The Fallen Stars

Chapter 8 Ainsley

"CHECKMATE AGAIN!" Esme exclaim, with a giggle.
It's the third time she has beaten me in chess... don't get me wrong, I know how to play, I'm just letting her win.
And she's awfully enjoying it.
"Alright, alright." I admit.
"You're not that bad... but I'm definitely better." She teases.
I give her a playful glare.
She giggles.
It's been three weeks since we became friends, hanging out in the library at lunch.
Which is where we are now.
On the second floor of the library, in a secluded corner.
Surrounded by shelves and shelves of books... with a small table in the middle.
We found this place a few weeks ago, and now we play chess almost every day.
"Another round?" She asks, not wanting to go back to class.
"I wish we could, but I think we need to go." I say sadly.
Her smile instantly fades.
"Yeah... you're probably right." She admits.
My smile fades.
"What's wrong?" I ask, resting my elbows on the table.
She looks down at the chess bored, her loose hair sliding down her shoulder to touch the chess board. Taking the white queen piece, in her hands, she studies it.
"He hits me." She whispers.
I go still.
"Who?" I ask through gritted teeth.
After a few moments, she answers.
"Mr. Marwood."
I clench and unclench my jaw.
"Why?" I ask.
"I don't know." She whispers, her voice cracking.
She looks up at me, tears filling her eyes.
"I don't know... maybe I deserve this."
She takes a breath and starts shaking her head.
"But I don't want to deserve this." She says, gasping for air.
I stand up, moving towards her, I go down on my knees in front of her.
She looks at me, eyes puffy and red. Tears are falling like waterfalls.
"C'mon." I whisper to her, beckoning for her to come closer. She does, I hug her tightly, brushing her loose light brown hair with my right hand.

Muffled whimpers and soft 'sorrys' are all she could muster.
After a while, she calmed down, wiping away her tears, shaky breathing.
"I don't know why I just told you that. I'm sorry." She says hoarsly.
"No! Please don't be sorry! I'm glad you feel comfortable enough to tell me."
She stays quiet.
"To what extent did... he hurt you?" I ask angrely.
"Mrs. Marwood always tells him to hit me where I'm covered." She lifts her shirt a little, showing a bit of her stomach... that is bruised black and blue.
She grunts a little for the movement, and then she tucks her shirt back in. She goes to her left arm and lifts the sleeve up higher of her school uniform. She brings it up to almost her shoulder.
Like her stomach, a big bruise black and blue.
She brings her sleeve back down over her hand.
She clears her throat.
"Can we change the subject now?" She asks desperately.
"Esme, I need to know..." I start.
"Please, can we change the subject?" She pleads.
"Okay... favorite writer?" I ask befuddledly.
She chuckles softly.
"Too many." She answers with a small smile.
I chuckle as well.
"Favorite book?"
"Mm-hhmm... can't compare apples and pears." She says proudly.
"What?" I ask, confused.
"They don't look the same. They don't taste the same. They are uncompareable." She states.

She is definitely my sister... if I ever slightly doubted it... now that is gone.

I chuckle.
"Favorite adventure?" I ask.
She looks down.
"I've never had an adventure like in the books... no crown on my head. No saving the day. No stealing to give to the poor. No sailing to strange islands. No singing sailors to the rocks... not that I want to hurt them. I only ever moved from foster home to foster home... to families who never wanted me."
She whispers.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" I ask.
She nods.
We sand up, grabbing our bags... and left the chess board as it was.
Like all libraries, it's just dark wooden shelves and shelves of books.
Egg white plastered squared colonms, as well as the walls that are visible.
Grey carpet covering the two floors, led lights eight in each aisle.
We turn to the left, where it shows the opening of the two floors. We walk down the iron stairs, walking past the librarian's desk. An elderly woman sits in the chair with a black silk shirt with a grey jacket. Her grey curly hair is in a bun, with black round spectacles, that makes her glare even scarier.

I give a small smile to the elderly woman.
Still giving me a glare.

Okay... never mind... too terrified.

I open the door for Esme, she walks out, and I follow.
"Oh my gosh, she's scary." She says, giggling.
"That's probably why there were only five other people with us in there." I say chuckling.
Dark grey clouds covering the sky, but the rain hasn't fallen yet.
As we follow the brickpath towards the side of the library where there's a small field of grass, then the edge of the woods.
There is a small sign that says

Pic&Read.

So you can picnic and read a book.
I would have loved to read one of my childhood stories here... what was it called again? Men of Iron! Oh, and the adventures of Robin Hood.
I smile at the thought.

"What are you smiling about?" She asks, looking at me curiously.
"Just going down memorylane." I answer softly.
"Where are we going?" She asks, smiling at me.
"You can't resist asking questions, can you?" I say, smirking.
"Hey! I'm still getting to trust you." She says, smirking back.
I stop walking, she looks at me over her shoulder, and then she stops.
"You can trust me." I say seriously.
She looks me in the eyes, looking for a hint of a lie.
She smiles. "Okay." She whispers.
I smile widely.
"To answer your question... we are going to Mar y Tierra." I state, grabbing her hand, gently pulling her towards the woods.

"Mar... what?" She asks, laughing.
"Sae and Land, in english... it's where I'm from, where you belong." I say ardently.
"What are you talking about?" She asks, confused.

Of course, that came out too fast!
Ainsley... why did you just blurt that out? She'll think you're crazy!

"Sorry... I get passionate." I take a breath.
"Okay, there is another world called Mar y Tierra. Where live, where the Niños Perdidos live, mermaids, pirates, fairies! All of us live there. You belong there." I explain.
"What?" She asks, folding her arms over her chest.
The rain starts falling, but we stand there looking at each other.
"So you are making fun of me now? What, did someone dare you to have your way with me... the weird orphan girl?" She yells at me, her voice cracking. Thunder and lightning in the distance.

"What, no! I don't know anyone except you. And I don't want my way with you! I want to take you home. Away from this horrid place. To a place where there's magic and where there's a family for you that will love you!" I eplain.

"I've heard that lie all my life! I even said that to give myself hope! Don't lie to me about a new family that will love me. Because they won't!" Tears filling her eyes, her hair and clothes are soked.
She starts walking away, back to the library.

No, no, I can't lose her again!

I run towards her, grabbing her wrist.

"Esme... Please trust me!" I say desperately.
She looks at me over her shoulder.
Tears near from falling.