Chapter 5 Broken vows Mended heart

Jane didn't hesitate. She turned on her heel and strode out of the room, her head held high. For the very first time,She didn't feel like the frightened girl who had always lived in the shade of her wicked aunt.She felt free. As she packed her belongings,She heard her aunty voice from down the hall, ordering orders at the servant. It didn't matter to her anymore, all that mattered was that she was living that house for good. She was never going to come back. When she stepped outside, She saw a car waiting for her. Mr Peter stood beside it, his expression unreadable. She hesitated.

Would he still take her after what had just happened? To her surprise,he nodded approvingly. " You have a sharp tongue, Anna", he said. "But you have spirit. I hope you use it wisely." Jane swallowed hard,nodding.She entered the car, her heart beating fast as the door shut behind her. As the wheels begin to turn,She looked back at the house that had been her prison for so long. And then with a deep breath,She turned away. She had won this battle. And for the first time in her life, She was stepping into a world where she had a chance to shape her own future.

The day of Anna's arrival at the public school was anything but welcoming. The sky was dim with clouds, casting a shadow over the broken down building that was to become her new home. Rain poured endlessly, forming muddy puddles on the uneven ground as the wind howled through the cracks in the school walls. The gate, a rusted iron structure screamed as it was pushed open, revealing a long, narrow path leading to the entrance. The walls, once white, we're now discoloured with age, streaked with dirt and old stain, and the windows, many of them were shattered and were patched with wooden planks allowing the cold wind to sweep through the corridors. Anna held her thin,soaked dress has she stepped inside, her heart filled with uncertainty. The scent of damp wood,unwashed bodies and stale air hung heavily in the atmosphere. The entrance hall was dimly lit by a few lanterns, casting long Shadows on the cracked stone floor. The walls bore deep scratches, some from years of neglect,others from the desperate hands of children who had come before her. The ceiling was filled with cobwebs,and water dripped from the corners, forming small puddles in the corridors. She was led down a long, dark hallway by a woman with sharp features and an expression as cold as the storm outside. Their footsteps echoed majestically against the stone walls as they passed door after door, each leading them to a room filled with the whispers of young girls,their faces barely seen in the dim candle light. Some peeled through the doors as Anna passed, their curious eyes filled with pity and silent warning.

Not long,they reached a vast room lined with rows of wooden benches and tables. The air was thick with the scent of ink and paper. Nearly eighty girls sat squatting over their work, their fingers Illuminated only by the glow of a few scattered lamps. Their uniforms, once white were now faded, torn and patched with mismatched fabrics. The girls looked tired, their heads bent over frayed books as they did their assignments with dull pencils. The entire room felt heavy with silence, broken only by the occasional cough and the scratching of graphite against the paper.

"This is where you will be studying," the woman said curtly, her voice devoid of warmth. She turned on her heel and rushed down the hallway, leaving Anna standing at the door, uncertain and alone. Night came so quickly,bringing with it an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. Anna was led to the dormitory,a long narrow room with rows of metal- framed beds, each covered with a thin,scary blanket. The air inside was heavy with the scent of mildew and damp wood.The walls were bare except for a few old nails where belongings might have once hung. The wooden floor freaked under her weight as she made her way to her assigned bed. The mattress was stiff and hard, offering little comfort after the long,dreary day.

Anna lay in the darkness, listening to the quiet gossips of some girls and the occasional rustling of blankets. Sleep eluded her. Instead, She stared up at the cracked ceiling, where the rain entered through , forming dark stains on the wood. At the first light of dawn,the sound of a harsh bell rang through the hall ways. The dormitory immediately sprang to life as girls scrambled to their feet, rushing to dress in their worn- out uniforms. There was no time for morning pleasantries, only hurried movements and cold splashes of water to their faces from a communal basin. The routine was strict,rigid and unyielding.

Breakfast was a small piece of stale bread and a bowl of watery porridge that barely had any taste. Anna forced herself to eat, watching as the other girls silently chewed their meal. The dining hall was just as worn down as the rest of the school, long wooden tables filled with scratches and carvings, flickering lanterns hanging from rusted chains, and walls that bore signs of decay.The classroom,though spacious, felt suffocating . The desks were old,covered in ink stains and drawings left by restless students. A large chalkboard was at the front, it's surface covered in faded white markings from previous lessons. The teacher,a strict woman named Mrs shalom, wasted no time in commanding authority. "Discipline us the foundation of success,"She screamed as she strode between the rows,her sharp eyes scanning for any sign of disobedience.

Anna quickly realised that mistakes were not permitted. When Olivia Sarah, a quiet girl with bold eyes, accidentally spilled ink on her book,Miss Shalom struck her palm with a ruler.The sharp sound of wood against skin filled through the room, followed by Oliver's scream of pain. No one dared to move an inch. Until later in the evening, Anna had a conversation with Olivia. The girl sat alone in the corner of the room, rubbing her swollen hand. " This place is a charity institution", Olive whispered, when Anna cautiously approached. "It's meant for orphans for us. The world has forgotten us, and so we are sent here". Anna listened calmly. Olive spoke of the harsh rules, the punishments and the person the whole student feared the most. But it was the mention of one name that sent a shiver down Anna's spine. "Mr Peter", Olive murmured, lowering her voice. "He controls everything. Even Miss Mary, the kindest teacher here, must answer to him. No one dares to question him". Anna swallowed hard. She had known hardship, but something about the way Oliva spoke of Mr. Peter sent unease through her spine. As the candle light flickered and the room grew colder, Anna made a silent vow. She would endure. She would learn. And no matter what,She would not let this place break her.