The Extra Daughter ~ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Heavy

Song: Heavy by Linkin Park feat. Kiiara

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Cold. All I remember after is cold.

I've felt cold ever since. I'm at the point where it barely bothers me anymore. Plus the doctors said my thermoreceptors were damaged from the crash meaning I don't feel cold as much as others. Perks of careening into a river during winter, I guess.

It's been over nine years since the accident. My parents and I were on our way to my grandparents for Christmas when we hit a patch of black ice on the bridge.

There was screaming, screeching, crashing, shattering, snapping. A million sounds all burned into my memory. All of which led to two things.

Dark and cold.

I lost my parents at 8 years old. Not that people would know that; I'm not big on sharing my past with others.

After the accident, I was sent to the country where my Uncle Digory resided. He was a busy man, not much time to take care of me at all. So he sent me to Finchley to attend school. Uncle Digory is a historian and quite wealthy because of it. Because of his riches, he was able to afford me my own small apartment near the school. I had a caretaker there for about a year before she had to return to the country manor.

During that year she taught me to cook, clean, travel by myself, take care of myself; basically everything an adult needs to know when living alone.

I was 8.

Anyway, I've lived in this tiny apartment for nine years now. I've just turned 17 a month ago and school started last week.

So has another war.

A chilly breeze blows through an open window, distracting me from staring blankly at the back of my locker.

How long have I been just standing here?

I gently shake my head to clear it of my negativity. I'm fine. I've been fine since I was a kid and I'll continue to be fine.

"June!" I whip around at the calling of my name. Rushing towards me is a little girl with a cute bob cut and a slightly too big uniform.

Lucy Pevensie. She's the youngest of her siblings at 9 years old. The little girl ran into me on our way into school when I was 13, we talked a bit and since then she's kind of just stuck around. I don't really know why she did, but she makes me smile whenever I see her.

"Lucy!" I say back, beaming wide. "How's your day been so far?"

She collides with my legs, hugging me tight for a moment before beginning to ramble.

"Well, I had language arts first and we are going to read a new book tomorrow!" She pulls out a copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I nod with a smile as she continues. "It was so fun and the whole time I was thinking of you."

"Why were you thinking of me?" I ask, crouching down so we're at eye level.

"I guess it just reminded me of you," she answers. "Because you like reading."

I can't help but laugh a little at her excitement. "Well, I'm flattered that you think of me. Where have you gotten to with it?" I gesture at the book.

"I've only read the first couple pages since I didn't have much time in class," she explains. "But I plan on reading ahead."

I smile. "It's a good book, I think you'll love it. It's very magical."