Spirit

Family

Note:

I don't know how many people are reading this but I'm just letting you know that my updates might be spaced out awkwardly as I am busy doing my HSC or SAT's as Americans call it. I hope the story is okay so far, its a bit slow as I am trying to establish a setting and characters.

And oh, there are some photo's to the right of things mentioned in this chapter.

Thanks Jac

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I stared through the thin glass and into the photo on the inside. A young girl with blond hair, around the age of seven, sat on her fathers lap. The man was of medium build with very light brown, almost gold hair and blue eyes. The woman was slim with blond hair and grey eyes. One of her hands was intertwined with the man, and the other held the child’s small delicate hand. All of them were sitting on a white couch. Their smiles illuminated the photo.

That was my family. My heart fluttered at the thought of a REAL family.

All this time I had forgot about the dinner, forgot about the six other people in the room. Their faces were watching me carefully as my focus left the image.

“That’s me” I pointed to the child.

Shaun nodded.

“That’s them?”

“Yes it is Mali” Shaun responded as a flicker of grief swept across his face, however it was quickly hidden by his smile.

...

I now sat on the floor in the lounge room. It had cream walls with white skirtings. In front of us was a wide plasma screen television sitting on a small television unit. On the wall behind it was a painting with a light green background and silver/white swirls that helped to brighten the mood in the room, although everyone was already chatting away.

I listened to the multiple conversations going on. Shaun was talking to Kenneth and Cleb, while Adrian talked with James. Cavalla was talking on the phone to some person who she kept referring to as Eve. The conversation went on for another ten minutes before she finally hung up.

Her face turned to me as she got up and walked down the hallway that led down to a heap of rooms as well as the one I had been locked in.

I turned towards Adrian and James who were now laughing at each other quite loudly. James said something and Adrian punched him. So much for maturing boys, they seemed like a bunch of school boys instead.

“Ahem” cough, cough. Cavalla walked out of the hallway towards us in the loungeroom. “As a welcoming home gift Mali, I would like you too have this. It is something I have been keeping for you since you went missing”.

She leant over and placed a small violet box in my hand that had a baby pink ribbon around it. With closer inspection the ribbon felt like velvet, so soft. The lid came off easily to reveal a beautiful bracelet. The main feature was an aqua gemstone outlined by gold, connected to simple clasps with gold chain links. On the back of the gem was my name and above it, it said “Listen to your heart, it will answer your dreams and result with the truth”. I used my left hand to get up off the floor while my right hand held the box with the bracelet inside. I gave Cavalla an awkward hug and said thank you.

“That’s okay Mali. It was about time that you got given it.”

I tried putting it on but failed.

“Here darling, let me help”. Cavalla said.

She grabbed one end of the bracelet in each hand, enabling her to fasten it to my right wrist.

…

It was about ten o’clock now and I feel stuffed. It is a struggle to keep my eye lids open. After Cavalla gave me the bracelet the boys started playing Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. I LOVED that game, and would’ve joined in but instead I sat next to Cavalla on the couch. It was funny watching them being so competitive, hitting and teasing on another. It was definitely now time for bed.

“I’m tired, mind me going to bed?”.

Cavalla turned to face me, “That’s fine hunny, Adrian you will take her to bed won’t you?”. Her question seemed more like a demand.

Adrian grunted and turned around, “Sure, c’mon”.

I followed him down the familiar hallway to my cell. He turned to face me, “Here you are”.

I sighed and then began to walk into the room when Cavalla yelled out,

“Adrian show her to her proper room. You know which one it is, and don’t forget to take anything she wants out of her previous ummm… accommodation”.

He showed me to my room, which had white walls and blue skirtings. A simple bed sat in the middle with a blue duvet that matched the colour of the room’s skirtings. On the left side of the bed was a bedside table. As we walked further in I noticed a wooden dressing table with three mirrors sitting against the left wall. On the right wall was a square wooden table with a desk chair and simple light. I turned around when we were at the foot of the bed and noticed an inbuilt cupboard that would house my clothes.

“Well, I’ll leave you be. There is a good bathroom down the end of the hall if you need to shower before bed. Goodnight Mali”, he smiled giving me a warm feeling and left the room.

I went to the cupboard and selected a pair of pyjama shorts and top, along with other necessities and made my way to the bathroom.

The shower felt great, water dripping over my shoulders in little tendrils. After dressing I returned to my room and got in bed. Switching the light off on the bed side table, I knew tomorrow would be a big day.