It was a while before the little girls would stop crying and I waited. The line piled up outside. Then I noticed Mr. Thornton was doing my job as I watched over the girls who wouldn't leave their sister.

"Girls," I went to them. "I must take you home. It's getting late."

The girls didn't say anything but they both have me their hands as we left.

Through the streets the sun had started to come down and it was a bit of a long way to get to their aunt's place. Am even more ignoble house than Belmont's once they knocked on the door. The aunt scolded them for being out too late and we exchanged pleasantries after her warning. I could not make out the character of the aunt based on one exchange for she was busy with children or her own.

After the exchanged goodbyes down the alley came a big man, tossing his body to the side, chugging from a bottle, a drunkard. 

"Hey there miss," he said to me. 

I deviated from him but he began to follow me. 

"Aye I'm talking to ya'" he continued so I picked up my pace until I slammed into Mr. Thornton. 

"Mr. Thornton help me," I begged out of instinct and latched on to him with eyes closed afraid of the drunkard.

"I told you not to go home alone." He said but I didn't argue back. 

It wasn't only because I had been followed which brought on a morsel of irrational fear out of me. It was the girls, the bodies, Joshua. I needed to keep my eyes closed for a second for me to breathe and think again. "Miss Stanton are you all right?"

"Um yes."

"He's gone. Don't worry." He said and I opened my eyes and let go.

"Oh um thank you sir. Goodbye," I walked off on my own hoping to regain my self as if I'd been lost for a second.

"Miss Stanton," he grabbed me. "Why are you walking away alone? Do you have no sense?"

"I will be fine from here on."

"It's dark. What will you say to your family?"

"I will think on it on the way back."

"Tell them you were sheltered at St. Peter's church and they kept all its occupants for the night in fear of a war. And today you were simply caught up with helping."

"Thank you sir." I agreed with his alibi which was surprisingly detailed and believable.

"Before you go. May I use your picture in the newspaper."

"What?"

"Belmont took some pictures of you helping and in case one of those photos is the better one I wanted to know if I am able to use it on the newspaper."

"Oh..." I was about to tell him yes when I realized if my face came out on the newspaper everyone including them would link me back to my mother and I had to keep my motives under wraps. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because I am a lady. And it would not bode well for me to be seen doing such things."

"Such things? Is it really that disgusting?"

"Why do you always write words next to what I say? All I meant is until I am married I must take certain cares."

"Reputation is a fickle thing depending on the view of those who do not know you. And you will still take responsibility?"

"Do you really believe I have a choice?"

"How silly of me to think you did."

"I only live in the society built for me. I aim to survive it to the best of my ability."

"By hiding something only those who treat others as beneath them would misconstrue?"

"If you know so well how I would be looked down upon then why ask? I won't be shamed for it no matter how much disgust I cause in you."

"I know, my opinions of you only seem to drive you further into your stubbornness."

"Then please do not use my picture."

"As you wish m'lady." He bowed with his hand across his torso mocking me.

"Goodbye Mr. Thornton."

It was never too long before we were back to disagreeing. At least I had an alibi but this paled in comparison to those girls words to their dead sister. Their aunt would send them away. To where? An orphanage no doubt. The fact that without one person their whole life would crumble scared me. Where was Joshua? I did not want to feel the fear of the future without him but today it was more present than ever even though I ignored it as best as I could.

*

The alibi was accepted without much debating from my aunt but during breakfast when the newspaper was brought in I almost spilled my tea through my nose like an elephant.

"Anastasia," my aunt called my attention to mind my eating habits.

"Cousin!" My cousin shielded herself afraid of the spill.

"Forgive me," I coughed again and cleaned my mouth. "I should get some water please."

After I finished breakfast I found a way to leave the house as soon as possible.

"Pray tell my aunt once I've left I am gone to see how the church is doing after such an intense night. Thank you." I told one of her staff before I left the house since I knew she would not let me go out after spending the night out even if it was due to the war.

On the way holding the newspaper in my hand determined and in a rush I made the walk in almost half the time it would normally take me even though the crowd was in the way.

