Journey of a Girl

A Proper Education: Chapter One

"Take the child," Ma said with a sneer. "My debt is paid."

"Will she make a dutiful wife?" the Collector asked, though his skull remained still.

"She'll do as she's told," Ma answered, "or she'll be thrown to the woods."

Wonda appeared beside them, her head caved in and her face painted with blood.

"I's could see 'er to proper use. I's could take 'er to a lovely 'ouse."

"I'll be her only keeper," the Collector bit back.

His talon dipped into his dark robes and when it reappeared there sat a mountain of coins in his palm, too many to hold, and several spilled onto the ground. He offered them to Ma.

"Her price."

Ma shook her head. "It was paid. Her soul for my freedom."

"I's might like a bit 'o coin, stranger-bones."

"You will not worry for her?" the Collector asked, ignoring Wonda.

"Should I?" replied Ma. Her face twisted into the visage of Lilith. "No. It's the reason she was born."

Credence woke with a short gasp.

Sunlight streamed through three giant, glassless windows, fully lighting the room around her. Several faces, huddled together, stared down. They did not look unpleasant or angry, but curious and cautious.

There wasn't a single grown up among them.

When she opened her eyes, a few of them pulled back as if they had expected her to sleep forever.

"Gray eyes," a voice said, though Credence couldn't place its owner. "You owe me two bronze, Yvette."

"You said they'd be gray-blue," argued another voice. "Those are just gray. I owe you nothing."

Credence slowly sat up in bed. Part of her was immediately on guard, ready for an attack. She silently dared someone to make the mistake of engaging her in a fight.

"Good morning," she said carefully. "I'm Credence."

Incomprehensible noise rose around her as every child simultaneously gave their name back, and Credence couldn't catch a single one through the din.

"Hold on, one at a time," the same voice that demanded two bronze from Yvette said. "She can't hear if we all talk at once."

The children turned to their leader, and Credence followed their gaze to a boy a few years older than she was, who had a pleasant smile on his face. The nest of brown hair atop his head looked like it had never seen a comb. Freckles dotted his face like stars and his grin showed a missing tooth.

Credence nodded towards him. "What's your name?"

"Adam. Pleased t' meet you, Credence."

Under Adam's guidance, each child took a turn introducing themselves. There were so many that Credence couldn't possibly remember them all, but Adam assured her that in little time she would know every last one as well as a brother or sister.

Among the group was a child named Tildy, who took Credence's hand and held it tight, not once letting it slip from her grasp. Credence didn't mind Tildy's grip, for the girl was very young and seemed to instantly take to Credence for one reason or another, so much that Credence believed Tildy might already love her dearly. If the child needed comfort or reassurance, Credence wouldn't neglect her.