Gates of the Unknown

Chapter Three

After we ate, Ruby pulled me into a room and opened what I assumed was a closet but a giant clothes storage room was there. Oh god. It's like a store in here! I think. I look around and am instantly drawn to the Keynorth Academy shirts. "You have KA shirts? That's so cool. I plan on going there when I turn 12!" She smiles. "So I guess you want to make a difference in the world, huh?" I nod and giggle. "I plan to be someone everyone can rely on! Like Selene or Hecate! I want to show that I can be someone to depend on!" She gives a playful grin. "Oh really do you have a name?"  I look down and suddenly gasp. "Oh, I know! Dice! That's my name!" I say with confidence. Ruby smiles and pats my head. "You can do it. But pick a shirt out." I nod and start looking around. I gravitate to one of the superhero shirts. It's a classic Spiderman shirt. "Okay, now, pants. What's your size and what type would you like?" Ruby says. "I am a medium and I want jeggings. They are much comfier than regular jeans." I say and she nods and walks over to the girls' section and gets out a tan pair of jeggings. I rush over and grab them. She then pulls out a pair of girls' boxers and some black socks. I take them and followed her into the bathroom across the hall from the bedroom. She explains how the shower works. "And if it seems too much you can just take a bath. Right here is a plug stopper. You have the 2-in-1 and body wash, or you can use the 3-in-1. It's up to you." She stands up, "There. If you want to lock the door you can, and I will be by the door if you need me to be. Any questions?" She asks. "Can you cut my hair? I want it to my shoulders so I can brush it better." She nods and leaves the room.

I pull off my clothes only to see black marks. They were obviously healed but this isn't just physical... it was emotional. It was mental. I shake my head and take off my shirt to see black scars that start on my sides and onto my back. I stare at my reflection wondering if I could ever heal. Nothing could compare to what he did. I still can feel him in me. The pain and blood were dizzying. The handprints are the only ones who know besides the doctors and Damien. I hope it will just go away. I look into the eyes of my reflection and notice I was crying. I rub my eyes and turn on the shower, hoping I can scrub off this dirty feeling.

I still feel unclean. I think. I walk out of the bathroom after getting dressed. "Ok kiddo. Which shoes?" Damien says. He shows me blue high tops and some Glow in the Dark Sketchers. "Since my shirt is blue I choose the high tops." He nods. I put them on. "Ok. All three of us are going on a shopping spree. So you can have a full wardrobe and stuff to design your room at your adopted parents' house." My eyes were lit up at the thought of designing a room. But also... Drawing materials! "Can I get some markers and sketch pads? And maybe some books!?" I had a goofy grin on my face, bouncing on my feet at their answer. "Of course, you can. I guess we have an artist on our hands, babe." Says Damien, causing Ruby to nod and say, "Let's go while they're open. Jackson!" And in the blink of an eye, a butler appeared. "Yes, miss?". " Watch the boys while we're gone and this time. Make sure they don't go outside." He nods and we leave.  I get into the back seat and we were off.

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When we get there my eyes widen. So huge!! I think. We get to the open part of the mall. "Ok, where do we start?" Damien asks. "Well here is an idea. Let's ask Davi. Since we are here so she can have some fun." They both look to me. "I want to get clothes. Like flannels and leggings! It is getting cold out." They both nod. "Winter clothes are a good idea especially up north where she is going," Ruby says. She walks us to the girls' section and picks me out five flannels in my size. After that, we go and get leggings and jeans. 5 pairs of leggings and 3 pairs of jeans along with a lot of nightgowns and other PJs. "Time for your personal toiletries. We know kids usually enjoy this part because they get to choose everything. And also after all this, I have a surprise that Damien is setting up." I grin and giggle. "Can I get some video game t-shirts?" She nods. "Let's go to the boys' section." 

After walking to the next store, we browse for a while. A lady comes over and stops us. "Excuse me, ma'am. Why did you bring a girl to the boys' store? The girls' store is next door." Ruby looks at her. "Well, it's because she wants a video game shirt that isn't available there so if you would move we can get what we want and leave." She says in a respectful tone. "Well, you are wrong. Girls should be in girl clothes and the same with boys. Now leave before I get the manager." Ruby sighs. "First of all, Karen, clothes don't have gender. Second I don't care if you call a manager. I have every right to be here and you won't make me leave. So please do me a service and piss off before I get my mate." She angrily says to the woman. The woman huffs and rushes out of the store.

"Now then that's over we can continue and get some shirts," Ruby says, "Also... don't repeat that. Karens really make me mad." I nod. "I don't like cursing anyways. It's wrong," I say and follow her around to the side of the store. My eyes light up at the shirts. There was a Mario Kart DS t-shirt with all playable characters on it. Yoshi is my favorite. So we pick out that one, a Halo one, and a Call of Duty Black Opts one. After paying she teleports what we have back to the house and we continue shopping. "Is it toy time?" I ask, "I want a stuffed animal!" I say with a huge grin which turns into a pout as Ruby acts like she is thinking. "I guess we can get some stuff. So a stuffed animal and markers and sketchpads. Do you like other mediums? Like paint or colored pencils?" I shake my head then say. "I'll need white gel pens and black pens to outline drawings." She nods with a grin. "You really know what you want, huh?" I nod and giggle. "Well come on. To the Art Store." My grin never leaves as we head over to the art store... Which is on the other side of the mall with the toy store. Great, I think, rolling my eyes

We get there and get some Ohuhu alcohol markers and a few small sketchpads. We pay and head to the toy store. I look around and my eyes light up at what was in front of me. It's a set of stuffed animals. There is a brown bear and a white wolf, or the second set, a black wolf and a white wolf. I pick up the second set and ask, "Can I have this? They are so pretty!" Ruby nods. "Sure kiddo! But let's get some kids' books to balance them out.". "Well I heard the final Hunger games book released a few months ago. I heard most book shops released the three together. Can I get them?" She agrees and we head to the book store next door and get the books. I sigh. It's going to take a while to design my room. I can't wait to go to school... Wait, school?! What am I going to do about that? I ask about school. "Oh, you will be starting school in February. But you need to go to your forever home first and get settled. They already signed you up." I nod and yawn. "I'm tired too how about we do all this later?" I nod and she walks us to the bottom floor and to the food court, where Damien is standing. "Surprise!" He said and pulls out a blue dino plush pillow. I squeal and hug it. "So soft," I say squeezing the pillow. "We are also taking you out to eat. We have a place you'd love to go. It's called Tiptops. It's an amazing sit-down restaurant. Ok?" I nod and hold Ruby's hand as we left the mall.

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When we got home, Hunter and I played with our plushies and had a blast. He was a bit weird talking about other landmasses and countries. Like the 'UK' or 'America'. I vaguely remember the history lessons that the kids at the slavery place would bring in from school. I also remember the name of our continent. Most of the time people don't speak the original name of the country. The name is Glaephia. I also heard we have a constitutional monarchy that shares its power with a body of power that makes the laws. Sorta like the 'United States' but royal. It's like we have royalty but they listen to the people's needs a lot more than other monarchies. Anyways we had fun. And now it's time for bed. I get to the bathroom and change into some of the pajamas and brush my teeth before going into the bedroom and falling into a deep sleep.