Tamed.....

Chapter four

The second day dawned like the rest and voices could be heard ahead. The trees were alive and whistling while the people moved about in answer to nature’s call of survival. At a corner in a street in an uncompleted building, laid Katrina still asleep unaware of the sunset.

After walking a long distance yesterday without any direction and avoiding the main road from being seen by anybody and risk recognition, she had entered boat at the river side to the other side. The boatman has taken a stipend from her reducing the money she had. She had bought food from a street vendor. Not that the food was nutritious which was the least of her problems now. She just wanted to be alive rather than nourished. After hiding to eat the food and even running off to the bush half way when she had seen some suspicious faces. The vendor was lucky she had paid her the moment she bought the food .

She had continued running in the bush until she came by the river. She had asked the boatman where the river led to , he had explain in French that it went to Northenburgh . Without asking much questions she had boarded the boat and given the man his money. The next one hour and thirty minutes she spent it looking out to the waters . Trying to recollect all that has happened in her life and to understand if she was cursed. It has been from one problem to another . Now she was a murderer and once she was caught no one will want to hear her side of the story, they’ll quickly send her to prison after all she was adding no value to the society and needs to be constrained .

When the man had reached the other side, she had thanked him and continued moving without looking back. It was almost dark by then and she needed to find where to sleep for the night. She had continued walking until she came down this street and seeing no one around she had looked around for any isolated corner and then had found This uncompleted building. At first she was scared and had feared that someone might be in it. Remembering her first contact with hoodlums in a building like this .But after checking it out, it was safe. She had secured a spot and laid her little satchel on the ground as pillow placing her head on it . She had cried most of the night at how miserable her life is. At last she had finally slept off.

The sound of a passing carriage finally woke her up making her become conscious of her environment. She had jumped up looking around for sign of an intruder but seeing none she had relaxed and stood up to clean her body .

She walked out with her satchel and looked around . The place was quaint. She hasn’t been here before It appeared more developed than where she was coming from. Her stomach growled alerting her of an impending hunger. She needed food. She kept walking moving away from the building. She entered the Main Street . At least here she was a little safe. Before they’ll think of coming here, she was already gone.

She soon came across some ladies and asked where she could get food. They had looked at her like a disease after which one had pointed to a place . She didn’t care about their behavior as far as they answered her question. They moved away and she walked fast towards the direction they gave her.

She soon came to an inn. An inn? No street vendors? Theirs were cheaper... She didn’t have enough money for inns. Her stomach growled again. She couldn’t waste more time and entered into the inn. She went to sit on a table. Soon someone came to take her order. She looked about the place. Not that bad. Looks like the club just more serene. Her order was soon delivered and she delved in and in no time has emptied her plate. The meal was good but she wasn’t satisfied. She’d not had any reasonable food since yesterday.

After the food she sat and thought of her next move. For now she was very tired and needs to rest for a while before she heads out. She sat there and then placed her head on the table and dozed.

She awoke to a pat on her shoulders. She looked up still feeling sleepy. It was the maid that served her. She scratched at her neck and looked about. It was blazing hot right then.

“ You haven’t paid for the meal ” The maid said

“ Oh. How much “ She inquired looking into her satchel.

“50shillings”

“ What!!!!” Her eyes widened. She didn’t see that coming. 50? What will now remain for her next meal?. The maid stood waiting ,not understanding her inner turmoil.

She brought out her purse and counted. 80shilings . She removed 50 to remain 30...She handed the money to the waiting maid who scampered off without looking back. She looked at the remaining money. She was never eating in an inn again. She will manage this remaining money till she’s able to find another work . She put her purse back into her satchel and was about to rise up from her sit when the door to the inn opened and someone walked in. She wasn’t really concerned with the new visitor since she was leaving. She has to get a place before dawn. The man was speaking to the receptionist . Then he turned and their eyes met. The man dimmed his eyes at her, she was surprised at him. She has never seen him before so why was he looking at her like that? She made to pass him. But he blocked her. She looked up at him alarmed.

“Finally. The murderer is found”Her eyes widened in shock . No no . He knew her. But how? She’d never seen this face. She tried to recollect and then it hit her. The man That was pounding into Beverly. She got a glance at him before leaving ,though the face didn’t register at first but now.....

“You know for a timid one, you are quite smart. How come you managed to elude everyone back there?. Everyone is in frenzy looking for you and by now they must have started looking outside the borders. What will you do when they catch you ?” He said making her heart quicken . Tears pooled on her eyes. She’d come this far to still be discovered. He turned and said something to the man at the desk. He nodded and went off.

“Cat got your tongue?” He chuckled devilishly “But how did you do it? A petite one like you.” He placed his left elbow on the desk leaning into it . He smiled looking her over. “ Back there. What you did wasn’t nice. Beverly was very cross with you. But it’s not my business anyways. I came here for my pleasure and now that I am done . I’ll just pretend like I didn’t see you. I don’t know what the man did to warrant his end. So I won’t hand you over. But you won’t last long out there. It’s my word” The guy soon returned and they exchanged something and then he made to move away . After all he revealed ,she was hypnotized. Tears cascaded down her face . He was right she realized. She had no where to hide . Eventually she’ll be caught and sent to prison making her dad roll in his grave. Her legs moved running towards the man. She fell at his feet.

“ Please help me. I have no where else to go. I can’t go to prison. He molested me and wanted to force himself on me. I couldn’t watch him do that to me and had to do something. I didn’t mean to do it. It’s not in my character please Sir ” I groveled at his feet with tears still flowing . He moved back . I looked up at him.

“ Help you? . As what? . You can’t be useful to me? You are not that beautiful maybe I would have considered it. I have all the help I need. So just give up and go to prison. Don’t add to my stress” He made to leave.

“ I will do whatever you want. Anything. Scrub your floors, do your laundry, cook anything ” I cried out “ Please don’t do this to me. Anything you want just mention it.” He seemed to think about my offer for a while and then smiled

“Anything I want ?” I nodded knowing I will regret this. But what am I to lose anyways?.

“ Mmmm...Okay. I might have something for you. I mean you look plain and not my kind, but I’ll just have to manage . So as to keep you around. I don’t want to be a bad person and cast you off.” I ran to hold his leg in appreciation. He shook me off like a dirty animal but I didn’t mind as far as he helped me.

“ But.....” I looked up fast “ Any rebellion from your part, I won’t hesitate to bundle you back to Davenshire myself and make sure you get the punishment you deserve” He threatened bending to meet my eyes. I nodded furiously. Not having a choice.