Elena felt like the room was spinning around her. She could not believe her own eyes. Little Leo was lying on his back, his tiny fists balled up into tight knots. Red marks were already visible on his soft cheeks and across his small chest, burning bright against his pale skin. The infant was screaming hysterically, gasping for air as the heavy heat from the iron hovered far too close to his delicate body.
Clara: Quiet down, you little brat! You cry all day long and ruin my peace!
Clara raised the iron higher, her eyes wide with a scary, unhinged look. She did not look like a wealthy woman in a beautiful blue dress anymore. She looked like an absolute monster. Elena did not stop to think about her job, her safety, or what would happen to her if she interfered. She only knew that if she stayed quiet for one more second, the baby would be hurt beyond repair.
With a loud cry of her own, Elena slammed the bedroom door open and charged straight into the nursery. She grabbed Clara's right arm with both hands and pulled it back with all the force in her body. The heavy iron dropped from Clara's hand, crashing onto the wooden floor with a loud thud and leaving a scorched black mark on the expensive rug.
Elena: Get your dirty hands off that child!
Clara stumbled backward, gasping in shock as she lost her balance. She gripped her wrist where Elena had grabbed her, her face twisting into pure rage. She looked at Elena like the maid was a bug beneath her shoe.
Clara: How dare you touch me, you worthless maid! Have you lost your mind?
Elena: I know what you were doing! You are trying to hurt him! I won't let you lay another hand on this innocent baby!
Clara straightened her blue dress and stepped forward, slapping Elena hard across the face. The loud crack echoed through the high-ceilinged room. Elena's cheek burned, but she did not back down. She placed herself directly between Clara and the crib, standing tall despite the tears gathering in her eyes. She reached into the crib, lifted the crying infant into her arms, and pulled him tight against her chest.
Clara: Give me that child right now, Elena. If you step out of this room, I will make sure the police lock you up for stealing and assaulting me. No one will ever believe a poor maid over the mistress of this house.
Elena: Call the police then! Let them come look at his face! Let them see what you did with that iron!
Clara's eyes narrowed into slits. She realized that Elena was not going to back down or be intimidated by empty threats. Clara reached out to grab Elena's hair, but Elena dodged her, turning her shoulder to shield the baby. Elena backed out of the nursery into the hallway, cradling the sobbing infant in her arms, kissing his forehead over and over to calm his fears.
The poor child was shaking, his breath coming in ragged hitches as he pressed his small head against Elena's shoulder. Elena held him close, her tears dropping onto his soft hair as she ran down the long grand hallway toward the front entrance. She needed to get out of the house. She needed to find help before Clara caught up to them.