Evolution: The beginning of a new era

Young and Broken

Emerlda was scared that she peed her pants, the truck suddenly stopped. She heard footsteps approaching from the back, two people muttered, "What the f**k Diana you brought a scared cat home?" A man with a scary voice was having a conversation with the woman who brought Emerlda. With no care in the world the woman grabbed Emerlda by the hair and tossed her down on the dirty ground. The sack over her head was removed, she saw young children working at every corner of the house. Diana poured ice cold water over her head, "No one steps in my house dirty. Clean her up." A young friendly girl offered to bathe her, she smiled, "Welcome to our hell, whatever you do don't provoke madame Diana. She is always in a bad mood. I am Anya what's your name?" Anya was a tall brunette; she was around eighteen and had a lovely smile. Emerlda was taken to Diana's quarters, she was given a seat facing a dark room. Diana said, "Let me make one thing clear with you, if you try to escape you die. I give you work and you abide, disobey me and I will make you regret it." Emerlda as a young girl was assigned to cleaning the mansion, from the floors to the windows. A man nicknamed the Slayer was the inspector, he used to correct your wrongs with a whip. Emerlda had seen the dark side of the world within a day, she ate crumbs that fell off the table like a dog. Emerlda was given rugged clothes that she wore every day, during winter she sewed an old blanket to make a coat. Anya assisted Emerlda as much as she could, but during the night Anya was taken to the mansion. Anya gave Emerlda an old doll, Emerlda frowned as she starred at the ugly doll "If I sleep with this I will definitely have nightmares." Anya busted out in laughter, "This used to be a the prettiest doll, I am giving it to you so that you will play with it during the night." Emerlda was warned never to leave the cottage at night, only the ones selected by Madame Diana were allowed in the mansion. Anya took Emerlda as her own younger sister, she protected her from bullies and helped her complete her chores. Every night when she went to the mansion she would bring food hidden under her dress for Emerlda to eat. Emerlda saw different cars and old men visiting the mansion most of them were scary looking like his father. Anya returned early in the morning in a messed-up state, her legs were all bruised. Emerlda helped her to climb on the bed, she took a warm towel and clean Anya's wounds. Emerlda said, "Who did this to you?" With a smile on her face Anya replied, "There are bad people who are cowards. You have to be strong if you want to survive out here, countless dead bodies of young women are carried out of that mansion. Please don't grow up…" Emerlda placed a bowl of food and medication she had stolen for Anya on a small table on the centre of their room. As she was cleaning the room, she noticed Madame Diana practising her gun skills, she was shooting at pigeons. as she was cleaning Madame Diana's training room Emerlda saw a beginners training book for martial arts and guns. Emerlda tucked the book under her dress, she left the room. During the night she snuck out to the back yard and began to read her book in the dark using a flash light. For months Emerlda continued her routine until one night she was caught by the Slayer practicing the moves. Slayer took her to the disciplinary room; everyone was afraid of that room. Diana kicked Emerlda so hard in the stomach that she puked blood, coughing out blood she never dropped one tear. With her cold eyes she starred in Diana's eyes, Diana had a scary look on her face, "Were you planning on killing me? I gave you food, shelter and what do I get in return…a little unappreciative thief." Emerlda was whipped all over her body except her face, she felt pain all over, Diana dropped the bloody whip in front of her, "Clean that up and bring it to me." Emerlda took a few steps and fell on the ground, Slayer dragged her to the cottage. Anya with tears on her eyes attended to Emerlda's wounds, "What did you do to deserve this?" Anya was afraid Emerlda would die, she was unconscious for two consecutive days, her body was turning blue and her wounds were infected. Anya tried to plead with Madame Diana, she even offered to work double with her body but her efforts were in vain. On the third night Anya was crying on a corner when Emerlda opened her eyes, she was in extreme pain but the greatest pain she felt was to see Anya helplessly crying. Emerlda coughed due to a dry mouth. Anya quickly helped her gently to drink some water. Anya's tears dropped on Emerlda's face with a crooked voice said, "My mother before she fell ill used to cry when I was sick…are you also in pain?" Anya smiled as she kissed Emerlda on the cheek, "I was scared when you didn't open your eyes. You are my sister; it is my duty to protect you..." Those words might have been simple to Anya but to Emerlda they gave her hope to live for a few more years. Emerlda returned the whip to Madame Diana, she has wiped it clean. Diana mockingly said, "I had already dug a grave for you, you are a fighter, aren't you?" when she left the room Slayer said, "The look in her eyes creep me out." Diana counting her money replied, "Continue to watch over her, send her to the paddocks I don't want a thief in my house."

Emerlda hadn't seen Anya for a week, she felt anxious and curious to see where she was. Emerlda took her shoes and sneaked inside the castle, she heard weird sounds coming from a room. Bravely Emerlda slightly pushed the door open, with lifeless eyes Anya was lying naked on a bed. Five grown men repeatedly exchanged turns to r**e her, when her eyes met with Emerlda she dropped tears. A strong arm touched Emerlda, when she looked back she saw an unknown man, the man threw her outside. The scene kept repeating in her head, Emerlda with a confused face ran to the cottage's background. The following morning, she waited for Anya but she never came, "She must be angry with me…if she comes, I will apologise for…" two kids cleaning the sheets were gossiping, "I wonder what came over her to hang herself." Emerlda's eyes popped out, she looked at the girl and asked, "What are you talking about?" Emerlda ran towards the direction of the graveyard, the girl had told her, "One of the girls committed suicide in the mansion. Madame Diana is very angry…" When Emerlda saw a body wrapped in white sheets, she slowly uncovered the face and saw Anya! Emerlda shook Anya and exclaimed, "Wake up! Why is everyone leaving me! Why! Why!" Diana looked at her and said, "I never knew she was this loud." Emerlda dropped tears, she pointed at Diana and said, "You killed her…" "Dispose of this garbage there are more tasks to be completed." With no sign of remorse Diana walked away. As Anya's body was being buried on the ground Emerlda began to sing:

Hush my little angel sleep, sleep well…

When you close your eyes a world of wonder waits for you

Hush my darling and go to sleep…

A world with sweets and cakes awaits for you

When a nightmare comes mama will be here

Hush my darling go to sleep…..

When Emerlda returned to the cottage she saw Anya's favourite dress. Emerlda cuddle with the dress and went to sleep with tears dripping down her eyes. Emerlda muttered, "If l die, I will burn this place down with me…"