Evelyn's POV

After Arnold left, I stood in front of my mom stiffly with a poker face. Today was one of the best days of my life. We weren't allowed to leave the building ever, Arnold somehow made it possible. I couldn't thank him enough, I didn't thank him or showed any assertive feelings towards him because I didn't want him to feel for me.

It wasn't possible for us to have a thing. It wasn't possible for us to be a "we". Rather than sex I couldn't help or satisfy him with anything. I decided to avoid him completely the next time he showed up.

Placing my hand on my head, I tried to pull mom away as she pushed me closer to her by taking support of my open hair. It pained, it pained so much. "Ow", I tried to control but the words escaped my lips naturally.

"I dare you, Evelyn, don't try acting extra smart with me", she slapped me tightly on my right cheek. I gasped in pain whilst rubbing that specific area.

I opened my mouth to speak but I was hesitant to so I decided to zip myself up. Her violent actions didn't stop, "Tried running away again, that's the reason you're so late ? ", she questioned, her face fuming red with anger.

"seriously mo-- ? ", I paused and then continued "Ma'am", the offense could be sensed in my tone.

I was prohibited to call her mom in front of anyone or in open. What a shame, right? I was so used to not calling her mom, she never acted like one. All that mattered to her was leadership, precisely dictatorship.

"I would never run away", I swallowed in fear, her hands possessed a belt. I knew what was it for, "Sorry for being late "

She caressed the belt and wrapped it around her stomach "You wouldn't dare, you know the consequences, right? "

"I do", I nodded and she left. I felt like a puppet here, every move of mine was recorded. Every action of mine was noticed, every activity analyzed. A tear flicked through my eyes as it traveled from my cheeks to my chin. I wiped it with the back of my hands and settled myself on the bed, in the common room.

Yeah, common room. We didn't have our individual rooms, all the beds of the girls were lined up. Everything was common here, the bathroom, the cupboard, and also the bed.

"Hey Evelyn, rumors about you having nightstands with that hot Richie is spreading like fire", Hannah took a seat next to me. Her dirty blonde hair tied in a ponytail, her curious green eyes glared at me.

I separated myself as our arms touched. She was a total bitch, she always had the urge to multiply a 5 letter sentence by 10. "Oh", I replied in a dim tone.

In a while, we were joined by Allie. She was Hannah's best friend so expect the same behavior from her side. "Did he spend a lot of dollars on you ", she moved her pointed nails throughout my face "Now I know why maybe I should dye my hair black"

"Me too ! ", Hannah exclaimed.

"Excuse me ", I distanced myself and made my way towards the restroom, I didn't really have the urge to use one. I just felt exhausted in their presence, I could feel them judging me because they never whispered, they always said things out loud.

I splashed the water on my face attempting to vanish away the scar along with the problems I faced here on daily basis. I had no friend, no acquaintance, and no guide. It was me, all by myself.

Now you may think, why didn't I attempt to run away. I did, not once, not twice but a lot many times. They always found me. I'm glad Sasha isn't here anymore, she was a 10-year-old girl who was brought here out of nowhere. That's yet a mystery.

I'm glad that I helped her move away from this place, I admitted her to an orphanage. She was safer there. They caught me mid-way after her admission, I wasn't given food for the rest of the week. This tale is about a year old, probably. I haven't left the building ever since until today but it proved out to have some serious consequence.

I'm happy Sasha didn't have to face all of this. She didn't have to consume pills so that puberty could hit her earlier, I went through the phase. I grew up before it was my actual time to. If you'll know what growing up means.

This place wasn't this strict and deadly before. One mistake of mine, that's what it took to give away my freedom. I don't regret it, how can I regret something I fancied so much and to my glee, the thing fancied me back.

Zach. Zach Barney. I stroked away from his thoughts, from my mind, they threw me in depression every time. I later changed into a night robe and straightened my back on the bed. Loosening up the bun I allowed my hair open. I closed my eyelids desiring to sleep but that very moment I was awakened by a push.

Examining the figure, I realized that it was Miss Rosaline aka my mom. "Yeah ?", I questioned perplexed.

"Get your ass back on duty ", she pulled me up.

