Day 3 today and Ms Peckham sounds like a nasty piece of work. It looks like Cathy will have her work cut out for her if she plans to leave. If you need to catch up on any of the previous episodes, the links are at the bottom of this post.

Grisham House Part 3

The kitchen was a hive of activity. I spotted Eve bent down beside an oven. “About time,” she said when she noticed me. “Grab that tray on the counter and hand it to me.” I shadowed her, handing her different utensils, checking on bread in the oven, and washing dirty dishes. I should have been asleep. The smell of fresh loaves of bread, fruit, and pastry made my stomach rumble and I took a seat at the table.

“What are you doing?” Eve looked horrified. “Get up from there and back to work.”

“I’m tired and I’ve had enough. I’m going back to bed.”

“You can’t.”

“Watch me.”

I didn’t even get to the door before Peckham showed her face. “You’ll follow Eve today. She’ll show you the ropes, won’t you?”

“Yes, Miss.” Eve bowed her head, her eyes pleading with me not to say anything.

“I’m not sure I…”

Peckham’s nails dug into the skin at the back of my arm and her nose practically touched my ear as she sneered. “You will do as you’re told. You are mine for a month and believe me, I can make that month unbearable.” She pinched harder before letting my arm go and shoving me forward. “The floors need polishing today.”

Eve’s shoulders sagged.

I rubbed my arm. I’d have a bruise for sure.

***

Eve had no time for chatting and shushed me on several occasions. She rushed around the house and I followed. Peckham appeared out of nowhere more times than I could count and always with that bloody scowl. Someone must have done something to her, and her revenge was taking it out on everyone else. I had to hold myself back from throwing whatever was in my hand at her. She’d pay though. I’d see to it.

“Doesn’t she ever smile?” I asked Eve.

“I’m not getting in trouble on account of you. If ya can’t keep quiet, you can figure everything out on your own.”

I didn’t speak after that. The giant grandfather clock announced every hour and by 9 pm my legs shook from exhaustion. My hands were blistered and raw from all the scrubbing and polishing. Every room had been cleaned from top to bottom – the rooms that weren’t locked that is. Every chore imaginable I’d done alongside Eve. Pure torture. When I finally climbed into bed, I told myself it would be the last time.

***

My plan didn’t come to fruition. Yes, I tormented and defied Peckham at every opportunity and paid for it too. My arms purple and sore, my hands raw from the overuse of bleach and other cleaning products, and the black circles under my eyes were probably going to be there forever. Peckham’s handprint on my left cheek had faded, at least that was something. I’d never been smacked before and boy was that a shock. It came out of nowhere. One minute I was telling Peckham I’d finished the floors and the next I knew my face stung and my head jerked to the side. She didn’t break me though. I flung the front door open and marched down the drive. “I’m leaving. I’ve had enough of this, and I’ll be doing you for assault.” I didn’t even make it halfway down the driveway before my feet left the ground and Sykes carried me back. I spent the next 24 hours locked in my room. No food, no water, just me and the bloody rain that never seemed to end. I could barely see out the windows even though they were gleaming, streak-free to perfection.

Once they let me out, I tried again, and again, and again. My first week at Grisham House was a battle of wills and eventually, Peckham won out. If hurting me wouldn’t make me obey, she’d hurt someone else instead. That, someone, was Eve. If I didn’t obey, Eve was punished. A punch to the stomach, double her workload, Peckham even threatened to starve her. I gave in, agreed to follow the rules until my month was up. I thought Eve might thank me, but no, she refused to speak to me or work with me. I was on my own.

The first evening of week two and I found myself slumped against the wall at the bottom of the stairs. Tears stung my eyes. My phone was useless – the signal had been lost as soon as I’d reached this hell hole. There was a landline but when I’d asked about it, I was told it was taken out in the storm.

Peckham appeared like a ghostly apparition. “What are you doing?”

“I want to go home. I’ve had enough.”

“Get up. You’ll prepare Mr Grisham’s evening beverage.”

I glared at her. “I want to go home. You can’t make me stay here. I won’t.” I sprung to my feet ready to march up the stairs, pack my bags and make another break for it. I hadn’t taken a step when she grabbed my arm and pulled. I nearly lost my footing. I tried shirking her off, but she gripped tighter.

“Insolence will not be tolerated. You will do as I say when I say it, or Eve gets it.”

Her face was like stone and I lowered my gaze. She knew she had me.

“Mr Grisham is in his study.” She let go of my arm and marched off down the hall.

I rubbed the red mark she’d left, the indents of her fingers on my skin. Another bruise. I’d get nowhere with her, but perhaps… I smiled as a new plan formed.

#

I hope you enjoyed part 3 and if you’ve missed out on any of the previous episodes, here are the links.

Grisham House Part 1
Grisham House Part 2

Until next time,

Keep reading and writing,

Amanda