Scar Red

Close Calls

As Susan and her entourage—my terrorists—passed by, I held my breath beside Bambi. Fear clasped my throat in a deathly grip yet nothing happened, just like the other times. Ever since Evelynn dealt with them, things have been less consternating—serene even.

Not even as much as a glance from Susan or any of them. To sum it all up, everyone was pretty much minding their business...but I knew better than to just relax and take my guard down.

"So, now we're both done with our chores, I'm headed to the kitchen to go ruffle Bert a little bit. Might as well grab a snack while I'm at it, you coming?" She inquired.

When I shook my head, she said, "Oh I know what you're planning to do," she giggled. "You should give yourself a break from the nut business, Scar."

Yes, Bambi was onto me from day one. She pestered me so much that I had to let her in on what I'd been doing in the West wing.

Since the last two weeks, there had been changes in his state. He had gradually stopped the nightly shrieks and was less violent as well as tolerating me well enough that he didn't try to hurt me...most times.

I'd also tried singing several other songs to him but Black Rose remained the one that had the most effect. Earlier too, when I had asked Lenny—a brain box in the making—all she told me was; "Music is known to be therapeutic."

And when I stared at her like she had two heads, she emphasized by saying, "It soothes while keeping stress and anxiety at bay. As well as promoting mental health."

Even though she could've stressed more, I sensed that she had been holding back probably so she wouldn't confuse me again.

Panting and a series of clumsy running that echoed everywhere provoked me to turn. Bambi who was a few feet ahead did a full 180° too. Worried that the sprinting figure bounding towards us would crash into me, I was about to make a move when he flounced to a stop right in front of me instead of taking me down with him.

After Constance and Tommy's little stunt was discovered, as predicted by Bambi—who, needless to say, had broken into an obnoxious laughing fit as they were being escorted out—someone new was brought in almost immediately to fill in Tommy's void.

He was a lean, bronze-skinned guy with an exotic accent. I knew all of that only because Bambi and the others wouldn't stop talking about it and here he was in the flesh standing before me, well, more like almost doubling over and breathing erratically.

In a flash, Bambi who was making her way to the kitchen was suddenly by my side, eyes widened in anticipation. The lad raised his head and then looked from me to Bambi.

Having spotted my hideous features, his eyes zeroed in on Bambi preferably as he asked. "I was supposed to fetch someone, her name's Carina, and please do not tell me that you know not of her existence because I am exhausted."

It was easy to deduce that he had stumbled upon our unsavoury comrades who must've denied ever seeing me here. They should've convinced him that I didn't even work there. It sickened me to the core knowing that this poor lad had been running in circles all because of those rotten girls.

Bambi had been openly staring when I nudged her shoulder, prompting her to respond.

"Uum...well, I'll tell you the opposite if you want," she laughed, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger.

"Really?" He brightened, gazing hopefully at her. "If so then where can I find her?"

"She's right beside me," she said, rolling her eyes like it was my fault that he was here for me and not her.

He refrained from making eye contact—no, looking at my face entirely as he stared anywhere but at me whilst reporting to me that Mr. Manuel had sent for me.

As I followed him towards Mr. M's place, I could only think of what he wanted to talk to me about. From the looks of it, it seemed important considering he had sent someone to come fetch me. It wasn't long till the reasons for the unprecedented summoning came to my mind as we both stepped into his office.

"Hello Mr. M," I said, feigning a smile as a defined sense of foreboding washed over me.

The look on his face was unsettling as he stared at me.

"Here she is, sir," the lad said before proceeding to take his leave.

"Thank you, Handro." He said, never taking his eyes off me.

"Hello, young lady. Have a seat."

As soon as I obliged, a faint scent of cigarettes reached my nostrils but the matter at hand outweighed my displeasure right then.

"You are as headstrong as you are sweet, my dear, but in this case, your obstinacy might just be the thing that will ruin things for you." He started, the expression on his face hadn't changed since I entered which unnerved me but the seriousness of his tone unnerved me more.

I watched as he slid over to his system and began to type away.

"You must know why I called you here." He must've noticed my uneasiness. "Come have a look at this would you?"

I stood up and went around his table, still uneasy. I watched various footage of me inside the room, including that first time with Estefania and the others but what I experienced then wasn't what I was seeing at the moment.

We should've all been caught on camera according to the time stamp but I only saw myself and it was as though I was the only one that unlocked the door that day and let myself in.

However, that wasn't what happened! I could see that the footage had been tampered with. They made it seem like I did everything, turning me into a culprit instead of the victim. I concluded that it was Susan's doing as she must've had someone do it.

