Chapter 39 Untitled Chapter LEAVING RIVERFORD
~ ELARA ~
It hurt.
Everything, it just hurt. I didn't know how to explain it, but I could feel it from the pit of my stomach and spreading like a wildfire around every inch of my body.
My wounds from Roger had mostly healed or dried up, my body wasn't aching as much, but there was a feeling in my body that couldn't compare to any physical pain in the world.
I could feel it everywhere, and it never left. No amount of time could fix it.
The school bell blares into my ear and I jump out of my gaze, grabbing my bag. I always sat right next to the door, started packing my books exactly four minutes before class ended, and had my fingers tightly wrapped around my backpack strap.
I knew the location of all their last periods, how long they'd talk in the hallways, how long it took for them to reach the exit, everything.
Except sometimes my timing would be off, and that's what I feared every day. It's happened multiple times, and none of them ended good.
My focus doesn't stray once as my legs stride in a quick pace, straight for the large double doors that opened to my freedom out of this hell.
I had my plan all set out since my first class this morning.
I'd go straight to the bus, down to Rupert City, and from there I'd walk to the Conner Estate. The bus never drove down there, and I couldn't afford a taxi so walking was the only option left for me.
I hadn't realized my oxygen was getting cut off from holding my breath for too long until I reach the bus doors.
I gasp for air as I sit down on the leather seat, my hand on my chest as I slowly count down from 3.
They didn't catch me.
On instinct I slide down in my seat, hiding anyone's ability to see if I was on the bus.
Every time those bus doors closed I felt the relief enter my body, but not today. After they caught me yesterday, even down in Rupert City where no one from my town ever dared to step foot in, I would never be safe.
I feel my mind wandering back to the man who got chased by the police last night. I wonder what kind of trouble he'd gotten into to get the police involved.
I furrow my eyebrows together with my head leaned against the cold glass window as I try to forget about it, focusing on the trees passing by as the bus moved down the streets.
I could tell we were getting closer, because the dirty streets, lined with torn up looking houses and litter covering every corner were fading away.
I could see the tall buildings, overshadowing our small town that was seemingly invisible to the citizens of Rupert City.
We were just trash to them, nothing but a bunch of pathetic, drug addicted, thieves.
In fact, I'm not even sure they acknowledged our existence, considering they'd always buy off the land where families who could barely even get by lived in for their million dollar infrastructure's.
I let out a quiet thank you to the kind bus driver before walking out, ignoring the immediate stares I get.
The bus to Rupert City from my town was always empty by the time it arrived there.
So, whenever our towns old, worn down buses would pull over at the bus stop, no one expected anyone like us to walk out into their beloved city.
But, I didn't care enough about their judging stares right now. All I cared about was the golden card held tightly in my hand that would lead me to freedom.
I start my walk towards the Conner estate, which would take 35 minutes.
I could already feel my legs start to get sore. I wasn't out of shape, but my body had been injured so many times that normal activities became painful.
To ignore the burning pain in my body I try to focus on my surroundings, the bright flowers, the bustling streets filled with only the wealthiest.
I feel my heart strain at a man, at least in his 60's, being scolded by his boss, who looked 30 years younger than him.
The old man's face looked empty as he took the Conner Estate.
To say it was big would be an understatement, the place was a castle, if anything, blocked by a large steel gate.
I could only wonder why they needed that much room, how big was their family? Surely they wouldn't need that much space, it could fit an entire city.
I slowly make my way over to the gate that towered over me. I probably looked like an ant standing next to it.
I purse my lips together, before slowly pushing a gold button that I figured to be where the gate attendant would answer.
No one answers, so I move to push my finger on the button again but get startled at the voice that suddenly sounds from the speaker.
" Get away from the premises. Mr. Conner is not taking interviews, he doesn't want any sponsorships, he doesn't want to help your charity, and he doesn't care about the Girl Scout cookies." The old man drags out in a bored tone through the speaker, as if he's been saying it all day.
"I'm here for a job, I have the card and everything, sir." I say, trying to hide the nervous tone in my voice as I hold the golden card up at the camera.
He didn't even ask me to show it, I just start doing things when I'm nervous, it's a habit I wished I could break.
It's silent for a moment until a loud click sounds and the door slowly starts opening.
My heart races as the rest of the castle like structure is revealed.
Letting my legs take me down to the entrance, I take in the large fountains of water splashing down, the large staircases on either end of the fountains that led up to the doors, and the gardeners working to make the bushes as clean as possible.
I felt worthless just looking at the front yard. How much money did these people have anyways? And how could someone even obtain that large amount of money?
I finally make it to the door, my eyes landing on the doorbell to the side.
My hands hesitate at first, but I finally muster up the courage to ring the bell, waiting at the door with what felt like a bunch of bees swarming in my stomach.
I was nervous, terrified about how the owners would treat me after seeing that poor old man earlier.
The sound of the large doors opening only make me more nervous, and the tall woman with her hair tied neatly into a bun, staring at me with dead eyes at the other side of the door make me terrified of what's to come.
" Give me the card." She orders, stiffly pointing her hand out towards me.
"O..of course." I say, putting it onto her hand that quickly moves back to inspect the card. I watch her carefully, my eyes following every corner of the card she inspects.
