The Golden Apple

Ten - Magnolia

It was nighttime, and I had just said goodbye to Tegan and her family. Jake is still downstairs, probably on the window seat waiting for me to return. I fiddled with my braid absentmindedly. For a thieving street boy, he seems to have a way with understanding children.

I made my way towards the staircase that led to my room. I slowly glanced upstairs at the elegant door that led to my old bedroom, a solemn look upon my face.

I preferred living in the basement. I feel like it's my little burrow in a way; somewhere I can go when I just want to be alone. It was a little lonely at first, but now it's quite nice. No one bothers me as much when I am down there.

"Magnolia! May I speak with you?"

Speaking of bothering, I thought. I exhaled quietly before speaking. "Yes Father?"

"I just want to talk with you before you go to bed. I feel like I haven't been seeing much of you lately," he told me. "You have always been holing yourself up in the basement. It's not like you have not done it before, but you have been doing it constantly every day for a long time and it is a bit concerning."

He paused to clear his throat. "I want to know how my daughter is doing."

"I'm perfectly fine," I replied casually. "I have just been keeping myself busy, that's all."

"Very well then," Father replied. "I just want to remind you that Oriel wants to see you tomorrow. He says he wants to take you outside the palace to apologize again for that one dinner, even though you were the one that caused the fuss."

I rolled my eyes. It was a terrible response though, for Father quickly picked up on my attitude. He glared coldly in my direction.

"Do not roll your eyes, Magnolia," he scolded me. "You know it was you."

I nodded. I let out a large sigh as Father continued to ramble.

"Oriel told me he wants to get to know you," he explained. "He says you seem lonely and rather bored. He is coming tomorrow afternoon at one o'clock, so be ready by then."

I looked down at my shoes. I really don't want to leave Jake all by himself tomorrow. I know he told me I should see Oriel, but he might become lonely and awkward down in my room. Even worse, he might get caught by Darcy if she goes down there to fold towels.

I shuddered. What if Darcy told Father that I was hiding an eighteen year old boy in my room? All I know is that I would have a lot of explaining to do, because Darcy's perception could be construed as scandalous.

Father doesn't know that I help the street rats. He has always been unforgiving of them. However, he doesn't necessarily despise them as people. He despises street rats because of their actions.

I have heard stories about street rats in Urbem. Father told me Elros and his crew had to arrest most of them because they had became violent. They would fight people and even knock people out in order to escape the clutches of the Guard.

My chest tightened. This was all because of the ambush eight years ago. The Alandians destroyed our citizens, burning down their houses and stripping them of their peace. All they desired was resources to get by. They took the lives of any Urbem citizens they felt were financially stable and left them to die in the snow.

Ever since then, the amount of rats had become high enough to cause problems. The Alandians had cursed our street dwellers with the feeling of desperation. Some had remained silent with their motives (like Jake) and some were driven mad by the vision of hopelessness. Elros had told me this was why the amount of crimes had risen. Judgement is clouded when one feels defeated.