Story takes place in the 1920s
This is the story Zorell Dupree, a young twenty year old nurse who moves to the city working for a prestigious hospital. She is a small time girl thrown into the fast-paced world of the city.
Her childhood friend Lel...
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Chapter Three: Travelers in the Night
When Zorell entered the house, she was so preoccupied by her own thoughts that she ran into their maid Stella, who was stunned by their collision.
"Oh, Miss Zorell, I'm so sorry," she said as she helped Zorell off the floor.
"Don't worry about it, Stella. It was my fault," she said, once she was on her feet. "I'm worn out with the wedding and all. I think I'll just go up to my room and take a rest."
"Can I bring you some tea, ma'am?" Stella asked.
"No, that's alright," Zorell said and looked towards the stairs. "I'm not thirsty." She walked away and dawned the staircase, wanting nothing more than to lie in her nice soft bed.
Once she got to her room she felt as if she would pass out from exhaustion. It had been an emotional day, but she still needed to pack the things that she intended to take with her. She wasn't going to take much, only the things she couldn't part with.
She wasn't like most girls when going on a trip. Eloise would take four trunks and two carry-ons for a simple weekend trip to the lake. Zorell liked to pack light, so she would only take half the clothes she owned, including the secret dress that she had hidden. She was starting a new life, and anything she needed after the move she would buy. She had a nest egg saved up which would sustain her for at least several months, even if she wasn't making a regular income, but she would be working soon so she would be more than capable of supporting herself without Leland's or anyone else's help.
She looked through her jewelry box and fished out the gold locket that was left to her by her mother. When she was twelve, her grandmother gave it to her for Christmas. Her father never knew about it, and she managed to hide it from him all this time. She always wondered if he came in to her room and rummaged through her things, but her jewelry box was always locked and untouched every time she checked. She also had her mother's wedding ring. Devlin had it for a while but decided to give it to Zorell thinking that it would be more fitting for a girl to have and not him. When he asked Eloise to marry him he had bought a new one that he felt fitted her taste better. Zorell was the one who helped him pick it out.
When she was away at nursing school, she had taken both the locket and the ring with her, and it was the only time she had ever worn either item of jewelry. She wouldn't take the chance of her father ripping the few things she had of her mother away from her.
She had a velvet box and put the few pieces she loved inside. Everything else she would leave behind. She didn't need much to survive, so she would only take one case and a carry-on. She hid her bags in the closet just in case her father came home. She didn't want him walking in and see packed bags lying about. She laid her handbag on the dresser and changed out of her dress and into something more comfortable. She lay down on her bed for a few hours' rest. She wound up her alarm clock and set it so she didn't oversleep.
She drifted off to sleep but was awakened a few hours later by a knock on the door. It wasn't a quiet knock, more like a notch below a pounding. "Zorell!" She heard her name being called. As soon as she heard the voice she knew it belonged to her father. Panic came over her thinking he had learned of her plans.
She jumped out of bed and put on her robe and answered the door. "Why all the shouting?" she asked, and her father looked as stern as always.
"Why did you leave the reception?" he asked as he stepped inside.
"Because I was tired," she said and sat down on her bed. She wanted a little more rest, but there was no way that was going to happen with his barking. "It's been a long day, and I needed some sleep."
"I saw you leave with Leland Freeman," he said and his sternness lightened a bit.
"He only offered me a ride home, Father," she said and grabbed her pillow. "Can I please go back to sleep now?"
"First, I want to know about you and Leland," he said, pacing around her room. "Is there something I should know?"
"Why do you need to know everything?" she asked defiantly. She felt as if she were being interrogated.
"When it pertains to my family, I have every right," he said and grabbed her arm. "You're my daughter, and I demand to know what is between you and the Freeman boy."
"That's my business, not yours," she said defiantly and pulled her arm back. There was a red mark from him squeezing her arm too hard. She hoped there wasn't going to be a bruise, but it wasn't as if he hadn't done it before. He hit her numerous times, but most of the time Devlin would intervene and protect her.
She was a young woman now, and she wasn't going to let him abuse her anymore, not physically or emotionally. "Now, you will tell me, young lady," he shouted, while pointing a finger at her.
"Figure it out," she said and had a sly look on her face.
He remained silent, but that look of satisfaction came to his face. He turned and left her room, which gave her some relief. She checked the time, and it was nearly eight o'clock. He would be in bed by ten as he always was, then she could make her getaway. It seemed like fate had decided that she would find that letter and both she and Leland would get what they wanted.
She lay back down and let herself drift off. Dreams took hold of her she regressed her back to a happier more innocent time in her life.
Finally got chapter three done. It was be in three parts so be here next time for Zorell's dream... or is it nightmare?