"This?!" I slammed the newspaper on Mr. Thornton desk.

"Hmm no good morning Mr. Thornton, or sir, or any semblance of your pride in your ladylike manners today?" He mocked me.

"Do you mock me entirely for your twisted pleasure sir?!" I continued my logical rage.

"My pleasure? To hear you scream at me in the morning? I loathe all humans before noon!"

"At least you don't hate all humans all the time just me right?!"

"Stop shouting!"

"Then why did you put me in the cover when I asked you not to!"

"It is only your back!"

"What if someone recognizes me anyways?! No apology will make up for it!"

"Why are you hiding? Are you some runaway criminal? You sound desperate to not be found out. Why?"

"Enough! I don't need to explain myself to you! Take it down!"

"This is today's paper. It is already out. Impossible to get back."

"Ugh I hate you!" I tried to slam the paper on him but he stopped my arm above my head. Then with his other hand he grabbed the newspaper from my hand and put it down.

"It was the best picture we had. The one which best represented the story. I assure you your identity will not be revealed. I will keep it a secret."

"How could you be so reckless?"

"How could you! be so... so! So..." He looked me up and down then shut his mouth.

"Go on!" I challenged him and he let go.

"Miss Stanton I'm going to need some tea."

"Is that how you invite a lady to tea?"

"I never invited you to stay."

"Will you never learn any manners?! Or how to be mildly apologetic?"

"Said the lady who barged into my office slamming my desk!"

"You anger me and expect to be omitted from it as if I had no reason? You are the one without reason!"

"I told you my reason and I would do it again. You are behaving irrationally over this!"

"Me! Irrationally?! Would you like me to be truly irrational?"

"No I would like for you to leave."

"You're absolutely right. Belmont is the only good company between the two of you."

"Then go to him! Go be a bother to him. I'm sure he will enjoy it as he always does!"

"I will! I am most in need of having proper stimulating conversations and debates. Excuse me."

"Why would you go to him?! Is this friendship of yours really this intimate? Do you not think this is all happening rather quickly?" He walked in front of me to stop me from going towards the door.

"Why do you care? Are you his son?"

"I am the closest thing he has to family so yes. Now answer me."

"No. I do not wish to answer you and I shan't."

"Why?"

"If Belmont wishes to know he can ask me himself. And as far as my friendship with him, do not meddle in it. I will do as I please Mr. Thornton."

"And what is it that will please you?" He came in closer leaning towards my face.

"I have no inclination to bring you any clarity. Now I bid you a good day sir." I did not back away from his approximation until I was done saying what I had to say then I went my own way out of his office.

If Mr. Thornton thought he could intimidate me into opening up to him simply because he asked he did not know me at all. Who was he to earn such earnestness from me? In fact he was trying to tell me to stay away even now. He had his mind made up about who I was and I did not intend on proving myself to him. I had already been lying through my teeth to get by these days to know Belmont myself without getting caught I was not about to let it all go to waste. There was more I wanted to know about Belmont, more time I wanted to spend with him, I could only imagine the stories yet to be told.

"Miss Stanton?" Belmont saw me walking out of the factory as he was coming towards it.

"Good morning sir," I nodded.

"Indeed it is. Where are you off to?"

"Nowhere really. Perhaps church."

"Oh would you like to accompany me then?"

"If you would like the company sir."

"Wait here then I'll be back soon."

"Sure."

Belmont went up and then came down with a book.

"Shall we?"

"Yes sir." I politely smiled walking at ease with Belmont something about him made me trust him all too easily. I guess my mother would've been enticed at once to be open to him as she was to anyone. I could not blame her for being naive because he had no appearance of being bad. She had been captivated to trust him the same way I was. There was nothing to make me think otherwise. But was it just a mask to hide who he was? Would I still come to regret of thinking too nicely of him? Was this how things started between him and mama? I had to get him to talk more. The closer we were the closer I was to being able to inquire about personal matters.

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No part, character, names, plot, setting, conflict or resolution, point of view, theme or symbolism of this story may be replicated.

Copyright: All Rights Reserved to A. Sena Gomes.