Heirs and Heiresses: Ouroboros

CHAPTER 1: The Odd Orphan

I woke up sweating and panting. The blanket that I was grasping was trembling with my hands. My eyes, fixed to the direction of nowhere like it normally does. I have nightmares again, nightmares that keep repeating themselves mysteriously. Two years ago, I started dreaming of a run I couldn't understand. I don't know if I was rushing away from something or chasing after someone.

Most nights of those two years I always woke up like this, exhausted, somehow out of breath and petrified. Two years I have not told anyone. I kept it from the nuns that govern the orphanage, I hid it from the priest who sermons us from opening up and I hid it from the other girls in here, afraid they would not understand.
During the first year I have always screamed and cried those nights, waking up everyone in the room. Ninette, the nun in charge of our cluster would come in and wake me. When it became frequent I heard the babbles that the nuns thought I was possessed by something so evil but I told Ninette that nothing was wrong with me, then she would answer that she believes me. The other orphans wouldn't come near me after that, even afraid to sleep in the room with me. I guess they believe the blob-tales running around The Chancel.

One night, Ninette stayed by my bedside. Even though my eyes were beginning to be heavy I kept forcing my eyes open. I ordered myself not to fall asleep. It was a little odd that the other girls weren't in their supposed beds when it was already past our bedtime and why is Ninette here to make sure I sleep?

She was softly brushing my long black hair that night with gentle fingers and her voice soft as she whispered, "Go to sleep.", repeatedly every time I keep opening my eyes when they close. I wanted to ask her what was happening but I felt like I was already drifting away.

When I woke up in the middle of that night because of the same nightmare, I saw Ninette standing behind our town's priest. He was reading something from the book he always uses to sermonize. Behind him I also see the other nuns. I tried to sit but I realized my hands and my feet were tied to the bedposts. I struggled to break loose, crying out but they continued to chant and pray over me. After their meditations, Ninette came closer to me and called my name. I responded to her as I normally do. The ropes that pained my wrists and ankles loosened, and I was freed.

I thought she didn't believe any of that. She tried to lull me back to sleep again but I didn't.

I couldn't.

Ninette, paled-face by hiding beneath her religious tunic and veil. I have never seen her hair, not once, nor her shoulder or her knees.

I thought I could trust her but I guess I was misled. Ever since then I tried to control what was happening to me. I tried to not scream or cry or show them I was afraid because each time I open my eyes after nightmares I always see the same things, the priest, Ninette and the other nuns praying over me as I am tied up.

After a month, the other girls came back in the room. Despite their awkward stares at me and exasperating murmurs, I was a little bit satisfied. I was finally able to wake up without my hands and feet tied up to my bed. I was finally able to open my eyes and not see the betrayal of the person I thought was my friend. If they really believe that I am influenced or controlled by a powerful evil force, why don't they feed me a nice piece of tasty bread so they will be ashamed that I will not convulse and my nightly torment would be over and finally declare that I am not guilty! But they wouldn't do that now would they? They would be too embarrassed if their religious lessons would turn against them and their religious chants were nothing but a mistake, to know that they made a mistake. They wouldn't engulf being wrong knowing that they conquer the faith of Saitriche because if that happens their religion would die. They will be powerless so it will be the end of them and they will be nothing more like everyone, human.