Everything Happens at Night. [7]

When Alethea awoke from her slumber, she turned to her right she saw Damon bed empty. She really did not care after what happened yesterday. And how she wished it did not happen.
Alethea made her way to the bathroom.
Whoopee! Today's Saturday, I get to bathe.
She brushed her teeth, washed her face.
Usually, Damon would wait for her outside the house to start their farm duties, but when she stepped out on the front porch, she saw Damon afar already feeding the pigs.
"What's gotten into him?" thought Alethea out loud.
She made her way towards Damon. When she approached him, he did not look up but all he saw were Alethea's brown sneakers.
"Hey, why did you start work without me?" Alethea said with her hand on her hips.
Damon did not reply or look up.
"Hello? did you... you know what, i don't care." Alethea said as she threw her hands in the air.
She headed for the chicken coop to clean their cages, but when she entered, the coop was already cleaned and even the chickens had replenished food.
She figured that Damon woke up very early and did all the farm duty.
She headed her way to Damon, "What haven't you done yet?" she said patiently, expecting an answer from him.
"Nothing." he mumbled as he got up and made his way to the house without looking at her like the way she went to sleep without looking at his hurt expression.
"Ugh!" Alethea said with frustration.
She found herself blaming her mother for this.
Alethea had no choice but to follow him around. Surprisingly they finished their farm duty at 11am.
Wow, Damon must have woken super early just to get all this finished by the time i wake up.
it was almost lunch time and Alethea had not seen Bernadette all morning. She guessed she was not a early sleeper.

Alethea and Damon were at the back room eating their lunch. Besides bread and butter they had some leftover macaroni from the dinner last night.
"HAHAHA!"
"What was that?" as Alethea's head perked up.
Damon just shrugged not giving a hoot who made that noise, although to him it sounded very familiar.
More laughter came from the hall way and Alethea could tell that, that person was carelessly hitting things down by the sound of glass shattering.
Damon immediately stood and headed towards the noise.
Alethea also stood up to see what Damon was going to do.
Alethea's head popped out from the kitchen door and saw Damon helping the drunken Bernadette up from the floor.
Bernadette had a bottle of alcohol in her right hand and her left hand was clutching onto Damon's shoulder.
Suddenly Alethea heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
"What all the racket?"
"Will you keep it down?"
"What's going on?"
Three different voices shouted.
Mr and Mrs Kellard and Mr Richard came down the stairs with an angry look on their face.
Alethea just stayed put with her head popping out. Her eyes glued onto the scene in front of her.
"Oh my gosh! Bernadette what happened?" screeched Mrs Kellard.
Damon continued to help her stand on her two feet.
"Get away from her!" shouted Mr Richard as he pushed Damon away.
Without any support, Bernadette dropped back down laughing like a maniac.
"Come help me Robert!" Mr Richard shouted at Mr Kellard.
The two men held Bernadette and walked up the stairs.
Mrs Kellard turned around and faced Damon, "What did you do to her?" yelled Mrs Kellard.
Damon opened his mouth to protest but Mrs Kellard in her pink flowery dress barely fitting her turned around and rushed after the two men with Bernadette.
Damon stood there looking up the stairs. Alethea's head still popped out.
Ha! Serves him right for treating me this way.
Damon walked back to the kitchen and Alethea rushed back to back room.
"Damon, please talk to me? Why are you treating me this way?" asked Alethea.
"As i recalled I've always treated you this way." said Damon picking up his plate and bringing it to the sink to wash.
"At least last time you looked at me. Was it about last..." Before Alethea could finish her sentence Damon had walked off.
Alethea sighed and washed her plate and found Damon doing the laundry and she helped him.
On their way to the living room, Mrs Kellard stopped them.
"Don't know why she said this after what you had done to her," as Mrs Kellard pointed at Damon, "she is asking to see you."
Damon gave a face that said, i knew this would happen.
"Not again!" Alethea muttered. Alethea was left to clean the living room by herself.

Damon entered Bernadette's room, he found her looking out the window.
Damon cleared his throat.
Bernadette turned around. "Hi."
"Feeling any better?" Damon struggled to say.
"Yes. Do you know why i wanted to see you?"
"No."
"Have you kissed Alethea yet?"
"What?" How does she know?
"Come on Damon, don't lie, I know you did it." Bernadette's soft pink lips curled into a wicked smile.
"How did you know?"
"I have my sources." and Bernadette let out a evil laugh.
Bernadette walked toward Damon.
"Damon, darling, how can i let you go?" Bernadette pushed Damon on the bed and she sat on his lap.
"Bernadette get off." Damon said with much discomfort.
"Come on Damon, don't tell me you didn't miss me? Well i did."
"How can i miss you, when you were the one that sent me back to that institution? Now get off."
Bernadette gave Damon a small peck on the cheek and got up. "You can go back to her now."
Damon knew that she admits defeat, and without hesitation, he got up and went to find Alethea.

