Chapter 6

When I came over last night, there was no dinner left in the cafeteria.

I was starving, so hungry that it felt like my stomach was eating itself. That's why I was the first one at the cafeteria when the doors opened.

I stood there for a while, keeping my head down and finally apologized in a meek voice. "I'm sorry. I'll clean it up, and next time I'll make sure to hold it steady. Can I get another one?"

James's angry expression gradually softened as he looked at me. He reached out and gave my shoulder a gentle pat. He smiled kindly and said, "Alright, kids are clumsy sometimes.

"Meals in the cafeteria are portioned out per person. Come to my office. I'll give you my meal."

I followed him to his office.

When I walked in, I left the door slightly ajar.

James's eyes crinkled with a smile as he pointed at the food on the table. "Eve, dig in. Don't take any of it out of here. If the other kids see this, they'll say I'm spoiling you."

I rushed over, grabbed the food on the table, and devoured it as if I hadn't eaten in days.

James walked over. He unscrewed his thermos and brought it to my lips. "Drink some water. Don't choke yourself. If you'd been this well-behaved from the start, do you think I would ever treat you badly?"

As he spoke, he gave my back a gentle, reassuring pat. That hand slithered over me like a snake, creepy and full of hidden menace.

A cold shiver crept up the back of my neck. I could feel something was off, so I dropped the lunchbox, spun around, and shoved James's hand away. "I'm full now, thank you, Mr. Warren."

I bolted for the door. Then James grabbed my arm and yanked me back.

He turned angry, his hypocritical face twisting. "What are you running for? Your own brother doesn't want you, and here I am, at least trying to help you. You parentless brats, none of you ever know a good thing when you see it."

My head was spinning. Everything started to blur.

In his face, I saw that same cruel expression Dad always wore.

Memories of being beaten many years ago, mingled with the terror of being tightly grabbed by the man at that moment, made me lose control quickly.

I grabbed a fork from the table and, like a wild animal, stabbed at his neck with everything I had.

It was like when I was little, in the grip of extreme terror, I followed my brother's lead, grabbed a knife, and drove it into that man's heart.

I heard James let out a sharp, startled scream, pain bursting from his throat.

I watched as blood coiled down his neck, writhing like a serpent.

His face twisted in pain and rage.

My fingers went weak again, and my grip suddenly loosened.

With a sudden lunge, he snatched the fork right out of my hand. With his other hand, he brutally jerked my hair, ripping at my scalp.

I felt like my scalp was being ripped off. Pain shot through me, blinding and sharp.

Dizzy and reeling, my head slammed hard into the desk.

My head exploded with pain, as if a bomb had gone off inside.

The air was suddenly filled with the overwhelming, fear-inducing scent of blood.

The pain was so intense that my mind started to slip away, everything turning hazy.

I tried to fight back, but when I glanced at him, his face was already becoming a blur, almost impossible to make out.

My hands went limp, the pain stabbing deep into my bones.

Blood streamed down from my head, blurring my vision, and all I could see was red.

James's face twisted into a hideous mask. His greasy palm suddenly clamped around my neck. In his narrowed eyes, a flash of fury and mortification rose.

I heard him snarl through gritted teeth, spitting out curses in pure fury. "You worthless little thing. I brought you here because I thought you might actually be worth something. Even your own brother threw you away, and you've got no parents.

"I call the shots in this place. If you dare to fight back, don't think about getting a single bite to eat."

My anger made my jaw tremble. With his hand crushing my throat, the air was draining from my lungs, and my ears were roaring with the sound of suffocating panic.

My mind was slipping away, and I felt myself sinking, deeper and deeper, as if I was falling into a bottomless pit.

In that instant, I thought, 'This is it. I'm done for.'

James yanked me up by the collar, his face twisted into a sleazy, disgusting grin. "Smart move, kid. As long as you know your place, I will make sure you don't suffer."

My eyelids kept drooping, and I felt like I was about to black out completely.

Just then, a thunderous bang echoed through the room as the office door was slammed open.