Relics of Aether - Homebound (Sample)

Chapter 6

Marina awoke to the sound of the bell. Laying on her side with her back facing the rest of the room, she stared at the orphanage walls. The faded paint depicted dancing flowers with a bold yellow sun smiling down on them. She could hear the excited footsteps of the other children behind her, all clamoring to get downstairs for breakfast. She got out of the bed, exhausted. Sleeping was difficult. It had been for the couple months she'd been there. Following the other children, she went down stairs to the cafeteria, where all would go to get their breakfast. The other kids avoided her. She didn't mind too much. They pick on her whenever she's acknowledged.

Once it was her turn, the lunch lady placed an omelet and an assortment of fruit on her tray, avoiding Marina's eyes. She finished by placing a loaf of bread on the remaining spot. Marina retreated to the corner of the room where she'd always eat her food alone. They didn't mess with her there. They liked to call her names and pull on her fins, leaving them frailed and torn. She hated that.

As she ate, she noticed shadows creep over her tray. She looked up to see three kids, each much older than she was. She lowered her head and let her fins go limp, trying to make herself seem as small as possible. The largest of the three demanded that she give them her food, claiming they were still hungry. She pulled her tray closer. The other two stepped toward her, and fear caused her stomach to tighten. One of them pulled on a fin on her head, tearing it. Marina simply winced, too afraid to make noise or retaliate. The other held her hands behind her back. They laughed. She was powerless. They were all stronger than her. The biggest reached for her tray. In a surge of instinct, in a moment of desperation, she lunged her head forward and sank her sharp teeth into his arm. With a terrified cry, he hit her face with the back of his other hand and jumped back, dazing her. The other two promptly let go, startled by what had just transpired.

The biggest held his arm, crying in pain. On it was a vicious bite mark, similar to that of a wild animal. She sat there frozen. The taste of blood plagued her mouth. Her face was throbbing from the blow. An orphanage staff member rushed to the boy's aid and assessed the situation. She looked at Marina and the blood dripping from her mouth, and dragged the boy away from her.

That night she was confined to a small closet with a dirty, torn blanket to keep her warm. She was locked in with the cleaning utensils. All she could do was wait. In the morning some food was slid inside before the door was immediately locked again. If she had to guess, she had been in there for a couple days before she was forcefully taken out and loaded onto a wagon. After a week-long trip, she was taken out, and was introduced to a new orphanage in a city that was foreign to her. She didn't mind too much. It wasn't the first time she was sent to a new location. No matter where she was, no one seemed to like her regardless.

There were always eyes watching her wherever she went. Gossip was commonplace when her back was turned. She forced herself not to care. The caretakers were always forceful and aggressive despite her obedient nature. She didn't understand it. She lived dreading every day that dawned. She hated her life, and more so than that, herself.

One fateful day, when she was eight years old, the Hopewell Orphanage received an unexpected visitor. He was dressed lavishly, sporting more gold than Marina had ever seen before on top of luxurious black leather. His confident demeanor and beautiful, golden hair had the attention of everyone in the building. Particularly that of the children when he said he was looking to adopt. The head of the orphanage took him into a meeting room where they were to discuss potential adoptions. The whispers between the eager children echoed through the halls, all wondering if they would be the lucky pick. The air was thick with anticipation. After what seemed like ages, they finally exited the room, and everyone went silent. The head of the orphanage called Marina, and she nervously stepped down the stairs with all eyes on her. She walked until she stood in front of the man. With a warm smile and a polite bow, he spoke: