Chapter 9 Broken vows Mended heart

There was a typhoid outbreak in the college that claimed life of students.

Spring painted the world in soft particles,its touch reviving trees, teasing the earth with budding wildflowers and warming the walls of the public school like a promise. Birds returned to their nests and the once frozen grounds hummed with the Stirrings of life. But within those walls, where laughter should have returned with the season, a silent war raged.

Typhoid was rampant in the school that it destroyed so many souls. Coughs also echoed down the hallways. Feverish cries shattered the hush of classrooms turned into infirmaries.

It was a public school so they were not treated well since their education was free.Nearly half the girls fell to the illness, their bodies too fragile from hunger and bitter winter's to fight back.

Anna remained one of the few untouched by sickness, and for this she was released into the wild beauty of May's embrace. She was also allowed to play outside unlike others that were locked inside due to their health conditions. She wandered outside each day with Olivia breathing in the sweetness of damp grass, letting sunrays kiss her cheeks, pretending just for a moment that life was normal. But beauty, she would soon learn, often hid the deepest rot beneath its surface.

Olivia's steps had grown slower, her laugh thinner. Her once bright eyes dimmed like candlelight shining against a gust of wind. She coughed constantly now, a deep rattling sound that left blood on her handkerchief. Anna tried not to notice. She didn't believe what was slowly unravelling before her. Then, one morning, the school Nurse pulled Anna aside, looking at her with a pity look. "Olivia won't last much longer", She whispered. "She has tuberculosis and her poor consumption had reached her lungs". Anna's stomach turned her at the site of what the nurse was saying.

"But...I thought she was getting better". The nurse gave a slow, pitying shake of her head.

"She's just...at peace. That's different from healing". These words haunted Anna all day.

By evening,the sun dipped low behind the trees, casting golden shadows across the School grounds.Anna placed her small room, her heart pounding . She wasn't supposed to enter the sick quarters. Rules were Rules . But she couldn't let Olivia slip away- not without goodbye. So she gently crept out, the halls very quiet, and tiptoed towards Miss Mary's room. The doors opened widely. The air inside was heavy, filled with the scent of mint leaves, damp linens and death drawing near. Olivia lay motionless, her hair spread like silk across her pillow . Her lips were pale, her breaths shallow . But when she saw Anna, a faint smile curled on her lips. "You came," she whispered. Anna sat beside her, tears already stinging her eyes. "Don't talk like it's goodbye". Olivia's hand found hers,thin and trembling." it is, Anna. I've made peace with it". "No. You can't leave me. Not you". Silence fell between them, broken only by the tick of the clock and the distant croak of frogs outside. Then Olivia spoke again, so softly that Anna almost missed it. "Do you remember that day...when everyone was looking for me?". Anna nodded slowly."Yes. I was scared . I thought you ran away". "I wish I had". Olivia looked at the ceiling, her eyes far away. "But I didn't. I was trapped in his office". Anna's body began to shake instantly. "Whose office?". "Mr Matthew", Olivia's voice cracked.

"He locked the door. He told me to stop screaming. He said...he'd make me a woman".

Anna's breath caught. "I never told anyone", Olivia whispered, eyes filled with tears. "I was too ashamed. I thought it would end with me...but then I saw how he looked at you, not until you told me he did the same to you". Tears streamed down Anna's face now. She pulled olivia into a gentle embrace, their foreheads touching each other. "If not for the sake of anyone but for me, be strong. I beg you".

Olivia coughed out in pain, one final exhale of peace. "Maybe in the next world, we will be free". Her eyes fluttered closed. Her body relaxed. "Olivia?" Anna whispered, calling her gently. At first, Anna didn't move. Her fingers trembled as they lingered over Olivia's cooling skin, still hoping for a blink . But Olivia's chest no longer rose. Her hands had slipped limp from Anna's grasp. A strangled sound escaped Anna's throat. "No....No... Please Olivia wake up". She pressed her forehead against Olivia's still one,sobbing fervently as waves of grief crashed into her. She cried so hard that her vision blurred, the edges of the room spinning, her fingers clutching at Olivia's night gown as though she could drag her back from wherever she had gone. "You promised me", She whispered between choked sobs. "You said we will be best friends forever". The walls of the room seemed to close in on her, She thought she was dreaming at first until she laid on her chest and she noticed she was not breathing again. A scream raw and painful tore from Anna's throat, filling the halls of the school with grief.

"She's gone!" She wailed. "Olivia's is gone!Why? Who would listen to me all my rants again now that my best friend is gone? She screamed, crying bitterly.

Moments later, hurried footsteps thundered down the corridor. The door burst open.

It was Nurse Ellen. Behind her trailed Miss Mary, pale and breathless.

"What in God's name-?" Miss Mary began, but the words died on her tongue when she saw the bed.

Anna looked up, tears streaking her face, eyes bloodshot and wide.

"She's dead," she whispered. "She died in my arms."

Miss Mary's hand flew to her mouth.

Nurse Ellen rushed forward, placing her fingers gently on Olivia's throat. A long pause.

Then she closed Olivia's eyes with trembling fingers and nodded silently.

"I told her," Anna croaked. "I told her I'd protect her. But I didn't. I was too late."

"Anna," Miss Mary said gently, moving toward her. "You need to rest. This has been too much for you-"

"She told me something." Anna clutched the journal tighter. "Before she died. Something horrible."

Miss Mary froze. "What did she tell you?"

Anna looked down at the journal, heart pounding again. Her fingers brushed the worn cover, and she whispered, "She told me... Mr. Matthew... hurt her. That day. When they couldn't find her."

Miss Mary's expression shifted-just barely.

Nurse Ellen's eyes widened.

"She said he raped her," Anna continued, voice shaking. "And that she was scared. And she thought... he might come for me too."

Miss Mary remained still. Too still.

Then her lips pressed into a tight line. "Give me the journal."

Anna's eyes narrowed. "No."

"Anna," she said calmly, stepping closer. "It's better we handle this quietly. The authorities will take care of it. You shouldn't carry the burden of such a terrible thing-"

"You knew, didn't you?" Anna asked, her voice quiet but deadly.

Miss Mary froze mid-step.

"You knew what he was doing... maybe not to Olivia. But to others. That's why you're afraid of what's inside this." She clutched the journal tighter to her chest.

"Anna, I'm warning you-"

"No!" she shouted. "I won't let her voice die with her!"

She turned on her heel and sprinted for the door.

"ANNA!" Miss Mary called, but Anna was already racing down the hallway, the journal pressed tightly to her chest like a lifeline.

Behind her, Miss Mary's footsteps followed-and she wasn't alone.

Anna's breath hitched.

From around the corner, two tall shadows stepped out.

Mr. Matthew was one of them.

And he was smiling.