Chapter 7: JOANNE II: The Mother

First Draft: 11 September, 2009
Completed: 21 July, 2010
Uploaded: 22 July, 2010
Updated: 19 August, 2010

Joanne left the room after getting dressed, but not doing imposing some house rules of her own.

"Do not leave the room, do not open the windows, do not response from noises outside the door, if someone is coming in, hide under the bed, and… well, I guess that's enough for now," Eva recalled. Though dark and comfortably cold, this might as well be another prison.

The laughter and chatters from outside lured Eva into breaking Joanne's second rule, opening the windows to mere crack, she peeked at the lights and humans. For a moment, she wondered if this could be her home, a place where she could go out publicly without being hunted. Envy overcame her, being unable to go out, she hastily closed the windows, not wanting to be tempted any longer.

She sat against the wall for hours, idling, until deciding to explore the room. Dragging out a box from underneath the dresser, she identified them to be where her clothes were from. Inside held many other artefacts and clothes, for a young boy her age.

Hearing the door knob being turned, Eva quickly scrambled under the bed. A pair of legs entered and closed the door behind her, walking over to the table, she placed something on it. The legs walked over to the opened box, closed it, and shoved it back under the dresser. Fear crept up to Eva as the legs neared the bed, bowing down, one strong arm pulled her right out.

In the darkness, Evangeline could not make out the woman's features, but it was obvious to her that she was no Joanne. Panicking was all she could do before the older woman carried her to the bed.

"You're not kidnapped, are you?"

Evangeline shook her head docilely.

"She should stop picking up kids just because she lost hers. Can't believe that she just leave you alone in the room without a light, will get you a candle later, don't burn the house down, you hear me? Bought you food, will collect it later."

With just that, the woman left without further introduction, neither did she return for the tray, nor give the promised light.

Joanne returned with the coming of dawn, smiling warmly, she gently pulled the already asleep Eva from under the bed and placed her on the bed.