Evergreens dance in the chilly wind as it

blows down the valley, messing my hairs.

"Miss Rosanne Collins?" asks nun in white attire. Her dark hair almost cover in her Vail but her porcelain skin is enough to tell she's a beautiful woman, probably in her early thirties.

I nod as I pick up my suitcase and prop my heavy handbag on my shoulder.

"Great" she say "you're on time. Now follow me in and give you a little tour of Atwood's."

I walk behind her silently as she pass through huge wooden doors with copper flowers embedded on it to a dark lobby with maroon wallpapers and lamps installed on the walls in regular intervals.

The place is ghost-silent except for the sound of our footsteps. The lobby ends into a wide room accommodated with excellent furniture. The smell of mahogany and polish enters in my nostril. To my front there a fireplace installed with an exquisite mantelpiece and fluffy couches brown couches rest before it.

Spiral staircase runs into the unknown to my right while a door exists on left.

"Stay here, until you're called in" says nun as she disappears behind that door. Now it's just me in this dead silence. Is this really a school? because the silence indicates absence of life. Is this the only woman in here. What if this is a ghost? There are lots of evidence for the latter because this magnificent, gigantic building lies in the middle of nowhere. And the monotonous presence of this nun bewilderes me. An evil chatelaine of this castle, she fits properly in this character.

"You may come in Miss Collins" she say and my imagination give chills to my body as she show up.

I walk through the doors and scent of bread and spices makes my intestine growl. I've not eaten anything since morning.

A creamy peach colored walls stand with pictures of accomplishments of the Institute. A pale old lady with sharp features sits before a desk at the center. A huge rectangular painting of two people burning in a pit of fire, hangs behind her. "Sinner burns in hell" says the painting. I have no problem seeing my froster parents in place of those people in the painting.

"Miss Rosanne Annlynn Collins, if I'm not mistaken" says the nun

"Yes, miss" I say in hushed voice

"I hope sister Charlotte have given you a tour of the school"

"oh, not yet sister" Miss Charlotte blurts

"Well, that's fine too. It's a zoo apparently, that one needs to have a tour" she clearls her throat loudly as she looks through my application and other papers. "In my knowledge, there's is not a very good report in terms of your behavior and you're academics. You're froster parents more like your benefactors have chosen to pronounce you as a troublemaker. Is that right or is that wrong?"

"I'm afraid you're not quite right ma'am" I say

"So, they've not called you that, miss"

"They have but. That is not an accurate representation of me"

So, then what is your accurate representation? Are you delightful?

"I could be... um.. It's depends on what is delightful in your perspective."

"So, you're a talker" she wears her glasses and take a look on me head to toe.

"I would not call myself that. I just speak when I need to."

"Well, that's helpful. Because I'm tired of the girls of your age. All kinds of rubbish come out of their mouth. Constantly."

I stay silent to that. Because there could be no repartee for that. Even if it's there. I'd just defy my former point bringing it on the table. And when it comes. I don't wait for a witty rejoinder to reach my brain then come out of my lips. Because I'm not good at that and I rather prefer speaking my mind.

She studies me for a while, then say.

"Miss Collins, if you're not a trouble as you said, then why did your benefactors said that. Give me one good reason to make me convince it was a lie"

"To get rid of me" I add simply. Could it be anymore obvious?

"And why would they want to do that?"

"Because.. perhaps, we don't happen to share the same blood"

"Ridiculous, seriously that's the best you could come up with. I've heard many lies like that in past. You need to know if they was so desperate to get rid of you, they would have just thrown you out like that. Why waste money on the education?"

"They would have but, throwing me out would have resulted in reckless public shaming. Information travels faster in small town"

"You're just another spoiled brat, aren't you. Don't worry we'll fix you up in no time. Physical punishments do wonders for children like you."

I'm down in the mouth after hearing that. Actually these are the words that reminds me how helpless and lonely I am. I tighten my fists, and bite my lip, trying to hold my tears.

