Orphaned from Love

Chapter 2

"Revolution is as unpredictable as an earthquake and as beautiful as spring. Its coming is always a surprise, but its nature should not be." - Rebecca Solnit

It was the last day of open house. The last day of me being in the attic. My stomach still hurts from eating little yesterday and my head is pounding from the lack of water. So I dare myself.

Lock-pick the lock on the door, go downstairs, get food and water without being seen or questioned if I'm for sale.

I grab a needle and a metal wire and start jamming it into the lock, hoping something will happen. The metal wire just ends up bent, leaving me to discard that idea. I crawl on the floor searching for anything small enough to stick in the lock.

There's nothing here... wait, is that a Bobby pin? I snatch it up from the ground and start pushing it through until it fits. Then I twist it all around until a soft click is heard. I get up from the ground and try the knob. It glides away from the frame.

Not bad for my first time lock picking.

I tiptoe down the stairs. The laughter of people and the giggles of kids fill the atmosphere. Sadness creeps its way inside of me. Those were once my dreams. Seeing people who cared for me and would love me.

I know that King Ambrose and Queen Mia care about me but they are to never adopt, something like I'm not a direct heir.

I reach the kitchen, narrowly dodging a mermaid couple looking at all the mermaid hybrid toddlers. Good luck with them. They are a pain in the ass. All they do is complain and whine and complain.

I open the cabinet to find some chips. I grab those and rip them open, chowing down on the savory goodness of food in my stomach.

I grab a glass and fill it with the tap water. I drink about 3 glasses of water before I set the cup back and dispose of the evidence of my existence.

Walking back upstairs is what turned my life into a rollercoaster.

"Elva! Why in hell's name are you out of the attic?!" Ms. Huil shouted.

Fear stopped me in my tracks. "I was um... hungry... and thirsty." I say guilty.

"That's the worst excuse of my life. You just want to get out of here." She spitted grabbing my arm.

"I'm telling the truth I swear!"

"What have I taught you about lying to me."

"But I'm not I'm telling the truth!" Desperation was clawing at my throat. I didn't want to be beaten. My bruises just healed.

"Well know you are in big trouble!"

She dragged me away to her office as I struggled against her.

BAAM!

The front door slammed open.

"Hello, we're looking for Ms, Huil." A nervous female voice said.

Ms. Huil grunted then mumbled some curse. Turning to me she let me go. She walked over to the front door and introduced herself to the people.

I didn't have the courage to get in more trouble so I just ran back up stairs. I locked myself back in the attic.

My heart was pounding. I tried taking deep breaths but it wasn't working. Was I having a panic attack? After minutes of trying, my breathing started to slowly until I was calm. But why was my skin hot? I wasn't sick. It started getting this tingly feeling. What was happening.

As quickly as it happened, it stopped. I was relieved that it had gone away. But not for long.

It quickly returned, my heart pounding and my skin heating up. My lungs were tingling, I never thought that could happen. But then it was the voices.

Outside the door, there were arguments.

"I said open the damn door!"

"And I said it doesn't lead to anything! It's just an empty attic."

More shouts erupted.

BANG! BANG!

I flinched as someone was trying to break in. I didn't want to get kidnapped, even if it did get me out of this hellhole I'm not gonna be tortured anymore.

I pushed out the circular window to reveal the warm breeze of the afternoon. I climbed out and wrapped myself around the gutter before sliding down it like a firefighter.

I hit the ground with a thud before running around the house. From inside, I could hear the kids chants of, "Ms. Huil! Ms. Huil! Elva is trying to escape again!"

The weird heat on my skin was still there. I sprinted all the way to the front. From the porch, Ms. Huil burst out the door and shot me a death glare. I turned around and sprinted to the cliff.

My lungs burned and my legs ached but I pushed forward. I was not getting kidnapped today.

Right before I made it to the cliff, pain shot up through my skull. I stumbled and fell to the ground, my vision going black.

I felt a rough hand on my arm that sent sparks through every nerve. "You're okay now, I promise." Then I blacked out.