The Other Half

Chapter One

I was jarred from my daydreaming by a deafening shriek that made its way through the large textile factory I spent 10 hours a day in. I jerked my head up, trying to locate the sound. Elizabeth, the 8-year-old girl to my left started running towards the back of the factory. I took a small glance towards the textile machines before running after Beth, figuring the machines could weave themselves for a minute or two.

Goosebumps raced up my spine as I saw a young girl, probably only a few years younger than I, trying to yank her hair out of one of the machines. Tears were running down her face, twisted in agony I couldn't imagine.

"Kara, ohmygod, Kara, it's okay, I've got you!" Another girl with stark black hair tied in a tight bun (which, was regulatory, so I don't know how Kara managed to get herself into this mess) raced towards Kara with a small pocket knife. Somehow, she managed to gracefully cut Kara's hair out of the machine. Kara instantly melted into the floor, clutching her hair in relief. I took a deep breath; thankful this did not create a larger mess. Another series of goosebumps raked my body as I remembered the little boy who got his arm cut off in the factory a month ago. Thinking about it made me want to vomit.

The factory had very narrow aisle ways, which, made maneuvering around all the machines and people quite difficult. If you weren't careful, you could easily get a part of your dress, or hair, or God forbid a body part, stuck in the machinery. It was dangerous to daydream, but it was all I really had.

"Get to work the lot of you!" Our supervisor, a burly man with a thick mustache shouted at all of us who were still staring at Kara on the floor crying. I snapped to attention, quickly making my way back towards my area. I was a good enough worker, I did what I was asked and didn't question the authority. They like that around here.

I was born here in New York, in the slums of the Lower East Side. My parents both died when I was young, only 9 years old, of tuberculosis. That was common around here, they called it the White Plague. Before my parents died, we lived in an apartment building in a room with 12 other people. The conditions were worse than most can imagine and I do not like to dwell on them much. It is not as if things are much better now, but I would like to think that they will be.

Now, I am on the edge of 18, and about to get kicked out of the orphanage I have spent the last 9 years in. They just don't have room for kids as old as me, takes up space for all the newcomers. Boy, were there a lot of newcomers. It seemed as if we had at least one more child each day in that orphanage. I slept on a pile of old flour sacks, alongside ten other girls. We slept side by side, taking up the whole space of the room from the window to the door.

I was hoping working here at the textile factory would provide me the money to get a place of my own by the time I turned 18. However, since that day is tomorrow and I am quite more than a penny shy, I was helpless.

"Elsie?" I turned towards the timid voice of Elizabeth, knowing I had been caught daydreaming again.

"Sorry, Beth," I spoke tenderly to the girl, "I just get lost in the monotony I guess."

"S'okay, Elsie, I just wanted to remind ya that our shift is over." Beth smiled sweetly at me, showing off her one missing front tooth. She was a real sweetheart.

"Oh, thank you!" I hopped over to her, starting to make our way out of the factory. Beth trailed a half step behind me as we both made our way back to the orphanage. She lost her mom to Tuberculosis too, and her dad left her mom shortly after she was born.

We walked past the office of our supervisor and I saw Mr. Graves speaking to a very posh lady. I highly doubted they were involved romantically, as Mr. Graves was married and had two children to look after. I can't imagine she was here looking for a job, either. She seemed rather well off. I made eye contact with Mr. Graves, quickly flitting my eyes away. Not two seconds later and I heard his gruff voice calling out my name.

"Yes, sir?" I answered him sweetly, eyeing the lady in my peripheral vision.

"This is the young lady I was speaking of. You just let her know how she can assist you and Elsie will do a fabulous job. Right, Elsie?" Mr. Graves looked at me as if I was doing him a huge favor by talking myself up. I blinked twice and slowly turned towards the beautiful woman in his office. She had very dark hair, as black as coal, twisted up in an aristocratic way. She had such piercing baby blue eyes that immediately caught my attention and sucked me in.

"How may I help you, m'lady?" I questioned and she just smiled at me.

"Why I am in search of a newassistant, one who will inspire me with ideas to rival my own. Mr. Graves heresays you are quite the daydreamer, but with a sharp mind. Sounds like you wouldbe perfect. Could you start tomorrow?" 

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Hello, lovely people! I know it is short, but I wanted to just set the tone for the story. I am excited to be on this journey! I hope you are, too! 

James will be introduced in the next chapter, so, hold your horses on that. Let me know what you think, please? If you are interested in editing, please send me a message! 

Thank you for reading,

Charlotte <3