Wanted by Loved Ones

The Tourist

I wake the next morning feeling refreshed and slightly jumpy. I get to explore today! With a giggle of excitement, I hop out of bed and stop.

There was no way I was going to wear the same clothes I've been wearing for days. Plus last night...ew.

Eager to get out of this room, I crack open the door, loudly, and I cringe.

"Morning, darling."

I turn to my right and step out, relieved.

"Mum. Yeah, um, I need some clothes." I smile knowing she's probably silently laughing at my horrible outfit.

"Well that is just too convenient since I just happen to have a pair of denim shorts and a red tank right here with me," says my mother with a huge grin on her face.

"I love you, you're the best!" I jump up and gratefully take the clothes she reveals from behind her back. "I will be right back, don't go anywhere," I say quickly before rushing back inside the room to change.

When I am done, I open the door and find my mother chatting happily to Grace. I remember her being the girl with cool glasses from yesterday.

"Violette, perfect timing. Grace, here, is going to give you a tour of the building today. She is also going to bring you along with her for her classes and show you the daily routines," my mother says, words tumbling non-stop from her burgundy-colored lips. She looks replenished, unlike yesterday where she had bags under her eyes and could barely keep them open. Today her short dark brown hair is styled. With her painted red toenails she is wearing black heels with sassy straps and a zipper down the middle. The dark red dress she has on is beautiful with intricate patterns covering the entire dress and I can't help but feel jealous of her outfit. And to think I didn't notice it before I changed.

"Mom, you look--" I start.

"No time for that, I'm afraid. I need to get going and you and Grace ought to be heading to the kitchen for breakfast, am I right, Grace?" She turns to look at Grace who is standing behind us picking a loose thread off her simple ankle length skirt.

Her head whips up and she says, "Of course, Mrs. Auclair.

"It should be Ms. Auclair now," I mumble. But knowing my mother's super strength hearing, she undoubtedly heard me. She doesn't show any hint of hearing me as she smiles at us and parts with her dress flowing over her thighs.

I wonder if she has powers too and just doesn't know it. If she did have one, it would be super strength hearing. Yep, it totally would.

I smile and turn to Grace who is shuffling her very nurse-looking shoes. Not to be rude but you really couldn't tell the difference.

"This way," Grace mumbles and I follow her down the long hallway.

My focus switches back and forth to the continuous steel and wooden doors. There was a description of one or two words scrawled on the wooden ones.

"So, Grace. Um, what kind of stuff do you learn in school?" I ask tentatively.

Her gaze turns to me then back to focus on, basically nothing, in front of her. "You'll see soon enough," is all she says.

Man, this girl was weird. And back there I thought she looked so sweet and normal. But she isn't normal. And the others are probably just as weird. And this place is weird. Does this make me officially weird too since I am now a part of this organization? Wow...talk about sudden depression.

I didn't even realize where we were until my arm was being pulled to a large glass table full of kids. Grace was guiding me to the longer side of the table.