Rainbow Eyes

Chapter Two: Before and After (Elena)

A COUPLE HOURS BEFORE BREAKFAST:

      The roots of the trees twist around the path, scratching my feet, as I trudge through the woods. My feet are barren and every rock that litters the floor stabs me sending pain throughout my leg. I don't remember what I was running from or more precisely who. All I know is that I should go somewhere safe. It is around midnight and the forest is pitch black, the only light illuminates from the torch that I had made from a piece of dried bark off the ground. If not for the torch lighting my way, I would have given up long ago.

   My pace slows as I feel the cuts on my feet get larger and filled with dirt. I trip and sprawl out on the ground, I don't feel like moving. Maybe it would be better if I just died on the floor and leave my body to be found by my pursuers. I know better though. I twitch my arms and legs and groan loudly as I pull myself off the floor.

     The bag that I've been carrying with me the whole way seems to get heavier with each step I take. I open it to see if I can make the bag lighter. I take out the container with the little bit of water and pour drops at a time into my parched mouth. I figure I should save the rest since I did not know where I was going or how long I would need to continue to walk. I stand up and continue walking. My body numbed after a while and I felt no pain even as I stepped on jagged stones.

     After what felt like hours I noticed a bright light in the distance. My heart fluttered and excitement coursed through me. I quickened my speed and I stepped out of the edge of the woods. What greeted me was unlike anything I had seen before. A huge building stretched out before me and acres of field laid out with other buildings scattered across it. The moment I stepped on the land a feeling of safety washed over me.

   I had to get into that building.

I circled around the vast land space and reached a wide open lawn with a path going to what looked like a front door to a huge hall. I knocked on the door and waited. My head felt faint and I sat down and gulped down the remaining portion of my water. My eyes suddenly became heavy and my vision blurred. I struggled to regain consciousness, but the darkness overpowered me and I succumbed to the sleep.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MORNING:

"Hey is she alive," whispers filled the air and I could barely make out conversation. "I don't know, but she's a mess. Just look at her clothes and feet."

"But how did she even get in here, don't we have security and traps set." Another voice replied. "Yeh we do but apparently someone important came to visit the principal so he disabled the security measures and forgot to turn them on apparently."

"We better go tell everyone else."

I felt my mind go back to unconsciousness.

I wake up not long after to more voices. "Oh my goodness. This poor child. Everyone stand back so she can have some breathing space. Just because we train you to fight and kill other people doesn't mean you can act like animals." Footsteps shuffle and another pair of feet seemed to get closer.

I try to open my eyes to see what is going on but my eyes only reach a squint. I move and I hear people gasp. "She's alive, look her arm just moved." Murmuring rippled through the air. I feel a reassuring hand on my back and it helps me sit up. I am leaned against what I think is either a wall or a door. I feel like a weight is lifted off my eyes and I take advantage of it and my eyes shoot open. 

   The first thing I see is a middle aged lady with curly hair in front of me. I seem to have also gathered a crowd since  it looked like around a hundred people were gathered. She looks shocked as she looks at me and her face goes pale like she is looking at a ghost. I ignore her and examine the faces of the boys and few girls in front of me. They all are wearing uniforms with a crest, and all look physically fit. The ones in the front of the crowd all wear the same expression of shock across their faces.

   I don't understand what they are so shocked about but I use all my energy to stand up. The crowd backs up and I glare at everyone. The lady in front of me stands up as well and grabs my arm. "My name is Mrs. Evens. I am a teacher here at Lancaster Academy. I must take you to the principle to see what he will do about you. But first we must get you cleaned up."

  Mrs. Evens gently pulls me through the crowd. We go inside a huge hall with abandoned plates of food. My stomach growls and I look longingly at them. Mrs. Evens must have seen me looking, "After you get washed up we will provide you with food." I look at her gratefully.

She leads me into a huge room that seemed like that of a mini house. She hands me a towel and a uniform, while grabbing my bag and putting it down on the bed.
"You may use my room for now, please feel free to use any soap or items that you need. Also the uniform is only temporary for now since we do not know who you are; we have to ask the principle what we should do. For now please get comfortable."

Mrs. Evens closes the bathroom door and I stand there still in a daze. I walk to the shower and turn it on, letting the water run down back. The hot water stings but cleanses my cuts. After I wash off I fill the bathtub with water and soak. I scrub my feet washing off the dirt that had gathered inside my cuts. The pain is unbearable but I bear with it.

I feel refreshed and put on the uniform she had given me. It fit perfectly. I look at myself in the mirror.

My reflection..........

Long wavy brown hair down to my waist. Long legs. Perfect skin except the parts where I got hurt and not to brag but what boys would call a model face and body.

But strangely.....

My eyes, glowed the colors of the rainbow.