1. Cold Night

EVIANNA:

"Rosslyn go get me some drugs from down the road, Daniel needs them" Mother Lisa walked into our room and said as she handed out the money for drugs to Rosslyn who lay down on her bunk doing nothing.

"I'm sorry Mother, but I can't go. It's cold outside and it might rain tonight" Rosslyn said to her and turned her back to Mother Lisa.

Just as Rosslyn spoke, a loud rumble of thunder reverberated through the room, followed by a pitter-patter of raindrops against the window pane. It was evident that a heavy downpour was imminent.

Mother Lisa didn't waste a breath before she turned to face me. I knew what she was going to say, and even though I was reading a novel with the burning lamp beside me, she didn't care.

"Evianna, go get me some drugs from down the road. Daniel is severely sick and he can't even eat, go get the drugs before the rain starts pouring heavily" she ranted out, knowing fully well that I wouldn't complain at all. Not that I could, I was already used to being mistreated over here and it didn't matter anymore.

"Ok, Mother" I immediately stood up from the bed, leaving a bookmark on the page of the novel I was reading, by folding it. I dropped my book on the table beside me, switching off the burning lamp I was using, so that it doesn't burn out before I return. The only light left in the room was the torchlight Mother Lisa handed out to me.

I took the torchlight from her which was a useless one, as it was dim as the night. I also received the money from her and went out of the room. But before I left, I stopped at the boys' room and went in to meet Daniel.

Looking at him, he was indeed terribly sick.

I walked to his bed and squatted down "I'll go get the drugs, ok? Please make sure you eat something before I return" I said to him in a low voice and touched his burning forehead.

"Aunt Evie, it's cold outside why would you go?" He said as he tried to catch his breath, the sight hurting me.

Daniel was the only person who at least cared about me over here, and I did the same. He was like a younger brother to me unlike the remaining kids that disrespected me "Don't worry, I'll be back soon" I said to him and immediately ran out of the room before he cries to stop me from going.

I rushed out of the room and unintentionally clashed with someone who didn't waste a moment in pushing me off, I seethed in pain at the pain I felt when my butt hit the hard floor.

"What are you still doing here? I told you a while back and you are still here" Since? I threw a questioning look at Mother Lisa who was raging "If anything happens to Daniel, just know you are the cause of it" Mother Lisa spat out and walked past me.

Her words were enough to have me jerk up from the floor, 'Nothing would happen to Daniel!'

I wore my slippers and ran out of the house only for the cold, freezing night to hit me hard on my face. The rain seemed to have stopped.

"I should be back before it starts again" I whispered and then felt a droplet of water hit my face as I ran out of the gates that creaked loud when it was opened. I thought about taking an umbrella but considering that Daniel needed the drugs fast. I rushed out.

Running down the street and passing the houses which had their lights out as it was already as late as Eleven. I wasn't sure if the pharmacy would still be open by now, but I had to check it to be sure.

There were two pharmacies, one by the end of the road, and the other far ahead. I just hoped the one close by was still open cause I don't want to run down to the other street.

My wish didn't fall as I want. I stood outside the first pharmacy as it was already closed, and now I had to run to the other street which was almost twenty minutes away from the orphanage home.

The rain was drizzling now, I dreaded staying under the rain, I was always scared of it, I prefer watching it from inside but staying under it scared me, never knew why. I slammed my torchlight to my left hand as the lights suddenly went off. I slammed it again but it didn't work, the water touched it.

After three trials but to no avail, I gave up and started running down to the other street, not like the torch was of any help to me.

By the time I got to the pharmacy, I released a breath seeing it was still open. My eyes fell on the car which was parked at the other end of the road, but I didn't think much of it.

Unknown to me about the prying eyes that stared deeply at me for minutes before the car finally moved from there.

I ran into the pharmacy as the rain started pouring terribly.

"Good evening, Nurse Victoria" I greeted the old lady who sat down there.

She looked up at me, drawing her glasses lower she said "Evie, what are you doing out so late? what drugs are you buying?" She stood up to immediately sell for me because it was already late.

I smiled "Daniel is sick" I had stupidly forgotten to ask what drugs to buy and Mother Lisa also didn't say a thing, maybe she forgot, I thought "I forgot to ask," I said.

"Tell me how he was and I would get a drug for you," she said.

"He was shivering, he was also trying hard to catch his breath, and his forehead was extremely hot" I'm not sure if what I mentioned was enough but I hoped it was cause I do not want to run back here for a second time.

"It could be any illness, Evie" Nurse Victoria said, seems like my words weren't enough.

"But," she said and I looked up at her hopefully "I'll give you a drug which would calm him down for tonight, then, by tomorrow morning you can come back and I'll give you what you need," Nurse Victoria said, she picked a drug sachet from one of the shelves and handed it out to me.

I handed out the money but she smiled and said "It's free"

"Thank you so much, Nurse Victoria," I said and took a turn to start running back to the orphanage home.

"Why don't you wait till the rain stops?" she suggested but I shook my head negatively.

"No, I can't. Daniel needs the drug and he is waiting for me. Good night Nurse" I said and ran into the heavy pouring rain, my dress was already soaked and wet and my long hair was gluing to my neck skin as the ribbon had fallen off.

Running in the dark cold night, with my weary slippers desperately clinging on, till fate decided to intervene. Without warning, the worn-out rope that held them together snapped, and my sprinting stride instantly faltered as my foot collided with an unforgiving rock, sending me hurtling toward the ground. The drug and torchlight slipped from my grasp, abandoned to their fate.

The impact was jarring, my body crashed heavily onto the hard floor. Muddy water greeted my outstretched hands, splashing rudely across my face.

As the rain continued pouring heavily without mercy, my senses reeled from the sudden chaos, and a disheartening thought crept in. Was I cursed? A hapless victim of misfortune?

With trembling hands, I searched through the mess strewn across the floor. Fingers strained against the darkness. Finally, I found the drug, while the torchlight remained stubbornly out of reach, leaving me stranded, and mocking my misfortune.

After searching and still not finding the torchlight, I pushed myself off the ground, my palms now marked by wet soil and discomfort. My grip tightened around the shattered remnants of my slippers. Behind me, the soft patter of footsteps danced in the air, but I paid them no mind. Daniel needed his drugs fast and nothing else mattered at that moment.

Just as I readied myself to sprint back to the orphanage home, a fierce impact struck the back of my head, sending me reeling to the floor, my body crumbling beneath the weight of the unexpected assault.

Darkness envelops my senses, not just the sense of light in the night, but an encroaching veil of unconsciousness. The weight of fatigue pressed down upon my eyelids, rendering them heavy and unyielding.

Amidst the haze, a voice pierced through; urgent and commanding, instructing others to act swiftly.

"Fast and keep her in the truck, we need to leave here right now!" the voice declared, a directive that sent shivers down my spine.

Even in my disoriented state, my thoughts instinctively turned to Daniel, his well-being overshadowing my own. I managed to mutter a final concern, the words escaping my lips with dwindling strength.

"Daniel's drugs."

Consciousness slipped through my grasp as unseen hands lifted my limp body from the ground, rain droplets patting continuously.

In that feeling moment, the drug I had clung to, fell from my weakened hand, followed by my slippers, which were once a symbol of perseverance.

Both were abandoned and forgotten, turning to silent witnesses to the unforeseen twist of fate that had befallen me.

I was whisked away from the scene, unnoticed in the chaos of the cold night.