Actually, I am good with animals. 

I am also good with people and even with children. I have been working every Saturday for about three years at the orphanage for a few hours without being paid so that I can play with the children and bring them happiness. But they also have animals in the orphanage, where I sometimes help to wash them or give them food.

I have never been attacked. Neither from the kids nor from the animals. 

So why are Leroy's dogs so incredibly aggressive and attacked me immediately? 

I sit on my bed and wait for someone to take care of my wounds. Well, I met his dogs after he told me that it was now my job to take care of them. After all, the whole situation wouldn't be shitty enough if there weren't tasks to do as well.

Leroy has two Serbian Shepherds, two Asian Kangals, and a full-grown Husky. As soon as one of his security men unlocked the cages, the shepherds chased me. What I find so incredible is, that they didn't even growl when I approached them. Like two sneaky beasts, they waited until the cages were unlocked before attacking me. The husky and one of the kangals protected me by biting the shepherds on their necks and pulling them back. But as clumsy as I am, I buckled and fell on all fours. The security man led the dogs back into the cages and Leroy joined us. 

"They will have to get used to you." This was to me. 

"You shouldn't have just let them run out!" And that to his security, before his eyes fell back on me. 

"Your ankle's probably just bruised, so stop crying," he'd grumbled boredly. Fighting the tears hard, I had turned my head away. It was hopeless. Everything seemed painless for him. What was painful for him? What kind of injuries would he say were painful? He doesn't know how sensitive I am to pain, and it's brazen that he would still tell me to endure and.... not feel pain? It sounds stupid even in my head, and it's even more stupid that he actually thinks that way. 

Exhausted, I blow out the air. I'll get out of here one day anyway. One day. And I'm sure it will be soon. My parents will be back home in a few weeks and then they'll realize I'm not there. The police will get involved and I'll get out of here alive. 

"Knock, knock," a female voice suddenly sounds. A middle-aged woman enters the room. She carries a tablet in her hands. Included are disinfectants as well as bandages and a large band-aid. 

"I'm Yang. I will help you now and fix your wounds," she smiles kindly at me as she speaks. Uncertainly, I return her stare. 

"Everything will be fine, sweetheart. I'll make sure you don't get hurt," she replies only at my expression. Suspiciously, I take a closer look at her. She wears a scarf around her hair, but some strands peek out. Her skin is quite pale, which gives quite a contrast to her big, round eyes, which are dark brown. Many wrinkles adorn her face and show that she is already aged. Narrow, pink lips, still with a very friendly and welcome smile on them. 

"Let's start here. I wonder how that happened. Looks painful," she says as she rubs some ointment on my chin. Then she puts the big Band-Aid on it and smiles at me with concern. 

"I tripped and fell," I whisper, not even sure if she heard it. 

"Oh, I'm really sorry about that. But don't worry, it doesn't look so bad," she replies and starts to put a splint around my ankle. 

"What's your name, sweetheart?" 

"Katrina." 

"Utsukushīdesu!" she shouts with excitement. Confused, I look at her. What language was that? 

"What does that mean?", I ask her hesitantly. 

"It's Japanese and means it's beautiful," she replies. 

"Thank you," I smile lightly at her. And then I don't know what to say and watch her silently as she puts the splint on me. It's hard to believe I buckled so nastily. And then the asshole tells me to stop crying - pff! He should go bruise his foot! 

"Done," I hear her say, to which I immediately look away. 

"Thank you," I breathe.

"It's nothing, sweetheart. Lie down for a bit, Mr. Kingston wants you to rest," she said, pressing me into the soft mattress. 

"Okay." 

Smiling, she leaves the room so that I can close my eyes exhausted. Sleep would actually be quite good now, but I certainly wouldn't have been able to sleep a wink if the woman was still standing here. 

She was somehow kind. 

☼ ❅

When I wake up the next time, it is already quite dark outside. Slowly, I swing my legs out of bed, but immediately have to hiss in pain. I forgot about my ankle. Sighing, I slowly stand up and leave the room quietly. I'm incredibly thirsty and unfortunately, I'm used to having a water bottle next to my bed, but I'm not home anymore. When was the last time I drank? Right at this moment, my stomach growls, and my eyes widen at the sound. God, that sounds like a lioness giving birth! I haven't eaten today either... 

