TIED TO YOU

He was on the stairs, running to greet his parents so he thoughts. He sped up and stumbled on something that lay on the stairs– Old man Anthony lay still with blood oozing it. He screamed and ran to the first room that came to his mind. Blood was everywhere– on the rails, the floor, the window covered in splattered blood. He then opened the door and he saw her. Dark long hair, and green eyes peering into his blue eyes. She was holding a knife, she raised to his father's neck and said,"You are late again, Robinson," she said, ending it with a shrieking laugh that echoed loudly.He screamed and jerked up from the bed, with sweat all over his face and shoulders.It was a dream. The same dream that had been tormenting him for five years. He grunted and climbed off the bed to the bathroom."You came home very late." A body that lay beside him moved and stripped off the blanket to look at him. "I thought yesterday was supposed to be for us, seriously for us alone."He stopped in his tracks

"And I told myself today was going to be a good day." She sighed and walked briskly to the black gate that stood tall among the other gates around it.It had golden flower designs at its tip, the strong metal was coated with a shiny black colour that made it glisten under the bright sun.Madeline arranged her rumpled skirt to straighten its hem, took deep breaths, paused to take a careful look at herself, and after some moments passed, she proceeded to knock on the gate.Soon, the lock on the other side of the gate was dragged to the left side, and someone pulled the gate slowly."Madeline Miller?" a woman's voice asked in a low tune. She had a smile that could be considered fake."Yes. Yes, that's me.""Come with me." She turned quickly as she walked towards twin doors that had guards protecting the house. "Mr Hill had been waiting for you. If I must say, exactly thirty minutes before the time set." Her voice was commanding.Madeline wasn't a fool. She knew exactly what the woman was

Madeline stared at the girl she's supposed to take care of, wondering what her story was. Was her mother dead? Inattentive? Occupied with work? Whatever the case was, she told herself she'd make sure the girl felt the absence less.Not wanting to scare the girl when she woke up from the way she's angled over bed, Madeline gently pushed herself off the bed to take a look on the restroom. As expected, the place is “we just bought this from the factory" clean. She gripped the door handle tighter as she stared around the room, taking in everything it encompasses.On the wall facing her was a window too high for the little girl to reach. In truth, even her hands couldn't reach there. By the wall to the left were rows of hair creams, lotions, and soap, a mirror above them.Children are allowed to have all these? she thought.Madeline thought the zinc only added beauty to the pink paint of the walls, making her wish for a breif moment she had this kind of childhood. When her face catches the

Madeline stared at the little girl on the bed. Her curls that ought to have been silly, like in movies, or books, had lost their silk and looked like the aftermath of a dogfight. Her lips were slightly pouted and a little drool escaped the little hole from the pouted lips. She kept wondering what she could do with Mariam.What kind of breakfast did she eat? How does she shower? She had only ever taken care of less privileged kids before. The little girl on the bed however had hair products that cost half of what her orphanage needed. It was in this moment of weakness that her mind began to wander.Would they know if one of Miriam's shampoos got missing? It's not like she didn't have more.No, Maddie. No. You're more than this.A tear she didn't know nestled in her eyelids slid from her left eye down her face. How did these thoughts creep into her subconscious? This wasn't the Maddie she knew.She wiped her tear furtively and walked over to Miriam's mirror."So, where do I begin?"***"

“Just answer yes or no!"“Gosh I'm not answering that. How would I know?" Madeline responded, laughter mixing with her words as she responded to the person on the other end of the call. “Maraim, are you sure you don't want me to join you? I don't mind getting wet."After three seconds, the little one called back, “No, Maddie! I'm fine. See?" In affirmation of what she said, Mariam did moved about in the water, smiling at Madeline when she turned back to her.They were both at the back of The Eddington house where the swimming pool is placed in an elegance that made Madeline wonder if she had been at the same building since the previous day.“Livie, I'm not going to answer that question when I'm standing some feet away from the kid I'm caring for."“But you said she's in the pool!"“She is in the pool. But she's quite the brilliant mind and I can't risk it."“Come on Mad-"“Is Mum there?" Madeline cut in, hoping that Olivia would let it go. She knew her hope was pointless. Olivia never