Preview: Warriors Blue - The second season of the Colors of Moonlight series

Miranda

She had been waiting for a while. When was the slut going to leave? She had to get to her stupid job, didn't she? In the last few weeks, she'd always left at that time.

The babysitter shouldn't be a problem. If she said who she was, the kid already would confirm that. Once she's in the apartment, it'd be easy to get rid of the babysitter. So she would be alone with the kid. There was no reason why her plan shouldn't work.

It had to work! Then her problems would vanish. Not only that. If everything worked out as she planned, she'd be able to beat the old slut. That was the much more significant purpose of doing it.

Finally, the light goes on. Well, the time was right. And who else would sneak through the house at this hour? The apartments were not only small but rancid. For Miranda, it had been one of many reasons to leave her home as soon as possible. It was her goal to find her luck elsewhere. And actually, it looked like she had succeeded.

Providing her plan worked out.

The front door opened, and a tall, tired-looking woman stepped onto the street. Slowly she walked along the sidewalk, while some strands of red-brown hair came loose from her plait and fluttered back and forth in the wind.

Miranda saw how old her mother had grown. She avoided her consciously. The only contact she kept in secret was with her sister. The girl was the key to her success.

In the last weeks, Miranda had visited the little one again and again at school. Every time she pretended, it felt like the worst thing in the world to leave her. And the little one? Of course, she jumped straight at it. The only thing that didn't work as planned was the effort to pass the buck to her mother. The little girl remained stubborn and explained how much her mother missed her.

Miranda, of course, didn't believe a word the little brat said. She wasn't stupid. Her mother was to blame for all the problems which were now threatening to crush her. And the slut was not a bit better than her. That's what Miranda told her when she packed her things and ran away. Well, she had no choice, anyway. If she hadn't left on her own, her mother would have kicked her out. However, Miranda did not want to give this satisfaction to her. Neither then nor now.

Her sister had just turned five. Indeed, her mother had succeeded in distorting the circumstances and portraying Miranda as the evil one. But she didn't care. Okay, at least it didn't until she realized how useful her little sister could be.

Finally, her mother turned the corner and disappeared. She took a quick look at her watch. There was enough time before she had to be at the meeting point with her sister. What a happy coincidence that her mother worked at night.

She waited another five minutes in anticipation. She needed to be sure. If her mother returned unexpectedly, her plan was dead. Then she jumped up and walked to the front door. Right next to the door, there were countless bells. She unerringly pressed the button to the apartment where she once had lived.

»Theresa? Have you forgotten something,« an unknown voice rang out.

»Um, no, it's Miranda. I am Theresa's daughter,« she explained quickly and waited.

It remained silent for a while at the other end of the intercom. »Daughter? She didn't tell me about another daughter,« the voice declared suspiciously.

»I haven't been there for a while because I'm very enthusiastic about my studies. But now I have a few days off and wanted to visit my family. You can call my mother if you wish to, or ask Penelope,« Miranda replied. Hopefully, the babysitter chose the second option. After all, her mother didn't know about the contact she had with her little sister. She certainly wouldn't be happy about that.

A click sounded in the intercom, and Miranda waited. She had to be patient. Anything else wouldn't get her any further. She wasn't supposed to let on. It took a while until it clicked again. »Mira?« her little sister's asked.

»Yes, Penny. Can you open the door for me? It's freezing down here,« Miranda replied.»Yes,« Penelope said, and right afterward, the buzzer sounded. With a wildly beating heart, Miranda stepped into the house and hurried up the stairs.

»Will you stay here forever?« Penelope asked her again. Miranda suppressed a groaning. »Just for a while.« Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the babysitter. That old scaredy-cat had to go. Quickly, because time was running out.

»I think it's great that you're here,« Penelope kept babbling. Miranda looked at her little sister. She had the same reddish-brown hair as her mother. Miranda had had it too before she decided to bleach it. Now blond hair cut to a fashionable short hairstyle adorned her head.

»Me too, little one,« Miranda vowed with a dripping sweetness in her voice. Then she looked at the babysitter. It was time to give it a try. »If you want, you're welcome to go home. I'm here now, and I can watch Penelope.«

»I don't know. I promised your mother I'd take care of her until she got back,« the woman replied and looked back and forth between them and the front door. Miranda's offer didn't come at the wrong time.

Miranda gave the stupid cow her sweetest smile and drew Penelope to herself. The girl willingly let it happened and replied to the hug.

»Oh, please, can't Mira take care of me? I want her to take me to bed,« Penelope explained and unexpectedly helped Miranda.

The babysitter could not oppose the child's pleading gaze. »All right. I'll call your mother in the morning so we can figure out how to do this for the next few nights. And Penelope has to go to bed in half an hour,« the woman finally stepped in.

»Don't worry. I'll do it,« Miranda promised and made a symbol of innocence. »Have a lovely evening, and enjoy your free time.«»I'll probably do that,« the woman replied while she was already slipping into her coat. With great satisfaction, Miranda watched the woman left the apartment. Now it was finally time. Her plan has been turned into reality. She was waiting a few minutes after the babysitter disappeared.

»Can we play something before I go to bed?« Penelope asked. Miranda's heart began to beat faster. The little girl offered her the perfect chance. »I have a better idea. What do you say if we take a short walk? I want to show you something.«»Oh, yeah, I'd love that,« Penelope explained immediately and jumped up. She ran into her room to put on her coat and shoes.

Miranda picked up her cell phone and dialed her contact man's number. »It's me, Miranda. We'll be there in half an hour. Get the car ready.«