Watcher

Chapter 9: Missing orphan

A few minutes later, the sound of thunderous footsteps is heard. It turns out Madam Nigera and other orphans. Her face is instantly stiff looking at the little girl. Her pupils dilated when she sees the kid’s condition.

"Jacqueline! Calm down, you’re safe now." Madam Nigera immediately put her arm around the kid and hugged her. " Goodness! What is going on here?" she said frantically.

Caden shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t know. We just got here too and suddenly this little girl just like this.”

"We should take this child to my room," she said while holding the child. "Caden, I need you to take the other kids back to their room."

"Yes, Madam." Caden quickly walks over with the other children.

“Bradley, you go with me. I feel like I'll need a little help."

They speed up their footsteps towards Nigera's room. Madam Nigera’s face looks so tense. She doesn’t say a word at all and focuses on carrying Jacqueline to her room. She lays the child on the sofa and walks out of nowhere

"Jacqueline, have a drink first." Madam Nigera gives Jaqueline a glass of warm water.

Jacqueline’s hands keep shaking as she receives the glass. Her face is still as pale as before. She drinks the water several times until she feels calm. Madam Nigera asks her what exactly happens.

"When Dorothy and I were on our way home after delivering Madam Theresa's belongings. Something suddenly attacked us," she says in a stuttering voice.

"What do you mean, Jaq?" Madam Nigera furrows her brows.

“Do you remember the figure that attacked you?” asked Bradley curiously.

Jacqueline quickly shakes her head. "Sorry. It was dark, I couldn't see anything." Jacqueline keeps her head down. “I… I am wrong to leave Dorothy alone.”

Jacqueline keeps her head down. She cries not long after. Her body trembles incessantly. Madam Nigera hugs Jaqueline and tries to calm her.

"Jacqueline, it's not all your fault." Madam Nigera's voice sounds so soft. "Tell us, where did the accident happen? "

"It happened in a small alley not far from here," she said in a trembling voice.

"I think we should go over there and check out the place," said Madam Nigera, snapping her fingers. "We might be able to get a clue about Dorothy's disappearance."

"Yes, Madam I agree." Bradley nods quickly. "But, what about Jacqueline?"

Bradley staring the girls without blinking and holds Madam Nigera's hand tightly. She doesn’t want to let off her grip on Madam Nigera.  

"Madam Nigera, let me go alone. I think you should look after Jacqueline first."

“Brad, are you sure?” Madam Nigera furrows her brows. "We have no idea what will we face it. It’s too dangerous going alone yourself."

"Madam, calm down everything will be fine," She said as walks out of Madam Nigera's room. “I will be back. I promise.”

Bradley takes a small flashlight and lays it on the table near the door to the outside. He slowly turns the doorknob. It’s cold outside and his whole body begins to tremble. He takes a coat hanging nearby and walks out of the house towards the location Jacqueline had told her.

“I believe this is the alley.”

The lighting in that place doesn’t work so well. He doesn’t see what is in front of him. He takes a flashlight from her pocket and used it. This place is too quiet. He can hear his footsteps. A few minutes later, several raindrops begin falling.

“Jacqueline said she has attacked here, but it seems there is no one here.”

His gaze looks around and it seems everything is normal. However, something is lying on the ground. It is only a few meters away from his position. He walks closer for a closer look.

“A pink hairpin? I feel like maybe it belongs to Dorothy.”

Bradley twists the hairpin. Blood stains and long hair attached to the hairpin. He takes it and puts it in her pocket. However, a gust of wind from behind him feels a bit different. He realizes and quickly looks back. Yet, there is no one there. His heart froze with fear for a moment. He feels someone/something is watching him now.

"Argh! This place makes me freak out. I must find Dorothy quickly."

His body instantly froze when the reflection of the flashlight catches something. His eyes see the red stain lying on the floor. He walks over to the red stain and touches its surface.

“Oh my god! It looks like a bloodstain.”

He moves his flashlight further and sees that the stain makes a path. He follows the stain. His eyes never stop looking at the blood stains and slowly fading. He looks up and sees a large wooden box neatly arrange with quite a lot of. Bradley decides to look around there. However, he feels the same gust of wind again.

Suddenly a strange sound comes from behind him. He quickly turns his head and points to the flashlight. However, it is just a pair of black cats.

"Argh! Damn cat!”

Bradley turns around and walks forward. Yet, a few minutes later the sound is heard again. He turns his head again and turns out it is the same cat that appears in front of him. But only one cat left.

“Geez! This time, I will not turn around,” said Bradley frustrated. “No matter what.”

Bradley walks back and for the third time, he hears the same sound. But this time, he ignores the sound and just keeps looking around. The flashlight slowly begins to dim. He taps his flashlight several times until it lights up again.

“Okay, much better now. Let’s see what we will find there.”

When he starts to walk, something is falling down the surface of his hair. His hand touches it and his body instantly froze.

“Its blood!

His eyes slowly look up and see what is going on. However, he feels a rising tide of fear from head to toe. He screams so loud seeing the corpse of the two cats hanging above him.

He fastens his movement with gasping breath. His heart is racing. He keeps running without paying any attention in front of him. Unfortunately, something hits his toe and makes him fall to the ground. His face instantly hit the ground.

“Dammit!”

Fresh blood flows from his nose. His hands quickly wipe it, trying to get up as soon as possible. However, his leg is sprained and needs special treatment. He cannot run for a while and decide to walk slowly.  

A few meters behind him a pair of red eyes just looked at him. The red eyes move closer to him. His body starts to shiver.  He moves his head quickly, looking for safety place. A small hallway with several boxes and drums arrange randomly near him.

“I hope that’s the best place for hiding right now.”

Bradley forces his legs to keep walking, bearing the pain. Yet, every time he walks the pain is getting worse.

“Argh! Come on you can do it!”

He keeps walking until reaches the pile of boxes, He immediately hides behind the boxes. His heart continued to beat violently. Cold sweat slowly flows along, following his facial contours. He swallows his saliva while looking out from the gaps in the box where he is hiding.

***