SISTERS

ADELINE'S POV

Today, Veronica asked us to do the dishes. When we walked in, we were searched to make sure we weren't carrying anything dangerous on us. Once we're done and about to leave, we'll be searched again. There are so many dishes that even with twenty of us, it seems impossible to wash them all. There are maids here for jobs like this but I guess Veronica is trying to get a point across.

She wants to make us understand that she is still the boss and she can get us to do whatever she wants us to. All she has to do is order it and it's hers. It's fucked up. The worst thing is she made us wash the dishes in the same exposing clothes she has us wear everyday. At least she told the guards not to touch us so I guess we're fine.

"You have such pretty hair." I'm startled by the voice beside me. I haven't heard another girl in this place talk to me apart from Silver mist. Silver mist has been awfully quiet today and I can notice that she has bruises all over her body. She must have been punished but I have no idea what for. 

"Uhm, thank you." I say to the blond girl next to me. Veronica named her Tink. She's one of the new girls. 

"Veronica punished her for picking on you." The girl says following my gaze towards Silver. My eyes widen and I immediately feel guilty.

"What!? How do you know?" I ask her.

"Her room is next to mine. I overheard everything." She explains.

"Oh…" Is all I say. I mean I didn't ask for her to get punished but I also didn't ask her to bully me. "there must be some kind of anti bullying law here then." I say.

Tink laughs. "No I don't think so. It's just because it's you. If there was a rule like that, I don't think she woyld have risked it."

I finally muster up the courage to look into Tink's eyes. She's beautiful. She has the perfect ocean blue eyes and he rblond hair is so curly that I have this urge to reach out and touch it. She doesn't look any older than eighteen but from the ways he talks, she seems to be very mature for her age.

"I see." That's all I say and then I turn my gaze back towards the dirty dishes in front of me.

"I think you were right." Tink continues talking. "We should help each other out here." Her voice takes on a darker and sadder turn. She sounds like she's going to cry. I don't want to ask her about her life before this place because I know it will break me, but I have a feeling she just needs someone to talk to.

"My mom told me not to stay out late that night." She starts explaining and I know whether I like it or not, I have to listen. "I was out partying with a boy who didn't even like me. Everyone told me I was forcing myself on him but the heart wants what is wants I guess." She says with a chuckle.

"Before I knew it, I was getting grabbed and shoved into a truck. I knew from that moment that my life would change forever but I never expected…" She looks around the massive kitchen and then to the guards. "…this."

"I know." I say calmly. "It's crazy. You must have been so scared."

"No more than you." She smiles. I don't even know how she's capable of smiling.

"You know I remember you." She continues. "My mom wanted to send me to therapy and you were her first choice. She thought I was a depressed kid with a lot of issues. You're that fancy therapist, aren't you? The best in New York?" She says and I nod my head gently. I guess it's normal that a few people here know who I am.

My face was practically on billboards and I always attended famous interviews.

"Maybe destiny brought us together after all." She says, her face falling with sadness. Before I know it, she starts sobbing and I don't know what to do.

"I just want to go home." She cries. "I should have never gone out that night. I should have just stayed home and maybe nine of this would have ever happened to me. Now I'm trapped here with no way out and I'm so scared. I'm so scared and I just need a friend." I feel myself start tearing up too.

I don't know how to comfort her. I have no way to tell her that everything is going to be okay because I'm not even sure of that.

"Hey…" I say softly, dropping the dishes from my soapy hands as I grab her shoulders. I try to comfort her as much as I can but I know nothing will never be enough. She might never see her mom again. She might never see her friends again.

"I can't tell you that everything is going to be okay but I can promise you that from this moment on, I have your back. You can count on me to be a shoulder to cry on. I don't know how or when, but I'll get us out of here. We just have to fight everyday and we need to be strong. We can't give up hope. Okay?"

She nods gently and then pulls me in for a hug. My body tenses. My body tenses because I don't remember the last time I was hugged loke this before. I immediately feel protective over her. I feel like a big sister. I want to protect her. I want to be a sister to her and I want to make this place a little more bearable for her. In any way that I can.

"Thank you." She sniffs and lets go of me.

"What's your name?" She asks and I raise my brow. "I mean your full name. I think it's very derogatory to call you what Veronica named you."

"Oh... My name is Adeline." I answer her with a smile. "Adeline Fitz."

"You have such a pretty name." The girl says. "My name is Della. Della Mathews" 

I feel like us telling each other our names just automatically makes us kindred spirits. I feel like I have a family with her now. We'll keep each other safe here and I'll protect her from the other girls.

"Hey!" A guard scolds. "You two! What do you two think you're doing!?" He walks closer to us and my heart starts beating faster. I push Della behind me and stand in front of the guard with my face held up high.

"You two are supposed to be cleaning. Not conversing!" He yells. "You think you're tough huh? Do you want to get punished?" The guard reaches out to me and grabs a fistful of my hair.

"You're asking for it aren't you? If you want to act so difficult then I can give you a taste of what you're craving! Maybe that'll make you obedient!" He moves closer to me and I feel his bad breath attack my senses. I want to puke and I want to vomit. I want to pull away from his grasp but he's stronger than me and he has a gun. I know he won't kill me but there's no telling what he'll do to Della.

"You're lucky we're not allowed to touch you. Now get back to work!" He pushes me backwards with so much force that I almost stumble into the dishes in front of me. Before making his way back to his spot, he spanks Della on the ass cheeks and then rips he top off so her breasts are completely exposed.

I hope he burns in hell.