Alethea had already finished doing the rest of the chores already. She had gotten fed up about Damon leaving her and not explaining his behaviour towards her.
Alethea thought a nice shower would make her feel better.
She got her clothes from the basement and walked up to the bathroom. On the way there, she saw Damon, they looked at each other for a moment. Damon was going to say something but Alethea stepped into the bathroom and closed the door.
Not knowing what to do, Damon looked at the time, 10.30. He did not feel like having a shower, he was in a miserable mood, so he went to the basement.
Alethea came out of the shower with a huge smile on her face. She had been longing for this shower the whole day.
She walked back to the basement, when she reached the front door her face turned into a frown. She did not want to see Damon, he was like a miserable human that made everything he touched turn black.
But, Alethea had no choice but to enter, as she slept there with miserable Damon.
The door opened and Alethea found Damon sitting on his mattress with his back against the wall reading his book.
Alethea ignored the hunched figure reading and kept her toiletries and lay down on her bed, her head turned away from Damon.
"Alethea?"
Now he talks? What's his problem.
"what?" muttered Alethea pretending to be asleep.
Damon thought he had to make up to Alethea, it was a 'now or never' situation. Secretly he longed for her lips to be on his again.
"I'm sorry."
Alethea was overwhelmed by the sincerity in his voice as he said those words. This made her sit up.
"Look me in the eye and say it." Alethea said with a stern voice.
Damon focused his eyes on Alethea's, she had such beautiful eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"Good. Now, i want you to explain to me why this morning you were so cold towards me."
Damon did not want to answer that question, but by the looks of it he felt he really did owe her an explanation.
"Well," Damon paused."Alethea, you know i care for you and you know the feelings i have for you are true."
Alethea's heart was beating very fast.
"But during... that kiss... last night, to me it was magical. Then you just had to ruin everything by saying 'Jason's' name. I was angry for you not letting go of your past for me."
Alethea did not know what to say. But finally after searching her mind for the right words, "Damon, i do have feelings for you too, but..."
"But, what?"
"But, there something holding me back."
"Let me guess, Jason?" Damon said looking at his shoe.
Alethea sighed, "Yes, Damon. And i need to see him, but i don't know how."
Damon had a brilliant idea, but he did not want to say it. He wanted her all for himself. Then he remembered a phrase from his book, 'if you love somebody, you must love that person enough to let that person go'.
"I'm gonna regret this, but maybe we could runaway."
"That's the problem, if we runaway where would we get the money? Where would we stay?"
"Money's not the problem, and where we need to stay, we'll worry about it comes." Damon said with tinge of excitement in his voice.

The Fall Caused It All. [6]

"I missed lunch! And i still have some more farm duty to do!" said the frustrated Alethea as she milked the cow.
It was already 2.20pm and Damon still was not back from his 'unpacking of, Bernadette's luggage's'.


In Bernadette's room.
"So Damon, have you missed me?" cooed Bernadette.
"Bernadette, I have no time for your games." retorted Damon.
"I don't play game, besides what on earth are you busy with?"
"Farm duty! House work! Think Bernadette!" shouted Damon as he just stood in front of Bernadette's bed, watching her comb her silky black hair.
"When did you start calling me 'Bernadette' didn't it use to be 'Bernie'? Remember Damon darling? Anyways i don't mean that kind of busy, i mean that." said Bernadette calmly as she pointed her index finger to the window and Damon saw Alethea feeding the chickens with a grumpy face.
Damon was silent, Bernadette was grinning from ear to ear.
"Don't think i don't know you, Damon. I know it when you like someone. Your always quiet around that particular person. Always angry at her."
Bernadette looked at Damon face, it went even paler. She smiled.

Back at the farm, Alethea stomped her feet feeling utterly miserable.
She was tired and hungry.
Alethea walked briskly to the pigs sty. She had forgotten about the log in the middle of the path. She kept muttering words, too engrossed in her anger, just then she tripped on the log and fell flat on her face.
"Ow www!"
Alethea's leg had landed in an awkward position. She tried to get up, checking whether anything was broken.
She did not feel any pain, she took one step forward and the pain from her right ankle shot up her leg.
"Ow www!" she said again.
This time her leg was throbbing. She felt dizzy.
"What am i gonna do now?"
Then Alethea thought that maybe she could go and tell Mr Kellard and just maybe she could let her have a day off. She smiled at her brilliant idea.
Alethea limped her way to the house, wincing at every step. Thinking of what Damon was doing now.
"I bet he is doing slavery work for Bernadette." laughed Alethea as she entered the house.
She limped her way to the living where she suspected Mr Kellard would be. And there she was, eating a ham sandwich watching her favourite soap opera.
"Don't kiss him Jennifer! Hes not worth it!" shouted Mrs Kellard at the TV.
"Err, Mrs Kellard?"
"Huh?" as Mrs Kellard turned around.
When she saw Alethea she said, "Oh its you, What do you want?"
"I think i sprained my ankle." said Alethea hesitantly.
"So?" said Mrs Kellard with her indifferent face.
"Can i get a break for today?"
"NO!" said Mrs Kellard with no hesitation.
"But..."
"No, means no. Now get back to your work!" screamed Mrs Kellard.
Alethea stormed out of the room. Instead of going back to the farm to finish her farm duty, she went to do the laundry.
She limped to the kitchen, and to her surprise she saw Damon and Bernadette.
The both of them turned to look at Alethea. Bernadette glared at her Damon tried not to catch her eye.
Alethea did not want any trouble so she quickly got the extra bar of soap from the back room. While limping her way out, Damon saw that she had hurt herself.
"Alethea are you alright? Why are you limping, do you need help?" said Damon with a concerned voice.
Now it was Damon's turn to be glared at by Bernadette.
"No i don't need your help, and I'm fine thank you." Alethea did not look at him.
Damon opened his mouth to say something but Alethea had already walked off.

