Minder

Chapter 6

OLALLIE

I spent seven years in a boarding school in the heart of Texas; last few months, I spent time at a therapy center in Colorado. Lennox thought it would be an excellent way to adjust to returning home.

Home, he mentioned it in a message that I didn’t intend to reply to. He knew too little to expect me to care about his reputation. A part of me knew like it always had before. The king of the county, Knox Krause, welcomed a deaf daughter into his hearing home.

At least Leonie wasn’t terrible; she was quiet and observed. She didn’t glare down at the being I grew to be. She nodded and understood. Both being motherless daughters held a unique connection.

“Anika? Anika, it’s your turn to lead.” I closed my eyes as Doctor Candy tried to get her attention. There I was, a second replaced cochlear implant, hearing the words I could only read on lips just years ago.

Thanks, Daddy.

The doctor who did the surgery stared at me confused; he blessed me with hearing, and all I wanted was to drown back in the solitude of mute meanings. He pointed his finger in my face, commanded that if I was to pull out the implant again, it could cause damage.

Too bad the damage was already done.

“Anika? Are you listening?”

I open my eyes and meet Harper’s roommate, who looks directly at Dr. Candy and points to her ears, and shakes her head like she can’t hear.

Then she does something that makes the energy shift. Anika’s fake eyelashes flutter as they meet me with pleading empathy.

“Olallie…” Zailey doesn’t physically try to hold me back. But the aggression in my shoulders builds, and I remove her syllables in the caution of my own name.

My legs stand before the girl who claims every sickness under the sun as her own torment.

But this one is mine.

She stands, and the strands of her light brown typical hair make me feel better that she is so insignificant. Anika Talisman doesn’t matter to me; exhaling leaves my lungs freeing me of responsibility.

Her arms go up to hug me, but the embrace I give her is one she doesn’t see coming, so blinded by her own need.

At first, my fists clench around her hair, and I focus on the intent that I bring the waves of noise to a stop. Breath by breath, I move closer, and there the fear begins to grow in her innocent eyes.

I whisper so carefully that only she hears the curse I utter. The male nurse behind me booms a command, and I can feel the vibrations in the seam of my shirt. Releasing one hand to wrap my manicure nails around her petite throat, I squeeze.

So calm as I instructed myself not to strangle the poor girl. My clarity projects the opposite of how fearful she becomes. The terror starts dripping from her forehead.

It’s only seconds, and the world comes crashing down. Sound roars so loudly that I have to drop my hold on Anika altogether.

“OLALLIE!” They yell.

I ignore them, holding guardianship on the girl full of sobs in front of me, clenching her throat, gasping for justice.

My head tips to the side as they try to restrain me. Another personnel fawn over her; not another patient raises concern to her aid. We all know her weakness is selfish attention, and the mental breakdown she orchestrated was for the benefit of a wealthy family.

Here in the walls of insanity, we are all animals that try to devour ourselves. Yet, the teenage girl trying to escape from her own safety net has chosen a war she can’t win.

“Olallie…” It’s Z and Harper coming through my right ear, the good one, loud and clear. My right ear brings in all the pronunciations that have me breaking open extensively.

Their concern makes me want to crumble underneath the attention. Back in Texas, I would have been slapped for the outburst.

Don’t think about them, don’t go back to that time. Because if I look back to Texas, I have to look back to my mother, whose sacrifice gave me this life.

“She attacked me unprovoked. I tried welcoming her, Candy, helping her in our group meetings—” Anika does her best to defend herself but

“Jesus, girl, do you know when to quit?” The large woman in charge of us practically spits out.

Anika’s face grows grim with shock. Not getting her way, it turns sinister.

“It’s not my fault her mother decided to get steamrolled by a car; guess she didn’t know you weren’t worth saving.” Anika, Anika, you naïve, simple-minded girl.

“Why don’t you go f**k yourself back to Connecticut, Anika? Seems like there isn’t a staff member you haven’t blown. Best to relocate for a better variety, babe.” Zailey shouts and gets points taken off her excellent behavior. She shrugs as they send her back to her room.

Everybody’s opinions start spitting out of their mouths, and I realize I have been trained to utilize mine, just with some southern class.

Bringing a smile to my face, my mouth opens for the first time for the audience around us. The sounds that leave my mouth are not frequent. Questions and responses I only answer by shaping my words with my fingers.

“Anika, my sorrow for your suffering runs deep. It is hard to see past our difficulties when we create new ones. There is a difference between you and the rest of us. Most of them, even those who don’t survive the pain, will all realize that our lives are not meant for selfish purposes. You, darlin’, will never be able to outgrow the petty resentment. Because that plastic nose you got for your fourteenth birthday is crooked and will always be in the way.” It was my voice that spoke so much I might believe it was strong enough to thrive.

A week later, I was released. Guess Knox heard about the quarrel decided that I could handle myself. He must have known the evil that resided in Kalonie.

~

The car door opens. It moves for a while on its own, swinging back forth. This morning is too early, yet I look over the stone wall—a field bending in the breeze, where the barb wire fence lines the penitentiary.

A bus rolls down the long road, new inmates arriving. An introduction to their new home. I feel the rush against asphalt; all the country air tries to flee the view.

I stood on this side of the fence because Lennox Krause was the owner of the private prison. It wasn’t shocking, especially after meeting the man. He was always thirsty for power, needed to maintain control.

If he couldn’t do it with his own family, then housing a few thousand criminals would justify his personality.

I couldn’t blame them; I didn’t have another residence to claim. For now, this was a house, and I pouted. Rebellious to the spirits who didn’t live in front of the mansion.

But I began to hum a song, my only solitude to calm my racing worries. My mother would whisper to me with the same melody as I hid.

“Olallie, Olallie, my fair lady. The hair of a halo, a crown of gold. Once you cry those tears of joy, you won’t ever be scared or cold. Our hands are open, my eyes always hearing. Don’t worry, darling, there is nothing to be fearing.”