My hands curled into fists at that epiphany however that wasn't all. Why was there various footage instead of one? How was it possible that there was footage of me inside the room? I was told that those cameras were strictly limited to the halls unless… More of them were installed.

"Who is the person in the footage?" Mr. Manuel's voice came.

"Me," I said shakily.

"That's right, which puts you in danger of losing it all. To be honest I don't know how the ones in the halls never caught you at all except that one time. Why are you doing this when you know the precautions for your actions?" He inquired, his voice a tad bit higher.

I lowered my head in remorse. "I thought I could help him....my song-"

"-your song? What song? I have seen a host of experienced medical practitioners for years now trying to help that boy but nothing they've ever done has sufficed and you… You know nothing but you think your song will make a difference and that's not even crazy enough but you're willing to put your job on the line for this silly notion. You're simply overambitious and idealistic!"

He was right, maybe I was overambitious and idealistic. Like an addict, I'd been going back to his room because I thought I could prove something. I completely understood where he was coming from.

"I've been hiding all the footage all this while and that's why you're still here but I'm done doing that. You have to understand that his problem is beyond solving and it's for your own good that you stop going in there and focus on what you've come here to do," he said in a lowered voice this time.

I really thought that I could help, that my song will be something that made a difference but I was just being inconsiderate of everything, too lost in my world of overhyped notions.

"I'm sorry," he said, patting my shoulder from his seat beside me. "It's just that the staidness of this situation demands such staid measures, believe it or not, but it's for your own good."

Even after I left, my mind pondered what he had said. I really appreciated him looking out for me but I wouldn't lie that the harshness of his voice and the brash words startled me a bit.

* * *

* *

"Carina! Carina!" A particularly high-pitched voice jolted me out of my reverie as I ascended the stairs.

Looking up, I spotted Zebbah.

"Carina!" Zebbah called once more, running up to me. "It's urgent! Madam requests your presence ASAP!"

And that was all it took for my brain to go into panic mode.

As we rushed down the halls, several thoughts pulsed through my head but it all kept coming back to that one dreaded possibility.

"Oh God help me..."

We entered into a study, the same one I had worked in on my first day there.

My heart thundered in my ribcage and my head spun with erratic thoughts.

Soon I was standing in front of her. Her gaze albeit perfunctory betrayed nothing. I'd never felt that wrecked with anticipation before in my life as my eyes remained lowered when the huge intricate door clicked into place signifying Zebbah's departure.

"Carina Osborne, is it?" She began in a staid voice.

"Yes..." My eyes remained glued to the lush carpet on which I stood.

As this was the first time I had been summoned by her directly, it was certain that it wasn't ending pleasantly.

"You know what I don't tolerate? It's when people go snooping about, sticking their noses where it doesn't belong."

Just like I repeatedly went back to the West wing...

"All those who have lasted here did so because they kept to the rules."

Or because they've gotten expertly good at covering their tracks. My mind raced back to Susan and the others.

At that juncture, it didn't take a genius to denote that she knew what I'd been doing. But how? Mr. M told me that he hid the footage unless...

When I raised my head, I saw the jumbo-sized phone in her hand. It rested on the desk before her. She was focused, staring at it as her lips pressed into a predetermined line.

Her speculations sounded a lot like what Mr. M had said earlier and even if he was that livid, it wasn't his call to make. Right then I stood before the one in charge, who could give the order that would send me packing in a heartbeat.

She raised her head, her otherwise indifferent, cold, and condescending look still plastered on her face. At that moment, I could see her for the responsible and stern female that she truly was, not for that doleful, disconsolate quagmire that she often displayed.

"The guilt on your face has surely given you away," she remarked, before laying back in her chair.

"It's a confounding incident that you're still in one piece, having survived his hostility...now tell me, Carina Osborne, why shouldn't I fire you for your unruly, insolent, and reckless conduct right now?"

I swallowed hard in my trepidation, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that it was the end of the road for me... Mine was a fairly good run. I had the golden chance but dawdled about and messed everything up...maybe in another life, if I ever got this fortuity again, I'd play my cards better.

Evelynn's disappointment would know no bounds when she heard it, not to talk of my parents. I dragged a shuddering breath, clutching my medallion tightly. As crestfallen as I was, I didn't regret my actions, there were no rewards without a risk...right?

I watched as her lips parted to say the final words that would seal my fate before someone clumsily rushed into the room. Both our heads snapped towards the direction of the raucous.

"Sorry about the interruption but I've come bearing the results of the tests and I think you might want to see this."