"So that bastard was not doing any hard work!"
Alethea finished the house work without seeing Damon or Bernadette anywhere.
She went to the bathroom to wash her face knowing that she can't bathe as today was Friday and her bathing days were Wednesday and Saturday.
It was almost 12 midnight, and Alethea walked into her basement.
The light was on and there she saw Damon sitting on the beaten down mattress reading his Bronze Horseman book with a first aid kit next to him.
Alethea ignored him and walked to her mattress.
Damon looked up and saw Alethea.
"Come here, let me look at your leg." he said soothingly.
"Why? You don't care." said Alethea coldly.
"Yes i do care, Alethea."
"Then why did you leave to do all the work."
"I'll explain another time. Right now i need to see your leg."
Alethea reluctantly sat in front of him and stuck out her right leg.
He looked at her bruised ankle and tutted. He applied some medical oil from the first aid kit and then bandaged her leg up.
Why does he care so much, the past few weeks he was so cold towards me.
After bandaging her up, he looked up and saw Alethea looking at him with her big lovely green eyes.
They looked at each other without blinking, Alethea did not move her leg from his lap. All thoughts of Jason were being pushed away.
Damon leaned forward, Alethea leaned forward. Soon their lips touched, and they kissed.
Damon's hands were around Alethea's waist and her hands were on his head.
Thoughts of Jason, their promise, all rushed back into Alethea's mind, she pulled away from him.
"What's wrong?" said Damon looking puzzled, after finally kissing the girl of his dreams for the past few weeks, something was bothering her.
"Nothing." said Alethea looking away.
"come on, you can tell me."
"I have a boyfriend before I became an orphan. Since we can't see each other anymore we promised each other that one day they'll meet each other and they would runaway and get back together." said Alethea still not looking at Damon.
Damon sighed, "Alethea, you'll never see him again. He's the past, I'm the future!" Damon was almost losing his temper.
How can she be so naive! I bet he already has another girl, and forgotten all about their dumb promise.
"you're the future? How can you be so sure Damon. And I'll see him again! Now goodnight!"
Alethea crawled to her bed, face away from Damon, not wanting to see his expression.
Why did i have to kiss him! How can i be so dumb, now it's gonna make things even harder. Yes, i do sorta like him but there's Jason.

The other girl. [5]

"did you remember anything last night?" asked Alethea as she stopped milking the cow.
"No, and continue doing your work." said Damon.
They did not talk and continue working. Alethea remembered Damon's hand around her waist, was is on purpose or did he put it there unconsciously. She pondered about it, could she had fallen for him? But how could it be, she still hasn't gotten over Jason. She was mad at herself for saying that she had gotten over Jason, they promised each other that one day they will meet and get back together.
Once they finished their farm duty, they went back to the house.
"your lunch is in the back room." said Mrs Kellard being much sober.
Damon lead the way through the kitchen to the back room where there were lots of beer cans and some food. There was a table in the middle of the room and there they saw 3 slices of bread one each of the two plates, there was a small cube of butter. The two sat down and ate their bread with equal portions of butter each.
"DO you remember your mother's face?" asked Alethea with a mouthful of bread in her mouth.
"i don't like to talk about it."
"But..."
"Please don't push it."
Alethea looked at Damon remembering all the scars she saw on his hand.
When they finished their lunch they went to wash the plates and put it dry. Mrs Kellard came in and gave them a list, "now that I'm sober i made time to even bother to write you a list of what you have to do everyday."
Mrs Kellard left the small back room with her flowery dress which made her look fatter.
Damon opened the list and Alethea came over to see the list.
LIST OF THINGS TO DO:
1. Do farm duty.
2. eat lunch.
3. wash clothes.
4.mow the lawn.
5. clean the bathrooms.
6. bring out the garbage.
7. clean the living room
8. sweep the hall way

NOTE: DO NOT OR EVEN STEP FOOT ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR!

"well it couldn't be that difficult right?" said Alethea with and optimistic attitude.
Damon did not reply, instead he made his way to the room where the couple dump their clothes, Alethea had no choice but to follow.
Since this is her first time stepping in that room and so it is for Damon. They couldn't catch their breathe when they saw a huge pile of clothes in the middle of the room.
"Wow, they must be very rich..." said Damon with much awe.
Alethea took the basket from the side of the room and started putting the dirty clothes into it. They even found a banana skin among the million of clothes.
The pile of clothes filled almost 8 baskets and they were aligned in a row inside the bathroom.
Although the Kellards were rich, they did not have a washing machine but they do have lots of clothes.
They took about one hour to wash the clothes. All they have is two bars of soap and a washing board. When they had finished washing all the baskets of clothes, the soap bars were reduced to the size of a dice.
"My back hurts." exclaimed Alethea.
Damon simply nodded his head. Alethea had gotten used to his silent treatment.
They did the rest of the chores. It was almost 11 at night, they both were tired and hungry, they ate the leftovers from the Kellards' dinner and went to bed.

