"I'm sure he'll accept you."
As she braided her hair, Mary pondered the words of the mysterious woman.
'Maybe he would, but what if he doesn't?'
A myriad of doubts crossed the young girl's mind. She paused her actions. The thought of showing Allen her true self was merely a speck in her mind. After all, today was the anniversary of the fire. The anniversary of Theresa's death.
Mary leaned into the wall and closed her eyes. She could still remember that fateful day. The despair she felt. The hopelessness. Mary saw vividly the bright hues of red. How the nuns held her back from rushing into the flames. Her screams stung the back of her throat.
Mary let her hands drop from her blue hair. They gripped onto the rosary on her neck. Faint scorch marks could be seen on the shining piece of metal.
"Take this." The older woman had said. "Use it when you pray."
As Mary heard footsteps approaching her, she quickly tucked the rosary into her dress.
"Well, if it isn't scary, Mary!" Kate laughed mockingly. She approached the smaller girl. Her gang of lackeys snickering in the background.
"Go away." Mary scowled. Her eyes narrowed.
'Not today, Wellington. Not today.'
The taller girl ignored Mary and continued talking.
"I see you're all alone. Has that boy already gotten tired of you? It's not surprising if he has."
Mary clenched her hands. Kate had always been a bully, but even she knew what today was. Suddenly, a thought came to Mary's mind.
'I could easily claw her with my long nails— wait, what am I thinking?!'
Mary shivered at the thought of seriously harming the taller girl. It was one thing to rough around, but it was a completely different thing to truly harm. Kate was mean, but not that mean. Mustering up all her courage, Mary walked away from the group of kids. She wouldn't let them ruin her day even more.
"Running away, are you? Coward!" Kate and her friends booed.
Mary thought back to the day Kate first came to the orphanage. She had come with a plethora of bruises all over her body. For the two were friends, however...
The young girl stepped outside. The cool weather and the sound of wind chimes eased her headache. Winter was coming, and it was coming fast. Soon, it would be December. Mary looked at her reflection on the window beside her. After her altercation with Kate, her blue hair had become disheveled. She brushed through her hair with her fingers. Mary thought back to a moment she had with Theresa.
"Your hair is beautiful." Sister Theresa said. She was braiding the child's hair.
"Oh-um-thank you...." Mary muttered shyly.
A voice pulled Mary from her thoughts.
"Hey." It was Allen. The young girl turned to face him.
"Oh! Hi." She smiled weakly.
"I saw you walking out here after talking with Kate. Is everything alright?" He asked, the worry clear on his face.
"Yes, I'm fine. It's just—" Mary looked down, biting her lip.
"Today's the anniversary of the fire, and you lost someone dear to you, right?"
Mary's eyes widened, and she furrowed her brows. Mary walked closer to the boy.
"How do you know that?!"
"Well—I overheard some of the other guys talking about it and—I mean nothing by it, really! Besides, I lost people in that fire too." Allen panicked, putting his hands up in defense.
Mary's face softened in understanding.
"I'm sorry about that. I shouldn't have yelled at you..." She sat down on the porch, head lowered in embarrassment.
The two children went silent. Only the sound of the wind chimes remained. Slowly, Mary looked up at Allen, who was still standing. He was staring at the church's expansive garden. After a closer inspection, she could tell from his puffy eyes that he was crying.
"Your parents.... they died in that fire, right?" Mary said hesitantly.
"Yeah."
Once again, there was silence. Allen's shoulder-length hair flew in the wind. Mary noticed it wasn't tied up today like it was usually.
Allen spoke up.
"My parents—well, they weren't really my parents, but they treated me as if I was their child, anyway." He fiddled with his hands.
"It sucks, honestly, being able to remember so much. Sometimes, I can hear their voices at night. But I know—I know they'd want me to be strong. To move on." Allen's voice shook.
Mary stood up. His back was facing her, but she could still tell he was holding back tears.
"I never knew my actual parents. But to me, that was fine. It was fine because I had Sister Theresa. She was all I needed." Mary continued. "She's gone now, and I have a gaping hole in my heart because of it."
The young girl took a deep breath and walked towards Allen. With her gloved right hand, she held his left.
"Theresa always told me people should never suffer alone. We both lost loved ones that day, didn't we?" Mary felt Allen grip her hand.
"Thanks, Mary. It means a lot that you're here." He said, facing back at her. Tears were visible on his face.
Mary decided she would ignore her former plan for now and simply comfort the child who needed it.
YOU ARE READING
Folk Devils | D.Gray-Man
Fanfiction"But I'm a monster!" "So what? Do monsters have to be bad?" Mary knew she was different from the other orphans at the church. The way they treated her showed it. But how would that difference shape her life? - Set during the time of Nea, Mana, & Pas...