She tosses a bag out of a cupboard and key from the drawer of her table.

"Here" she say "your uniform and the keys to your room. Don't lose any of it." she returns back to her seat and flash an ugly smile on me before she resumes her work. I'm pretty sure that was on purpose.

I follow sister Charlotte out the door and she leads me to the stairscase.

"You have to go to the third floor" she say I collect my stuff and ascend the stairs slowly trying to balance myself with my luggage.

'Rosanne!" sister Charlotte calls out

"Yes, sister" I say

"Please don't mind the things sister Mary said. She just looks everyone under same lens" she says

"The lens which says everyone is a sinner"

"probably, but she'll slowly know you"

"I smile and continue my struggle on the stairs just then my stomach growls on me again"

"sister Charlotte" I say

"yes?"

"Can I have something to eat, I'm starving"

"I'm sorry, our kitchen is closed during these hours, but I'll speak to the cook. If there is something left from the lunch I'll provide you as soon as possible"

"Thanks a lot"

"You're welcome"

After enough of grapple I finally made it to the third floor.

The vague noise confirms the human presence, still it's way too quite for a school. I look for the room number carved on my key. My room number is thirty five and to my right I can already see it in the end.

I open the room and the the smell of old stale furniture spreads in my nose so strongly that I can feel it in my tongue.

It's a small narrow room with a small bed a tiny wardrobe and a study table. That's all you can keep in. A large window is there, right opposite to the door with the view of the woods.

I like the place, because of it's solitude. I will not have any one else to disturb me. This is more than I could ask for.

I take a bath and change in something comfortable. I open up my bag and have a look on my school dress. A navy blue plaid skirt with a full sleeved light blue shirt. In addition there's a tie, an overcoat and a pair of socks and black shoes. In the end of the bag there's a huge paper of Do's and Don'ts of Atwood's. The list of Do's is pretty long but the don'ts outnumber them.

There's a subtle knock on the door. I put my things back and open the door and sisters Charlotte stands there expressionless.

"Here something to eat" she shove me the try and walk away before I could have a chance to say thank you.

I wasn't expecting food, now that I have it I'm grateful for it. However I have a pretty good practice for being hungry for a long time.

I take off the cover of the try and a colourless stew lies with a dry bread and a jug of water.

The food smells horrible enough to kill my appetite but I have to make a choice.

Finish this insipid thing or sleep with a painful stomach.

I choose the former because if I won't eat I'll have to suffer till morning and this is hard too but it will end quicker.

I start with the bread and then slowly turn to stew. The flavor was excruciating but atleast I'm full.

I stand before the window to have a taste of the mesmerising few. The tree shook their hairs as the zephyr touches them. Below the window stands two huge and angry rocks.

Though I'm on the third floor, but they act all as the stairs through which I can go to the other side. Going outside is strictly prohibited but I'm not much of a rule follower.

I don't think anyone is going to come to check on me now. Maybe it will be worth it if I'll take the risk. Cold wind hurtle in sending chills down my body. I rub my hands together and accidentally rub on the burned spot above my thumb.

A bitter memory makes place in my head. I think it's was yesterday morning. After much of hardwork I baked a cake for Sebastian (my step brother) and it was low in sugar.

He took a bite and spat it out on the floor.

"Disgusting" he said and walked towards me.

He pulled my hair and slaped me so hard that I fell across the room. I got up fueled by anger and slapped him back with all the power I had, just then his mother walked in.

"You ugly little thing!" she screamed. Her voice still fresh in my ears.

"Is this the way you behave with your master" she shouted at dragged me out of the room by my hairs. I screamed and cried and yelled to no one who could help me.

Next thing I knew I was in Mr. Reynolds room.

He said things to me I didn't hear because the noise of my wailing was too loud. Then he walked to me took the cigarette out of his mouth and put it off on my hand. And rest of day I spend locked up in the servant's room, where they kept me.

