School on Hills

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"

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