The Oceans Legacy

Chapter VI

hello! once again, i am so sorry for not uploading. i had gotten into a bit of a reading and writing slump but i'm getting there. onwards and upwards. let me know what you think of this chapter. thank you to everyone who has been reading, voting and commenting, it truly makes my day. i love you guys.

-oakleigh 🌊

~Tallulah's POV~

If my jaw could hit the floor it would. My room is huge, I don't even know what I'm meant to do with all this space. Of course it's not as big as the girls dormitory back at the Home but that had to fit beds for all the girls. The walls are a really light grey and in the middle of the room is a bed that could probably fit 5 of me.

Nat and Steve chuckle at my reaction, "I'm guessing you like it."

"LIKE IT? I LOVE IT! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I squeal with delight.

"We can go to the shops tomorrow to get some things to put in here, but just for today this will have to do." I don't think Steve realises that this is better than anything I've ever seen.

"Nat and I are going to go back to the living room and let you sort out your stuff. If you need us we are straight down the hall." Steve makes his way back down the hall with Nat following.

I listen to the sound of their footsteps getting quieter and quieter. Once they are gone I empty out my bag on my bed. I place my hairbrush on my dresser and lean my teddy against the pillows on my bed.

The only other thing I have is the photo of my mum. She is frozen with crinkles near her eyes and mouth, her eyes looking just past the camera. Almost as if the person behind the camera had made her laugh. She was pregnant with me when the photo was taken, about 5 months I think.

I am not sure who took the photo but I like to think that it was my dad. He had to leave before I was born, I was mad at him for leaving us, but mum never was. They loved each other and mum understood that he had to leave. I don't though, if he didn't leave then I wouldn't be an orphan.

Mum's photo is crinkled at the edges from me looking at it, fading slightly as the years go by. Every so often I like to talk to her, tell her about what's been happening. I figure now would be a good time. A lot has happened since I last talked to her.

My fingers make their way towards my necklace as the words start spilling out, "Hey Mum, a lot has happened since last time I talked to you. I accidentally talked back yesterday and Miss Hansley beat me again, real hard this time. But today was an adoption day. They picked me, Mum. I got adopted. I know I should be happy, but I don't know...

The people that picked me are real nice, they are Avengers, I don't really know what they are but they told me that they are superheroes. They live in this huge building with a lot of other people. It's quite scary, I'm not used to so many adults. I have my own bedroom though. It's absolutely huge and my bed could fit like five of me.

I know I should be happy, and I am. But I really, really miss Ivy and Henry, and all the others but mostly them. I don't need a new family, Mum. They are my family, I just want them. Ivy said that we will be together forever. But we are not together anymore. I'm scared we will never be together again.

I don't want that to happen. Ivy always knows what to do, even before I do. She knows what to do when I start panicking. She knows what to do when I can't talk. She knows what to do when I get hit. She knows what to do when I have nightmares. I'm real scared, Mum,"

A few tears make their way down my cheeks, "How will these people know what to do? What happens if I have a nightmare and Ivy isn't here? I don't think I can do this. I just want my family back. Not this family, I want MY family. I want Ivy and Henry and you. I just want you."

Staring at her picture I curl up in a ball as silent sobs rack my body.

I don't know how long I was lying there for, but eventually I make my way over to the bathroom connected to my room and wash my face. After about 5 minutes of sitting on my bed letting my eyes explore the room I hear a knock on my door.

~Steve's POV~

I don't know what this kid has been through, but it's definitely too much for someone her age. Her bright sparkling eyes- that perfectly reflect the ocean- aren't shattered, but they are fractured. The second I saw her I had this need to protect her.

Nat and I were drawn to her from the moment we saw her. Her little feet were tapping against the ground, her head lowered, as if to draw as little attention as possible. When we tried to talk to her it was clear she was scared, it took a few tries for her to realise that we were talking to her.

We asked her what her name was and her eyebrows furrowed in frustration, I could tell she wanted to get the words out but couldn't. Before the panic and frustration could completely overcome her, a girl, who looked about the same age with dark skin and golden brown hair, spoke for her. You could see the panic leave her eyes.

After finding out her age, Nat pulled me aside, her eyes laced with concern,

"She is terrified, Steve."

"I know, Nat, I know." We look over sadly at the girl helping to calm her down.

"How long do you reckon she has been here?"

"From the looks of her, too long.".

As the morning came to a close and families started to leave we made our way into the Head office. We signed the appropriate papers and got ushered outside and introduced to a girl of about 15 or 16 who was making her way down the stairs.

"Good morning, Sir." The girl extended her hand and I returned the handshake. She then turned to Nat,

"Good morning, Ma'am." She shook Nat's hand before turning around and leading us towards the staircase.

"Tallulah is upstairs packing her things, I'll show you the way. My name is Sadie. "

She led us down a long hallway. As we approached a doorway we heard a few voices inside. Nat gestured for us to wait outside, the three of us standing there listening in.

"I- I can't do it. I don't want to go. Please. Don't make me go." A small voice echoed out of the dorm, I presumed that it belonged to Tallulah.

"Tals, you hate it here?" A boy confirmed my presumptions.

"I know. I know. But here I have you. You guys are my family. I don't need a new family. I don't want to go." I could hear the fear and sadness in her voice.

"Where is this coming from, Tals?"

"I- I just. What if they dont like me? What if I don't like them? What if they hurt me? What if they are mean? They are going to send me back. I don't want to leave and then come back. I just wanna stay here. I wanna stay here with you." Nat and I exchanged a glance as we heard quiet sobs come from the child.

A few more words are spoken before the whimpers quieten down and Nat and I gestured towards Sadie for us to head inside. As we stepped into the room I felt Nat tense beside me. The room is filled with rows of beds all with white and grey sheets, nothing here signifies that these children would be happy. There is no colour in the entire room. All I could think was how much this must remind Nat of the Red Room; all order and no life.

"C'mon Tally, you gotta go now." Sadie nodded towards the trio.

The boy introduced himself as Henry and the girl next to Tallulah as Ivy. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Tallulah tug on Sadie's sleeve. She knelt down so she was matching Tallulah's height and they had a quick discussion. Tallulah wiped a few tears from her cheeks and we made our way downstairs.

The whole drive I couldn't help but think about the conversation we overheard between the kids.