𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄

c h a p t e r_t w o: Maria Tere

A small figure emerging from the sea of plastic colorful balls. A jolly smile plastering her face, as she searched for the familiar faces of her parents who stood outside the glass watching her same smile on their faces. She couldn't really remember much about that day. But the feeling of freedom and happiness.

And the fact her mother and her father was watching over her? Sublime. Although her life back then, for as long as she could remember, it was nice. Almost too perfect.

Yeah, a little too perfect.

It was almost evening, and yet the child with H/c hair was still running around the indoor playground, normally she wouldn't mind it. Her parents paid for her to be kept inside the playroom a little too long, maybe they were busy? Regina, the woman in the counter pondered.

The rowdiness of inside the playpen was then interrupted by a loud screaming of a woman and people gasping as they witnessed the sight before them. Mothers or fathers covering their kids eyes, teenagers were quick to whip out their phones to take photographs or videos.

Not long after security and the medical team arrived. Regina was of course curious but she can't leave the kids alone unsupervised now can she? The company of the playpen only hiring one worker for the branch. So all she could do was stare out the glass window, that provided a glimpse of the first floor.

Unbeknownst to her, a teary eyed child watched from the window inside the playpen, seeing a glimpse of the dead bloodied bodies howled unto the stretcher. In her 9 year old mind, it was slow progressing to understand the situation, it could be a different person she saw a glimpse of.

Eventually she got bored of staring outside, deciding to start playing once more. Not long after two police officers showed up at the counter, Regina straightened her posture upon seeing two male authorities. "What can i help you with?"

"Is the last name Mallory registered here?" Regina pondered for a while, before her mind clicked upon recognition, "Ahh yes, are here to pick up their daughter?" Glancing at the child who was happily talking to her fellow playmates. "Is there something wrong?"

Both male officers looked at each other melancholy expression painted their faces, Regina didn't need words to know what happened.

It was them. Who jumped on the 4th floor of the mall.

Fast forward the very sad day, to which Y/n remembered it to be. She didn't like dwelling much on the past. What's done is done and you can't do anything about it. Talk about how unfair life can be right? Anyways....

Y/n Mallory she was orphaned at the early age of 9. Grieving for her parents was one of the saddest days she could ever experience, but staying at the orphanage Maria Tere was the worst. Specifically under the reign of Juana.

They say the woman Maria was an angel sent on earth. However her daughter Juana Tere was the complete opposite of the woman. Though she was beautiful, charming at best the first time you meet her, you'd think you met an angel, until time pass by and it reveals a wolf hiding on a sheep's clothing, the children that stayed under her care were resentful of the woman. Yes, they were treated good, none was abused, physically.

I mean, at some point a spanking or a pinch on the ear, you'd receive. But nothing severe.

Her anger was like hell on earth,
She was meticulous in routine, and responsibilities. Break that cycle and you'll unleash the gates of underworld. Her words were like molten lava poured over your body, nothing is spared. From head to toe, best believe she has a comment on everything.

Though, it was a different case when one tries to harm the children under her care. The most popular talk around the orphanage, is when one of the kids were getting bullied on the school she was attending. Afraid of experiencing Juana's wrath, they kept it to themselves until physically they can't anymore.

Juana the woman she can be,
Stormed unto the school grounds chewing the parents and kids ear off until they changed their child into a different school. Then comforting the kid who was bullied.

Promising that no one shall harm her, or any of the children under her care ever again.

2 0 _ y e a r s_ la t e r

Music blasting in her ears, her head leaned on the glass window, gradually wincing when the sun makes direct contact with her face. Coins tightly clutched on her other arm along with the bus ticket. Y/n didn't like paying out of pocket for bus, but she managed to forget that her Coita card was about to be expired, and she was past due the expiration date.

Meaning she has to pay, unfortunately she had spent her paycheck surviving and buying random trinkets in results to having no money spared for the card.

The familiar roads to where her working place started to show, she sat up straight and pressed the button to indicate the driver that someone is getting off the bus the next stop. Waiting patiently for the bus to stop on the bus stop. She stood up, muttering excuses as she passed by people, she was seated on the very back.

Dropping the coins on the slot along the ticket, it should've pinged when it reached 300. It was red, confused she is, Y/n looked at the driver. Music still pouring from the headphones and to her ears. The driver merely nodded, causing the girl to bow and thank the man before getting off the large vehicle.

Her work place was a 5 minute walk, the family owned restaurant named CheckPoint, she's been working since she was 18 years old. she's like a family to the owners, treating her as if she was their own, her friend Debora Rails. Was the daughter of Nina and Tonio Rails, they met when she was in high school. Eventually they stuck around with each other through thick and thin.

Stopping in her tracks as she stared at the restaurant before her. Was the reason it wasn't green when she paid her fees on the bus, could it be it was insufficient or was it too much? Her world transitioned from a sunny place that's filled with birds chirping in the sky's into a dystopian nightmare.

' That's it, i'm going to be banned from ridding that bus.'

'Better yet, I'll go in jail.' Will this situation haunt her for the rest of her life? And is the reason why she wakes up in cold sweat at night? Probably.

- To Be Continued