Stainless Steel

She jolted upright in her bed, a piercing scream tearing itself from her lungs and waking the other children in the orphanage. Her scream ceased. She inhaled deeply and screamed again, now waking the ladies that worked in the orphanage. She stopped again to breathe before letting loose a third time her screams. A hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her. She blinked. The other children were gathered around her, asking if she was alright. She didn’t understand them. One voice, she assumed, from its position near her head was the one who held her silent, spoke above the children. This one’s words she understood.1

“Only a nightmare, Emily. Calm down. There’s nothing to be afraid of. You’re safe here.” It was Sister Catherine. Sister Catherine was Emily’s favourite. She had always been. Ever since she came to The Orphanage. Right after her parents were murdered. The Orphanage was never given a real name and so it became known as The Orphanage. “Tell us your dream.”2

“It’ll will scare the other children, especially the younger ones, Sister Catherine.” Emily was fifteen and was one of the older orphans. She had been there for three years now. No foster family had wanted her. She was a bad child. “Can I tell it to you in private? Somewhere where the little ears cannot hear?”3

“I suppose your right. If it can scare a fifteen year old such as yourself, then indeed it is not for little ears. Do you wish anyone in particular present?” the Sister inquired, softly.4

“No. Just you.” Emily wiped her damp hair from her sweating forehead, pushing the blankets away and rising from her bed. Sister Catherine rose with her and snakes an arm around the younger girl’s shoulders, to comfort her.5

“Back to bed with the lot of you. Emily will be fine. Sleep.” The words were soft and gentle and brought immediate obedience from the children. Sister Catherine led Emily out of the room and into the hall. “Now tell me what you dreamed.”6

“I dreamed about my parents,” the girl replied, arms crossing over her stomach as she wiggled her way out from the Sister’s embrace and slid down against the wall. She pulled her knees to herself and laid her head upon her knees.7

“A memory, perhaps? It’s a common thing in orphans. Was it pleasant? Is that why it scared you?” As she spoke, the Sister kneeled down to eye level with Emily.8

“It was a memory, but not pleasant. It was terrible… So terrible. I dreamed of their murder.” The youth began to cry, eyes closing.9

“Did you see the killer? We could possibly say it was a suspect? If it was a memory, and not simply a dream.” Concern twisted the woman’s features.10

“Yes. Sister… I killed them. I killed them with a stainless steel knife.” A faint, sad chuckle emitted from the girl’s throat as she opened her eyes, lifting them back to Sister Catherine’s.11

Sister Catherine’s gaze switched between both of Emily’s bloodshot eyes, trying to find just the faintest of a jest. “It was just a dream, Emily. Not a memory. You couldn’t do such a thing. Just a bad dream.” She frowned slightly. “Would you like a cup of tea?”12

Emily shook her head. “No, Sister.” She began to stare at her. “Believe me. I know what I did.”13

“Emily! Hush. You are speaking of a dream, nothing more.” The woman rose and tugged the girl to her feet, nudging her towards the kitchens. “You’ll have yourself a cup of tea, relax, and then go back to bed. That is, if you can sleep. If not, you may go to the library.”14

Emily suddenly jerked her arm free of the gentle grasp, startling the sister completely. “No! It wasn’t a dream, Sister Catherine! I killed them! I killed them with a stainless steel knife.” A dry chuckle fell from the teen’s lips. “I killed them. With a stainless steel knife. Funny, isn’t it? Stainless steel… Never can be stained… Rusted… Nothing of the sort. It’s all a lie. I’m not an orphan. I’m a killer.”15

“Emily, don’t say these things.”16

“Why? It’s the truth. And stainless steel knives are a lie. They can be stained with blood. I stained one with blood. The blood of two different people. Mother and Father.”17

Sister Catherine fell into silence, simply staring at the young girl.
18