Bad Habits: A Dark Anthology - Yolanda Olson Page 0,76

might almost be fooled into believing I’m having a positive effect on her, but I know better. I keep a straight face and my tongue silent when Mother Superior comes into the room to oversee our progress. Unable to spot anything amiss with our work and having observed that Emily is present, she leaves without a word.

“Did you know she was coming here today?” I whisper to Emily, as I turn to face her, my eyes narrowing to pin her with a suspicious glare.

She ignores me, paying no attention to my inquiry, and continues carefully ironing the fresh habits from the hamper situated between us. I nudge her with my elbow, not wanting to speak any louder and risk getting into trouble for slacking. Mother Superior runs a tight schedule, almost too rigid; sometimes it feels like we have gone back in time. We have electricity, central heating, electric ovens, etcetera, but we still have to do many things the old-fashioned way by hand.

“Emily,” I hiss, a little louder as I glance furtively over my shoulder.

Her eyes flash to mine and her lips curve up into a secretive smile, and then her gaze flickers over my shoulder just as a hand lands on it.

“Sister Faith, why have you stopped?” Mother Superior’s voice cuts through the air sharper than a blade.

I think very quickly before finally replying. “I need to top up the water in my iron, Mother.”

My heart is thundering in my chest, and my stomach drops to my feet as I unplug the iron and carry it toward the faucet to top it up. All the while, I’m hoping that Mother Superior doesn’t notice how high the water level already is. I return with the iron to see Mother Superior still watching me with a haughty expression on her face, and when I plug the iron back in, I catch her glancing at the water level. Emily is quietly standing by her board, diligently working

“Next time don’t let it run so low,” Mother Superior says as she turns and exits the room.

I don’t speak a word, just silently seethe as I continue with my work. Emily must have seen Mother Superior coming up behind me, and she set me up. I have no way to prove it, though. I should be above all of this, but I want to get my own back on her, and I want to do it privately. Annoyance rises within me at the realization, once again, Emily has managed to get to me.

Chapter Eleven

Sister Emily

When I saw Mother Bitch returning, I knew that Faith would be caught. For once it was rewarding to be seen as the dutiful nun in Mother Bitch’s eyes, even if it was for a self-serving ruse. I experienced an intense sense of satisfaction. When I saw the badly hidden, angry expression on Faith’s face, I knew it wasn’t only Faith who’d been caught. I’m beginning to wonder how much further I can push her until she breaks.

The urge to do something bold and reckless rises within me, but I stifle it for now. This isn’t the time or the place, not with Mother Bitch lurking in the shadows ready to catch us.

Later, when the chores are finally done and I’m almost ready to drop where I’m standing, I follow quietly after Faith as she storms off to our room. She moves as gracefully as she can manage, but I can see the irritation and humiliation she feels, rolling off of her in waves. I want to bask in it, and see exactly what this ‘diligent young woman’ is really capable of doing.

When we get back to our room, she shoves open the door, and I only just manage to grab the doorknob and stop the door from hitting against the wall. I close it behind me with a soft click before turning to face the consequences of my actions, which are about to be delivered by the ebony-haired angel standing in front of me.

“You did that on purpose,” she says accusingly, her voice rigid and every word hard on her soft lips.

I fight back the smile trying to break free, but I’m not sure I succeed because her lips thin and her eyes narrow.

“Fine, I admit it. I knew Mother Superior was behind you in the laundry. The question is, what are you going to do about it?” I ask, a hint of teasing in my tone. I only just manage not to refer to Mary Margaret as Mother