If theres anything Ana feared apart from her constant source of nightmare, which will be a topic of discussion later on, it was darkness.
Well not exactly darkness per se, just not the ability to use her sight.
And so she prayed to the almighty God out there, that even though she didnt have faith in him, to safeguard her sight to the end of her days.
Not being able to see? Trust me that thing is scary.
And so even with the light on, when an unwarranted figure suddenly appeared in her fully locked house, Ana oh so maturedly screamed like a banshee and collapsed to the ground.
"Fudge cakes!"
The intruder, in the form of a poor timid teenage girl who had came back when she remembered that she had forgotten to switch off the microwave when she took out her dinner, and had mistakenly locked the front doors when she got in muttered running over to her boss. It might look like a break in, she thought. But she didnt plan on staying long.
"Umm, Ms Ana.." she shook the lady laying awkwardly on the ground. "Ms Green, are you alright." Did she step on something and slipped off? She checked around for the culprit.
Ana groaned, swiping the offending hand off her tommy. She hasnt passed out. It was just a survival trick in the heat of the moment in case whoever broke in was dangerous. No one would harm a helpless, unconscious girl with wide round glasses.
Right?
But turns out it was a Mia!
"Ms Green, should I call the ambulance?" Mia tried again mistaking the irritated groan for a pained one.
"Hmm."
"Oh, hang on, Ill get my phone. Should I get you anything?"
"Umm. If you would leave me alone for some minutes Ill be grateful Mia."
"....what about the ambulance?"
"Im fine thanks to you. Care to explain why the hell is the door locked when you are still in?"
"That... "
"Umm hmm,"
"Ikindaleftthemicorwaveomwhenileftso.."
"Breathe Mia, breathe. Im not going to fire you." Unfortunately, that only added to her panic.
" I kinda forgot to turn off the microwave when I left so I came back to switch it off. Please dont send me away. I really need to save money for this dress I saw online and..."
"Mia!"
"Right. Ill shut up now. Just dont send me, I promise Ill be good."
Jesus Christ.
Alarm bells went off in Anas head forcing her eyes open but maintained a calm visage as she glared at the panicking girl. That seemed to shut her up.
"First of all. Dont talk. And did you notice that nothing you just said involved why the door was locked from the inside. Jesus, Mia you almost gave me a heart attack."
Mia only blinked.
"What?"
She gestured at her mouth.
"You can talk."
"It was reflex!" Mia all but screemed.
Ana wouldve questioned what type of life she lead that would make her lock a door involuntarily if her mind wasnt occupied by the disturbing image of her only asset, which is the biggest item she was relying on to get her out of the debt engulf in wild, frenzy orange blaze.
The image made her shudder.
"Mia," she began, "do I need to hire myself someone that wouldnt likely set up my shop which is also my house ablaze when Im gone?"
"It was a mistake."
"I asked you a question."
Mia wanted to point out that out of the two, Ana was the one most likely to burn the building down herself. She even had a history with fire! But that isnt something you would tell the provider of your paycheck.
"No, Ms Green."
"Good. And call me Ana."
Great, now not only was her feet burning and bones aching, her head hurts from the fall.
"Please lock the door when you are done." Mia bobbed her head frantically.
"After switching off all the appliances."
"Yes maam."
Ana couldnt bring herself to tell the she wouldnt be working here for long.
***
A furious Ana paced back and forth in front of the giant gate looming over head. It was well into the afternoon but the sky is dark with a promising rainstorm.
It has come down to this, Ana lamented. At this point shes willing to accept any job, no matter how shady it is if it meant shell be paid.
After painstakingly selling all her belongings and auctioning the house last week, she had gathered upto $30k. The person that bought the house had paid less than its actual market price because it was a distressed sell.
Ana was begrudgingly grateful nonetheless. It was better than what Mrs Carrie offered. Youd think because she is a poor lonely lady who just lost her mother to an accident, the towns people would have a kind spot in their hearts to offer her kindness. But no, their kindness only extended to a verbal sympathy and nothing more even if she didnt want it. Like that is enough to put food on her plate and a roof on her head.
All thats left right now was to get a good job that would convince Mr Scott that she is capable of paying the rest of debt in instalment. Theyll discuss that further when the time comes.
Ana paced and pondered and fretted. Time flew by, and before she knew it, it was the last day of ‘two-week grieving period that Mr Scott had gracefully allocated her. There hasnt been a day of peaceful mind with the inevitable doom looming above her head.
*
"Dang it." Ana yelled and push the button on the huge gate. Its a do or die situation. The mayors house is the last and only place she havent checked in town. Mainly because of the owners close ties with Mr Scott.
After three good minutes, her hands went over the button again incase no one heard the first, but the butler appeared before she could.
The thick mustached man glared at the offending hand, then at her. He didnt even made a move to open the gate and simply glared at her expectingly through the barbed gate.
"Uhmm," Ana took the hint.
"I....," Suddenly she couldnt speak English anymore. All the previous days of antagonizing fruitlessly under the sun mustve fried her brain cells.
"I mean, may I come in?"
"No. State your claim or leave."
"Uh, okay." Wow, straight to the point. "Alright. Actually...
I was hoping if you possibly have a position that requires a help? You see Im a hard-worker and would accept any task given to me. Im actually a good cleaner. My mother never needed to hire one back in the days because I took care of most if not all of it." Ana blubbered nonstop.
"And of course Im a good baker too. Now that Meadows Tasty Treats would be no more, the mayor could have the luxury of eating it in the comfort of his home.
And Im..."
"You can stop now Ms Green."
"also good at..."
"Ms Green."
"Yes? Oh."
"You can stop. You know, Im sorry about your lost, it was simply a predestinated event, nothing can be done about it. I know its hard on you, its hard on us all, but its easier if you accept it and move."
It was Anas turn to glare at him albeit subtly. She still needed the work. However what she doesnt need right now is a preach! Lord knows shes tired of the fake concern.
"As Im saying, in as much as Im saddened by your loss, we cant hire you when theres no need for a job right now."
"Are you sure Mr Rob? Id like to talk to the mayors wife to confirm..."
"I would know. Im assigned all the of their tasks. So when I said we dont need one, I meant the mayor and his wife."
Sure you want the mayor and his wife to know about this?
Ana groaned frustratingly tugging at her only formal dress.
"No, no, no you have to understand. This is my last option now. Im in a dare need. I have this debt I need to clear and needed a paying job asap. Im willing to do anything. Well anything as long as its not murder or kidnapping or theft, Im a law abiding citizen, but Ill do anything!
Send me away without a job Mr Rob and youd be guilt tripped when you find my corpse tomorrow or the day after. This is how serious it is."
"Are you threatening with suicide now?"
"No. Why would I do that? Death might be a better option than my future but Im not suicidal thank you very much. Wait why are we talking about my death? I only needed a job."
"Well I cant give you one when theres none. Even if there is, you are off limits."
"You can create one. Lord knows a huge mansion as this requires all the cleaning it can gets. Im sure your cleaner would love a helping hand... Wait, did you just said Im off list? Why am I off list? Are you being biased right now?" Ana was now full blown panicking.
The butler muttered something under his breath.
"Sorry I bluttered that out, please ignore it. The only thing.."
"No! Im not ignoring anything. Tell me what you mean by that."
Mr Rob looked at her, really looked at her, then decided it wasnt worth the pain.
"Someone paid against hiring you. Now leave."
With that he turned on his heals and left.