"No, it's supposedly my holiday plus it's very late, I think ", I was offended.

"You don't get to decide that young lady, get your ass working. Plaster your face, it looks disastrous "

After nodding to her answer, I changed into a sexy dress picked up by her. I inhaled deeply whilst walking to the room I was assigned to. I hoped that the guy who demanded me was Arnold, he'd been asking a lot about me lately.

To my discontent the man wasn't Arnold, in fact, he was double my age. I gasped as I walk towards him. This place was slowly killing me, I had no way out. I tried giving up by suicide a lot many times. I was saved, every time only for worse.

The man was in his late 50's, he slowly slipped off his shirt from his body and tried unbolting my buttons too. I watched him in annoyance, refused to say a word. I allowed him to do whatever he wanted to with my body, he paid a price for it.

Why weren't men like Arnold? He simply was a standout. Came to me, paid for me but did nothing. One of the men I truly respect. This man smiled like a prick, my reflexes pushed him away for which I had to apologize. I moaned as he entered my body, I tried jerking him off but I couldn't as he was stronger.

My attention traveled towards the watch and when his time ended, I alarmed him and draped my clothes around my body. "Time's up, leave ", he nodded and got himself settled before exiting the door.

leave or more of a leaf. Damn you, Arnold.

It was almost 3 am. I was hungry, I couldn't eat anything as it was off timings. I curled myself on the bed, hugged my knees, and tried sleeping. I couldn't, I was hungry. Then, I remembered that I kept a packet of biscuits in my purse which I carried out.

I slowly without making any noise made my way towards the cupboard to remove my bag. I carried the bag along with me to my bed. I unzipped it, successfully removed the packet, and tried closing it again. Feeling an obstacle on the way, I removed a paper because I didn't have one in my purse.

It was a letter neatly folded. Oh no, Arnold why do you have to be so sweet. It read.

Dear Leaf,

Today was fun, in you, I found a friend. Thank you for agreeing to spend a day with me. I hope and intend to take you out more often. Maybe we're complicated but we can at least succeed in our relationship as friends. Yeah, friends at least? Please? A) yes B) A. So you can now choose any option as per your choice. See you soon, miss me.

Much love,

Arnold.

A quick smile escaped my lips rejuvenating and refreshing all the bad stuff that happened with me earlier. I quickly folded the letter again and hid it under my bed.

A week later

Sipping on my cup of tea, I greeted one more day. I expected the same from today, life wasn't really surprising. Arnold didn't really show up for a week now. Maybe he was an illusion I had to get over. The only person I considered as a friend left me.

I marched downstairs slowly, Mom was talking with a man who faced her, due to which I could only see his back. His hair was a shade of grey, his suit was extremely expensive, I could make that out from the fabric which shined. I watched them from afar and didn't move forward.

Mom didn't seem much pushy or bossy in front of him, she in fact obeyed him. She only nodded to whatever he said. Their voices weren't audible. After completion of their conversation, they shook each other's hand after which the man exited.

"Good Morning Miss Rosaline ", I greeted after having eye contact with my mom. She nodded and left. "Who was the man ?", I questioned Jane, she worked for mom. She was the same age but a bit sweeter and gentle.

"Uh---", she couldn't frame words I guess.

"Yes?, stays between us", I solaced.

"He's the man who finances this place. The man who protects or you may say shields this illegal place from the police. We couldn't be running this efficiently if it wasn't for him. We're so grateful to him for protecting us "

"Protecting ?", I arched my brows towards her. She stood silent to my question. I, at last, found hope, if I managed to convince him I'd get rid of this place. This could end, this all could end right away. But for that, I had to wait for his attendance here once again and I was ready for that. Maybe, now was the time for freedom.

"So, who is he? Police? A businessman ?", I interrogated.

She surfaced her spectacles properly on her nose and answered "No, he's a renowned politician and also a businessman . The Ashton Dickman ".

"Heavy name ", I breathed out. I walked away from Jane and comforted myself in the dining room. I could convince Mr. Politician to take this place down and if he couldn't I could threaten him in the name of his image. I just needed a plan so that things went inflow and of course I needed someone to help.

Maybe, I could convince one of the girls to help me.

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