Today's the day my mom is coming. Everyone is gathered nervously in the lobby, waiting. Leila is gently patting my hand, which surprisingly, is calming my nerves.
The hand that's not being patted is holding Nora in my lap.
Looking at her, it reminds me of something.
"The younger ones should probably go to their rooms now, since this camp is technically for older teens," I say, and Nora looks at me with sad eyes.
"Do we have to?" She asks, pleading.
"I'm afraid so, little flower." I say, lifting her off of my lap.
"The rest of you, is there some sort of uniform you can change into?" I ask, standing up and looking at them.
On cue, Juliette walks in, decked out in a full army green military uniform, combat boots, and her frizzy hair slicked into a low bun.
She smiles, and tugs a dark green newsboy cap over her hair.
"As for the rest you, come with me. I've got some extras. You too, Autumn." She says, leading us down the hall. We go up in the elevator, to the room with the spare clothes.
She plucks a couple of different sized matching dark green button-ups and pants, and hands them to Nox, Leila, Gray, and I.
"Aaaand boots," She says, handing us boots. Mine were a little big, but I wouldn't have to wear them for long.
"Here, I'll help you with your hair," Leila says, spinning me around. Her delicate fingers comb my dark hair into a low bun. I hand her the spare elastic on my arm, and she secures the bun.
"Thanks", I say, gently patting it.
"We should head back down now," She says, grabbing Nox's arm and leading him down. I walk to the elevator with Gray. I continue to get more and more nervous the closer we get.
"It's going to be okay," He says, seemingly reading my mind.
I nod, and we get in the elevator.
"Hi, mom!" I say, smiling and hugging her as she steps out of the car.
"Wow, look at you!" She says, looking at my "uniform".
"So this is the place! Do you like it?" I ask nervously. Subtext: is it boot-campy enough?
She nods. "It's very rustic. Nice, though."
I almost laugh. Without all the disguises covering it, it's anything but rustic. Just about the most modern thing you've ever seen.
Juliette marches out in an orderly fashion, a serious look on her face.
"Good morning, Ms. Carter, so lovely to meet you. My name is Juliette, though the children address me as Ms. Reyes. Even though your daughter has only been with us for one day, I already think she will strongly benefit from our services, and that this institution is the right place for her. I hope you'll agree." Juliette says very seriously.
I'm proud of her, I didn't think she could be that...grown-up. I mean, she is a grown-up, but she doesn't act like one.
I smile a little. Good job, Juliette.
"If you'd be so kind as to follow me, I can show you around." Juliette says, marching inside.
Mom and I follow her, and she first takes us to the "cafeteria". The once lovely restaurant has been transformed into what looks to be a prison cafeteria.
"Usually the meals go something like this: oatmeal for breakfast, various small sandwiches for lunch, and potatoes and greens for dinner. On Fridays, the children who have been obedient and have done all their chores are rewarded with fruit for dessert." Juliette explains, and we follow her to the elevator.
"This almost seems like a hotel, with this little elevator room," My mom comments.
"It used to be a hotel, before we bought it." Juliette says quickly. "The children usually take the stairs, so Ms. Carter, if you'll follow me into the elevator, your daughter will meet us upstairs via stairs."
She and my mom get in the elevator, and I realize that I have no clue where the stairs are.
I start to wander down one hall, when Oakley pops out from where the vending machine is. I let out a little squeal. "You scared me!" I cry.
In the vending machine area, all the younger kids are hiding.
"Autumn! How are things going?" Mercedes asks, and Nora runs out to hug me.
"Good, but I have no clue where the stairs are."
"I'll take you!" Ryith cries from the back of the group.
"Be careful not to let Ms. Carter see you!" Oakley warns Ryith.
He nods, and then pulls me down the hall. We turn a corner, and then another. Good thing Ryith's here. If I was alone, I think I would've given up 2 corners ago.
Finally, around the back side, I see a door with a staircase symbol on it.
I thank Ryith, and hurry up the steps.
Mom and Juliette are already up there, chatting.
"Why don't you show me your room?" My mom asks as I walk up. For a moment, I mentally panic, but then I calm down. We prepared for this.
"Sure!" I smile brightly opening the door to a spare room that no one uses. Obviously we couldn't transform everyone's room into a proper boot camp bunk, so we only did this one sample room.
"So here's my room," I say, playing it off like it's mine.
"I share it with another girl," I say, motioning to the bunk beds that have replaced the two double beds.
The TV, mini-fridge, and chair are gone, with only the lamp, dresser, and bedside table remaining.
"Could I meet your roommate?" My mom asks.
I nod, before rushing down the hall to my real room. I open the door, and Nox, Leila, and Gray are all waiting in there.
"She wants to meet me, doesn't she?" Leila asks. I nod, and we walk down the hall to the fake room.
"Mom, this is my roommate, Leila," I say, motioning to her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Carter, your daughter is a delight," Leila says politely, shaking my mom's hand.
"It's nice to meet you too, Leila," My mom says. She smiles at me.
"Run along now, Leila, I believe you're on dish duty," Juliette says, and Leila scurries out the door.
"Leila seems like a very nice girl," She whispers in my ear. I smile and nod. Ohhh, I hope this is almost over.
"Well, this seems like a very organized, strict place, and I would be more than happy to leave my daughter in your care." My mom says to Juliette.
I look out the open door, and Nox, Leila, and Gray are peeking around the corner. I grin and give them an enthusiastic thumbs-up. They all smile back.
"Now you listen, Autumn Carter," My mom says as she's getting back in her car. Oh, here we go. That whole "personality" she put on in front of Juliette and Leila is how she acts in front of other people, but when we're alone, the real her comes out.
"You listen to Ms. Reyes. Do your chores, and whatever else she asks, and be nice to the other kids. You do not want to see how angry I will be, if I get a phone call saying you got into a fight. Do you hear me?" She says through gritted teeth.
I nod. Juliette starts to walk over, and instantly, my mom puts on a big fake smile.
"Goodbye darling, I love you. Have lots of fun, but be good. It's a shame we didn't get to meet more of the kids, it seems like there's a lot here," Mom says, motioning towards the upstairs windows. She smiles, and pulls out.
Juliette and I both look at each other, and then at the windows. My mom's right, there's several dozen kids up there. Based on Juliette's face, it seems like she doesn't know who they are either.
YOU ARE READING
Anomalous
Fiksi Remaja{COMPLETED!!} Autumn is ordinary. Completely ordinary. She goes to school, gets yelled at by her mom, comes home, gets yelled at more; normal. One day, the chain of mundane breaks, when she comes home to find two teens with a pitch in her house. ...
