Shape

Chapter one: The Orphanage

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to shape-shift? I have, but at the time it just felt like a silly idea. Until now.
I grew up in an orphanage, abandoned at birth like I was nothing. The foster care system wasn't any better, each family had quickly sent me back after a month or so. To them, there was something wrong with me, I had three different personalities, three different lives inside of me. I had no way of expressing these lives so I resulted to frustration, sometimes I wouldn't even realize the harm I would bring to those poor families, and in some moments even myself. That was all until a man walked into the place.
He was slightly taller than the average man, weird headphones over his ears, with a strange number on his neck. He wore a strange outfit as well, at first glance I thought he was a serial killer, but the more I looked, the more I realized he was actually some form of scientist.
"Hello sir! How may I help you?"
I could hear the nice receptionists talking to him in the next room over, I unfortunately didn't pay much attention as I was convinced it couldn't be about me.
"Hello there, how much for a kid?"
He spoke with a slightly deep voice, some would think it was a bit unsettling at first.
"Excuse me? You can't just BUY one of our children."
At this point I had shuffled myself close to the doorway, not realizing how noticeable I was.
"What about that one?"
The receptionist gave him an offended look once he said that.
"Are you even listening to me!? The kids are not some form of merchandise."
The man let out what sounded like an annoyed sigh and reached into his pocket
"Here. Now like I said, how much for the kid."
A wave of confusion washed over me as I watched a shocked reaction form on the receptionist's face while looking at whatever the man had put on her desk. She was speechless, all she could do was slowly lift her head up to look at me, I shuddered at the look on her face. Her eyes were so wide I thought they were going to pop out of her head. Suddenly the man pulled a stack of money out of his pocket, and started walking towards me with a cold look on his face.
"Pack your things, you're coming with me."
I felt a sudden boost of adrenaline run through me as he said that, almost like he caused it just by speaking to me. I rushed to my room and packed a bag of all my things, looking back it was pretty sad that all my things could fit into one bag.
While packing, I heard my door slowly creak open a bit. It was the receptionist, she looked like she had been crying as her lips were quivering, and her eyes were all puffed up and red.
"Are you okay, miss?"
I was never in the lobby area long enough to know her name, but I was sent out and back enough times for her to know mine.
"I'm so sorry Quinn, I really am."
Quinn, it was a name that I barely remember as of now, but back then it was the only thing I could rely on to know who I was, to know that I was a real person.
"What do you mean? I'm getting a home, a real home!"
My smile started to fade a little bit as her crying turned into a full meltdown.
"I'm almost done packing, do you want to help me with my bags?"
I flashed her a smile to try and lighten the mood which at the time, had no idea why she was so sad.
"Yes..Of course darling"
She put a small smile on her face and helped me carry my bag out into the lobby where the man was patiently waiting for me.
"That's all your stuff?"
His shocked face looking at my singular bag of items was enough to make me look down at my bag and remind me that I didn't own a lot of stuff from caring families like the other kids.
"It's okay kid, we'll get you some new stuff, don't worry."
He kindly grabbed my bag and started walking me to his car. As I was getting in, I gave the receptionist a big smile and waved her goodbye. She started sobbing again, but it looked like this time she was trying to hide it and gave me a gentle wave goodbye. I miss her.