The next morning Alethea woke up first which was really unusual as Damon was always the one that woke up first. Alethea dragged herself to the bathroom to brush her teeth and comb her wavy black hair. Alethea remembered how her mother always combed her hair with such affection, well that was before she went through depression.
When Alethea came out from the bathroom she saw Damon waiting for her outside the bathroom so he can use it.
"morning!" chirped Alethea.
"Morning." said Damon not even looking at Alethea.
When they finished freshening up they headed to the barn. Half way there, Mr Kellard called on them.
"Hey you two!"
Damon and Alethea turned around and saw Mr Kellard waving his hand wildly above his head.
"come here!"
Damon and Alethea walked toward Mr Kellard.
"OK, now your here," said Mr Kellard looking very serious, "i want you to listen carefully and i do not want to repeat myself again, you hear?"
Alethea and Damon nodded.
"you and you," as Mr Kellard pointed at Alethea and Damon, "will follow me up to the second floor..."
"but we're not allowed up there." interrupted Alethea.
"will you shut up and listen! As i was saying, i will lead you to your rooms and i want you to clean it till it sparkles. My father and my niece are coming this afternoon, they are going to stay for who knows how long. So i want everything to be perfect, anything wrong happens i am gonna make your life very miserable!" Mr Kellard paused for a moment. "Ah yes! And abide to their every wish. Now follow me."
On the way there, Damon looked very pale, no one knows what was bothering him.
Mr Kellard led them to the second floor. It was beautiful compared to the first floor. It was decorated with flowers and the walls was painted bright cheerful yellow. This made Alethea smile as she compared it to her dull grey basement. It smelt of lavender it was really delightful, but Damon's face had the same expression.
Mr Kellard led them to the last two rooms. When Alethea and Damon entered the second last room they saw a messed up bed and a dusty dressing table with a cupboard covered with cobwebs. The two kids stared at the rooms with disgust.
"Well, hop to it! When i come back, i want both rooms to be spotless!" and with that Mr Kellard was off.
"His father must be very strict, huh?" said Alethea.
"yes, now go back to work." as Damon took up a duster.
Alethea dusted the cupboard and took a wet cloth from the kitchen to wipe it clean. When she was done, she put her hands on her hips and looked at her work with satisfaction.
Damon made the bed and cleaned the dressing table. Afterwards, the both of them did the same for the next room which was just as untidy and dirty as the previous one.
When they were done, they admired their work for a second, then they headed towards the stairs.
Just their luck, Mrs Kellard was just walking up the stairs. She looked at them and stopped dead in her tracks with her mouth opened in disbelief.
"What the hell were you two doing on the second floor?" screamed Mrs Kellard.
None of the two said anything.
"Say something!" screeched Mrs Kellard.
Damon took another step down and looked Mrs Kellard in the eye, "Sorry ma'am, but Mr Kellard told us to clean the last two rooms."
"Am i hearing correctly..."
"What's all the commotion about?" interrupted Mr Kellard, as he heard Mrs Kellard's booming voice.
"What is the meaning of this?" As Mrs Kellard turned to glare at her husband.
"Well dear, as you know, my father and niece are coming this afternoon, right?" said Mr Kellard very patiently.
"Indeed you did." she shouted, still raging with furry.
Alethea and Damon just stood on the top step looking down at the couple, not daring to move an inch.
"So i told them to clean the rooms."
"Still, you have no right to let them up there without my permission. Now they think they can go up there whenever they want. What if they steal one of my precious jewelery?" said Mrs Kellard feeling very frustrated.
"Calm down!" said Mr Kellard almost losing his patience and trying his best to keep his cool.
Mrs Kellard ignored her husband and turned to Alethea and Damon, "if i catch any of you two scoundrels stealing my jewelery, I'll make sure you starve for many days till you learn your lesson."
Both Alethea and Damon nodded their heads fearfully.
"Gloria [Mrs Kellard]! Will you please get dressed in a proper attire before they come?" said Mr Kellard desperately.
"OK, OK" and Mrs Kellard went up to change.
Mr Kellard turned to Alethea and Damon saying, "You two! I want you and you to wear the most presentable clothing!" ordered Mr Kellard.

Alethea and Damon went down to their basement. Alethea changed into her one and only favourite dress, which is white with blue flowers on it. Damon just wore his plain ole' boring brown uniform.
Soon Mr Kellard shouted for them to come to the front door.
Alethea and Damon rushed to the front door. Mrs Kellard was wearing really heavy makeup and many diamond rings on her stubby fat fingers. Mrs Kellard was never the ideal woman to marry but Mr Kellard was drunk when they said their vows, and he regretted it till this day. He almost considered having a divorce, but he would have to give her half of his shares, which included many thousands of money.
The Kellards and the two teens stepped out onto the front porch and saw a sleek black limousine car being parked in front of their porch. A beautiful young girl about Damon's age wearing a bright yellow flowery dress came out from the car, and a bald smartly dressed man with a clean shaved chin came out from the car having the driver to their bags. it was a handsome young lad wearing a chauffeur's clothing with white gloves.
The servant boy walked up to Mr Kellard's father and said, "Mr Richard, sir, where shall i put yours and Miss Bernadette's luggage?"
Mr Richard looked at Damon, then at Alethea, and smirked "Asked those two." As he pointed to their direction.

The servant boy walked up to Damon and Alethea, "hey, could you lead me to their rooms?"
Alethea and Damon looked at Mrs Kellard for her approval, and she nodded reluctantly.
Alethea looked at the lad, and saw him looking at her with his beautiful brown eyes.
"Hello miss, my name is Wilfred, what would yours be?" Asked Wilfred politely.
Alethea blushed, Damon just rolled his eyes. He's way better than that grumpy Damon. But no, i can't fall for him, i promised Jason.
Alethea did not want to reveal her name, she only said, "let's get to the room."
Damon and Alethea led Wilfred to the once untidy, now clean rooms.
Alethea realised that Damon was especially quiet since the arrival of Mr Richard and Bernadette. But Alethea thought that Wilfred was getting on his nerves as he keeps asking for Alethea's name.
"Please tell me you na..."
"Her name is Alethea!" interrupted Damon as he was really annoyed by Wilfred.
Alethea went even redder.
She turned to Damon, "What's your problem?" snapped Alethea
"Nothing" muttered Damon.
"Hey I'm sorry if i annoyed you, but right now i gotta rush." said Wilfred apologetically.
Wilfred expected for Damon to say something, But he did not.
"Well then, bye Alethea!" as he gave Alethea a toothy grin.

