The Summer of 1916

Chapter Four: Camellia

Author's note:   

Hey guys! It's been months, huh? I am so sorry I've been slacking off, but it's only because I've been busy with school exams. With the latter done and dusted, I'm free for summer writing, so expect more frequent updates.  

I just would like to extend a very genuine thank you for all of your support and understanding in my absence. You guys have absolutely been the greatest.  Also, there may be some paragraph errors. Wattpad completely erased my paragraphs and I had to fix them just now. It's also kind of 3:27am right now so I'm working off of a coffee-induced haze, so I've most likely over looked a couple of things! I'm sorry for the poor quality (I know, it's no excuse for a writer... but still...)

If you find any errors in this, please tell me!

- Grace    

Chapter Four:  

“Wow, gran,” Haley said as her lips parted and curved into a sly smile. “This is getting interesting."

“Mm,” Catherine hummed. Haley sat by her great-gran's old rocking chair, caressing her fair hands gently. She noticed Catherine's eyelids were beginning to droop and the grip of her fingers were loosening.

“Are you tired now, gran?” When there was no reply, Haley smiled and adjusted Catherine's blanket so that it sat bundled together closer to her neck. “How about we head to bed now, hey? It's getting awfully late.”  

While Catherine's deteriorating body was screaming 'yes', her mind was adamant. She had to overcome the sirens of tiredness.

“We can start off again tomorrow,” Haley suggested. This time, Catherine's lips tightened into a thin line. There was an eerie moment of silence before she had answered with a finalized blow that impaled Haley's heart.

“What if, my love, I do not live until tomorrow?”  

                                                           *            *            *  

Hannah and Susan had helped to prepare my hair into a slick bun. We headed out into the hallway before the bell had even rung. When it did, I found myself jumpy and agitated. 

“What's wrong?” Susan had asked after noticing my alarmed state. “Is something troubling you?”

“I—I,” I looked at Susan who raised her eyebrows. “Nothing.” Knowing she wasn't get any answer from me, Susan gave an empathetic nod and offered a smile.  

The hallway which was once again cluttered with cheap rave was immediately silenced with the intimidating clickity-clack of Sophie's heels as they dug into the marble floor. There was a quality in Sophie that I admired: her ability to command attention without a single word was impressive. While I knew it was mostly fueled out of fear, it was still a definite sign of influence.  

“Ladies.” Sophie sported a sardonic grin. “We know the procedure.” With that, we all—myself included—clustered up into our little groups waiting with hollow anticipation as we waited for our first task. Sophie began walking towards the groups, sliding the pencil from her ear and tapping on her wooden clipboard as she gave nods of approval. She walked towards our group and I couldn't help but feel nervous.

“I hope you slept well,” she said monotonously. There was no reply. “You ladies,” she said as she rifled through her papers, “are gardening this morning.”

“And our second job?” I asked, but suddenly regretted. 

“That question will be satisfied later,” Sophie said as she narrowed her eyes and left.