Inferni

Chapter 11

The next morning, there was a knock on my door, and I bit back a small groan and turned in the other direction, not answering the door while I was stirred awake.

I closed my eyes tighter and set my jaw, pulling the blankets tighter around myself. I didn't say a word and tried to fall back asleep, even though there was another knock on my door, the person not caring that I didn't open the door.

Who could be knocking on my door this early? I silently asked and pulled the blankets over my head, burying further into my bed. And why? I don't have to go to school today. I furrowed my brows and groaned, annoyed. Do I..?

There was a third knock on my door, but this time the person opened the door as if they "knew" I was still asleep or trying to at least. "Blaire, Sweetie?" the person at the door asked, softly. "Are you awake?"

"No," I mumbled sleepily and turned the other way so that my back was toward them, pulling the blankets further up my head and moving down until I was in a tighter ball than before while I ignored the pain in my side. "I am not awake. Who's there?"

The person chuckled and didn't move from the door. "It's Jill, Sweetie," the person said softly. "Breakfast is ready for you if you are hungry. You don't have to go to school today, but everyone else is awake and has left for the day except for Justin and I as well as the youngest children."

I bit back a small sigh and opened my eyes, trying to decide if I wanted to skip breakfast or not. I wasn't hungry, even though I knew that I should at least get something in my stomach even if it wasn't much because I hadn't eaten dinner last night or anything the day before.

"Blaire?" Jill asked, and there was a small bit of concern in her voice. She took a hesitant step into the room, staring at me. "Are you ok?"

"Yes," I said and nodded before I pulled the blankets from over my head and turned to look at her, sitting up. I offered her a forced smile, and she frowned, not liking that smile at all. "I am good, thank you. I was just thinking."

She raised an eyebrow and cocked her head, studying me with her deep brown eyes that looked to be speckled with gold. "Are you sure?" she asked. "And what were you thinking about?"

"I am sure," I said and nodded in confirmation. "I was also thinking about how I am not hungry and if I wanted breakfast." I hesitated and shifted a little, my cheeks turning red. I hesitated and grimaced while I looked at my hands. "The bed is comfortable, and I don't want to move."

Jill bit back a small chuckle and nodded, even though worry flashed through her eyes. "I would let you sleep more, but you haven't eaten anything yesterday." She paused and cleared her throat while she cocked her head and studied me. "When was the last time you even had an actual meal?"

I hesitated before I shrugged and grimaced while I looked at her. "It's been a while," I admitted before I cleared my throat and shifted on my bed. "I don't actually know when I had anything to eat. I can't even eat at school because Ms. Garnes makes sure that we don't have money or food to eat for lunch."

Jill pressed her lips into a thin line before she slowly nodded, biting the inside of her lip. She didn't say a word while she stared at me, studying me and trying to find any secret that I didn't say and might show on my face.

But for some reason, she couldn't...

Finally, she sighed and shook her head before she cleared her throat and shifted on her feet. "Does that mean you will be able to try and eat for me?" she asked and raised an eyebrow in question. "Please?"

I bit back a small grimace before I slowly nodded. "Ok," I said before I cleared my throat and shifted on my bed, grabbing my blankets closer to me. "Can I go ahead and get ready for the day, please?" I asked, changing the subject. "I will be down in a few minutes."