Altered

Chapter 5: The First Day

Gina glanced at Miss Karina. She moaned to herself about the long hours Karina required and the back-breaking labor that they were forced to endure for their stay.

More work? She thought tiredly. I know that there are orphans in our world who are out there without a home. But when does this cruel workload cross the line into becoming abuse?

"Miss Karina, I... I object to this! With all my heart I must pleas that you do not force this. The younger children are not suited to working in the mill factories! Children get desperately injured there, Miss Karina; terrible injuries that cause them to no longer be able to work, and ruin any chance they have of improving their lives with a better job or a profitable marriage."

Miss Karina sneered at her, a bitter expression on her face. "I didn't ask to have to take care of a bunch of sniveling orphans. I didn't ask to have them complain to me all day long. I could care less about your precious orphan marriages or jobs. Work now or be thrown out. That's the new motto."

"Ma'am!" Gina cried in shock. How could someone be so heartless?

"You all mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. Why worry?" Karina went back to examining herself in an expensive mirror bought with funds for the meals at the orphanage.

"Make me lots of money, brats. Go on now. Leave!"

The other kids scrambled out of the orphanage building.

Gina stayed firm in place. She had decided a long time ago that it was her job as one of the oldest to stand up for the little kids who couldn't.

"Please, Miss Karina. Reconsider. These are lives you are throwing away to the grave. Children. Orphans. Penniless people that need your help and not your condemnation."

"I said leave, brat!" Karina's hand swung up and hit Gina's cheek. With a loud smacking sound, Gina tumbled backward to the ground.

"Get out of my sight."

Gina hurried away, sobbing to herself more deeply the more distance she put between Karina and her. She gave herself a moment to mourn the state of life, and then she wiped the tears away and put herself back together. She had to be strong. For the children.

___________________________________________________________________________

Gina woke up to a muted grey light shining through a covered window. She recalled where she was, and got herself out of bed with much debate. It was cold now in the mornings. She washed her face and scrubbed her hair quickly in a basin that had been filled for the two girls. Then she brushed her long brown hair and put on her tattered blue dress. It had been patched and washed so much over the many years of being handed down to the next generation of would-be-wearers, but it still held its blue hue, and that was what pleased Gina so much about it.

The only other dress she owned was the brown dress that she wore for her usual life; the chores and caretaking. More recently, she had added traveling to the list as well.

She looked at herself in the window reflection. Her chocolaty brown eyes were wide and curious, and her hair flowed down her back in a winding mane. Tiny locks curled around her face, having the glow of health from being washed in a way that she had been able to do before. Gina decided she liked the way it looked.

Satisfied with her appearance, she started towards the main manor building, preparing herself for what she was about to experience.

It appeared that she was the last one to have arrived at the meeting, and the others were just talking. Or, really, Amryn and Quill were talking. Ro just sat in the corner with an annoyed expression on her face.