004: OOPS! SAVAGE ME

I watched the blood drain from Madam Ye’s face.

“Did you do this?” the minister asked, staring down at her with a burning gaze.

Minister Shay stood tall in a black suit and matching trousers, black heels clicking against the floor. She looked to be in her early forties, beautiful, sharp, and dangerous. A mocking sneer curved her lips.

“I—I—I…” Madam Ye stuttered.

Minister Shay sat down, crossing her legs calmly. A flicker of satisfaction warmed my chest.

Now… my turn.

I collapsed to the ground, letting my bloodied hands fall into view. My dress was still soaked, dark with rain and red with blood.

“Please don’t punish Madam Ye,” I cried, my voice shaking. “She only wanted to discipline me!”

Tears slid down my face and splashed onto the floor.

“Hiss-” I sucked in a breath, trembling.

“Get up,” Minister Shay ordered sharply, then turned to Madam Ye.

“Discipline? Is this how you torture teenagers?” Her voice cracked like a whip.

“I didn’t mean to! She stole something, I only wanted......”

Minister Shay raised her hand, silencing her. She turned to me.

“Really?” she asked gently. “What did you steal?”

“A necklace,” Calla said, stepping forward.

My eyes darkened instantly. This bitch, I wanted to rip her apart.

“I didn’t steal anything,” I said softly. “She lent it to me… but now she’s accusing me.” I sniffed. “I was whipped thirty times.”

I paused, trembling as I glanced toward the cross-like structure.

“At the… confession stand.”

Madam Ye glared daggers at me. I flinched perfectly.

Minister Shay’s eyes dimmed.

“This contradicts the law, Madam Ye!” she snapped, standing and walking toward me.

“Yet you still plead for her,” she murmured, crouching beside me. She brushed my hair gently, wiping away my tears, but her hands froze when she saw the blood on the floor.

Her chest rose sharply with anger.

“Where is this… confession stand?” she demanded.

My eyes widened in panic. I pointed silently.

Her gaze followed and widened in horror.

“Outrageous!” she shouted.

Madam Ye slammed her forehead to the floor. “It’s a lie! It’s just to scare them!” she screamed.

I scoffed quietly, just enough.

“Is this true?” Minister Shay asked, turning to the orphanage teens.

Silence.

They exchanged fearful looks. Madam Ye had fed them, clothed them, but at the cost of their freedom, their bodies, their souls.

No one spoke.

I pressed my lips together, then pinched my thigh hard. Fresh tears spilled.

The minister pulled me closer, her hands now smeared with my blood.

“Why did you hide her earlier?” she yelled at Madam Ye.

“She fell and was injured,” Madam Ye lied. “The maid was tending her wounds.”

My tongue clicked. Even now, she wouldn’t admit it.

I sniffed and glanced at Dominic. He nodded and stepped forward.

“It’s not true,” he said firmly. “We’re beaten to force confessions. To ‘cleanse’ our sins.”

Minister Shay froze, staring at him.

Good.

“It’s just discipline,” I added shakily, gripping the minister’s hand. “We’re whipped… sometimes starved for a whole day… left outside in the heat.”

I swallowed. “But she doesn’t kill us. At least… we’re still alive.”

Madam Ye’s eyes burned with hatred.

“I even hear noises from her room at night,” I muttered faintly. “The bed squeaking… voices… ‘ah...deeper—’”

Minister Shay’s eyes widened in pure horror.

“I didn’t steal,” I whispered again.

Dominic stepped forward, but a girl grabbed his arm.

“What are you doing?” she shouted. “She feeds us! We have no family!”

Dominic’s eyes hardened.

“At what cost?” he snapped. “Aren’t you tired of the beatings? The false corrections? Or are you pretending not to see it just because she feeds you?”

The girl froze, letting the word stew in her head. Slowly, she let go.

Dominic pulled out his phone and played the video.

[“Can I take the necklace? I really want to sparkle at the party.”]

My voice echoed clearly.

[“You?” Calla scoffed. “Do you think a mere orphan like you can sparkle, Anna?”]

Calla froze.

The color drained from her face like someone poured ice water over her.

“That’s impossible!” she screamed. “How did you get that video?!”

Minister Shay’s lips twitched.

“Madam Ye,” she said coldly, “is this how you raised your daughter? A bully with no manners?”

Madam Ye pinched Calla’s thigh, but Calla kept screaming nonsense.

“Control your child!” Minister Shay snapped.

Madam Ye slapped Calla hard.

Gasps filled the room.

“Shut up!” Madam Ye screamed, dragging her down and forcing her to kneel beside her.

“I’m sorry,” she begged desperately. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. My daughter said she stole it, I reacted. I promise I’ll do better!”

Minister Shay laughed low and cold.

“When I built this orphanage, it was to protect these children. Discipline them lightly, not brainwash them into thinking bleeding from whips is normal.”

She sat heavily in a chair, furious.

My gaze sharpened.

Just as planned.

(EARLIER,)

“Go on,” I said calmly, stretching my hands forward.

My eyes flicked to Dominic.

'The Room.'

He understood immediately and slipped away.

“But first,” I added sweetly, “I need to use the bathroom.”

Madam Ye laughed. “Pee outside.”

I smiled. “At least let me do this before you punish me. I still have rights, don’t I?”

She frowned. “Go.”

I slipped into the room where Dominic waited.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he whispered. “You shouldn’t accept this.”

“I know,” I replied. “But it’s the only way.”

“What’s the plan?” he asked.

I placed my hands on his shoulders. “This injustice has gone on too long. We’re bringing Madam Ye and her daughter down.”

I slipped a paper into his hand. “Call Minister Shay. After I’m whipped.”

He stiffened. Then nodded.

“Hold on,” he said softly. “It’ll be over soon.”

I smiled. (Flashback ends)

NOW

“What should I do with you now?” Minister Shay asked.

I lifted my head.

“Fire Madam Ye,” I said calmly. “Let her reflect.”

Madam Ye’s eyes screamed I’ll rip you apart.

“And…” I paused, my lips curling slowly.

“Let her be flogged forty times.”

“For every beating we endured.”