Alethea and Damon, did not say anything to each other, and soon they left for their delayed farm duty.
When they were almost out the door, Bernadette in her yellow dress came prancing towards them.
Bernadette looked rich and snobbish, like those kids that went to Alethea school's and thought that they run the whole school.
"Damon! i need help unpacking my luggage!" said Bernadette.
Damon just stood there expressionless and said nothing in reply.
"you know her?" questioned Alethea.
Damon gave her a slight nod.
"really?" Alethea looked at Bernadette.
"Erm, yes... Alicia is it? Damon and I go way back." smirked Bernadette.
"It's Alethea."
"whatever, come on Damon darling, let's go!"
Bernadette locked arms with him. Alethea could see that Damon looked very uneasy.
"What about farm duty?" shouted Alethea.
Damon just looked pitifully at her.
"you do it!" Bernadette shouted back.
Alethea sighed, wonder what history they got.
Alethea walked angrily to the farm.
"I'll take forever to do this by my self. Stupid Bernadette, why must she take him away?" Mumbled Alethea.

New house, New bed, New everything. [4]

The car ride was approximately 6 long hours. they drove non-stop, no toilet breaks, no food break.
mr Kellard always looked behind and sneered at Alethea. Alethea now felt that not being adopted was not that bad after all. In Alethea's mind, before she saw her adopted parents, she dreamt that they would be caring, like those parents that acted in comercials, the kind that fusses over what you wear, whether you have eaten or not. But Mr and Mrs kellard was nothing like that sort.
When they reached the Kellard's house, Alethea saw a huge farm and beside a red barnyard where she saw horses sticking their heads out as if to see who is the new comer. there was a huge farm house beside it. Alethea stared at it in awe. All her life she has only seen buildings and small houses but never such a huge house before.
"i'll show you to your room." said Mrs Kellard as she got down from the truck.
when they opened the door to their house and to Alethea new house, mrs Kellard led Alethea to her room.
"here are the rules," as Mrs Kellard looked at Alethea with stern eyes. "you are not allowed to watch television or go up to the second floor. you start farm duty at 5 in the morning and after that you do house duties. You are allowed to but one set of clothing every three months. But if i see that you are not doing a good job you will not get to buy.
"how about school?" questioned Alethea.
"HA! you're lucky you even have a bed.!"
"i guess it's a no..." muttered Alethea under her breathe.
" did you say anything girl?"
"no!"
Alethea looked around the house while Mrs Kellard led her to her room.
"this is the kitchen." as mrs Kellard pointed to the left. "you will clean that up tomorrow."
Alethea saw that the kitchen had loads of empty beer bottles in the sink, ontop of the counter tables. How the hell does she expect me to clean that up! Alethea thought. When they reached the end of the hall, there were stairs going up and stair going down to the basement. Alethea thought that they were heading upstaiwers, instead Mrs Kellard led Alethea downstairs, the basement.
At the end of the stairs, there was a green door. Alethea felt like the walls was closing on her as she was chlaustrophobic. Mrs Kellard used the key that was hanging on a chain around her neck to unlock the door.
Inside was pitch blck, Mrs kellard entered the black room and reached fort he switch to turn ont he lights.
-click-
and there was light
There was nothing in the room except for the solitary window and a beateb down mattress.
"this is your new room dearie." sniggered mrs kellard, " make yourself at home!"
With those last words, mrs kellard left Alethea in here new room.
"so this is how life is being adopted." Alethea muttered miserably.
She dropped her bag on the floor. She knelt down beside it, unzipped the zip and took out the little contents it held.
Alethea laid down on her beaten down smelly mattress and looked up at the ceiling. Alethea had gotten bored staring at the ceiling, she decided to look out the circular window.
From the window to the floor, it was underground. But from the top of the window to the ceiling was above the ground. And all Alethea could see was dirt, and leaves dancing in the wind. She saw the sun setting, the sky was mixed with orange, red and yellow. It was so picturesque.
She turned her back on the window and saw a long pipe leading from above the ceiling, dirty water was dripping from the pipe.
''so what do you think?'' the words came from the pipe.
can the pipe talk? Thought Alethea.
''huh?'' said Alethea.
''huh! i think it is the greatest idea ever!''
Just then did Alethea realised that the sound was coming from the pipe. The pipe must be leading to the bedroom where Mrs and Mr Kellard slept. Alethea knelt down and put her ear closer to the pipe.
Cool, now i can eaves drop on these people, wonder what they are saying, thought Alethea.
''tomorrow, we're gonna let her do all the work! ha!'' exclaimed Mrs Kellard.
''we're gonna just relax in our living room ceiling and bore our eyes with the television!!''
shouted Mr Kellard as he flopped himself down on the bed.
Alethea realised that they were talking about her.
''i was adopted to do work!" sadi Alethea in disbelief.
Alethea's eyes was heavy with sleepiness, but she just had to hear what more they had to say.
"But what if she runs away or don't listen to us like the other one?" said Mr Kellard suddenly being worried.
The Kellard's was deep in thought.
"i know!" exclaimed Mrs Kellard.
"what?" said Mr Kellard starting to get excited.
"you know that institution nearby?"
"yeah?"
"we could get one of those guys, i heard they are well disciplined and he could supervise Alethea while we're out having fun!" Mrs Kellard getting on her bed jumping up and down.
"exactly! why didn't we think about that in the first place!"
"well now we did, i shall call it right away. I heard they had 24 hours service." and off she went going to call the institution.

