Only A WishWritten by: Udon T.E. And Abigail K.T.

Chapter Thirty: KOLONIA

Chapter 30

Kolonia

I stared down at the wrinkled, musty smelling book.

A faded, small number on the corner of the first page read 458.

Cautiously, I flipped to the back of the book- nine-hundred-and-fourteen. So I had gotten the exact half mark. Breathing in the scent of lingering dust, I walked over to my mattress, and gently set the partially-rotting book down in a cabinet. This could wait. I had to shower- a dusty riding trip had made me sweaty, and covered in layers of grime from the cruel outside world.

I grabbed my comfiest clothes and headed to take a shower,

A nice, undisturbed shower.

I stalked outside as I dried my hair, eyes catching on a neatly wrapped box sitting on my bed. I let my hair towel drop to the ground. Only just now realising it was my 16th birthday today I frantically jumped up and down in excitement. The steam from my shower wafted out around me, my still dripping hair leaving drops on my shoulders that slid down my spine. I breathed in the moist air, grabbed the brightly-coloured present off the bed and gently peeled it open. Inside, a metallic cat's head-shaped badge sat, staring up at me with luminescent purple eyes. My breath caught in my throat- what a beautiful present from Cora. Carefully picking up the badge, I turned it over and over again, until a warmth spread through it. I captured every inch of it, studying the angles and shapes of the luxurious cat's head. Only when I had set it down and plopped onto my bed did I see the note tucked away in the small box.

The note read:

"Dear, Lyla

I wish you the happiest of birthdays. I hope this gift is useful to you.

Have a lovely day."

No name... Cora must have forgotten.

My eyes started to water at the sight of the stunning brooch.

The sound of knocking filled my ears, as I wiped at my already splotchy face with the back of my hand. I stalked to the door, the knocking ceasing- I desperately wanted an excuse not to see the person behind the door. I took a shuddering breath as I opened the door and it revealed Cora.

"Hey, What's wrong?" Cora let her eyes soften, as she flicked her gaze to the bed.

"Thanks for the present," I mumbled.

"Present? You mean the one I came here to give?" Cora held out a bag, gesturing for me to take it. I took it with one hand while the other was still wiping my eyes.

"Do you wanna come in?" I asked, knowing it would be easier to talk when the door wasn't gaping wide open.

She glared, but nodded, so I gingerly took her hand in mine and led her into the dimly-lit bedroom. I easily put on a mask of fake friendliness and made it look like she was coming over to exchange secrets or paint each other's nails. I slowly shut the door behind us. I remembered our grudge and promptly dropped Cora's hand, using it to haul the present up to my bed.

"So..." Cora started. "You mentioned another... present?"

I nodded, trying my best to not let my words spill as I let my lower lip wobble.

Cora sighed. "Quit the dramatics, we both know you're better than this."

I forced my lip to stop, schooling my features into practised calm. With a shuddering breath, I muttered "Then who is this from." I let Cora drink in the badge, her eyes widening as she took in the bronze-coloured cat head, nearly gaping as her eyes met the sapphire eyes of my badge.

"That... Who got that for you?" Cora moved in a way that showed it took every ounce of her self-control not to reach out and snatch the small, gleaming, cat head.

Her eyes were fixated on the badge, soaking up every angle of it as I had done moments before.

And small, but eye-catching, gold-stamped letters shone on the back of the badge. I could have very well hidden the letters from Cora, but instead inclined the badge and tipped them towards her, drawing her attention to the letters.

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Word count: 695 words

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