Blue Birds

Chapter 15 - How the Castle Crumbles

Day 40

It had been three weeks.

Three weeks since I heard about Hazel.

Two three since I found the empty files.

Three weeks since the elevator fell.

And about forty days since my life changed for the worse.

I remember when my biggest question was what to where everyday, or the function of ribosomes. Now my biggest question is what's going on in this building that I don't know, or will I make it out alive.

I hadn't really spoke to anyone since the day I found the files. I haven't seen Andrew since then either. The girls have tried to cheer me up but they stopped trying.

And so did I.

"Lucy?" Kira's soft voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Her voice was so subtle. So warm and inviting. She had been through so much and still her voice made you want to talk with her for hours.

I rolled over in bed and faced her.

"The new arrival's here." She smiled. She was wearing a knee length red dress. It was summery and casual, not formal.

I slipped out of bed and swapped my sweat pants for blue jeans, and stepped out of our room.

Everyone was crowded in the hall to see the new girl. I felt bad for her, we all crowded around like a parade was coming. This was nothing like a parade. Parades are fun.

Mrs. Genevieve walked proudly through the see of people with a young girl. She had each brown hair and small freckles. Her eyes scanned the crowd. But something was different, her arm was stretched behind her back like she was holding something.

As her and Mrs. Genevieve kept walking o could tell what the girl was holding.

She was holding a little girls hand.

A young girl about six or seven held onto her hand. She had the same dark hair and freckles. She kept her head down and didn't look at any of us.

"Why does she have a kid with her?" Vivian leaned over a whispered to me.

I shrugged my shoulders in response. 

The crowd eventually shuffled out of the hall and left Mrs. Genevieve and the girls alone in the hall.

****

I put my brush down and studied the painting I had just finished.  It was a huge gray castle alone on a beach far away somewhere. Somewhere that wasn't here.

"Is that a princess castle?" A young voice said behind me. I jerked around and saw nothing until I looked down. The little girl from the new arrival stared up at me.

"Huh?" I asked in disbelief.

"Does a princess live in there?" She pointed at my painting.

"Uhhh-Yeah. A really pretty one." I smiled.

"Cool!" She smiled and walked over to my bed. She climbed up and swung her legs back and fourth.

"Addy!? Adeline?!" The older girl popped her head into my open door.

"Adeline! What did I tell you about wondering off? I'm so sorry, she always does this. I hope she wasn't a bother." The girl lifted the child off my bed and held her on her hip.

"No problem. She was actually quite entertaining. I'm Lucy." I waited for the girl to introduce herself.

"I'm Stephanie. And this is my sister Adeline." She smiled back.

"One question, just curious. Why isn't Adeline on a different floor, she's so young." I motioned to the girl in her arms.

"I'm not going to be separated from my sister. I promised my parents. So they let me room with her." She finally set Adeline down.

"Oh I see. That's nice." I looked at the little girl staring at my painting.

"I like your castle." She giggled and stepped back with her sister.

"You can have it." I lifted the painting off the easel and handed it to her.

"Really?" Her eyes went wide.

"You sure? You don't have to-" Stephanie started.

"Take it. I have enough already. Think of it as a welcoming gift." I smiled.

"Thank you!" The little girl jumped and ran back to her room down the hall.

"Yes, thank you. Well I have to finish unpacking. It was nice meeting you." She made her way to the door.

"You too! Bye." I called to her as she left my room.

I dusted my apron off and hung it back on its hook.

****

I left the Academic Hall zipping up my bookbag.

"I hate Geometry." I said under my breath as I swung the bag over my shoulder.

"Hey!" I heard a voice call behind me that I thought was familiar. It was rude and demanding.

I turned to see the two girls from that day in the cafeteria. Kristin and Kenzie.

"What the hell do you want?" I rolled my eyes and tapped my foot.

"From you? Nothing. I'm only fulfilling my community service. I'm warning you." Kristin crossed her arms. Kenzie followed in response.

"Warn me?" I stared at her in confusion.

"Yes. I don't like you, and neither do a lot of people here. You got bad people after you. People who would come all the way here to get you. So kids here don't like you. They want you gone." She explained. She flipped her blonde bouncy hair.

"Why are you telling me this?" I didn't let her see I was nervous.

"I want you to get that little girl, Adeline off of our floor. Everyone likes Stephanie because of her sister now. I want that kid back on her floor. You're going to convince Mrs. Genevieve to move her." Kristin smiled proudly at herself.

"Why would I do that for you?" I crossed my arms.

"Because of you don't, kids from the building might get a heads up on where you are." Kenzie laughed but was quickly shushed by Kristin.

"Whatever." I shook off her comment and turned back around.

"Fine. Ignore me. I couldn't care less. It's you people don't like, not me." They left quietly. I didn't turn until I knew they were gone.

There's no one in the CSCFG who doesn't like me. She's just trying to scare me.

AUTHORS NOTE
Hey guys! Sorry I didn't update last weekend, it's finals week. I've been studying a lot. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

QOTD: Which is your favorite cover so far?

Please county use to comment and vote! It means a lot!
I'll see you guys when the sun comes up!
-Emily