Chapter 48 - Whispers in the woods

Claudine's eyes fluttered open to the sound of Ariella's shrill voice, piercing through the darkness. "Wake up, foster sister! We've got a lot to do today!" The room was still shrouded in night's shadows, but Ariella's enthusiasm was already in full bloom. Claudine groggily sat up, rubbing her eyes, wondering what new torment Ariella had in store for her. "What time is it?" she mumbled, but Ariella just laughed a cold, mirthless sound. "Time to get to work! First things first, I need you to scrub the floors. But I did that yesterday, Claudine said. And I want you to scrub it again, and don't think about using that weak excuse for a backache; I know you're just lazy." Claudine's heart sank as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her muscles aching from the previous day's drudgery. Ariella handed her a heavy bucket and scrub brush, and Claudine trudged to the kitchen, her feet heavy with resignation. The floors seemed to stretch on forever, and Ariella's constant criticism made every passing minute feel like an eternity. After an interminable hour, Ariella declared the floors "still not good enough" and assigned Claudine to dust the entire house, including the intricate figurines and cobweb-shrouded chandeliers. Claudine's arms trembled as she climbed the creaky ladder, her mind racing with resentment. Why was Ariella treating her like this? Hadn't she suffered enough in prison? The dusting seemed to take an eternity, and just when Claudine thought she was finished, Ariella appeared with a laundry basket, piled high with dirty clothes. "These need washing, and don't even think about using the washing machine, I want them done by hand." Claudine's eyes stung as she stood at the sink, the cold water numbing her fingers. Ariella hovered over her, critiquing every move, every wrinkle, every faint stain. The day blurred together in a haze of drudgery, Claudine's body aching, her mind reeling. She wondered if Denzel would ever come for her, or if she was doomed to suffer at Ariella's hands forever. As she sat on the kitchen floor, Claudine's thoughts swirled with despair. How had her life come to this? From being a prisoner to being a servant in her own foster home. The injustice burned within her, fueling her determination to escape. But for now, she was trapped.Ariella's voice cut through her thoughts. Hey, what are you doing? You're not supposed to rest; have you done the dishes? What? You haven't done the dishes, and you're here resting. Who do you expect to do them for you? Ariella said, yanking Claudine's hair. You better do it now with that Ariella left the kitchenAs she scrubbed the dishes, Claudine's thoughts turned to Denzel. Where was he? Why hadn't he come for her? The questions swirled, taunting her like a cruel joke.Just as she finished the dishes, Ariella appeared with a vacuum cleaner. "Clean the living room. And don't miss a spot." Claudine's body ached, but she knew better than to resist. The night wore on, a never-ending cycle of drudgery and torment. Claudine's spirit was breaking, but she needed to escape.At night Claudine sneaked out of the outhouse carefully without making a sound, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and anxiety. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow on the quiet street as she made her way to the forest where she usually met Ezrianna, hoping she'd be there. It felt like a lifetime since she had last seen her, and Claudine was eager to share everything that had happened during her time in the Bayford prison.Claudine's feet pounded against the forest floor, her heart racing with excitement and fear. She had been running for what felt like hours, but she didn't dare look back. Finally, she saw a familiar figure sitting on a rock in the distance. Ezrianna.As she approached, Ezrianna looked up and their eyes met. Claudine rushed forward, and the two friends embraced, holding each other tightly."Oh my God, what happened to you? I was so worried about you," Ezrianna said, her voice muffled against Claudine's shoulder.Claudine pulled back, her eyes welling up with tears. "I know I'm sorry, I have so much to tell you."Ezrianna's expression turned serious. "What happened?"Claudine took a deep breath and began her story. "Ariella took me to prison, Ezrianna. I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. She took me to prison because I was chosen as Denzel's mate, not her; they said I stole him from her. How's that possible? It's not like I'm the moon goddess, how could I possibly do that, Claudine said with her voice shaking like she was about to cry.Ezrianna's eyes widened in shock. "Why would she do that?" It's okay, it's okay, Ezrianna said, burying Claudine's head in her chest.After Claudine had calmed down, Ezrianna asked, What happened in prison?"Claudine hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "It was horrible, Ezrianna. It is survival of the fittest in there. They throw food on the ground and have people drag and fight over it; it is horrible. I'd probably be dead by now if I hadn't met Kris the person who helped me. He's an inmate, but he's kind and protective. He helped me survive."Ezrianna's expression softened. "Uhhh is it what I think it is."No, it's not you silly girl his just like a big brother, Claudine said laughingOk, ok, I believe you, Ezrianna said, smiling.I waited for Denzel to come for me, but he didn't. Instead, Ariella came. I'm still wondering why she did that. She said she wanted me to die and rot there, so why did she come to release me from prison? Claudine said, looking confused.Maybe Denzel came to ask for you Ezrianna saidNo, I doubt that, maybe she just missed making me miserable, Claudine said feeling pitifulYep, there's that too, but there's also a chance that Denzel came for you Ezrianna said. Come on let me find something for you to eat I know you've not eaten anything since you came back, Ezrianna said with concernAh yes, you just read my mind Claudine said with a smile.