Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Gill pondered. Quinton?
“He asked me to keep his condition a secret, so I couldn’t contact you these past few days.”
Gill wanted to ask what sort of illness required that kind of secrecy, but Yunice had just said she had to keep it confidential-clearly, it wasn’t something she could share. But at least Yunice was okay.
Thinking back on the chaos of the last three days, Gill blurted out, “The Saunders family and the Powell family have both been looking for you. I heard Elsie’s bones were set, and she was taken back to the Saunders house to recover. Paul still hasn’t gone to see her, and Owen totally blew… Even Mr. Jordan called asking where you were…”
Yunice quietly sifted through the drawers of herbs, listening to Gill ramble on and on, without responding once.
It wasn’t until Gill finally stopped talking that Yunice spoke up, her voice low. “Gill, do you have any dreams? Studying, starting a business, getting married?”
Gill was stunned. Why is she suddenly asking about that?
Yunice set the drawer down and looked at Gill like she’d made up her mind. “Whatever you want to do, I’ll support you completely. Money, connections-I can get them for you.”
Gill brightened. “Ms. Saunders, what happened while you were gone? Did you turn into some…”
Yunice gave a soft grunt. Her expression was stiff as she said, “Quinton owed me a favor. Helping you out is something he can do.”
Sensing something off about her, Gill slowly stopped joking around. She cautiously asked, “Ms. Saunders, did something happen? Did those bastards from Owen’s side mess with you again?”
“No,” Yunice said. “I just think you’re still young. You should be doing something more meaningful with your life-not wasting your time with me, worrying every day.”
Gill’s mouth dropped open. She was stunned for a moment before she finally reacted. “Saying you wanna help me chase my dreams. Miss, you’re really just trying to get rid of me, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I mean.” Yunice lowered her head, rummaging through the drawer of honeysuckle.
Gill instantly choked up, her voice full of resistance. “I’m not leaving. If I go, who’s gonna protect you?”
Yunice replied, “Other than being strong enough to block a few bricks for me, what else can you do? With the Saunders family and the Powell family pressuring us, you’re just a punching bag-cannon fodder at best.”
Gill’s pupils trembled. “You’re really saying that about me?”
“Better decide before I change my mind,” Yunice said flatly. “If you end up beaten to death one day, do you have any idea how much trouble that’d bring me?”
Gill’s throat burned painfully. She stared at Yunice, who hadn’t looked up once, pretending to be busy. Suddenly, she reached out and grabbed Yunice’s hand.
“Ms. Saunders, did someone say something to you? Is someone threatening you with me? I know you. Whatever awful things you say to me, they don’t work. I know that even if I really were about to get beaten to death one day, you’d still throw yourself in front of me to protect me-just like I’d do for you!”
Gill turned Yunice’s face toward her and looked her in the eyes, her voice hoarse. “Ms. Saunders… is it all just too much? The Saunders family, the Powell family-they’re all ganging up on you. Wyatt’s allegiance is still up in the air. Silverburgh’s turning into a nightmare for you. That’s why you’re scared, isn’t it?”
Gill knew better than anyone how much responsibility Yunice carried. What happened the last few times had clearly left a scar on her. That had to be why she wanted Gill to leave.
If they couldn’t stay in Silverburgh…
Gill got an idea!
“Ms. Saunders, let’s leave Silverburgh! Let’s go somewhere far away-abroad, anywhere-we’ll just get away from all this mess. Nobody’ll ever find us. Didn’t you say Mr. Quinton owes you? Then it shouldn’t be hard for him to get you a fake ID. You’ve got real medical skills-you could make it anywhere. Why stay here in Silverburgh, tangled up with all these awful people?”
Gill’s voice rose sharply, full of confusion. “Why not?”
Yunice wasn’t married to Wyatt yet-she could still walk away from the Saunders family. This was the perfect time to run!
When Yunice stayed silent, Gill knew there had to be more. “Ms. Saunders, I know you’ve got your own plans, and there’s a lot you can’t tell me, but you’ve got no one backing you; no one standing behind you. How could I possibly walk away knowing that?”
Yunice lowered her eyes. “You’re not working for my family anymore; we don’t have any relation.”
Gill stood there quietly for a moment. When it was clear Yunice wasn’t going to change her mind, she sniffled and turned to leave Virtue Hall.
Footsteps faded into silence. Only then did Yunice slowly lift her eyes, tears brimming in her lashes. She’d been alone for so long. She couldn’t bear dragging Gill into more danger. If something really went wrong, she wouldn’t be able to repay her…
After Gill left, the clinic didn’t see a single patient all day. Yunice busied herself with sorting herbs and reading to pass the time. The day slipped by in complete quiet. That night, she curled up on the camp bed Gill had left behind. Somehow, that made her feel like she wasn’t completely alone.
Even in sleep, she couldn’t rest easy. Her dreams kept circling-Lauren, the bizarre, chaotic scenes from the asylum. Distorted and oppressive images flashed through Yunice’s mind. Her body twitched without warning, like it was reacting to real pain. It felt like sleep paralysis-her mind was awake, but she couldn’t move. Or like she was drowning in wet concrete; every time she pulled one foot free, the other sank deeper. Trying to move only made her lose balance. Her arms got stuck next, and then she was being smothered-mouth and nose sealed off while her limbs were trapped. That suffocating feeling pressed in on her; even asleep, her face turned pale from the lack of air. Finally, her mind went completely blank with a sudden crash. She shot upright, gasping, haunted by what she’d just seen.
