Chapter Eleven

Bridge Home School for Girls, Misty

“Y ou will return to your rooms and await dinner,” Mrs. Sanders said. “Gale is comfortable, and a doctor will examine her as soon as the storm passes.”

“What do we do?” Sarah whispered to Paige.

“Go to your room and wait. After dinner, I’ll come get you when it’s time.”

“How?” Sarah’s voice was a low hiss now.

“If you want to come with us, you need to trust me. I have everything planned.”

Mrs. Sanders clapped her hands, and there was no more time to talk. Misty hadn’t known that Paige had collected food for their escape. Misty had never thought about it. She would need to trust Paige’s plan because she herself didn’t have one of her own.

Waiting in her room was nerve-wracking. The storm built outside, and Misty didn’t see how they could escape with the weather getting worse. The thought of never seeing her brother again scared her senseless. She wasn’t sure if she should go.

It wasn’t until she was washing her hands and saw the bruises on them that her mind changed. She could feel every ache in her body from the endless beatings and work. Somehow she would find a way to see her brother again. Maybe he would join her on the grand adventure she planned to have after they escaped. She did everything she could to turn her foreboding into excitement.

Dinner was their normal bland food. She would have time to speak with Paige and find out what was happening when they did the cleanup. Misty heard a gagging noise and turned to Paige, who was in the seat beside her. Paige’s head thankfully swung away from Misty because she vomited on the floor. Several girls quickly scooted their chairs away from the mess. Misty’s gut went queasy at the sight and smell of the contents of Paige’s stomach.

“Why didn’t you say you were ill?” Mrs. Turney demanded.

“Don’t feel good,” Paige moaned while grasping her stomach and weaving back and forth in her chair.

“Sarah, your mouth has been running nonstop. Get over here and clean this mess up. Misty, help Paige to her room and then come back to eat your dinner.”

Misty’s heart sank at the thought of Paige being sick. They wouldn’t be running during the storm. She couldn’t believe how discouraged she felt after trying to talk herself out of leaving.

“Come on, lean on me,” she told Paige, who stumbled slightly and clasped her hand on Misty’s arm.

They left the dining hall and thankfully the smell. Misty doubted she would eat what was left of her food. She hadn’t been hungry anyway.

Paige’s weight against her lessened, and Misty stopped.

“I’m not sick,” Paige whispered. “I put my finger down my throat when no one was watching. It’s part of the plan. I’m sorry you will have kitchen duty alone. I have things to do.”

Misty couldn’t believe it. She’d fallen for Paige’s play-acting.

“I thought you were really sick,” Misty complained.

“That’s what you were supposed to think. I just feel bad that Sarah had to clean the mess. Tell her to wait in her room calmly and not to do anything stupid like get into trouble. I’ll come get you both around midnight.”

“What about the locked doors?” Misty asked.

“I’ve got it covered. Don’t worry about anything. Once we're out of here, we’ll be running, and that’s when the real fun starts.”

Misty didn’t feel good about the real fun. She had to trust Paige, though, or the only way she would get out of here was by agreeing to marry the old man. She left Paige at her room and returned to the dining hall.

She moved the food on her plate around without eating.

“You will be punished for not finishing the food on your plate,” Mrs. Sanders said from behind her.

“I’m not feeling well,” Misty complained and placed her hand on her stomach.

“Sarah can help you in the kitchen. Whatever Paige has must have passed to you. We can’t afford for the entire school to get sick.”

“Yes, Mrs. Sanders,” Misty said.

When dinner was over, Sarah helped her clear the table, and then they began the long process of scrubbing dishes. It usually took two hours. Misty told Sarah what Paige said.

“She faked that perfectly. I had no idea,” Sarah said with a laugh.

“She felt bad that you had to clean it.”

“Yeah, that was gross, but if it helps the cause, I’m good. ”

Misty knew very little about Sarah. “How old are you?” she asked.

“Eleven. I’ll be twelve in a few months.”

“Eleven?” Misty thought her small for her age and had no idea Sarah was so young. “What did you do to get sent here?”

“My mom got remarried. My stepfather is very strict, and I have a smart mouth. My mother thinks I try to make him angry but believe me, it’s him. My mom is weak and she can’t survive without a man telling her what to do and how to do it. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we had enough to keep going. The church arranged her marriage. Now she’s pregnant, and my stepfather sent me here to improve my behavior before the baby is born.” Sarah gave Misty a steady look. “What did you do?”

Misty lifted a plate from the sink and scrubbed the stuck on food. “I won’t marry the old pastor from our church. He’s as gross as the vomit.”

Sarah laughed. They spent the remainder of cleanup time getting to know each other, and Misty decided Sarah was pretty cool, and she was happy to have her with them.

“She said midnight,” Misty whispered before they went their separate ways.

“I’ll be waiting,” Sarah replied. This late at night was the only time they weren’t escorted through the school.

Both girls smiled.