Chapter 1
I stared at the wall, eyes unblinking- or atleast mostly. It was summer, late in the day, and yet i sat there in my room, staring at peeling paint, and pencil markings from girls in the past who cried and begged for help. Words in a language i no longer recognized as my own, along with small ‘doodles’ of men fighting bears, and people dancing around a fire. Words such as ‘i miss mother’ being written plain as day before me. I talen in a sharp breath, refusing to let tears fall from my face as my body shaken af the sound of keys prying into my door and unlocking it, just before the head woman had walked in. A nun well known as ‘Maddam gurtrude’ had walked in. “Brooks. Get cleaned up, and head down to the assembly room. You passed.” She said almost harshly as i slowly looked over. She had closed the door when i finally made it fully up there. That was the last decent enough memory i had there growing up. The assembly for my graduation however was nothing to be pleased with. Tear filled faces of kids i knew growing up in that prison stared at me as if i had abandoned them, starved even. They knew it was barely possible to make it out, even with good behaviour and learning, theyd still get punished for their appearance, despite all young girls having a bob, and all young boys having the same short hair. They all knew that they may not even escape with their lives, or spirit. I dont even think any of us did escape with spirit. The graduation held no smiles, no wishes to see family, nothing. We felt nothing standing on the podium knowing that out spirit and attitude were nothing but crushed under pressure. Hell, we would be lucky to not catch the ‘cimmaron plague’- as the nuns had called it- when we did die. To live a life knowing we could become a reanimated corpse who just mopes loosey and walk as pleased where ever was dark enough wasnt a great thought on the topic for life and death. Especially for us all who had managed to make it out. Though, i dont think most of us were entirely decent on our ways out of it all. Some of us didnt go home. Some of us didnt even choose to live any longer, hell, some of us didnt even choose what they did. I was lucky enough as is. Here i am now, in a nuns uniform, hair unveiled and unkept mostly, yet long and almost purely white if it werent for a few strands and whatever i had when i left that prison. The train was slow, yet faster than horse back. And it smelt horribly of sweat, and alcohol. A woman who sat next to me hummed as she had read a small text book on child care, assuming from the title “carriage and bottles.” I wanted to laugh, yet i didnt. I stared out at the empty land, looking out at the heard of horses rhat ran past happily, freely. They werent kept in reigns and werent happy, yet it made me question how if anyone saw them, and seen me and my people… who did they think was happier when free? Did it ever cross their minds? I wanted it to cross theirs like it did mine. I sat back soon enough, closing my eyes and starting a fake prayer. Something to get rest, and maybe even seem normal to the people around me. Though i was nudged awake by the lady beside me. “Maddam? Dont fall asleep while on the train. You never know if anyone is unkind enough to not awake you.” She spoke, calling me a name i didn’t appreciate much. “Im bot that old.” I retorted, a harsh stare being pointed at her. “Oh! Sorry, your hairs just so light i thought you were an elder!” She apologized, laughing nervously. “Learn to look at the skin, not the hair.” I almost said even more rudely than intended. She wiped away imaginary tears, and pulled a more well mannered and sweet smile. “Im Nina Jannon.” She introduced, holding out her hand for a friendly shake. “Brook Evergreen.” I said, dismissing her hand. “Cranky, nun?” She questioned as if being joketive, despite not knowing me. Its almost as if she had no sense of friendliness, let alone manners.. if she had any that is. “Well, the stops aproaching. Why are you coming to this town anyways?” She questioned, dismissing my light and judging glare. It was a question i had yet to answer. I was here for reasons only i should have known. Ones thatd go against why they had set me out in this outfit, ones that most certainly didnt fit the costume i wore to disguise my intentions. “Just to find the lord in each town i can pass by. Maybe find a place to settle and spread gospel.” I lied. I lied to mrs.Jannons face without hesitation. She would surely send me to a prison or let alone a mental ward if i did speak the truth. “Should have expected it.” She sighed with relief to her expectations and turned towards across the isle to two little girls-suspected as twins mostly. “Cassidy, mallory, meet miss Brooks.” She said, both girls taking time to wave. “Hi miss!” The first girl in a purple dress cheered. “Miss nun?” The second looked more confused, yet wore a smile. As soon as they had turned away, they giggled and pulled up their little rag dolls with glee, playing. The train came to a stop, which i had gotten up to grab my bag. Nina had grabbed her own before grabbing mine out of respect. “Rest well miss, and have a wonderful stay.” She dipped her head in respect before taking her girls off the train. I went along aswell, the town was old looking, paint peeling off walls, horses whinny down the street at a small stable. It was the average western town, it wasnt much to look at, that was for sure. I let my head hang lowly as i walked, thoughts bubbling up like air trapped under water. What happens if i gef caught in the act of murder? How about with just blood on my hands? Was i to die to exicution? I felt something hard hit my shoulder, causing me to look up from thoughts. A man, tall, had copper red hair, and dressed in a sheriffs uniform. He was one of my many targets here i supposed. He looked down at me, narrowing his eyes before walking off. Fucking prick. Whatever the deal may be with him, i didnt want it. I walked on, watching as carriages, and horses pranced down the road without worry in their lives, as if suffering wasnt exsistant to them, their ears virgin to screams of kids crying and screaming, or let alone the sounds of nuns yelling at children without excuse. It pissed me off. As slow as i walked, i came to the INN in no time. “Hi! Im abilgail richards, welcome to sunny-side INN, how may i help you?” A woman said cheerfully in a hard western accent. She looked like the other people, types of women ya pass in a crowd and never remember the name of sort of thing, what was shocking was the bubbly attitude she pulled for being a taller and more lady like woman. Youd expect this sort of introduction from your neighborhoods menace of a child who would climb trees and push other kids around, not a full grown woman in the traditional dressing of western america. “Brooks evergreen, nice to meet you. Im in search of a room to stay in for atleast 2-3 months? If thats allowed i suppose.” I waited for a responce, but the way she looked at me was as if she had seen a ghost. “Well i damned, i wasnt expecting them to allow well.. you as a nun. But i suppose i can accept that.” She paused for a second before grabbing the key yet not handing it over immediately.”just dont invite anymore of whatever you call your kind over and its a deal.” She dropped the key into my palm finally rolling her eyes towards me before speaking under her breath. I knew i wasnt liked much by these people for reasons, but i kept silent to them since i didnt want more trouble than what it was worth. I walked back out, looking at the upstairs part for where my room would be. Room 206. I deagged my bag with me, and walked along the wooden balcony before making it to my room, unlocking, entering, and locking again. I threw my vail and head peice to the side, letting the white and black hair free from being held in place by the heavier clothing. If it was worth it.. taking a nap till night wont be so bad.. right?
