Hide and Seek

Chapter 5 - Secrets

     I was finishing up my duties for the night. Who made this mess? I scrubbed the ground, it was hard to clean. I'm not that old, yet my whole body was already hurting, I scrub the last spills of the black, sticky residue and briskly walked back to my room.

     Cleaning was especially hard today. There was so much of that residue I was one of the last people to leave the hallways from my shift. I leave angered that someone made that mess. I opened the door to my room and locked it. I saw Aya on her bed sleeping, she didn't even change into her night clothes. On closer inspection I spotted the same black residue all over her apron and hands. I kissed my teeth, there was my answer. I was getting tired of Aya's carelessness. The whole time she has been here, she has made life harder here for everyone than it already has been, but since Aya is a good person at heart I let it slide every time. However, if this keeps up it'll cost everyone, and that will be a problem.

     I take my apron off and gathered my bag to take a shower. My footsteps echoing in the hallway one of the leaders stopped me.

     "You're not sleeping yet?"

     "No." He nodded and walked off, as if he really cares. Why does it matter what I do? It's not like you guys actually pay attention.

     I walk to the bathhouse in annoyance. I turned the shower on and did my routine. I liked taking showers in the night, not many people were still up at this time. So I had the bathhouse to myself and the occasional regular night owls I knew. I particularly took hot showers, it was relaxing after a hard day of pure work. Once I finished I changed and went back to my room. Aya was still in her bed. I locked the door behind me and collapsed on my sheets.

     Tomorrow I was most likely going to work until this hour if Aya doesn't get herself together. I rolled to my side and drifted off. I was near my slumber when I heard the sound of paper being slid under our door. I turn over to see paper with Aya's name on it, I look over to Aya. She was still in a deep sleep. Out of curiosity I took the paper and opened it.

     Aya,

     Meet me in the supply room at 10 pm tomorrow. 

     If anything happens, I have it covered.

     I'll see you soon.

     I couldn't believe my eyes. Again? Was she really having relationships with other leaders. I sigh in disappointment and place the letter back as I found it. Before going back to bed I looked over at Aya. What is she really doing?

     "Delilah!" Aya whispered in my ear.

     My eyes widened and she backed away.

     "What's wrong Aya?" She awkwardly smiled and cupped her hands.

     "How long have you been awake?" I sat up pulling the blanket off of my body. 

     "I just woke up."

     "Oh..."

     "What do you need?" She fidgeted where she stood, her eyes darting in every direction

     "Well... you're going to be late for classes."

     "What are you talking about?" I squint at the clock nearby. It was no where near the start of classes, not for another few hours.

     "What's the real reason you woke me up?" She lightly giggled in a weird way.

     "I.. the kitchen... I was suppose to get the garbage out of the can but it was so hard to take the bags out and when I did the bag ripped. There's a huge mess." I changed into my uniform and got ready.