The fierce stare-off between me and the leader of the arrogant group continued, tension thick in the air. Suddenly, the canteen announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers.
“Food is ready! Please remain steady as we bring your meals.”
Liza, clearly noticing the intensity between me and the leader, tugged gently at my hand. Her face was filled with fear.
“Kimberly, please, let it go. Just ignore them,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “They’re dangerous, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Her words were filled with concern, but I couldn’t shake the anger brewing inside me. Still, I nodded, deciding to stay quiet for now.
Soon, our food was brought to the table. Being seated in the front row, as Liza predicted, ensured we were among the first to be served. But as I stared at the plate, my stomach turned.
The food looked barely edible, something close to what you’d give to beggars. I had no choice but to eat it, even though each bite only deepened my determination to change things here.
“We’ve got to eat quickly and head back to our rooms,” Liza said, trying to keep her tone light, though I could tell she was still rattled by the earlier confrontation.
We finished our meals swiftly, eager to leave the uncomfortable atmosphere of the canteen. But just as we stood to go, I felt a presence behind us. Footsteps echoed too close for comfort, and dread settled in my gut.
Turning around, my suspicion was confirmed. The lady and her group were standing right behind us, their smug faces impossible to ignore. The leader of the group took a step closer, her eyes locked onto mine.
“Leaving so soon?” she sneered. “I believe you have something to say to me. Or were you just staring for fun earlier?”
She walked up to me, standing inches away. I could feel the heat of her arrogance, but strangely, I wasn’t afraid. Instead, all I felt was anger.
I wanted nothing more than to put her in her place, but I knew better. I was new here, and picking a fight wouldn’t be wise.
Before I could speak, Liza jumped in, her voice nervous but steady.
“She’s new,” Liza said quickly. “Kimberly hasn’t gotten used to things here yet, so maybe she didn’t realize-”
The leader cut her off with a sharp glare. “I hope so. But just a warning-stay out of our way. Don’t even think about looking in our direction again, or I’ll make sure you regret it.” Her voice dripped with threat, and her eyes pierced through me. “And that goes for all of you.”
She took a long, hard look at me before finally turning away. Her group followed her, walking out of the canteen with their usual air of superiority.
The moment they were gone, Liza sighed with relief, but I remained quiet, the fire inside me still burning. I wasn’t shaken by her words. Instead, I felt more determined than ever to bring them down.
As we stood in silence, Kaitlyn, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly spoke up. Her voice was soft, but the anger in her tone was unmistakable.
“I wish someone would teach her a lesson,” Kaitlyn muttered. “She and her group are so cruel.”
Both Liza and I turned to her, shocked by her outburst. Kaitlyn had always been timid, but now there was a fierceness in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before.
“Kaitlyn,” Liza said, her voice full of concern, “have you had trouble with them before?”
Kaitlyn nodded, her face clouded with a mixture of fear and frustration. “Yes. It happened about two months ago, before I became friends with you, Liza.”
She hesitated for a moment, but then she began to explain, her voice shaky as the memories surfaced.
“I was coming here to the canteen to eat, just like today. But she and her group stopped me. They harassed me for no reason at all. They said I didn’t greet them properly and that I had to be punished for it. Ever since then, I’ve been living in fear, avoiding them at all costs.”
As Kaitlyn spoke, I could feel my anger rising again. My fists clenched at my sides, and my blood boiled with rage. How could they treat people like this and get away with it?
Liza, her face full of sympathy, placed a gentle hand on Kaitlyn’s shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked softly.
Kaitlyn sighed, her eyes downcast. “What was the point? They’re untouchable here. No one has been able to stand up to them since I’ve been in this place. I was too scared to do anything.”
I could hear the sadness in her voice, and it only fueled my determination. I wasn’t about to let them continue their reign of terror unchecked.
“They might be untouchable now,” I said, my voice steady but filled with resolve, “but that’s going to change. I promise you, their days of bullying and arrogance are numbered.”
Both Liza and Kaitlyn looked at me, surprised by the conviction in my words. Liza, always the cautious one, gave me a worried look.
“Kimberly, I want them to be punished as much as anyone,” she said softly, “but please, be careful. Don’t rush into anything. They’re dangerous, and you’ve only just arrived.”
“I know, Liza,” I replied, my voice calm but firm. “I’ll be careful, but trust me, their days of terrorizing innocent people are over.”
With that, we left the canteen and headed back to our rooms. As we walked in silence, I could feel the weight of what I had just promised settling on my shoulders. But I was ready.