Down in the basement, Alethea heard everything they said. She was angry at herself for being so naive, she should have listened to Zelia. But it was all to late. If she did run away, where would she go, she has no home, and the orphanage is about a hundred miles away from this place.
SHe looked outside the window and saw that the moon had came out and she had forgotten about her anger towards the Kellards. Then a rush of sleepiness over powered her, She walked to her beaten down mattress, laid down, closed her eyes and went to sleep.

The door to the basement banged opened.
"Rise and shine, SUNSHINE! It's time for work!" shouted Mrs Kellard.
"HUh? WHat?" As Alethea looked up with sleepy eyes.
"you heard me! Get your butt up and follow me! We got work to do!" shouted Mrs Kellard, being a very impatient woman.
Alethea slowly got up, she got dressed and took her toothbrush from her canvas bag.
"Where's the bathroom?" asked Alethea.
"Next to the kitchen! This is the first and last time i'm telling you that. I'm giving you 5 minutes, you hear me!"
Alethea walked as fast as she can, worried that she would make MRs Kellard shout at her again. SHe entered the white tiled bathroom. Splashed some water on her face trying to wake her up from this nightmare, but it was not working. She brushed her teeth, her mother said that feeling clean will always make you feel better.
"hey hurry up you slow coach! TImes up, get out of there now!" shouted Mrs Kellard banging the bathroom door shouting at Alethea.
Alethea got out of the bathroom feeling refreshed and wide eyed. Suddenly Alethea remebering last nights incident. we could get one of those guys! i heard their very disciplined and he could supervise Alethea while we're out having fun!
Wonder what they are going to do to me?

She followed Mrs Kellard out to the barn where she saw loads of animals, like pigs, chickens, horses, cows, and ...... human? ALethea saw a guy, he looked a few years older than her. Is he the guy from the institution Mr and Mrs Kellard were talking about getting last night?
He was wearing a all brown with a cap and brown hair too.
"Alethea, do you know who he is?" asked mrs Kellard.
Yeah i heard you last night! thought Alethea. "no."
"Well he is here to supervise you and to help you do work around the house and barn."
Damon still standing strainght with his arms behind his back, eyes looking distant and saying nothing.
Alethea being her cheeky self, walked up to him and stuck her hand out infront of him saying, "hi, I'm Alethea!"
Hand still stuck out waiting for him to at least shake it but nothing happened.
"okay... Not the friendly type i guess." muttered Alethea under her breathe.
"Now i'm going to leave you two here to do all the work, while i do nothing!" and with that, mrs Kellard strolled off back to the house to fall back to sleep.

Damon still standing strainght and Alethea studying him. With a sudden movement, Damon started walking towards the chicken coop.
"So... why did your parents call you Damon? No offence but it sounds like 'Demon'!" As Alethea chuckled to herself.
Damon stopped in his tracks, turned around and faced Alethea.
"my name is not 'Demon'. My name is 'Damon' and in Greek it means 'rule' or 'guide'." He turned back around and continued walking to the chicken coop.
"Oh so you do talk!" said Alethea trying to catch up with him. "well do you..."
"stop talking, you yapping girl and let's get to work!" said Damon interrupting Alethea's sentence.
"Oh fine." muttered Alethea.

After that pathetic talk, they did not talk. All they did was, clean the chicken house, feed the chickens. Brush the horses, give then food, give food to the cows, and give more slob to the pigs.
When they finished their barn duty, they went behind the barn and Damon marched to his bag, took out two bottles of water and tossed one to Alethea.
"wow! That was a tiring!" and she dropped on the ground sitting next to Damon on the grass.
Damon sat on the ground drinking his water. Alethea realised that Damon looked very handsome, he had a well built body. What struck her the most were the scars on his hands, Alethea wondered what they did to him in that institution.
"Damon, do you have a family?"
"no"
"Do you like living in that institution?"
"No."
"Where did you get all those scars?"
"None of your buisness!" snapped Damon.
"ok, ok sorry. Just trying to make conversation."

Then there was a long and awkward silence.

