Echoes of Chaos

Prequel

"Mama.......Papa....."

A little voice sniffled out, little noises coming in between the words. The sounds were coming from a little corner in an alley, underneath a few boxes and sheaves of paper. A large hand moved the boxes, revealing a small kid who shrunk away from him, wiping her nose.

"Hey there, little one. What're you doin' down there?" The man had a low voice and a heavy accent of some kind. The kind stared up at him. "...Rae.." her voice was small and quiet. The man bent down next to her. "Hello, Rae. I'm Vander. How long have you been out here?" Rae looked away. "Two weeks," she said, but she managed to hold eye contact with him. He made a noise which narrowed her eyes slightly. "And you're parents?"

Rae turned her head away from him. "Gone..." He gave a small nod of his head before holding out his large hand. She looked at it, then his face. "Well, no point in you sitting out here by yourself. Why don't you come with me, I can give a holla for some food." Rae looked at him for a few seconds, mentally comparing the offer. She then placed her cold, tiny hand in his warm one. Vander picked her up and carried her. Rae felt the warmth of his body and the heavy steps slowly forced her sleepy eyes into a dazed look. She placed her head on his shoulder, the back of her neck rubbing against his large beard. She then slowly closed her eyes as Vander walked, knocked out within seconds.

It was a bit later when Vander stopped his walk and nudged her, setting her down. She rubbed her eyes before being on alert. He chuckled and nudged her towards the door of what looked like a pub. "Where are we?" She asked him. "The Last Drop." He opened the door and walked inside, Rae quickly following him. She looked around, amazed at the amount of people. The people stared at her as she followed Vander to a basement door. He knocked before opening it, standing in the doorway. Rae tried to peek around him but it didn't work. She just stayed backed up behind him, listening as he talked to whoever was in that room.

Powder POV

There was a heavy knock at the door and Vander walked through, but he stood in the doorway for some reason. "Where were you for so long?" I looked at Vi as she spoke, Mylo and Claggor also looking at him. "Went for a walk," he spoke calmly. "But...I brought someone back with me." He moved aside and a small girl stepped forward, her fingers fiddling with the bottom of her shirt. She had short tufts of brown hair that curled around her ears and nape of her neck. She had frantic looking brown eyes that scanned over everyone. I stood up and walked over to her, smiling. "Hi! I'm Powder, nice to meet you!" I said happily. She looked at me. "What's your name?" She seemed a little taken back but opened her mouth.

"I'm Rae....nice to meet you...Powder." She spoke a little slowly but that didn't bother me. I pointed at my sister. "That's my sister, Vi. And that's Mylo, and that's Claggor." I pointed to each one. My sister had pink hair and Mylo had normal dark brown hair, kind of like her. Claggor also had brown hair but it's all curly. Rae looked at each of them, a bit funny. Almost like she was calculating something. She then cracked a small smile.

Rae POV

"It's nice to meet you all," I said, with a small smile. Powder seems nice, Vi and Claggor too. Mylo looks a bit mean, though. Maybe that's just his face? Vi walked closer and kneeled down with a small smile. "Nice to meet you, Rae." Her voice was raspier than Powders, but that was probably because she's older. Maybe 15? Powder looks younger, maybe around 11. Mylo and Claggor look a little older than Vi, they're maybe 16?

I nod when she said that, my smile still on my lips. I turn around and look at Vander. "Can I......stay here?" I ask him. "Please..." He looks at me before chuckling with a warm grin. "Of course you can, kid."

Powder then hugged me, giggling. I paused before patting her on the back and she squeezed. I chuckled, but gave her a half hug back.