The Futures Ashes

Chapter 2

Sorry, it's been a while since I've updated, I just lost motivation for a bit. I re-wrote the first chapter due to it not matching up quite right with the plot.

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"Yeah, well, can I have a needle, string, bandages and medicine?" Maggie only then noticed my leg, her eyes widened. "Krislee!" She scolded. She helped me into the office and then walked out to find what was needed. I grabbed the knife from the hidden pocket in my jacket and cut off part of my leggings a little above the injury. Maggie came in with the supplies that were requested along with Nick's germen shepherd, Rinoi. He and Zara started playing. I looked back at Maggie and took the needle and string from Maggie, stitching up my leg one painful stitch at a time. I clenched her teeth, and my eyes started watering from the pain.

I whined my friend's name. "Maggie."

She spoke softly, trying to find the medicine to use after the stitching. "Yes, Kris?"

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"Sorry for only ever asking you for help. I feel needy and I should be independent, I just don't have the right supplies to do this alone. My leg should be fine in a couple days, but what if I need to ask you for more? I don't want to do that, its inconvenient, inconsiderate, and not to mention rude."

Maggie smiled lightly, turning to face me. "I love you like a sister Kris."

My smile faltered through the pain, and not the pain in my leg I cleared my throat. "How's Nick?"

Maggie smiled. "He's great! Nick has been working a lot lately though." Both of our smiles dropped. Neither of us knew what his new job was, he didn't even know about the Skryt, Maggie didn't either. Maggie smiled again. "I found a puppy today!" Maggie laughed happily. Okay, let me explain. Maggie is vegetarian and saves animals that she sees. She finds good homes for them that can afford and accommodate them.

"Oh?! What breed?" I smiled; it was fake.

"Aussie Pit. I mean, Australian shepherd, pit bull mix."

"Can I see them? What gender, how old?!"

"She is 6 months from what I can tell. Yes of course you can. I'll go get her." I watched her go, smiling. Maggie came back fast, holding an adorable and small puppy who was wagging her tail and panting while looking at me. She has light gray and brown spots, one of each on her eyes. Her eyes are bright blue.

"Give her over!" Maggie smiled and set the pup in my arms.

Still looking at the puppy in my arms I spoke to the dog. "I'm gonna talk to Nick."

"About what?"

"How to treat a dog as adorable as you. That's my role, protection over all things adorable. I need to knock some sense into him."

"Not too much I hope, don't want you to ruin his pretty face." Maggie said, I could hear a smile on her words.

I scrunched up my nose. "Meh, no promises. Change of topic, I need to get back to Martha before she realizes that she should be pissed off that I'm gone." Flash forward, Maggie put burning oil on the cut, I hissed. Holding the puppy tighter in my arms.

"What's her name?" Clenching my teeth, I looked at Maggie, and Maggie looked at me in turn.

She looked at me in anticipation. "Would you like to take her Kris?"

"Really?!"

"Of course!"

I shook with excitement. "Fuck yeah! Does she have a name yet?!"

"No, what are you thinking?"

Without hesitation I replied. "Ahviana. Little Ahviana."

Maggie spoke. "I love it Kris! I'll tell Nick that you have protection from this cutie now. How do you pronounce it?"

"Ah-Vee-ana. "

"Oh okay! Ahviana. Adorable."

Then, clenching my jaw, we talked a little more. After we were done with that, I hugged Maggie and left Zara. I'm still holding little Ahviana, BTW.

I hopped on the tram that was still waiting for them outside Maggie's beautiful house. While on the tram back to the orphanage, I grabbed out my Queb-Line, and looked at my account balance, 2 million Par, nothing had changed. I sighed. Then I caught sight of the orphanage, the tram dropped me off there. I walked there, limping, I passed people smoking and drinking in the alleys. Martha greeted me inside the kitchen, she was making dinner with some of the other children.

Martha looked up from what she was doing and smiled, she spoke with happiness as if nothing could ever go wrong. "Hello Krislee-!"

"Honestly Martha, you can just call me KRIS!"

"Mmk hon. How was your day? Are you hurt? You look hurt. You're limping."

"I'm fine Martha, I slipped on the stairs. It's just pretty sore, that's all." She nodded, understanding. Martha was still smiling without a care in the world. Martha started humming happily. "Not like I'd know if you were lying or not! How was your day then, Kris?"

I didn't respond for a few moments to create the effect of thinking of her day. "Pretty good! I talked with Nick and Maggie for a while."

"How are they?"

"Their good, Nick has been gone on a business trip to The Great Transfer."
Martha looked at me with an open mouth, looking shocked, not happy. Then her face turned angry.

"What's wrong, Martha?"

Martha muttered. "This wasn't allowed, Krislee will be called to fault."

"Martha, what are you saying?"

Martha pasted on an obviously fake smile. "Nothing honey, go to your room."

I narrowed my eyes at Martha, suspicious. "Why?"

"You probably need rest from being gone so long!" I nodded; it was true. Dropping the fake happiness still left me acting like it at from being with Maggie. I walked slowly up the stairs and down the long hallway to the small room that only fit a musty twin bed, I collapsed and fell asleep instantly.