[ The Broken Soul ⧗ ]

8

I make my way out of the front gates pretty early in the morning. I barely had time to get breakfast in me but I wanted to arrive as quickly as possible to be able to be done with the cleaning once Ms. Rushman woke up. I didn't want to admit it but she scared me very much. It reminded me of my last home. Not in the way they acted but how easily they had to violence and the comfort they had with weapons. 

However I decided to brush it off, I couldn't go worry. I was only there to clean. Even though I had felt some eyes on me after our encounter.. like she was spying on me. I will have to be more careful when stealing things, if she catches me I will be a dead one.

Wasn't I supposed to NOT think about it?

I walk and walk. The city is already up and running. People go down to the subway, the cafees are already setting up their tables outside and the designer store across the street is having their windows cleaned by a boy who looks no older than 19 years old. I smile. We look alike. We both wear trashy hand me downs and do work for those above us.

I suddenly bump into someone and my cleaning bag flies off me, landing a meter away. I stumble but manages not to fall. I look up and it seems to be an older man in his 60s that I collided with. He doesn't seem angry at all though.

"Oh! Sorry! That was unfortunate, I need to look where I go next time" He says and sums it up with a laugh. 

"I am so sorry sir! I really am! How can I make it up to you?" I say, while bending down to pick up some cleaning supplies that fell out of my bag. I put them in and zip the bag up. Then I through the strap over my shoulder.

"Oh no need for that dear. I was in your way after all, how about I make it up to you? What do u want? Some bread? I just made some." He said, just then I saw that he was wearing a white apron and a baker hat. And like I thought, there was a bakery beside me that he worked at.

Before I could answer he went in and got me a loaf of bread that he handed to me, it was still warm and I could smell how good it must taste. 

"Here! Have this one."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Positive!" He smiled so warmly. And so I smiled too.

"I'm Carl by the way!" He put out his hand for me to shake. I did.

"I'm Y/N"

"Y/n. That's very pretty, and where are you off to?" He adds.

"I'm heading to work."

"Oh, then I won't disturb you any longer. Wouldn't want to be late?" 

I smile and thank him one more time before we parted ways. Who knew that I would be heading to work with a whole loaf of bread. I will have to hide this one very good so Mr. Charles doesn't take it. He didn't want us to accept anything from someone unless it was money or something that was worth money, lots of money. 

I quickly put down the loaf of bread in my bag but before zipping it up I tear off a little bit and put it in my mouth. And darn how good it was. I can't remember the last time I had a freshly baked, loaf of bread. Probably because I have never had it before.

After that I walked, and walked, and walked until my feet started to hurt. Only then had I arrived to the tower that was looking down at me so vividly. I pushed the doorbell beside the large gate that surrounded the entrence. That robot guy Jarvis answered me once again.

"I am here to clean..sir." I said, into the doorbell and suddenly the gate started to open itself.

I walked inside and inside the tower. This time, just like before a floor was already pressed in the elevator and I found myself arriving at the same place. However it looked less dirty this time. 

I looked around for my own safety, to my relief I didn't see any woman with that beautiful red hair. I made my way inside and looked at the place that I had cleaned yesterday. However it didn't look as clean as I left it. The thing is, when people realize someone is sweeping up after them, they tend to not cleaning up. Dishes lies dirty in the sink, even though they have a dishwasher, trash lies around the counters and muddy shoeprints around the kitchen. I sigh loudly although I shouldn't. This was nothing compared to what I used to do back in my last home. 

I shook off the bad feelings and placed down my cleaning bag, ignoring the delicious bread, I took out some spray and a cloth, along with a brush and some other stuff. I then opened the cleaning cabinet to take out the rest of the stuff. 

I started to remove the trash around the counters and started on the dishes. Some I layed in the dishwasher, others was more delicate and needed a handwash. And so I turned on the faucet and started to wash the dishes.

"You're back." A voice was heard.

I jumped and turned to see who it was and to no surprise, the emerald eyed lady stood on the other side of the kitchen island looking at me. She had a pain of sweatpants and a T-shirt this time on. The T-shirt was hiding her bandage but I knew it was there. I saw no gun but I still put my hands up.

"Oh please, I am not going to shoot you." She said, but I wasn't reassured at all. I felt the warm water slide down to my elbows as I still held them up.

"Put your hands down. I am not trying to hurt you this time." She said and I let my hands slowly down to my sides. Now, that didn't sound too good.

"So you were trying to hurt me yesterday?" I asked weakly.

"Well I thought you were a burglar. We have lots of those." She said nonchalant. I didn't want to know what they did to those... I stayed silent, it left like I was standing around broken eggshells that could lead to waking up some beast. 

"How old are you?" She leaned onto the island counter. I could tell that it hurt, not that she showed it anyhow but in her eyes...they looked hurt. I hope she couldn't see my eyes and all the terrors stored inside them.

"I'm 20." I said although I was lying. Mr. Charles had taught us not to say our real age. We were all 20 inside that building. For legal reasons that was the best. Even though years of lying to Mr. Charles and other kids, she didn't look that convinced. 

"Really?" She asked slowly.

"I don't believe you"