Flames

Flames - Part 4

A strange, blaring sound fills my room, and it takes me a minute to realize that it's the sound of an alarm clock. I slap my hand down on the old thing, shutting it off. I look at the time.

8:00

I lay back down, staring up at the ceiling and remembering the events of last night. The more I think about it, the more surreal it becomes, and the more I start to doubt my own sanity. Controlling fire? Please, I'm a teenage girl who is living in an orphanage. Part of me starts to wonder if this is all some fantasy I've conjured up in my head to keep myself from depression. Maybe I'm still laying in a coma in the hospital, dreaming this whole situation up.

A knock at the door brings me out of my thoughts.

"Juliet, are you awake?" I recognize the voice of Linley.

I sit up and get out of the bed, hurrying to find something to wear. "Yeah, I'll be right outside."

"Okay."

I scramble to put on the mauve dress, but my tired fingers fumble with the buttons. I feel exhausted. Finally, I have all the buttons in the correct hole, and leave my room without shoes or socks.

"Good morning!" Linley smiles, her green eyes bright and awake. She fingers the hem of her olive-colored dress and puts on a shy smile.

"Good morning, Linley." I say. We make small talk while she leads me downstairs to the dining room for breakfast. The smell of pancakes hangs in the air, making my stomach growl. Several of the children are already there--Grady, Lydia, and Jack. None of them seem tired. Lydia sits quietly, her nose in the air. She ignores the two boys talking beside her, as if they aren't worth talking to. I bet her family was rich. I can tell by the way she acts. 

"Hi!" Jack sang when he noticed us. Linley runs over to take a place next to him, and I sit across from her. Somehow I find myself emorsed in a conversation about the thoughts of birds.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Ben walk into the living room. We exchange a glance that tells me we did meet last night in the library. His light brown hair is messy, and his eyes are also tired. It must be a teenage thing. Surprisingly, he takes the seat right next to me, and joins in on our bird conversation.

"They can feel emotions just like people." Jack states very matter-of-factly in response to a rather rude comment put in by Lydia, who decided that our conversation was now worth joining.

"You would know, varmint-boy." She rolls her eyes. Then, like putting a puzzle piece together, I realize that all of these kids have abilities. I scan the room looking at all of the faces, wondering what each of them hides behind their childish forms. Varmint-boy . . . Jack's ability must have something to do with animals.

"Good morning, all!" Ms. Walker greets us with a bright smile and a platter of pancakes. An entire pitcher of syrup accompanies the food. "If Ben would lead us in prayer."

Ben couldn't look less thrilled about this request, but he clamps his hands shut. "Dear Lord, thanks for the food and the plates and stuff, amen."

The look on Ms. Walker's face is entirely unimpressed, but she leads the chorus of 'amen's and begins breakfast. I watch as Ben eats, sneaking occasional glances at Ms. Walker as if waiting for something unexpected to happen. It almost seems as if he's testing her. This continues throughout the meal until we are excused. Ms. Walker gives the chore of dishes to Jack and I.

"You want to wash them like this." Jack demonstrates the proper dishwashing technique to me, while I pretend to absorb every word the little seven year-old says. Watching him work is amusing. His little hands try to work so fast, that he sometimes stumbles over the silverware.