The next day, life carried on in silence. Yunice lived like someone the world had forgotten; she wasn’t in any hurry to step outside. The peace wasn’t bad. She sat in the sunlight by the shop’s entrance, sorting herbs. Her hat and mask were pulled snug, but on the ground before her stretched a long shadow.
Thinking it was a patient, Yunice looked up-only to see Gill, back again. Gill was holding a thermos and grinning so wide her eyes disappeared. Yunice blinked, about to ask why she’d come back, but Gill had already dropped into the seat across from her like nothing ever happened. “You used to love the meatballs the Saunders family made. He’s been swamped lately and figured you’d be craving them, so he taught me how to make ’em.”
Gill opened the thermos, and the savory aroma instantly filled the air. “Try it-see if it tastes just like his,” Gill said, smiling as she handed her a spoon.
Yunice’s brow twitched. She tried to keep a cold expression, but Gill was quicker-she stuffed a meatball right into Yunice’s mouth. Tears always seemed to know when to follow taste. The familiar flavor hit her tongue, and Yunice couldn’t hold it in anymore. Was it really so wrong to want someone beside her? She wanted someone to stay, to hold her-but some people couldn’t be relied on. Others didn’t want to protect her. And the ones who truly cared-she couldn’t bear dragging them into her pain.
Gill said, “I thought about it all night yesterday. You’re right. I’m just one person, and at best I’m cannon fodder. I can’t help you the way Mr. Cooper or Mr. Quinton can. But I still want to stay with you. Like when we were kids…”
At those words, the tears Yunice had been holding back finally fell.
Gill continued, “Hey, good thing I can cook. I’ll open a deli right next to Virtue Hall! Sure, it’s out of the way and foot traffic is light, but that just means I won’t be too busy. I can help watch the clinic too. And whenever you want that taste again, it’ll be right here, waiting for you.”
Yunice’s lips trembled; she looked at Gill with emotion she could no longer hide.
Gill sighed. “You’ve got your little secrets-fine, keep ’em. I don’t know many people in Silverburgh either. I just wanted something that felt like home, close to you. You called me your sister, so I’ve always thought of you as my little sister.”
Yunice couldn’t hold it in anymore. She buried her face in Gill’s shoulder and tried not to sob.
And that was that.
The days passed slowly. Her wedding with Wyatt crept closer and closer. Whether Wyatt genuinely couldn’t find her or just didn’t care to look-no one came to bother her.
That morning, Yunice packed some prepared food and left the clinic early, locking up behind her. Gill didn’t ask where she was going, and she didn’t follow. Yunice drove off in Gill’s car and headed to a psychiatric hospital.
This place was nothing like the private asylums she’d stayed in before. That one catered to the rich; this one was a shelter for refugees with mental illness. It was free, which said all there was to say about the resources they had.
Yunice carefully avoided the messes of feces and urine scattered across the floor as she made her way past patients who reached out at her from where they sat, sprawled on the ground-some clearly unstable, others possibly faking it.
Eventually, she arrived at a small room. This room was much cleaner and more comfortable than the crowded dormitories outside. It was bright and tidy, with sunlight filtering in. Yunice had slipped the staff some money to make sure it stayed this way.
“Grandma…” she called softly, her tone warm.
The elderly woman sitting by the window turned her head in surprise, reaching out eagerly. “Lauren, it’s been so long! Come here, let me feel your face…”
Her name was Melina. Her skin was in decent condition, but her hair had gone completely white, giving her the appearance of someone well into old age. Her features still held a trace of the grace and softness she must’ve had in her youth-but those pale, clouded, misshapen eyes made her look uncanny.
Yunice stepped closer and leaned in so Melina could touch her face. Melina’s unseeing eyes stared straight ahead as her coarse fingers gently traced Yunice’s features.
Then her voice deepened with concern. “You’ve lost weight… Your uncle and aunt aren’t feeding you again, are they?”
“No,” Yunice said with a smile, standing upright and opening the food container. Her voice was calm. “I’m all grown up now. I’ve got a job. My uncle and aunt can’t control me anymore.”
Melina let out a sigh of relief as she accepted the bowl Yunice handed her. “Lauren, you have to make something of yourself. One day, you’ve got to get even-really get even.”
Yunice looked at her, weighed down by her thoughts, and slowly sat down. “Grandma, I’m about to get promoted at work. They’re sending me abroad. The pay will be better, but… if I go overseas, I won’t have time to visit you anymore.”
Melina raised her brows in delight. “A promotion? That’s wonderful! You deserve to soar to new heights!”
Melina shook her head without hesitation. “No, no. I’m staying right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Yunice had asked her this many times before. Every time, the answer had been the same. Even if she tricked her into moving somewhere nicer, Melina would find a way back here, back to this place.
Melina was still smiling, still thrilled about Lauren’s promotion, happily eating the food Yunice had brought. But those sightless eyes… they were deeply unsettling.
“Yunice.” The door burst open without warning. Owen and Paul appeared in the doorway, eyes locked on Yunice.