She Who Knows

(1) No Use Thinking About the Past

Today was the day. Vel was finally going home.

After ten long years of being trapped with the Childkeepers, she was going back to where she belonged. Vel wasn't sure where she would now live, but she knew it wasn't here, where she and her companions were forced to call home.

Ever since she came to the Childkeepers, Vel knew she didn't belong.

She was older and much more mature than the rest of the children. Although, after the things they put the kids through, everyone emerges at the end of their ten years more mature than most adults before that suddenly all goes away.

Not only was Vel older than the other kids, but she stood out against the others whom all looked similar with their straight inky hair at varying lengths and gray eyes.

Occasionally you would find someone with light hair paired with brown or blue eyes, but never anyone who looked like Velia.

She had wild and unruly, curly red hair and bright hazel eyes. Vel also had a very different skin complexion than the other kids. She was pale and covered from head to toe in freckles, while everyone else was a shade ranging from dark to olive or tan, free of any imperfections.

Although Vel was older, she was shorter than the others and was often mistaken for a young child. She hid her maturing body behind clothes much to big, noticing how she seemed to be the only girl with growing hips and breasts.

Vel couldn't remember much about her childhood, only that it was short lived.

Most kids couldn't even remember a life outside the care of a Childkeeper. As soon as babies are born, they are brought to a Childkeeper to be kept for ten years.

Vel watched as other kids were dragged away on their tenth birthday, never to be seen again.

She promised herself that she would never befriend or become attached to anyone after she watched her best friend leave two years ago. It was heart-wrenching to watch the person who was with you through thick and thin, disappear without another word. Vel remembers that day like it only happened yesterday.
***

She was skipping back to her room after a surprisingly simple day. Vel couldn't wait to surprise her best friend, Aida, for her birthday. Today Aida was turning ten, so she invited everyone they knew to her room to celebrate.

When Vel got to her room, she walked in and audibly gasped at the decorations everyone set up in the brief time she was gone. Streamers were hanging from ceilings and ballons of all colors were floating around the room.

"It looks amazing guys! Aida will love it, all thanks to me!" She said with a smirk.

A boy, Whiteinne was his name, walked up and lightly shoved her, "As if we haven't been working all day while you ran off and didn't help with your best friend's party."

Vel scoffed, "While I ran off? You mean while I was with the you know whats!"

Whiteinne just sighed while walking away, his lanky legs carrying him far with each step.

"Whiteinne get back here!" Vel yelled.

Whiteinne paused and spun around to face Vel. "Don't call me that, Velia," he sneered through clenched teeth, "My name is Whit."

"And my name is Vel, not Velia!" she spat back.

Whiteinne suddenly lunged at Vel who attempted to protect herself by swinging her fists wildly in front of her face. Someone Vel didn't know quickly pulled Whiteinne off her and held him in place.

"Get your hands off me," Whiteinne struggled to get out. The person let go.

"I'm going to get Aida and when I come back, you guys had better be in your hiding places," Vel said loudly. No one in the room made a sound out of fear of further upsetting her.

Vel pushed through the door, the sound of it slamming against the wall behind her as it opened caused her to jump slightly. She shook her head and continued to stomp loudly down the hallway. Vel's footsteps slowly got quieter when she noticed that there wasn't a single sound in the hall other than the bottom of her sneakers hitting the carpeted floor.

That's weird, Vel thought. The usual commotion of their hallway wasn't present.

When she got to Aida's room, Vel raised her hand to knock on the door, but it fell as the door slowly swung open with a soft creak. Carefully, she stepped inside.

"Hello?" she called to no one. "Aida?" she shouted again, louder this time. Still no response.

As Vel continued to walk around, she quickly realized there was nothing inside Ida's room. She probably just moved rooms! Vel thought.

She rushed out of the room and down the hall to lady that monitored the rooms in our hall.

"Can you tell me which room Aida Windale is in?"

"I'm sorry but didn't you hear?" the lady replied.

"No. Hear what?" Vel questioned, her forehead creasing. She was getting increasingly worried the longer she waited for an answer.

"I'm sorry but your friend isn't here and you won't be seeing her anymore." * * *
Vel shook off the memory as if it were only a nasty dream. She didn't have the time to think about people she would never see again.

Hey all you beautiful babes! It's Lauryn! I hope you enjoy my story...this is only the beginning hehehehe...ok anyway I hope y'all are living your best lives! With love from behind the screen <3

-LaurenwithaY

PS: In case anyone is confused, Velia is pronounced vel-ee-a, Aida is pronounced eye-da, and Whiteinne is pronounced wit-ee-yin or wit-ee-in. Oh yeah, how do y'all want me to spell Whit's name? We have a bunch of options. Whiteinne, Whitteinne, Whitteine, or maybe even Whitteon/Whiteon. If we decide on a version with two T's, I can change his nickname to Whitt.

PPS: Sorry this first chapter is so short! I've been thinking about writing this book for a while and decided that now school is over and we will still be in quarantine for God knows how long, I might as well get the first chapter out. Please feel free to send me any recommendations or leave any in the comments. They would be so helpful!!!