The curse of the Phoenix

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Taking the last bit of my sandwich I could not shake the feeling of someone watching me, I looked around the cafeteria and could not find the culprit and I don't know why but that was starting to make me nervous.

Finishing up my sandwich I reached for my drink, or should I say empty drink.

"Hey Jerry! that was my drink" I yelled.

He looked at me nonchalantly as he took his last sip and placed the glass back on the table.

"Oh you're finally finished, I just thought you needed a little help. Now come on we got to get you back to your room" Jerry said rising from the table.

I turn to Tom and notice he was sporting his usual 'I don't need to be here look' and rose from his seat, deciding to let the drink subject go, I followed my babysitters, Tom and Jerry, back to my personal hell.

Jerry, ever the gentleman, opened the door to let himself in, as I tried to reopen it a hand beat me to it.

I could recognize that Italian leather watch anywhere...

Mr. Fiorentino.

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"Can I take this off yet?"

"No"

"Why not?"

"Because I said so. Now be quiet"

It feels like I have been wearing this blind fold for an eternity. Finally, the car stops and I could hear the opening and the closing of a door.

Is he leaving me blindfolded alone in the car? I got an answer to my own question when the door to my side opened.

"Walk, I'll guide you" he said sternly.

As he guided me to the unknown location, I felt the crunching of dry grass under the soles of my shoes, with this I let my other senses take over. I started to smell the air around us, it was fresh and familiar, and it was home.

With that in mind, I relaxed and let a smile appear on my face. A smile that was long overdue.

Suddenly, we stopped. Why? The reason was unbeknownst to me. I felt Fiorentino's presence move, then my blindfold was removed. It took me a while to gather my bearings but I quickly understood that we were behind the barn under the willow tree. Although, this time the tree had something under it.

It was a tomb stone.

My mom and dad.

I turned to Fiorentino to see that he was leaned up against his car that was a few steps away, giving me a meaningful look. I gave him a nod of appreciation, turning back to my parents' grave I sat down and started to recount all the events that they missed out on.

"Thank you for this, it means a lot.... And I'm sorry for giving you a hard time, I know you're only trying to do your job the best you could" I sincerely said to him, as we drove back to hell.

"Don't mention it kid" He says nonchalantly.

"Hey! I'm almost 18" I retorted back.

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I looked around at the room that once was livable, now looked as if a tornado had ran through it. I was just informed by one of the nurses, who seemed over joyed to relay the news, that I was to be taken to my foster home this evening, and that I should start packing my belongings.

After that I blacked out.

The room now resembled a pool of stuffed animal parts, glass shards and water from the vases that held dead flowers.

"Hey, I brought you some hot cho-co-lat..." Rosie chocked out, as he got a good look at the room.

I didn't have to make eye contact with her to know that she was harshly scolding me. She walked over to where I sat on the bed, with much prudence, trying to avoid the glass shards.

"Would you care to tell me who stepped on your big toe?" she asked, fighting to keep a straight face.

"Child services" I responded emotionlessly. She pulled me into a hug and started to run her fingers repeatedly through my hair in a soothing way.

"They don't believe that I'm able to take care of myself. I'm not a kid anymore." I vented in her arms.

"Well darling, if I were a social worker, upon walking into a room like this I would be unconvinced myself."

"I should probably get this cleaned up" I sighed while getting up and releasing myself from her comfortable embrace.

Before completely letting me go, she pushed my brown hair behind my ear and looked at me as though she was looking at me for the first time. The confused look which I plastered on my face was probably the thing that pulled her out of her reveries.

She got up, gave me a tight smile and left without a word.

I was a bit frazzled by Rosie's odd behavior but I had a room to clean, I would have to deal with that later on.

Flashback

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away"

I smiled as the soft melody of her voice cradled me and took me to a place I never wanted to escape from. Even though she sang beautifully, I couldn't help but sense the under tone of pain she reflected behind the words. Just the thought of knowing that this sweet and caring person was in pain ached my heart.

"That was beautiful" I commented in appreciation. She thanked me just as she tied off the braid she had done in my hair.

I turned to her "Do you braid everyone's hair while sing to them too?" I asked in a joking manner.

"No, just my favorites" she answered while smiling back at me and heading towards the door.

"Hey Rose? Do you have any kids?" she froze, right in the act of going through the door. Without turning to me, there was a sniffle then she said "A story for another time ok, I have to go." And she hightailed out of the room.

End of flashback

Knock knock. I looked towards the door while picking up the last of the dead flowers, it was Tom. It couldn't be time yet, could it? I glanced at the time to see that it was already 6.30 pm. I'm guessing that he was the one to take me to wherever they're sending me, this should be promising. I wonder where jerry is.

Gathering what little belongings I had here, I try to concentrate on not forgetting anything which proved to be difficult with Tom's piercing eyes watching my every move, as if I could disappear out of thin air whenever I please.

Rose.... I have to say goodbye.

After successfully getting Tom to agree to let me say goodbye to Rose, at least I hope that's what his grunt meant, I was on the hunt. For some reason I had a hard time finding her.

So distracted, I almost had not seen the two gigantic carts coming my way. I managed to clear the path by sliding into a nearby room just in the nick of time. Sigh, that was close. The two carts passed by along with the nonchalant hospital personnel, oblivious to the fact that mere seconds ago he could have flattened me to the ground. Hey, that's not such a bad idea. I could ...

"I don't think I could do this anymore Antonio, it's too hard" Said the voice, which sounded a lot like Rose.