Quietly, I sneak down the stairs. I hold onto the banister to avoid falling down, but it creaks a bit with every step. Fortunately, each step is lighted by a lamp in the wall, so falling down is even less possible and I make it to the kitchen, where I immediately open the cupboards and take a glass, which I fill with water. 

I sigh as the water touches my dry throat. It feels like icy rain on a burning desert. Just great. 

But when I suddenly notice a movement from the corner of my eye, I'm so startled that the glass falls out of my hand. It shatters into thousands of pieces on the floor but I don't care. I care more about who this little boy is, standing on my left. I narrow my eyes slightly, but no, my eyes do not deceive me. Quietly, I suck air and put my hand on my heart, which beats violently against my bones. He, too, is a little startled and looks up at me with big green eyes. I guess he's just five years old, he seems so small. 

"Hey," I break the silence. Gently, I smile at him. Only the moonlight shines in here, but I smile very uncertainly. 

Is Leroy holding this little boy here? 

No, he's not that kind of monster. Right? 

Slowly, I approach him. 

"What are you doing here?", I ask him cautiously and crouch down to get a better look at him. He looks incredibly cute. A dimple forms right above his lip as he smiles at me, but all I'm looking at are his eyes. They shine in such a bright green that I get lost in them. 

"My name is Rina and what is yours?", I try again. But he smiled at me a little sadly. 

"Danny?", Leroy's rough voice suddenly rings out, causing me to wince hard. 

The little boy, who seems to be Danny, immediately turns around and I look up as well. Leroy is standing at the kitchen door in all his glory. Since it's so dark, I can't see his face, but I can see his stature. And that makes me swallow hard. He turns the light on, which immediately makes me squint my eyes. As soon as I get used to the light, I stand up. 

"What are you doing here, Danny? I told you to go to your room immediately," Leroy asks him, and for the first time since I've been here, his voice sounds really gentle and loving. Fascinated, I stare at him. Who is this little boy that he is so sweet with?

Suddenly the little one raises his hands, at first it takes me a few seconds to understand what he is doing, but then I understand. He starts talking with them. My eyes widen. 

He is mute. 

"I was thirsty, but then I saw this girl here and she talked to me." 

Sign language. I understand it because many of the children in the orphanage that I visit every Saturday to play with are mute. Then, over time, I learned sign language so I could communicate with them. 

I shake my head, bringing myself out of my thoughts when I realize that Danny is pointing at me. Only now Leroy is looking at me. Gone is the loving expression and a hard face appears. 

"What are you doing here?" he asks darkly and as sharp as the blade of a knife, causing me to shudder. Damn, I hate that my body reacts like that! Yes, he scares me a little bit, but he doesn't have to know that. 

"I... I wanted water," I begin quietly. 

"Danny, up with you. I'll be up in a minute," he says, not taking his eyes off me. I, however, avert my eyes and look to Danny. He gives me an uncertain look before he leaves. 

Swallowing empty, I bite my lower lip before I hear his footsteps, which slowly come closer and closer. 

Control yourself, Rina, and stop showing him that you're afraid of him! 

That's right! I shouldn't show weakness. Confident and with the thought to put him in his place this time, I lift my gaze and look him straight in the eyes. 

"Oh, God!" escapes me in shock as I realize how close Leroy is to me already. 

I widen my eyes as he gets even closer to me. His hot breath crashes against my forehead. A squeal escapes me as he braces his arms to the left and right of my head. I didn't even know that a few inches behind me, is a wall. 

"Never again. Never again will you speak with that boy, do you understand?" he murmurs menacingly. His voice is as deep as I've ever heard it. 

My self-confidence that just came is already gone. 

Traitor. 

I only manage a quick nod, so fast that my teeth meet. One last serious look from Leroy and then he slowly goes upstairs as I gasp loudly without even realizing it.

☼ ❅