"Why can't you talk normally to me?" feeling that she was treated really unfairly.
"i do talk normally. But not to you." smirked Damon.
When Alethea was about to protest, Damon stood up and carried his bag and walked back tot he house.
"where are you going?" as Alethea was just starting to relax and thinking about other ways to start a conversation with him.
"Do more work." replied Damon solemnly
Alethea had to run inorder to catch up with his fast pacing walk.
They entered the house and ALethea saw Mr and Mrs Kellard laughing hysterically while drinking beer and watching tv. Those scumbags, thought Alethea.
She followed Damon to the kitchen and saw Damon putting his bag down against the wall and walked to the sink and took a dirty plate and started washing it.
"Oh so you want me to clean as well?" sighed Alethea.
Damon did not reply as he continues cleaning the kitchen. Relunctantly, ALethea started helping him.
When she was washing the last plate, an idea struck her, Alethea cupped her hands and filled it with water. She threw the water at Damon laughing and tryingk to get him to have fun.
"Hey! What's wrong with you? Are you mental?" shouted Damon in annoyance.
He took a dry cloth and wiped his brown shirt .
"I'm sorry..." stuttered Alethea. "I really am sorry." repeated Alethea with much guilt.
Damon ignored her after that until, Mr Kellard stumbled into the kitchen.
"Hey! Hey you two!" shouted the drunk Mr Kellard.
Althea and Damon both looked at him, Damon quickly stood up striaght with his hands at his side.
"go and.." Mr Kellard burst out laughing, "clean up..hahaha... the living room!"
Alethea and Damon looked ar Mr kellard with disgust as Mr Kellard wobbled and laughed uncontrollably with a can of beer in his hand.
"Now!" screamed Mr Kellard, then he started to laugh again.
Damon and Alethea quickly walked to the living room. When they reached there, they saw at least a hundred empty cans of beer on the floor, table, tv. Mrs kellard was on the floor laughing and shouting at Alethea and Damon as she watched her favourite soap opera.
As Alethea and Damon started to pick up the cans and throwing it into the dustbin, as Mrs Kellard shouted. "HAHAHA! Alethea if it wasn't for us, you will never be adopted!"
Alethea still picking up the cans tried to ignore her, SHe's drunk, she's just talking nonsense, Alethea thought to herself.
"We only adopted you casue we needed a slave! Ha you didn't even cost a dime!"
A tear rolled down Alethea's face. Damon looked over, Alethea quickly turned hre face away. She didn't want Damon to see her crying.
Oh, Jason, when i need you the most, you're not here.Where are you!

"if you think your life is horrible, blame your father!" screamed Mrs Kellard.
"YOu do not know my father! So don't talk about him like that." said ALethea feeling very offended.
"Don't think we do not know about your life story, mother got depression, father got fed up, killed her, went to jail, and got executed!" Mrs Kellard looked at Alethea's angered face. "Oh don't think i don't know!"
Alethea did not say anything. She just stood there with gritten teeth glaring at mrs Kellard.
"What are you looking at?" retorted Mrs Kellard.
Damon just picked up the beer cans, minding his own buisness. Alethea continues to stare.
Mrs Kellard raised her right hand and gave Alethea a hard slap. The force was so strong that Alethea fell on the ground with her hand holding her reddened cheek.
"That would teach you not to stare!" mocked Mrs Kellard.
Mr Kellard popped his head through the dinning room door.
"Oh my fat wife! I am going to buy more beer!"
"Okay! Wait, I'm coming with!" as Mrs Kellard grabbed her purse from the couch and waved to Alethea and Damon like nothing had happened.
Mrs Kellard locked arms with Mr Kellard and they walked out the door singing an old folks song.
Damon squatted next to Alethea and helped her up.
"Are you alright?" asked Damon with much concern.
"Why do you care? i am going to take a shower." snapped Alethea she looked back to see Dammon's hurt face.
Alethea and Damon only get to bathe twice a week.
After that refreshing shower, Alethea looked around to find whether the drunk couple were home yet, but they were not. She went back down to the basement and found Damon sleeping on the beaten down mattress that Alethea was supposed to sleep on.
"where am i suppose to sleep then?" muttered Alethea.
Then she saw an almost brand new looking mattress on the floor next to the beaten down mattress with a blue clean blanket.
Alethea smiled to herself, "so he does have heart."
She snuggled on the new bed and slept like a baby.
During the night, Alethea suddenly woke up from a bad dream. Panting hard, she tried to sit up but she found Damon's hand around her waist. Just then, ALethea saw his scars and touched it.
"wonder what happened, Why won't you tell me..." whispered to the sleeping Damon.
Alethea went back to sleep with a smile on her face, wonder what Jason would say if he saw me like this.

moving on :] [3]

Alethea started her new life with no parents, with no Jason and Erika. You might think its impossible to start a new life with much loss but to Alethea she could now make new friends.
Alethea spent almost one month at the orphanage.
She had loads of friends but they were very young and she had only a handful of friends her age.
Her young friends she got to know were soon being adopted. Each time she made a new friend she knew they were bound to be adopted before her. This gave her a growing urge to be adopted too.
This thought led her to the night when the small, which she do not know what his name was, came to her room and told her that she was very unlikely to be adopted due to her age.
One day she was out with her older friends in the orphanage they went to the huge yard which mostly look like a garden to them, at the orphanage.

"hey guys guess what?" Zelia asked with much excitement.

"what?" the whole clan of girls and one boy chanted.

"that girl, what's her name, oh, you guys know joesephine?" they all nodded, "well, you guys know that she's like us, one of the oldies, and i can't believe she got adopted!"

"are you kidding?" exclaimed Gordan.

"that's impossible." said Darcy in disbelief.

"what do you think, Alethea, you've been very quiet about this piece of news." questioned Zelia.

Alethea looked up and saw the three looking at her, "oh, erm, i was just thinking."

"about what?" said curious Gordan.

"well, have you guys ever wanted to be adopted, or do you plan to stay here the rest of your lives?"

This set the three thinking. Then Darcy went and break the silence, "well DUH thats what every kid in the orphanage wants, right?"

"yeah i suppose so." agreed Gordan and Zelia.

And the four kept talking about what it would be like to be adopted. After their long chat, Alethea urge for being adopted grew stronger. She even thought that she might do anything to be adopted.

