Ballad of the Bruised [ j.v ]

01

>Red Eyed Angel<

AN ANIMAL ATTACK.

That was the so called cause of death of Henry Yates and Dahlia McIver. Two bites on Henry, and three on Dahlia was all the police had to go on. Their bodies, completely drained of blood. Accept for the substance that stained their clothes, the obvious sign of a struggle.

Agnes thought of these events many a time as she grew from a scarred nine year old mourning her parents death, to a scarred fourteen year old wanting nothing more than to be freed from her pain. But, that is not how the story goes.

Agnes was taken to the Harold Home for Girls. On the outside, it may seem like a semi-pleasant place where girls who had it hard resided. With it's cheery yellow exterior, bright blue French doors, and ivy covered walls, who would think any less? But on the inside, it was much different.

It was cold and damp, smelling of mildew and dust. The foyer, dining room, and the staff quarters and offices were kept spotless. The kitchen, washrooms and dorms however, were another matter.

Agnes was forced to share a small, filthy room with nineteen other girls in a space made for four, at the most. The place had a dirt floor, and itchy straw mattresses layed side by side without bed frames. They only had a few blankets, and they went to the younger kids. She was also forced to do manual labor without reward, forced to obey all kinds of nonsense rules or she would receive brutal punishment (extra chores, beatings, etc.)

And lastly, forced to live a life without her parents.

Agnes knew from the moment she entered the orphanage gates that not everything was going to be sunshine and rainbows, despite the cheerful appearance of the building.

Never judge a present by the wrapping, Agnes told herself time and time again. She told herself this when somebody was nice to her, when someone acted as though they liked her, even when somebody did something as innocent as smile at her.

Never judge a present by the wrapping...never judge a present by the wrapping...

She had done so many times before, and learned from her mistakes since. She trusted her mother as a young child, her mother later abused her. She trusted Henry, he later left her alone forever. She trusted her mother and Henry to protect her, to be there for her, to love her.

And they died.

Her new motto was one of the few things in her life she could count on. She didn't know what expect with things changing left and right.