started getting clearer.

It was Mrs. Harris.

"I told you to hide them properly! Don't you dare open your mouth in front of those people! Do you understand boy?"

"Y-Yes ma'am," Noah replied while sobbing.

Mrs. Harris had a firm grip on Noah's arm and was shaking him violently not caring about his uncontrollable cries of agony.

"P-Please Mrs. Harris, stop it h-hurts."

"It hurts you say?" leaving his hand she grabbed his jaw instead," Then keep that big mouth tightly sealed. And go out there with a big smile like a good boy, okay?"

"What. Are. You. Doing?"

A chilly voice came from behind Mrs. Harris. It made her freeze her in her spot.

Spotting the figure standing by the door, Noah released a shaky breath of relief," Alexa..."