2. Mistake!

Author's POV 

Arabella hid behind Matilda as everyone watched her like she is an alien. 

"Children, what you all are doing in the garden. Go to the prayer hall."

Matilda chased everyone away and they all left.

Matilda led Arabella inside, made her comfortable and helped her to clean herself. 

Arabella was wearing her cardigan when Matilda noticed old beating marks on her back and her heart broke. It was hard to understand how someone could hurt an innocent girl like her.

"What happened to your parents?"

She asked hesitantly, not knowing if she was ready for the talk. 

Arabella fixed her new clean dress which was covering her body. 

"I don't know, Uncle Brian never told me about them."

"So he is the one who raised you?"

She was shocked that she was living with the monster all alone.

Arabella shook her head sadly.

"Yes but everything was fine until his wife was alive. She was kind but when she passed away, he started showing his true colours... We recently moved into the town, he sold everything and came here because rents are low here."

Matilda nodded. 

"Just forget about it, you are safe now... Come I'll introduce you to your new friends."

Arabella was looking nervous and hesitant. Her life was not going as planned. She didn't expect it to turn out like this. 

She has no idea what's going to happen to her after this and how her life is going to be. 

Will she find someone who gives her warm shoulder in this hell hole or her life would be cold as always. 

The days passed and Matilda noticed that Arabella is not talking to other girls of her age, she is not trying to make friends or get mixed with them. 

She has isolated herself.

Matilda had also done some health checkups for her and thankfully she wasn't sexually assaulted, it was a big relief for her. But she got to know about some serious injuries in her body and she was very upset about it. 

She wanted to punish her uncle for that but her orphanage is too small and she is not strong enough to fight a legal case. She decided to leave everything to God and decided to take care of Arabella like she is looking after other children. 

Matilda also learnt that Arabella has selective mutism. She doesn't talk to people who make her nervous or scare her. 

Till now she has only talked to Matilda and not anyone else in the orphanage. 

"I hope this child heals soon!"

Matilda sighed sadly. 

"She will... Everyone living here has a traumatic past but they are happy and healthy now... Arabella will get well soon. It's just been a few days, give her some time, she will get along."

The other nun comforted her. 

"Amen!"

Matilda smiled hopefully. 

Arabella was sitting by the window, watching girls and children playing in the garden. She couldn't understand how they could be so happy and why. 

She never felt this much happy or never got any reason to be. She couldn't understand what they had which made them smile.

It was hard for her to approach girls who are overexcited teenagers and were doing all girly things like makeup, dancing, watching movies together and gossiping. 

They sometimes look at her with judgemental looks which makes her more awkward making it extremely difficult for her to talk to them.

She prefers sitting by the window in silence and solitude, thinking will she ever be able to live a normal life like them. 

"Opps!"

She heard a cute, giggling voice. It was Julie, the funniest and happiest girl in the orphanage. She is always bouncing around like a child even though she is around Arabella's age.

Arabella looked at her confused when Julie stared at her apologetically. 

"I am sorry."

Julie waited for Arabella to scream at her. 

Arabella looked at her for a moment, Julie was in all green. Even her eyes were green. Thankfully Matilda doesn't allow green lipstick or else Julie would have used that also.

"For what?"

She mumbled.

"For dropping a mint smoothie on your shoes."

She grinned nervously. 

Arabella looked at her feet and realised that she ruined her shoes.

"But it was an accident, I promise... I'll wash these for you and you can wear my shoes until they dry."

Arabella just nodded. She was not in the mood to fight and Julie sounded genuine.

"Okay."

Julie looked at her shocked.

"Are you serious? It means you are not going to pull my hair out like Jenny who always gets annoyed by me?"

Arabella shook her head. 

"It's ok!"

"Oh my god, you are so sweet."

She jumped happily. 

"Come let's change your shoes..."

She threw her hand on her shoulder and Arabella looked at her uncomfortably. Julie was confused when she removed her and from her shoulder.

"I am not comfortable."

Arabella apologized.

"Please don't touch me."

Julie pouted.

"Do I stink? Is that why you removed my hand?"

"No!" 

She shook her head.

"It's just ___"

She couldn't understand how to explain.

"I don't know... I am just not comfortable."

Julie shrugged.

"It's okay, I do smell like a smoothie sometimes. I can understand.... Okay, come."

She changed her shoes and Matilda noticed them together. 

She liked the way Julie was making Arabella talk. 

"Hey, girls... What's happening here?"

"Nothing, I am just showing her my room..."

Julie grinned. Arabella looked around and everything was green, Julie was just obsessed with green and she understood why no one shares a room with Julie. 

"That's nice!.. Why don't you shift with Julie, you two are getting along well... Arabella doesn't have a room partner either."

Matilda suggested. 

"Cool, I am totally into it..."

Julie jumped excitedly. 

"She doesn't talk much so I can't stop speaking. It's going to be fun."

Arabella just nodded, thinking Matilda will feel bad if she says no. Julie helped her to settle in the room. 

After dinner they were laying on their respective beds and Julie hadn't stopped talking since they met. Now Arabella knows which celebrities have broken up, how many got married and how many are cheating on each other. 

"Why don't you talk like me?"

Julie asked while turning towards her. 

Arabella opened her eyes and got up from her bed, Julie looked at her as she sat by the open window. 

"I don't have anything to talk about... I don't know anything about the world..."

She stared out with hopeless eyes. 

"Why?"

Julie sat up while gathering her green bedsheets around her. 

"Because I didn't get the chance to see the world."

Arabella sighed. 

"I don't even know how this town looks." 

"Are you serious!"

Julie was shocked. 

"I mean I know that your uncle was a jerk but I thought you must have seen the town at least... Did he lock you in or what?"

Arabella nodded sadly and looked away.

"That bastard. He is a monster... Do you want to see the town?"

"Now?"

Arabella frowned.

"Yes, why not?"

Julie grinned naughtily.

"It's exciting... Don't worry, it's completely safe... I have done this before. No one's gonna know."

"Matilda will not allow."

She shook her head. 

"Who said that we are going to ask her?" 

Julie mocked. 

"You don't have to be so obedient. Come, it's going to be fun!"

Arabella shook her head when Julie grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door. 

"It's not safe, what if my uncle sees me."

"I have this for him. Don't worry, babe. I know about self defence."

She showed her pepper spray. 

"The town is beautiful at night... You are not going to regret it, trust me... And who knows, we might find our prince charming out in dark shadows... Wow! So romantic. Done this town has vampires, if not then it's a little difficult but let's try."

Arabella shook her head at her delusions but she was also curious to see the town so she followed her. 

That was the biggest mistake of her life, she should have stayed inside that night.