Beyond The Window's Sill(Drafts)

Chapter I

Darkness still brewed outside, along with the rain which poured down relentlessly on the three-story building, its rhythm erratic against the windows.

Under all the pitter-patter, the woman hurriedly shielded the young girl beside her under a large umbrella, each of their footsteps towards the building ahead; splattered and splashed— sending the water flying, swallowed by the raging downpour.

The child 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 on top of a concrete pillar, its eyes fixed on her. She stared back at it, unblinking.

When they reached the entrance, 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 wworryinghastened to a room on the left, leaving the child alone in the hallway rendered by wall sconces.

The young girl, still soaked from the heavy rain, wrapped her arms around herself for warmth. Her eyes caught a sight of a small drawer not afar, curiosity birthing within her.

She slowly walked toward it, shivering slightly, her sailor shoe's taps echoed across the silent hallway.
Upon reaching the drawer, she noticed an old telephone resting on top. Her fingers lethargically reached out, poised to dial.

But before she could, a hand shoved in; and 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 solemnly with a smile, her voice smooth yet threatening.

The woman from earlier returned with a bundle of keys jingling below her hand and a towel on the other, her pace quickening as she spotted the warden.

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 are to go now," 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 so carelessly without any care of the world.

Her gaze lacked in vivacity, as if she was blind to emotions. She turned her head and her vision 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 inside the gloomy office, but noticing the child’s distraction, she called out, "If you're so interested, why don’t you go join them?"

The girl turned back quickly. "No, it’s fine," she responded quickly in a reassuring tone, strolling over to the desk. "I was just wondering what all the fuss was about."