Snowdrop (OLD)

Chapter One- What Mirror?

Chapter One

     I sit in the window seat of my dorm, looking out at younger children playing. I remember being that young, still full of hope that one day someone would come and adopt me. Call me their daughter, as my parents had failed to do.

    The orphanage housekeeper, Mrs. Stone, had told me the story of my arrival countless times. She had been walking past the door, ready to clean the girls dorms, when she heard a soft crying. Curious she opened the door, and found me, lying there in a small cardboard box with only a blanket for warmth. On the box, written in black Sharpie, were the words Navar White.

    Mrs. Stone took me in at once and showed me to the Headmistress, Ms. Davis. She agreed that they must take me in here, and that Navar White was probably my name.

    I hate my name. It’s a rough, long sound that can’t seem to escape the tip of your tongue. Why would my parents name me that? Better question, why would they leave me here? Were their lives too busy for me? Didn’t they care what happened to their daughter? Will they ever come back?

    I think I know the answer to the last question. It’s been 13 years, and no one has come for me. I’m still here, in this dusty, dreary orphanage No one is coming.

    I hear a knock at the door and see Mrs. Stone walk in.

   “Hi.” I say. I like her, she’s about the closest thing to a mother I’ve ever had. She always made sure I was eating right, getting enough exercise, and that my clothes fit right. But it seemed the only time she could talk to me was when she was cleaning my dormitory.

    Mrs. Stone mutters something.

    “What?” I ask.

    “The mirror!” she screeches.

     I only stare at her in shock. She’s never spoken to me that way before. And what did a mirror have  to do with anything?

    “Excuse me?”

    “The mirror!” she says again.

     “Mirror?” I say, worry making my voice shake. “What mirror?”

    “The mirror!” she screams, and when she comes closer I notice a wild look in her eyes. Something is not right.

    Suddenly she rushes at me and grabs my arm, yanking me to my feet. I cry out, not in pain but surprise. She pulls me along, dragging me out the door and into the hall. We run down to the end of it, facing a door I’ve never been through.  Mrs. Stone stops abruptly, and I crash in to her. She takes no notice.

    “The mirror.”, she whispers.

    “What mirror!” I shout. “Mrs. Stone, what’s wrong with you!”

    She gives me a wild look and opens the door, dragging me in.

    It’s mostly empty, and incredibly dusty, like no ones been in it for years. Mrs. Stone drags me to an object, which is, infact, a gigantic mirror framed in ebony. It’s in surprisingly good condition, except for a small crack in the bottom right corner.

    “Crack!” Mrs. Stone screams hystericly. She grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me roughly. 

    “Stop it!” I scream. 

    She stops shaking and gives me another crazy look.

    “They’re here.” she whispers. “Their coming for you!”

    “Who’s coming for me, who’s here?” I ask, every inch of me shaking. “What happened to you?”

    But she doesn’t answer. She just gives me another look, and collapses on the ground.