The hot sunny afternoon turned into a cloudy one, showing that it may start raining anytime soon.Everyone was busy doing one chores or the other, attending to visitors at St, Agnes orphanage.
In St, Agnes orphanage, it's an annual tradition to celebrate the kids and everyone who has made the building of St, Agnes a home. Hence, people of different caliber are invited, both sponsors and adopted parents of ex orphanage kids. This makes it a monumental event.
The rain came down shortly, making everyone one to be on their toes, trying to attend to the needs of the guest as most of them wants to make their exist as soon as the rain calms down.
Lisa was appointed as the chief hostess by Ms. Clara, the head care giver. Lisa stood at the entrance of the hall, receiving people with a cheerful smile. She was literally smiling at everyone who made their way into the hall, which was quite exhausting for her, but she had to do it anyways or else she would be in a hot sit after the event.
Though Lisa was all smiley and cheerful doing her work, behind those smiles was filled with the thought of how she would escape the orphanage without looking back.
Inside the hall was Isabella, Lisa's best-friend who was assigned a waitress in the event. Isabella was moving round the hall as her duty was to make sure the quests are satisfied. Her eyes was all over the place in survey of the plan she and lisa has mapped out.
As the event was coming to end, the rain became heavier, people were already leaving, the hall was rowdy, this was the perfect time to execute their plan Lisa thought.
It had been almost five years since the two of girls meet here. Lisa, a seventeen year old, caramel eyed and quick to speak had been everyone's role model in the house due to her self composure. Isabella,quieter but no less determined had been everyone's foe due to her always mean expression.
Their difference became their strength. Lisa always had the ideas. Isabella had the patience to make them work.
Now as the hall was rowdy, Lisa navigated to Isabella and whispered, "it now or never."
Isabella's eyes flicked towards her, quick and sharp, but her face stayed neutral. "You're sure?" she murmured back.
" I've been watching," Lisa said. The night is already here,and its still raining heavily. People are making their way out. Ms Clara and other caregivers are taking care of the younger ones and trying to be all nice due to the present of the quests. The securities are all busy monitoring the exit. As you already know, we are taking the back gate.
They both made it back to their dormitory quickly and changed into some detailed gown they got last year from the same event from some of the orphanage sponsors, so as not to be quickly recognized by anyone.
Lisa reaches into her pillowcase and pulled out a set of bent paperclip, tied together with fraying thread. "took me a month, but I think I can pick it. You just need to get the keys for the side door.
The plan they had been forming for years. Initially, it was just whispered illusions under their blankets, running away to the city, finding jobs, eating sandwiches whenever they wanted. But illusions had turned into logistics.
The dormitory was dim and still, faint steps and voices coming down from the hall.
Lisa was already on her feet, barefoot, her hair loosed down and was covering part of her face. Same as Bella's'.
They moved quickly but carefully. First, Isabella slipped into the supply closet down the hall. Hanging on a nail above the mop bucket, was a key ring. She took it down, closed the door without a sound, and padded back towards the dormitory where Lia was waiting.
Lisa took the key and tucked them into the her under pant pocket. Together, they made there way to the back door.
The corridor felt longer than usual, the noise from the hall giving them confidence that everyone is busy. Their footsteps was barely heard. At a point, the froze, the sound of a chair creaking somewhere near the back door made their stomachs tighten.
The back door was old, its paints peeling in uneven strips. Lisa crouched and pulled out her paperclip too. Her hands were shaking, though this wasn't the first lock she had worked on, but her heart was thudding hard enough to make her ears ring.
Isabella kept watch, glancing towards the hallway. After tense seconds, the lock gave a soft click.
Lisa turned the handle. It moved freely.
She opened the door just enough for them to slip out into the damp night. The air wet earth and cold stone.
Beyond the yard was the tall single short iron gate. It was topped with spikes, the one that dared anyone to try to climb. But Isabella had already secured the key from the hallway.
Lisa knelt by the gate, took the key from her under pant, slide it into the lock but it couldn't open. The rain had made the metal slick, and her fingers was shaky, but Isabella crouched beside her and steadied her wrist.
Finally, the lock popped open.
Lisa pushed the gate just wide enough for them to squeeze through. The hinges groaned, and they both froze, listening for footsteps, but nothing. They stepped through and pulled the gate shut behind them.
At a point, they just stood there, trembling in the night air. The orphanage loomed behind them, its windows like security touch shining into their eyes.
"This is it," Lisa whispered.
'This is just the beginning," Isabella said.
They had the plan mapped out: follow the main road to the train station, catch the the earliest train that showed up to the city.
They had some savings from the odd jobs the do inside the orphanage. Cleaning, mending clothes, anything that earned them a little money. It wasn't enough but it get them far enough.
The road wasn't that busy due to the rain.puddles were reflecting the streetlights. They kept to the shadows, moving quickly but not running to avoid unnecessary attention. Every sound, a car in the distance, a dog barking.. made them glance over their shoulders.
They were five blocks away when they heard the sound of footsteps behind them. Quick,bumpy steps.
Isabella's hand shot out, grabbing Lisa's arm, and they hid into the small space between the buildings.
A man in a gray coat walked past, muttering to himself, not even looking their way. Still they stay glued against the cold brick until he was gone.
"That's not going to be our last scare," Isabella murmured.
Lisa nodded in acceptance. '"I know. We just have to keep going''
Getting to the train station, the sky was lightening to a pale gray. The rain had stopped already, but the air was thick with fog.
The station was filled with people. Everyone was rushing to get home because the evening was no longer a pleasant one due to the rain.
Lisa checked the time schedule posted on the wall. "Next train will arrive in the next ten minutes," she said.
They bought their tickets with the crumpled bills they had. They shifted to a corner and waited for the train to arrive,
They were intensively looking around. The fear of getting caught kept them on their toes.
The train arrived, they hurried and boarded and sat side by side, on the the cold metal bench.
For the first time that night, Lisa let herself breathe.
They didn't see Ms. Clara until it was almost too late. She came into the station through the side entrance, her face flushed, her gray hair damp from the fog. She was talking to a man in a uniform, probably a police officer.
Lisa's stomach dropped. "She is looking for us."
Isabella's mind worked fast. "bathroom she said." tugging Lisa towards the small restroom at the far end of the train.
Inside, they hid in one of the stalls.They stayed mute praying vehemently for the train to leave quickly.
Minutes passed like hours.
Finally the trained moved.
They waited another few minutes before slipping out of the bathroom with their heads down.
When they got out, they slid into seats near the back. Lisa pressed her forehead against then cool glass, watching the fog roll by.
Isabella sat upright, her gaze fixed ahead. "We made it," Lisa whispered.
"we made the initial step." Isabella corrected. " now we have to make the rest worth the effort."
They arrived the city just after sunrise. The road were already busy. Cars honking, shopkeepers unlocking doors' people hurrying to work. It was overwhelming and thrilling at the same time.
They found a small cafe and spent some of their money on coffee and cake. While they had their coffee they talked about their next move.