SPLIT

Chapter 2

I puffed out a big breath of air as more sweat ran down my forehead , drenching my clothes. Today seemed to be more of the hotter days in the pit. Unbearably hot and it took all of the strength we had left to keep going.

"Keep it moving ladies! We need these out by sunrise!" Miss Geladi yelled making me wish I had followed Charlie's advice and asked to be excused, though I knew better not to. Miss Geladi might be an elder lady , but she's worked here for more years than I've been alive , that's why she's in charge, why she's ruthless, because she knew what was expected of us and how to get the job done.

I looked over at the younger girls - barely turned 10 when they were dragged over here - as they cried while they sowed until their little fingers bled. It was tough being a women in Norview. Sure the guys had it rough working in the mines and  the factories but they never worked in conditions like ours , being treated as the bottom of the food chain. It was times like these when I saw husbands coming in and dumping their dirty clothes with their wives as if they were scum , that I was glad that the only guy I knew wasn't like any of the other.

"Vera, could you give this to your mother. It's for the bread she traded me last week." Miss Geladi said while I nod my head and placed the twine into my pocket. There were two ways out of this place for a women , it was either maternity -only until after the baby was born - or old age. My mother was lucky enough to have gotten out of this place when she did because I think it's only gotten worse. She now trades goods with the other 'retired' women. You want bread ? You trade something for it. Patotoes for dinner ? Trade. It was like an eye for an eye. I gave you what my family traded in, in exhange for yours. My mother baked. So she traded bread for wheat so she could bake more and then other's traded with her . I was very proud of my mother but I was mostly happy that she didn't have to come back to this place everyday. 

"This is the last of it." I said , handing my stack of washed clothing to Miss Geladi.

"Thank you. You're allowed to clock out for the night ." She said as I thanked her before running home before curfew started.

"This is from Miss Geladi. For the bread." I said handing my mother the twine.

"You look like you had a rough day at the pit." She said pouring water into the bucket while I undressed.

"Hottest day I've had in a long time." I said drawing the curtain while starting to scrub myself clean with the sponge.

"I surely don't miss those days."

"Believe me , whatever you're doing must be better than what I'm doing." I said laughing while drying off and slipping into my night dress.

"And I'm so proud of you for it." She said giving me my dinner. We always had the same every night since we didn't have a lot . Every night we would each share a loaf of bread with whatever vegetable she had received in trading during the day. Tonight , it was pickled carrots. My favorite.

"You should've seen the little girls today mom. I've never seen them cry so much. "

"Well , you did too when you first started in the pit. "

"I know but it's was different. I had you there with me. A lot of them don't have someone looking out for them. Nowadays people pray to have a son just to spare them the heart ache of sending their little girl to that place. " I said breaking a piece of bread between my fingers.

"I know. But it's the world we live in. Can't exactly change it."

"I guess.... I uh , should probably get to bed. Thank you for the dinner mom. "I said placing a kiss to her cheek before curling up infront of the fireplace. Day's like today weren't one of the better days to live through , you mostly just want to sleep your life away by the time you get home. Yet , another day breaks you from your dream world and brings you back to this reality...

When I got to the pit the next day, I could hardly make my way through the crowd. The way towards the pit was lined with a bunch of people as I tried to squeeze through them.

"What's going on here ?" I asked one of the little girls as she briefly looked up at me.

"Two of the guys from the factory are fighting again."she said and I knew exactly who it was. Shoving my way through the crowd of nosy women , I see Charlie on top of another guy throwing punches left and right.

"Stop it ! "I yelled making him turn around and the other guy get back up.

"I told you she would come to your rescue. " The other guy said resulting in Charlie pinning him up against the wall.

"Charlie stop it !" I yelled walking closer. 

"Yeah , listen to her." The other guy said while Charlie's hold on his neck only tightened.

"I can't let him go Vera. " He said, not even looking at me.

"Why not ?" I said while I walked closer seeing how bloody both of them were.

"He said things about you." He said shaking with anger. This wasn't the first time someone  has spread rumours about me and Charlie came to my defend.  I knew the drill already.

"It's alright. " I said with a sigh, taking his hand and unclentching it while the crowd disbanded. 

"No it's not.  He's a pig!" He yelled trying to throw a punch while I pulled him back making the other guy fall to the ground coughing. 

"I know. Let's get you cleaned up." I said while I walked him over to the pit. This wasn't the first time I had to stitch him up or clean his wounds either. This happened a lot more than you would've thought. Like I said , men had no respect for women around here. And I just so have happened to be their top pick when it came to demonetising someone.

"Hold still." I said as he winched while I wiped the blood from his split lip.

"He said he could get you to do anything he wanted to."

"Uh huh." I said not really paying attention. He was right. The guys around here were pigs. And this wasn't the first guy who thought I was like the other girls who would be at his beck and call.

"You don't get it Vera." He said taking my hands in his as I watched the worry in his eyes. "He said if he got the chance to have his way with you... I can't even finish that sentence. " he said defeated as I rinsed the -now stained red - rag out.

"He's not the first guy Charlie. But you gotta stop getting into fights like this. "

"How can I when they're all looking at you like you're some trophy!?" He said making me see that over protective brotherly side of him. He's always looked out for me. Always had my back and that's one of the reasons I was glad I had him on my side .

"Because if you don't, you'll get send down to the mines for two weeks as your punishment. And trust me , it's worse than this place. "I said while he stood up.

"And I'll do it in a heartbeat if it meant I got to protect you Vera. You know that." He said softly as I watched him.

"And I'm very grateful of that . But Charlie , this over protective brotherly side of yours has to get some boundaries too. " I said as I watched his face fall. I might just have struck a nerve. "You can't protect me when you're in the mines for two weeks working the graveyard shift. Besides , who am I going to watch the wall with ?" I said laughing, lighting the mood as he brushed his hair back.

"You're right. I gotta go. I'll see you later!" He yelled as he ran out. He might be a big pain , but he's the best friend I could ever ask for.

That's it ! What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comment section below. Thank you so much for reading. Until next time keep howling my wolves ❤🐺