I find myself in the crouched position trembling and sweating. I take deep breaths stand up back again. I look out of the window again. I'm safe. I tell myself. It's just four years then I'll be an adult now I'd able to start a new life. But I still feel unrest inside of me. Another minute I know I'm jumping off the rocks and making me way inside of the woods.

Clusters of wild flowers bloom despensing an eclectic scent, and cacophony of birds disconnect me from the world I left behind. Sunlight splashes through leaves and shine on the cobblestones through which I jump and make my way ahead. Squirrels sprints to the higher branches on my presence, stuttering on trees.

I walk and I walk aimlessly until a pond appears before my eyes. Sunlight glints against the water and silver trouts swim in delight. I opt to stay. I think I was walking for a while because precipitation tickles down my cheeks. I sit on the giant stone, and dip my feet in the cold soft layers of water. As I lift my head I see a clear blue sky in patches between the canopy while birds fly from one branch to the another. I lay on the stone spreading my arms out and let the zephyr crease my skin.

I close my eyes and let the harmony of nature take over me.

There's been a few minutes since my presence and I can feel the drop in temprature to several degrees. The soothing wind turns into a smoke of ice. I sit up cocooning myself and take my feet out of the pond.

When they're dried I tuck my shoes back then trace my steps out of the forest.

The rocks which were easy way down the window now stand as a challenge.

After slipping and battling for friction I make it back inside my room. My body gets almost numb in the icy environment, so I slide down inside my blanket to capture all the heat I lost.

Knock on the door drifts me out of the seamless sleep was sinked into. Sister Charlotte stands before me the as I open it and hand me a time table.

"I'm hear to call for the music and painting class which will star at seven" she say.

"Do I have to show up in school uniform" I ask.

"No, regular clothes will do" she say.

"okay, thanks for this" I say gesturing at the paper. And she walks away without acknowledging my my words. Something is really strange about things woman, always leaves in fluster.

I glace at the clock, that tells me there are only ten minutes left before seven so I put on some layers of warm clothes and comb my hairs.

In the lobby I finally see my companion girls chatting with each other in a line fromed by a nun I have never seen before.

Strange looks are flashed, gestures are exchanged as I present myself to everyone for the first time. I quietly make my way at the back of the queue as they starts moving down stairs.

As we reach second floor girls walk to the left while right is occupied by boys. Girls disperse into a wide room with windows. A piano is placed in the center and benches are placed around it.

A young lady stand beside the piano and flash smile at everyone.

Class fall in silence as soon as everyone takes there seats.

"So, how are my girls" she asks

"Fine" everyone answers together

She examines the room as she sit before the piano and her eyes stop on me.

"Ah! we have a new child" she say "may I know your name?"

"Rosanne Annlynn Collins" I say in low voice.

"That's a lovely name" she says in sprite "who named you?"

"My grandmother" I say sheepishly

"okay, Rosanne please take the first seat so I can analyze your skills" she says and I timidly make my way to the bench right before her, besides a thin redheaded girl with freckles.

Soon air is filled with tunes, carols and old lullabies, and I discover the strict side of what everyone calls to be sister Valerie.

At the end she calls me to play a tune and my fingers stumbles at first but soon I get the hang of it so, I was pronounced as a quick learner.

When the bell rings, the girls walked to the classroom beside it.

Plain sheets were distributed by a lady known as sister Katherine. A chubby brown woman who don't need a reason to be cheerful. Exhilaration is what she breath on, or atleast that's what appears until now.

She jokes around with every girl for a while then ask us to paint our hearts out. If I did that, I'd probably own the most pathetic painting in the room so, I just paint the pond I saw few hours ago.

She walks up to everyone, some are being highly praised while some are just made fun of and luckily I belonged now where. Mine was called mediocre, but can do better if I work hard. Satisfied with the remark I walk out with everyone to the mess where dinner was served. I was done in the first helping so I was allowed to leave. I headed back to my room and hit the bed straight to drown in sleep.