Angels in the Night

Angels in the Night: Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Tom drops me off at the Hope center. Once I get my bags and shut the door, he speeds away. he probably thinks if he stays with me long enough, he might catch the “crazy.” If anything, I “caught” it from that family. The Hope center looms above me, almost welcoming me even though I don’t want to be back. It’s a gray 1900s Victorian house with more than twenty secret passage ways, hide outs, and secret shafts. And I only know twenty of them. Miss Margret, the owner of this joint, says that there are over fifty. I guess if there’s one thing I’m kinda looking forward to it. Would be finding some of these old passageways.

I finally sum up my courage, pick up my one bag, and enter.

The house is empty, but I can hear the voices of little kids from around the corner. Checking my watch, I see that it is school time. That’s right. I’ll never see Hailey again. Never see Dane. It’s all over.

“Lucia!” Nicky yells as she sprints towards me. She slams into me, knocking the tow of us onto the floor. A few kids peak their heads around the door frame. Some of them frown, others smile. I don’t really care. I feel welcome here.

Miss Margret squeezes her slender frame through the door that’s overflowing with kids and walks to our side. She smiles warmly even though there is a trace of sadness in her eyes. “You’ll get them next time, Lucia.” She assures me. My jaw clenches. If there even is a next time. Margret notices my distress and motions for the kids to leave us. “You too, Nicky.” Nicky frowns and runs off to join the other kids.

“I know it can be disappointing, Looch.” She pats my back and helps me up from the floor.

“It wasn’t even my fault.” I began. And suddenly, I’m crying. Never in my life have I cried about being returned. Normally, I’m thrilled. But something in my heart still ingress. The fact that it was my last chance. I’ll live here for four more years. Four years.

And as much as I love it here, four years is a long time. I’ll have to watch other kids go to perfectly normal families and be loved forever. I’ll be stuck here. Four years. My head throbs at the thought.

“Lucia!” Margret slaps my back, yanking my attention back to reality. “Why did they bring you back?” biting my lower lip, I frown and tell her everything.

Miss Margret was silent for a while. “I knew all along you were different, Looch. There’s something…special about you. These families that pick up kids, they’ll never understand you, Lucia. But that’s ok because I know you have a few people who do. Like Nicky.”

Right on cue, Nicky bursts through the sliding glass doors. “Hey Looch! I really missed you for the past few weeks. So, was the mom a bitch like I said she’d be?” Margret glared at Nicky.

“Appropriate language, Nicolla.” I giggle at Nicky’s real name, and Nicky’s face turns red.

“Jerk. There. And you know I don’t like that name, Margret.”

“Don’t use that language and I’ll have no reason to call you Nicolla.” Margret grins deviously as a frantic-looking part-time employee skids to a stop next to us.

“Miss Margret-Ann-Isabella Chang!” she takes a deep breath after listing off Miss Margret’s full name.

“Please just call me Margret.” She corrects the poor, flustered part-timer.

“Margret! One of the younger children! She’s broken her arm!” Jeez, this is her first day. She looks like she’s about to pee her pants. Around here, kids get hurt hourly.

“Was it Nadia?” Margret asks.

“Nadia?” the lady repeats.

“The one with the purple cast on her other arm.” Margret answers.

“Yes! That one!” Part timer yanks Margret’s arm and drags her away.

Nicky turns to me with a happy look in her eyes. “Lucia! Can we go out tonight?” I bite my lower lip, a little unsure. “Please, please, PLEASE!!!!” she begs. And finally, I give in.

“Fine. Tonight at 11:30 by the window in the attic.”