Destiny's Marked: Chosen (Book 1)

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     Aria stomped her feet on the welcome rug outside a 3-story grey building. There were signs of wear-and-tear but all-in-all was a sturdy and livable building. Dusty windows were placed in even rows, three columns of two, and thin curtains prevented anyone from seeing what was inside. The dusty white door in front of her had small webs with equally as small spiders living inside them. Their webs also clung to the faded white sign above the doorframe, blue cursive letters spelling "Counted Blessings Orphanage" on the sign.

     Aria gave a small smile, Welcome home.

     She opened the door and walked into the building, being met with the faint smell of microwave ramen. The female teen noticed two small boys and another small girl playing in the living room on her left as she walked further into the orphanage. The youngest of the trio, a toddler boy at the age of two, had naturally spiky blonde hair and bright blue eyes filled with wonder. He wore a plain blue shirt and black toddler pants. The other boy, being six years old, had brown hair that barely reached his shoulders in the back and the shortest tickled his chin. He had soft blue eyes that sparked with determination and desire for adventure. He wore a tan shirt with a pair of tiny jeans that seemed to be a little too big on him. Finally, the girl, the same age as the elder boy out of the trio, had black hair that gently framed her face and her cheerful blue eyes held an optimistic calmness and maturity, despite being only six. She wore a blue sundress with black leggings underneath.

     The youngest giggled and reached out to the motherly six-year-old girl, "Pick up, Mari, pick up!" Mari chuckled at his adorable two-year-old lisp and did as he requested, placing him on her hip, trying to keep him from falling. Aria was suddenly rammed into by the elder boy and stumbled a bit before regaining her balance, smiling at his rambunctious behavior. He exclaimed in excitement as the little girl tried to rush to his side without letting go of the grinning toddler in her arms, "Aria! Is Kai here?!" The girl huffed and puffed as she reached them with a smile and asked in a little bit calmer manner, "What about Ryoko? Is she here?" Aria kneeled to their height before ruffling the brunette's hair with a smile and a shake of the head, "No, both were busy with their families right now. But they miss you guys, especially Luxus."

     Mari and the boy deflated a little at the news but the blonde toddler was oblivious to the conversation. He then reached out to Aria with a goofy grin, "Hug, Ari." Aria let out a small breathless laugh before taking him into her arms, "Alright, little Evan." He leaned his head down as she kissed the top of his head and gave her another huge grin. She returned the smile before passing him into the other boy's arms, "Today was a long day so you guys go ahead and play without me for right now, ok?" She stood and ruffled each of their heads, pausing on the brunette male's. Aria warned the six-year-old, "Play nice, Morgan." Morgan nodded as he sort of was having a difficult time holding the toddler Evan, "Don't worry, Aria! We'll play knights!" Evan perked up at the idea, "Knights?!" Morgan nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah! Let's go save Princess Mari!" Aria smiled as Mari complained about her given title and climbed a flight of stairs just to be met with an antisocial 16-year-old male with messy brunette hair.

     His stormy grey eyes glared at the wall in front of him, mind elsewhere and wore a neutral expression on his face. He wore a black leather jacket with fur trimming the hood; it was zipped up but you could still see a red shirt underneath. His bottoms were slightly ripped jeans and wore leather boots decorated with straps and buckles. Aria called out, causing the distracted teen to come back to Earth, " 'Sup, Mark?" Mark gave her a look of slight curiosity before it returned to indifference and shrugged. Aria grinned as she neared him and poked his cheek, "Stop trying to act like a cool kid, Mark."

     Another figure came on his other side and joined Aria in poking Mark's cheek. The figure giggled and bit her lip, "Yeah, Mark! Or we're going to give you hug therapy!" The newest female teen had her midnight black hair cut in a boy-cut with a white headband across her forehead underneath a layer of bangs. She wore a black male dress vest that was a little too big for her with a white tank-top underneath. She had cut off the ends of her black shorts a couple of years ago, leaving the ends frayed, and dirty white socks hugged her feet.

     Mark's eyes widened at the mention of 'hug therapy', fear eminent in his eyes. A new female teen walked into the situation, voice soft as she scolded the two poking Mark, "Stop torturing him, Kora and Aria." The two girls pouted and whined in unison as they did what they were told, "Awwww, Oli!" Another male appeared behind the newest female and rolled his eyes at the scene. Said female wore a pink flowy blouse and denim capris. Her clear blue eyes greatly contrasted her fiery red hair and a motherly air surrounded her.

     The newest male also held a look of indifference as Mark did, though his blue eyes held content being by the redhead's side. He wore a red hoodie with a black short-sleeved shirt underneath. A studded black leather belt held up a pair of long jeans that brushed against the floor, hiding the ankles of his grey striped black hightops. His blonde hair was gelled into spikes.

     Mark held in a sigh of relief, "Olivia." He gave what the girls called as the 'manly nod' to the other male, "Jake." Jake returned the nod and smirked slightly, "Mark. You're lucky she was here to save you." Mark rolled his eyes as Kora put her hands on her hips, a small look of irritation on her 14-year-old features, "What do you mean by that, Jakey?! It's as if you think hug therapy is the worst thing in the world!" Olivia covered her mouth with her hand as she attempted to contain her giggles at the nickname given to the male beside her. Jake blushed and glared at Kora, "I told you to stop calling me that!" Kora yelled and glared back, cheeks puffed out in childish anger at the 16-year-old blonde, "I like it! It suits you!" Mark smirked at the scene and Aria began giggling with Olivia. Jake turned redder and retorted, "I don't care what you think! Don't call me that!" Kora gasped dramatically with an exaggerated look of betrayal, "Jakey!" He snapped back, "Stop calling me that!"

     Aria stifled a yawn that suddenly came over her which Mark had noticed out of the corner of his eye. He raised a brow, his attention fully on her as he lowered his voice, the blond and ravenette still yelling at each other, "Long day?" Aria nodded in response, "Yeah. I'm going to head to bed." Mark gave her a small smile and ruffled her hair, "Goodnight, Ari." She gave him a fake pout at him messing up her hair but smiled soon after as he chuckled at her antics. Aria turned and and waved good-bye as she walked the next flight of stairs.

     She let her mind daydream as she followed her normal path to her room. Already half-asleep, She trudged over to the second door on the left and groggily opened the wooden door. Aria kicked off her shoes after swiftly untying them and dropped her heavy backpack on the floor. Nearly tripping over her feet several times despite the short distance from the doorway to the single-sized bed, she passed a little closet covered by a thin white curtain that matched the curtains in her window. The bed was beyond the closet, a grey sheet wrapped tightly around the mattress and another strewn over it from this morning. Aria fell purposely onto the bed and curled up to the blanket, allowing sleep to take her.