The silent night came and the bright orange sun disappeared. It soon reached the kids curfew. Being older they get later curfews than the rest of the younger kids.
Alethea sat on her bed looking out the window and stared at the big beautiful blue moon. She reminise about the old days back in her old life. She thought about her Jason, wondering whether he had moved on or was like her, sitting and staring at the moon thinking about his lover.
There was no way that Alethea could get in contact with him, because there is only one telephone in this whole entire building, and it's in Mrs Buller's office.
Sadly enough children in this orphanage are not allowed to have a handphone, some of the small kids do not even know what a handphone is.
Alethea missed her life so dearly, but she knew that it will never change back.

Alethea laid her head on the pillow and slept, dreaming about Jason, how much fun they had together. About Erika, all the hard times they been through.

"Alethea, honey, wake up?" chimed Mrs Buller.

"hmm?" as Alethea slowly got up from her bed.

Mrs Buller sat herself down on Alethea's bed looking at her straight in the eye.

"you woke me up, so you could stare at me?" asked the sleepy eyed Alethea

"did anyone tell you, you have the most beautiful eyes?" asked Mrs Buller.

"well no."

Mrs Buller gave a hearty chuckle. "Anyways, i'm gonna give you this choice. do you want to be adopted?"

"wow, you're asking me that?" asked Alethea in disbelief.

"yes i am."

"hmmmm, lemme' think. OK i want to be adopted." decided Alethea, she realised that she wanted this more than ever. After seeing her younger firneds being adopted one by one.

"that's fast. well once you decided, there's no turning back unless they decided not adopt ok sweety?"

"OK, whatever you say. So when is the interview?" Alethea impatiently got up and walked to her small bag and took the best looking pieces of clothing to wear.

"whenever you're ready. The couple is already here, waiting for you. So hurry get dressed."

Mrs Buller left to tend to the waiting couple.
Alethea hummed a happy tune while she wore a green tank top with a skirt.
She outside and saw her groupie outside her room.

"she has no idea, doesn't she?" as Gordan tutted.

"no idea what?" Alethea asked and stopped skipping.

Zelia stepped in front of her, "that couple that wants to adopt you, they only adopt kids which are old like you and us and use them as slaves to do their dirty work!"

Alethea was fumming with anger. "You guys are just jealous aren't you? Just because someone that is in her teens get adopted and you don't doesn't mean that you can't be happy with her."

Darcy opened her mouth to protest but Alethea stomped off.

"Poor girl, she really doesn't know." said Zelia with pity.


Alethea told herself to forget what they said. Their just jealous, thought Alethea.
She entered the interviewing room and saw a brown wooden table infront of her with two chairs, which the couple sat on, on one end and another empty seat which Alethea figured was meant for her, on the other end.

"Alethea come sit down." said Mrs Buller gently.

Alethea obediently did as she was told. she sat down and saw the couple. She had thought they look more cheerful and loving, instead they sat there looking very grumpy and evil.
Maybe Zelia was right about them, thought Alethea. But it was too late to change her mind as Mrs Buller said.

"well i shall leave to three to talk. if you need me just holler." said Mrs Buller and she left the room. Alethea was actually hoping that Mrs Buller would stay, so that she could protect her.

Alethea kept a positive attitude thinking they'll actually have a good and kind heart than in looks. Don't a judge a book by its cover Jason always said, Jason i need you, thought Alethea.

"hi, girly." smirked the woman. "i'm Mrs Gloria Kellard, and this is my husband, Mr Robert Kellard.

"Hello girl nice to meet you." and Mr Kellard gave Alethea a toothy grin.

"nice to meet you too." said Alethea trying to be very polite.

"hmmm... this girl has good manners." muttered Mrs kellard to her husband.

"and she's not too fat too." muttered Mr Kellard back.

Mr and Mrs kellard owned a 12 acre farm which had all the animals that was meant to be in a farm. the lived wealthy lives, but money was spent carelessly by Mr Kellard. A he was a drunk and he love drinking. He even had gotten arrested four times for stealing money from people just to buy alchohol. Mrs Kellard was the only person who did the housework in their huge house. Mr kellard is in charge of feeding the animals but most of the time Mrs Kellard does as Mrs Kellard was too busy drinking.
They both never in their lives had they considered to have a child of their own. They only considered adopting kids so they could do their house work for them. The couple practically went around the world to find kids that they wanted to adopt. The first time they did, the kid ran away, and so did the second. Now their trying for their third time.

"can you surviv without eating much?"

"err, i guess i could." answered Alethea, not knowing what this had got to do with anything.

"good"

Then there was an awkward silence.

"are you used to waking up early?" asked Mrs Kellard.

"yeah."

"excellent!" the couple chimed together.

"oh, you're so gonna be adopted dearie!" Mrs Kellard said in a very sinister

That did not matter to Alethea at the moment as she was to preoccupied being happy that she was being adopted.
Mrs and Mr kellard told Mrs Buller about adopting Alethea and she too was happy for Alethea.
The couple went to their truck and waited for Alethea to get her things.

Alethea was in her dorm packing up the little things she had, she wanted to say goodbye to her friends and apologise but they were now here to be seen.
Alethea packed her favourite soft toy which was given to her by Jason on her birthday and a photograph of Erika and her and the few clothes that she has.

"hey," Alethea said to herself. "they may not look nice but i bet there are just testing how tough i am!"

At the doorstep, Alethea hugged Mrs Buller and whispering how grateful she was towards her.

"hurry child!" called Mrs Kellard.

"coming!" as Alethea hurried down the front steps and climbed onto the truck.

Althea and mrs Buller waved goodbye and that was the last time that they saw each other.