"Name." She says, her eyes still inspecting the card.
" Elara Dawn." I reply, my hands now intertwined together nervously.
"Hm.and who gave this to you?" She asks, peering up at me through her small glasses with a suspicious gaze.
"A.a old man, he just gave it to me, it was pretty random." I think for a second before opening my mouth again.
" But he is very kind! He is the kindest man I've ever met, and very good at his job, I was really impressed with the way he-"
She moves her finger up at my face, and my speech is cut off as I look down at the finger in front of me. An annoyed look shadows her wrinkled face as she lets out a frustrated breath.
"That's Mr. Giovani. He doesn't need your reviews, he gets very generous checks, everyone here does. I was asking because there have been lots of people trying to sneak a job in here, but it seems like you've somehow gotten recommended by Giovani, you should be grateful." She says, swiftly turning on her heels before ordering me to follow behind her.
" Does Mr. Giovani work in the house? I never got to thank him." I frown, following behind her while taking in the extravagant interior of the mansion.
Every piece of furniture looked like it was worth ten times my rent, and the details of the flooring and ceilings only made the place look even more luxurious.
The sound of the woman's heels suddenly stop, and I stop in my steps soon after she does. She turns to me, her eyes blazing with anger as they judge every inch of me.
"You speak to me with respect, we're not friends.
Refer to me as Mrs. Carmen, you are only here for work." She glares, and I feel my mouth run dry as I nod, bowing my head down slightly in shame. I can't ruin this too.
Mrs. Carmen turns back around, and I follow as we continue moving down the large halls. The house was quiet, not surprising due to the size of it, but it felt lonely, empty.
" This is where the maids usually stay, most of us work full time so we live in the maid quarters." She sighs, opening a brown door. I look through, walking behind her. Multiple maids scurry in and out of doors, eyeing me curiously as they walk by.
I notice how none of them look my age, they either looked like they were in their thirties or in their fifties to sixties.
" We usually don't hire young ladies at the estate due to multiple scandals. But, I trust Mr. Giovani has chosen you for good reason, so I hope you can live up to that."
Mrs. Carmen states.
Scandals?
I furrow my brows together in thought as she unlocks a door at the end of the hallway, entering a small office that I assumed to be hers.
" And I presume you're a student at Rupert Kingswood Private school?" She says, sitting in a leather chair and typing into her computer.
I stand there in silence for a bit, knowing Mrs.Carmen would never allow me to continue working if I tell her what school I actually attend.
She turns her head, peering up at me through her glasses from my lack of words, and I get scared she'd yell at me if I don't answer, so I do.
"I...I go to school and live in a small
town..Riverford." I mutter the last part under my breath, my eyes facing the ground.
" Not surprising..." She puffs out, turning her head back. I watch the screen, confused when she types in Rupert Kingswood High School as the school I'm attending.
"The Conner family is very kind to student workers, you will have your own quarters with the other maids and be granted admission to attend the school free of charge." She says, pushing her glasses higher up as she completes the rest of my registration.
I look at her, my jaw nearly dropped after the words leave her mouth.
It felt like I was in a fever dream, I'd be attending the school only the wealthiest went to, and living here, far away from Roger.
I must of gazed off as I feel soft fabric being pushed into my hand, and a heavy brown box stacked on top. My body slightly stumbles back at the force but I keep steady as I look down at the objects in my hand.
" This is your maid work attire, and the box has your school uniform and books, here's a paper of your work schedule." She says, handing me a freshly printed sheet of paper.
I look down at it, trying to grab it without dropping the stuff in my hands.
Mrs. Carmen rolls her eyes at me before just putting the paper on top of the box.
" School starts at 7:30am and ends at 3pm. Your shift during the school week starts at 4pm to whenever you finish your duties, which should be around midnight.
On weekends you work from 6am to midnight." She states as she walks out of the room.
I follow behind, trying my best to hold onto everything in my hands.
" Mrs. Carmen thank you for all the help, I really appreciate it." I say, moving faster to catch up behind her.
"It's my job, I don't have a choice." She states, and I frown at her words.
I'm not sure she liked me.
"Here's your room." Mrs. Carmen says and I walk in to the clean looking bedroom. It was small, but the best room I've ever had with a bed to the side, a desk next to a window and a small closet in the
corner.
" Wow, It's beautiful." I say, putting the stuff in my hands next to the wooden desk.
I don't think Ive ever had something so nice.
My hand grazes over the soft bed and I look up at Mrs. Carmen, a genuine smile over my face, one I hadn't shown in years.
She looks at me oddly with her arms crossed over her chest. She probably thought I was crazy for being so excited over a room.
" You may leave now. Tomorrow I expect you back here with all your personal belongings whenever you finish school, and ask your parents to sign this consent form." She says, handing me a yellow sheet of paper.
I look at the paper, shaking my head no. "I..I don't have parents Mrs. Carmen." I say, my voice quiet.
I look back up at her.
The sound of a Walkie-Talkie suddenly resonates throughout the room and I watch as Mrs. Carmen quickly puts it up to her ear.
" The Conner Family has arrived from Dubai." An older sounding voice booms through the speaker.
" Leave through the back exit, we will figure out the consent form later." She says, hurriedly leaving the room.
Back exit? Am I supposed to know where that is...