Chapter 13
WARNING: Period
"Virgil! Virgil, Virgil!"
Virgil's eyes snapped open. He groaned and looked out his window. The sun had barely risen, the sky was still sparked with faint stars.
"Virgil, Virgil!"
Virgil groaned again and dragged himself out of bed. "What could they possibly want at gone three in the morning?" He grumbled, wrapping his threadbare dressing gown around himself.
"Virgil!"
"Coming!" He yelled back as he rushed down the stairs. One of his shoes got caught on a loose piece of stone and came off. Virgil sighed and snatched his shoe up, half-hopping down the rest of the stairs as he put it back on.
"What do you want, Thalia?" The sharp tone in his voice died half-way through his words as he saw Thalia. She was close to tears and clutching her duvet around her. The rest of her bedding was strewn around the room. "What happened?"
"It happened again." Thalia nearly whispered, her voice shaking. "The pastor said it wouldn't happen again if I said my prayers every night and was a good girl. I said my prayers every night but there's still blood."
Virgil looked down at the sheets on the floor and noticed some of them were spotted with blood. He put his hands on his hips and sighed.
"Did it get on your nightdress?" He asked, gathering all the sheets up in his arms. Thalia nodded, her bottom lip trembling. "Hey, don't cry. I'll get this stuff washed, you get a new nightdress. They're in the linen cupboard." Virgil started out the room before stopping and turning back. "I'll get you some cotton wipes, okay? If this carries on, you can use those."
Thalia nodded, looking down in shame. "Thank you, Virgil." She whispered, her voice hoarse. Virgil nodded curtly, Thalia's words from yesterday playing around his head like some Hellish merry-go-round.
"Just doing my job." He said.
Virgil looked up at a quiet knock on the kitchen door. Thalia was standing awkwardly in the threshold, wearing a new nightgown and holding her bloodied one. Virgil beckoned her over.
"Bring it here. I don't think your sheets are going to dry in time for tonight," he said, focusing back on the emergency laundry, "and I'm very tired. So go grab a blanket and see if you can fall asleep on the couch."
"I don't understand." Thalia said. Her voice was still very hoarse and raw. "I did all I was asked. I prayed every night and said Grace and my thanks for what we have. I was a good girl." She said. "Why did it still come? Why did the blood still come? Is there something I'm missing?"
"There's a lot you're missing, actually." Virgil thought. "Like being nice to the person who owns the house you live in."
"No." He said instead. "My guess is that there's something you're not being told." Thalia was still clutching the bloodied nightdress and Virgil took it from her, slinging it in the washing tub.
"But this is punishment. Punishment for something I haven't done." Thalia's voice was rising now. Virgil knew what would happen if Edin and Darla were woken up so he tried to shush her quickly.
"I think it's a reminder." He said. "A reminder of the torment Jesus had to go through before he died. It'll stop eventually."
"If it's a reminder of torment, why don't boys get it too?" Thalia asked. Virgil shrugged.
"I can't answer that, Thalia. I would if I could. But right now, it's four in the morning. Get yourself back to bed." Virgil nodded his head to the door before looking back at the washing. Thalia looked down and nodded. She trailed out of the room but stopped in the doorway.
"Virgil?" She asked. "I'm sorry."
"No." Virgil thought. "No, you're not."
Why yes, I am swinging Thalia back and forth like a pendalum. No, this is not part of the plan at all.
Bye,
Blaize
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