Beyond The Window's Sill

Chapter I

It was still dark outside, and the rain poured down relentlessly on the three-storey building, its rhythm erratic against the windows.

A woman hurriedly shielded the child beside her under a large umbrella, striding towards the building ahead. She turned her face away from the sharp wind biting at her cheeks.

As they passed through the gate, the child seemed unbothered by her surroundings. Her gaze wandered until it landed on a black cat sitting still, its eyes fixed on her. She stared back at it, unblinking.

When they reached the doorway, the woman grasped the door handle, pushing it open and pulling the child inside, breaking her gaze with the cat.

Once inside, the woman shut the door, shook the rain off her umbrella, and placed it by the entrance. Without a word, she hastened to a room on the left, leaving the child alone in the dimly lit hallway.

The child, still soaked from the heavy rain, wrapped her arms around herself for warmth. Her eyes caught sight of a small drawer beside her, curiosity stirring within her.

She slowly walked toward it, shivering slightly. Upon reaching the drawer, she noticed an old telephone resting on top. Her fingers reached out, poised to dial.

But before she could, a hand snatched the handset from her grip. Startled, she spun around to face a figure standing in the shadows.

“My, I suppose you're new here. That's strike one, my dear,” a woman said, her voice smooth yet menacing.

The woman from earlier returned, her pace quickening as she spotted the child and the newcomer.

She stood in front of the imposing figure, her voice faltering. "I apologize on her behalf, Madam—"

"It’s fine," the Madam interrupted, her tone cold but controlled. "We all make mistakes, don’t we?" She smiled—a thin, unnatural smile that sent a chill through the air. The other woman, too, forced a grin, though her eyes betrayed her unease.

Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the Madam’s smile vanished. She lowered the handset with a sharp clank.

"Take her to your office and complete the proper documentation," she ordered, her hands folding together gracefully.

The woman bowed slightly. "I will, Madam."

"Good," the Madam replied curtly, turning on her heel and walking away.

The woman exhaled a shaky breath and handed the child a towel. "Come, we need to go," she said, her voice softer now as she headed down the hallway. The child followed, noting the woman’s anxious glances.

They stopped before the office doorway, its lack of doors revealing a small nursery to the side. The child peered over, watching other children play.

Her gaze drifted again, landing on the same black cat, now perched on a stool. Its eyes met hers once more.

The woman had already seated herself behind a desk, but noticing the child’s distraction, she called out, "If you're so interested, why don’t you go join them?"

The child turned back quickly. "No, it’s fine," she said, slowly walking towards the desk. "I was just curious what all the fuss was about."

As she sat down, the woman smiled faintly. "I see," she said, pulling a paper from beneath the desk. "I’ll need your full name, little ma'am."

The child gave a small grin. "It’s Taine.." she replied.

Once the documentation was complete, the woman filed the papers away and stood up. "I’ll go stash this," she said, handing the child a pen and a blank sheet of paper. "Here, why don’t you amuse yourself while I’m gone?"