Blackthorn Academy - 1 - In progress

2 - London, U-United Kingdom

The Escort grabbed Aurora's arm with a tight grip and marched down the hallway, dragging her along with him. They walked in silence for a few minute's, the newly sealed envelope with her letter inside. 

They arrived at the Post Office and Aurora was itching to talk. 5 minutes in silence was near to unbearable for her.

She glanced up at the escort, trying to avoid any public interactions. He drew his pocket watch from his blazer pocket, then turned back to Aurora.

"10 minutes exactly. I'll be outside the Office." He gave a quick nod, putting his watch back into the pocket, and turned on his heel.

Hesitantly, Aurora opened the door of the Post Office in front of her, and the bell above her head jingled. She could feel her face flush as a few people glanced up to see who entered. The girl made her way over to the Main Desk, where she had to step on her tiptoes to see. 

"Hello dear, how may I help you?" An elderly woman stood up from behind the desk, her soft brown eyes kind.

"Oh um sorry I was just wondering could I please send this uh letter?" Aurora stammered, her face getting redder per word. She grabbed the ends of her light blue top she was wearing, twisting her fingers through the fabric. 

"Sure dear, and roughly where about would you like to send your letter?" The old lady smiled down at her again.

Aurora looked down at the address written down on the envelope, and read out in a squeaky voice, 

"London, in the U-United Kingdom" Aurora's face turned even more red as she miss read United, embarrassed at her lack of reading skills

The lady smiled again, as Aurora put the letter on her desk, with the address facing upwards.

125 Elmbridge Crescent
London, N1 8HW

United Kingdom 

The woman stamped the letter, then turned away from Aurora.

The Post Office bell jingled as the door opened, with 2 very similar looking figures entering the room.

A tall, lean, sandy blond man walked in first, a boy very similar just shorter and more childlike features followed after. The boy, who looked about 10 or 11, just much taller, held a sealed letter as well. Aurora quickly stared away from then, focussing her view onto the women was stamping another stamp onto Aurora's letter. 

"Alright dear, your letter will be expected to have arrived at the destination tomorrow. Have a good day." She smiled, and Aurora smiled in acknowledgement, not quite reaching her dimples or her eyes.

She glanced back at the boy, wondering if he was going to be at Blackthorn Academy. 

Aurora found the escort waiting outside, his scarf blowing in the cold, British winds.

I'm sure there aren't these cold winds in Australia, Aurora thought sourly. She missed her home country, after being put into care of her horrid Aunt and Uncle, along with their awful children. They sent her of to the orphanage at the age of 7, nearly 3 years ago, claiming it was too much of a memory of her deceased mother. 

Whatever, Aurora had grumbled at the thought. She missed the golden sun rays, or wild life and the beaches. Surfing along the waves, going for runs in the parks.

But no, she was stuck in England, where the school years are broken and its cold at Christmas. Not that Christmas meant anything to Aurora, but the school years were hard to comprehend.

The escort and her walked back in silence. She had to walk slightly quicker to keep up with his steps, and he scowled down at her as she tripped over a few times. They turned the corner, and a massive concrete grey building came into view. 10 windows in a horizontal line above the main floor where the big, iron door was placed. 16 tinted windows with bars where in a vertical line.

Aurora did the quick math and realised there 160 room windows, and thought, It kinda looks like a prison. She wasn't wrong though, there were thin bars on every tinted window, and really the orphanage didn't look inviting. How cheery, she thought sarcastically. 

They entered the orphanage, where the headmistress greeted them tightly, then sent Aurora off to her room.

She ran up the 10 flights of stairs to the level where her room was in, then down to the end of the corridor. She opened her door, then locked it shut, and stared out the window.

Shades of Grey were twisting through the sky, and the soft pitter-patter of the rain started. Aurora sighed, staring at the picture of her parents on the small cabinet near her bed. She picked it up in her hands and lay down on her bed, adjusting her glasses.

Her mother's hand was on her father's chest, his hand around her waist. They were looking at each other, happy, a few years before it all happened, she thought, scowling.

Charlotte's wavy medium champagne colour hair was across her shoulder in the same style Aurora had hers, but Charlotte's skin was a lighter shade and her light sea-green eyes were framed in glasses, Aurora having her poor eyesight. We kinda have the same face shape, Aurora thought to herself trying to see bits of her parents in her.

James's dark brown hair was slightly overgrown and fluffy, his eyes the same electric blue shade as his daughters, his face masculine and mature, except for his childish dimples. Aurora looked at both her parent's smiles. I have my dad's dimples and my mothers grin, Aurora realised as she looked into the mirror's reflection nearby. 

Eventually, Aurora fell asleep on her bed, sprawled out like a starfish, the soothing rain along the roof.