Chapter Eight: Fraying Hope
Her watery eyes reluctantly looked over the blurry horizon and subconsciously her arms tightened around her torso at the sight of the manifesting storm. Her small body shivered furiously as she huddled in the corner of the room but still the ice cold elements entwined around her body like a powerful anaconda that slowly crushed the life out of her.
A crackle of lightening scorched the greying sky causing Mildred to squeeze her eyes shut, attempting to block out the fearsome weather. A low roar of thunder accompanied the lightening and echoed throughout the landscape. Her trembling hands clutched at her ear, wanting to eradicate this nightmarish existence and the memories of her lone incarceration.
The tears cascaded down her cold, numb face leaving an icy trail behind.
Her body had been exposed to the cold and cowered in the corner of the room; her limbs had grown numb and felt like a dead weight proving difficult to control her own movement. Her chest heaved slowly while her heart was slow but remained in a continuous rhythm and slowly her heavy eyes began to close.
Her sole companion was that of the fearsome and chaotic mood of Mother Nature and her icy talons that mercilessly cradled her cold, cowering body. Her awakened wrath was not aimed at Mildred but she would be an innocent casualty as the impending storm grew closer and stronger, gaining momentum.
Mildred was utterly alone; there was no faithful pet Tabby, her companion that she was cuddle in her arm while she sleepily confessed her hopes, dreams and fears. There was no Maud, her best friend since their first day of term, the same friend that helped Mildred venture out of her shy shell and was loyal to her despite their ups and down throughout the school term.
An unsettling thought pierced her imagination and she swallowed back the fresh bile, she questioned the fact would she survive this nightmarish existence, survive to see the next day? She could only clutch onto the diminishing thoughts of hope and pray for salvation, secretly praying for nothing short of a miracle.
The lone tower stood high above the crumbling remains of the building, perched on the edge of the rough cliff edge where the waves continued to crash against the unforgiving and battered landscape. The howling wind grew stronger, unleashing the remains of her trademark bun now completely free, wildly entangled in the invisible fingers of the wind. The clouds morphed into darker and appeared a sinister sight which dominated the sky, blocking out the sun completely and giving the false impression that it was approaching late evening.
It was clear that Mother Nature's hand, her will and control was manipulated by an unnatural disturbance as the fragile balance and natural law had been cruelly interrupted. The storm was strongly connected and associated by emotions perhaps fuelled by anger, fear and underlying and unresolved issues.
Hecketty surveyed the sky intently and stared at the former student, "Oh Constance!" she signed "How very melodramatic."
"Where is she?" demanded Constance, absentmindedly caressed an injury received from the former tutor, "Where is Mildred?" she raised her voice, dangerously
"Mildred is safe for the time being...she's more an insurance policy in order to keep you in line. If you attempt anything stupid or brave then your poor student will pay the price for your idiocy." Explained Hecketty
Constance clenched her fists tightly, her nails stabbing into the palms of her hands, "This ends tonight, no more assuming that you are above the law...you go against everything that I teach, everything I stand for...no more."
Hecketty raised a thoughtful eyebrow, she had never witnessed her former student possess such adamant control and purpose intentions but she relished a challenge and perhaps she needed to teach Constance some of those important lessons in respect.
"My, my, my...we certainly are brave nothing compared to the girl that left my college."
"That...that was in the past, this is now, the present." She stuttered and avoided the former tutors glare
"I suspect you do require a brief reminder, a lesson to put you back in your rightful place." She sneered
Constance felt her head jerk suddenly and knew what she implied; "No!" she called aloud as the storm grew in intensity
Hecketty's eyes widened, blazing with rage, "Really?" she replied in an unusually calm voice, "You are pathetic Constance, a let down and failure to me and the college. Not to mention your father...how he must be so disappointed in his only daughter."
Hecketty's energy crackled between her fingers and posed ready to fight.
"How dare you mention my father, he was a brilliant man."