Survival of the Fittest || supernatural

Chapter 1

"You can't keep doing this.." Mrs. Patricks's voice was soft and tender pleading for my attention, but my eyes stay glued to the floor. "How many times are we going to go through this, Grace? Your attitude and actions are absolutely unacceptable!" Her tone changes to something of irritation and she lets out a long sigh. "How do you expect to be adopted when you act like this?"

My head shoots up to look at the blonde woman in front of me, a scowl forming on my lips. "You think this is about being adopted?! Mrs. Patricks, that brat deserved it! He treats vulnerable kids like shit for nothing! He--"

"That's enough, Grace!" She scolds me and I look back down at my bloodied knuckles. I run my thumb over the rough scabs. I've always been a strange kid, a misfit even. I try my best to behave and all but the look on Kayden's face when I kicked his ass was so worth it.

A couple moments of silence pierce the tense atmosphere like a blade running through stone. "I want you to pack your suitcase. I found a nice foster family for you to spend a week or so with. Maybe there you'll learn some manners. They're a nice family, Grace. Stop setting yourself up to look like your a bad kid. I don't want a single report when you're with them, understand?" Mrs. Patricks locks eyes with me as she explains. My heart starts pounding out of my chest. Not again.. I hate having to go to foster houses more than anything. It always gave me anxiety. "B-But Mrs. Patricks--"

"No buts. Not one more word from your mouth young lady or so help me there will be consequences. Not after what you did to Kayden."
"BUT HE WAS BULLYING--"
"I don't care what he did, you will NOT raise your voice at me!"
"This is such bullshit! I was standing up for them!" I shout angrily, getting up and storming out of her tiny office with my fists clenched by my sides. My emotions were flowing out of me in hot steam. I can't wait until I'm 18 and I can leave this dump.

No one knows what it's like to be me. I'm 15 and still go from foster parent to foster parent while the kids around me are adopted. It may sound selfish considering others have it worse, but it's complete Hell. My mother left me at Mrs. Patricks's orphanage after I was born and didn't leave a note or explanation, not one little thing to tell me why. To explain why she had to abandon her daughter. The only thing that my mother left me was an old silver necklace with a small crescent moon. Even though on the inside I wish I had a family, the only family I have is me. Just me, myself, and I-- And that's exactly how I like it most of the time.

~*~

My long brown hair is neatly braided to the side and I adjust the blue sun dress I always wear on the first day of meeting my temporary foster parents. Gotta look "perfect" for good impressions. After that it's usually ripped jeans and band tees. They normally don't even see it coming.

Mrs. Patricks's car comes to a halt in the driveway of a small yellow house. With a deep breath I get out of the car. A young woman with a sparkling smile and her matured husband are anxiously waiting at the door as I nervously walk to greet them. "Hi.. I'm Grace.." I introduce myself with a shy smile and shrug. Why am I so damn awkward?

"Honey.. she's even prettier in person.." The man in front of me looks about 30 with jet black hair and warm brown eyes. I just nervously stand there. Jesus, why are they acting like I'm there long lost daughter that was lost at sea for 20 years? I keep reminding myself I'll only be here for a week. Mrs. Patricks's smile gleams like always and she starts to talk about paper work and shit. It's not like they're adopting me, so I don't see the point in all the effort.

The woman smiles at me with tears in her bright blue eyes. Jeez, no need to be sensitive about it. Seriously, I'm no prize. She leads me inside, taking my suitcase. "I'm so happy we get to spend some time with you as temporary parents.. I'm Jill and my husband is Travis." Jill stops at the end of the staircase. "We set up a room for you upstairs. I hope it's not too much."

Jill leads me up to my room and it makes me cringe with disgust. It's painted bright pink with flowers and fairies; my fantasy room when I was maybe 5. "You can get yourself settled while Travis and I take care of paper work and make dinner." She starts to leave the small room but stops as if she forgot something extremely important. "And we only have one rule here in our lovely home. You aren't allowed in the basement. The mold down there is terrible and we haven't had the time to get it refurnished. We wouldn't want you to get sick, so just stay away from there."

Her voice is daunting and sends chills down my spine. Don't get me wrong, she's sweet but the way she said that was just... Well, creepy. Jill smiles at me warmly as if she didn't just creep the hell out of me. It makes me want to just rush back to Mrs. Patrick's and beg to leave, but I know that's not an option. I can survive this.

The woman leaves the room and I'm stood there, curiosity kind of luring me to the basement. Her words float around in my conscience. Too weird.. I shrug it off and start unpacking.

Dinner was unusual. The couple sat in silence while I ate. It was like they were observing me or something, and quite honestly it creeped me the flip out. I finished eating the food they made me and take a deep awkward breath. "Aren't you going to eat?" I ask with a small voice.

"Oh no, we had a big dinner before you arrived." I narrow my eyebrows and just shrug. "Okay.."

"Now Grace, I believe my wife has already told you the no basement rule, but I'm adding another to the list. Me and Jill are busy people when it comes to our jobs and we like to work late at night without interruption; so we're setting a curfew for 7 p.m." Travis says as Jill takes my plate and sets it in the kitchen sink.

"Uhm.. alright.." I bite my lip to keep myself from objecting. This is stupid.. Even the orphanage didn't have a "bed time." This is insanely stupid!

It's like they sense my uncomfortable state. Jill forces a smile and gets way too excited. "How about some board games?"