I Am No Orphan!
Your tongue is like wood, even as you struggle to find words. "Running... i was running..."
"Running? Are you a runaway?" The face tightens, the eyes narrow. You try to draw into the furs.
"Had to... I had to... mizz lizz...they wanted... hurt me...," praying you'll be believed.
"Hmmm, you're sure you're not trying to hide from washing the dishes?"
"No.. no... please...I ..."
A long long minute, the eyes are still narrow. You don't want to whimper but can't help being afraid. You're finally starting to get warm and it's too late to be willing to return to that lightless void of cold. The man finally sits back, his stiffness relaxes the littlest bit. "No, you won't run off just to avoid your chores. Not out here and not in a storm like this."
"No, no, please... it's not like that."
The man by the fire turns to speak. "I thought I heard the name Mizz Lizz. I could be wrong, but some of the lads have heard of her and her house. It's not pretty. Can't blame the poor kid if it's true."
"I see. Is that so?" he returns to face you, "Is that who you're running from?"
"Yes... she caught me...going to hurt me..." and then, "Please... please don't send me back to her, I'll die if I go back." The effort of talking exhausts you anew and your eyes droop.
Your observer nods, pulls the blankets around you. "No need to worry for now, you're safe here. But you still need to answer some questions."
"Running? Are you a runaway?" The face tightens, the eyes narrow. You try to draw into the furs.
"Had to... I had to... mizz lizz...they wanted... hurt me...," praying you'll be believed.
"Hmmm, you're sure you're not trying to hide from washing the dishes?"
"No.. no... please...I ..."
A long long minute, the eyes are still narrow. You don't want to whimper but can't help being afraid. You're finally starting to get warm and it's too late to be willing to return to that lightless void of cold. The man finally sits back, his stiffness relaxes the littlest bit. "No, you won't run off just to avoid your chores. Not out here and not in a storm like this."
"No, no, please... it's not like that."
The man by the fire turns to speak. "I thought I heard the name Mizz Lizz. I could be wrong, but some of the lads have heard of her and her house. It's not pretty. Can't blame the poor kid if it's true."
"I see. Is that so?" he returns to face you, "Is that who you're running from?"
"Yes... she caught me...going to hurt me..." and then, "Please... please don't send me back to her, I'll die if I go back." The effort of talking exhausts you anew and your eyes droop.
Your observer nods, pulls the blankets around you. "No need to worry for now, you're safe here. But you still need to answer some questions."