Delanna

8

This chapter is from the point of view of Lily Alessa Snark. The next chapter will be back to Delanna.

***

The accident ruined my life. It stopped my world from turning. As soon as I found out I couldn't believe it.

My parents had died.

They had been my parents for only 4 years. I hardly remember them now. How could I? I only remember the love they gave me. They would take me to the park every day and play with me. I cant do that now.

I hold the photo in my hand with care as if I could break it if I held too hard. I looked deep into my parents' eyes as they held me in their arms. I was only a baby. An innocent, but a happy baby. I had no idea that my parents would die only a few days before my fifth birthday.

Delanna opened the door, which slammed against the dormitory doors with force. Little flakes of cream cheap wallpaper floated to the ground from the walls. I asked her where she was, even though I knew. I knew because of the red mark across her left cheek, it's like branding. Dozens of kids get whipped every year.  Every time Miss Hecklar says that it's a "new welcome" that they're trying out, which is a big fat lie. My scar took up until last year to fully heal.

She told me she couldn't say where she was. I knew where. But she didn't know that.

She'll find out eventually. I tell myself.

The bell rang again no longer than five minutes later. We don't have dinner here, we only have breakfast and lunch. This bell, however, means we must be in bed within the next ten minutes. Delanna looks over to me as if asking for an explanation.

¨We have to be in bed.¨ I say to her.

¨Dinner?¨ She inquires.

¨None.¨

Delanna looks somewhat disappointed. She probably expected at least one nice thing after what she'd been through. Delanna doesn't know this, but depending on what you did wrong, the placing of your whip mark determined who was the worst of the worst. In order from nicest to naughtiest; ankle, hip, skull, back, then the face. I had one on my back. I had been found making plans to escape. When Delanna told me at lunch that she wanted to escape, I was shocked. But now I realize that she had no idea.

I had to find a way to warn her. Without breathing a single word.

But there way no way to do that. Was ther?