I wasn’t going to back down from that lady and her group. Not now, not ever.
After we all retired to our rooms for some rest, I found myself alone in my assigned room once again, as usual, lost deep in thought.
“It’s only been a day here, and so much is already happening. What is wrong with me? Why did I get so angry about that lady and her group? Is it just because they confronted me, or is there something more?” I pondered, my mind racing with different thoughts.
I tried to calm myself, reminding myself not to lose focus on the main reason I came here, the goal I had set to accomplish. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the way that lady and her group acted.
“Why are they so powerful and arrogant? Why hasn’t anyone put them in their place? Do they have someone protecting them, someone in charge that lets them get away with this?” I thought, frustration bubbling up inside me. “I need to ask around about them, figure out what’s really going on here.”
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I barely noticed anything happening around me. My mind was too busy trying to make sense of everything.
“And then, there’s Alpha Derrick and Mona,” I thought with a frown. “Since I got here, no one has mentioned them. Will I ever see them again, or have I been brought here to be kept away from them on purpose?” I couldn’t help but feel uneasy as these questions circled in my head.
Even though I wasn’t feeling particularly happy, I knew I couldn’t let anyone see that. I decided I had to put on a brave face, act as though nothing was bothering me, and keep my emotions hidden.
As I sat there with all these thoughts swirling around, my body finally gave in to exhaustion. The stress of the day, the new environment, and everything else had worn me out. Slowly, I began to feel drowsy, and soon enough, I drifted off into a deep sleep.
I didn’t know how long I’d been asleep when a loud, forceful knock on my door jolted me awake. At first, I was too groggy to respond. The knock came again, louder this time, pulling me fully out of my sleep. Groaning, I jumped out of bed and hurried to open the door.
Standing before me was an elderly woman, her expression unreadable. She stared directly into my eyes before speaking.
“You are required to be on the field right now,” she said bluntly. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away.
I blinked in confusion, trying to process what had just happened. What field? Why now? I rubbed my face quickly, trying to clear the last traces of sleep from my eyes, and hurried to get myself together.
After splashing some water on my face, I rushed out of the room and made my way to the field. As I arrived, I noticed other maids already standing in line. My eyes scanned the group, searching for Liza and Kaitlyn, but they were nowhere to be found.
“Hey, you! Stand here!” one of the senior maids barked, pointing to a spot in the line.
I quickly obeyed, taking my place as instructed. Just then, I spotted Liza and Kaitlyn running out from the building, breathless as they joined us.
Moments later, I saw Morgana, Ma’am Elena, and several other elders walking towards us. The atmosphere shifted instantly, and I could sense that something important was about to happen.
“Greetings to all of you, maids of the great Night Walkers pack,” Ma’am Elena began, her voice booming over the quiet field. “We are here today to make some decisions and pass on information that you all need to hear.”
Everyone stood still, listening intently. The tension in the air was thick, and curiosity flickered in the eyes of everyone around me.
“Most of you witnessed what happened last night, and for those who didn’t, Jefferson explained it upon their return from the run. As a result, we’ve heightened our security, but we all have a role to play in keeping ourselves safe,” Ma’am Elena continued.
She spoke with authority, laying down new rules and instructions. “There will be no more runs until further notice. Your evening meals will now be served by 6 p. m., and by 7 p. m., everyone must be back in their rooms. No one is to go out alone at night under any circumstances. If you need to go out, make sure you are in a group of at least three.”
Her words echoed through the field, and I could see the seriousness on the faces of the maids standing beside me. But it was her next announcement that truly caught my attention.
“Now, before we conclude, I want to address the matter of leadership among you,” Ma’am Elena said, her tone shifting to something more deliberate.
“We have been discussing and deliberating who will be the leader of the maids. This decision is not based on age or how long someone has been here, but rather on their spirit of leadership and their ability to remain calm under pressure.”
I held my breath, silently hoping that Liza would be chosen. She was kind, fair, and the last thing I wanted was for someone from that group to take control. Having one of them in charge would only bring more trouble.
“The person we have chosen is someone who is new here,” Ma’am Elena continued, her eyes scanning the crowd. “But we believe she has the potential to assist you all and treat you with fairness and justice.”
I braced myself, listening intently.
“The new leader of the maids is… Kimberly.”
My heart stopped. I couldn’t believe my ears. Me? Leader? My mind went blank, and I suddenly felt dizzy, overwhelmed by the weight of what had just been said.
The entire field went silent. All eyes were on me, and I stood there, frozen, trying to comprehend what had just happened.