The Shadows vs The Sapphire Rose

1

Elaine was kneeling on the couch and peering through the curtains of the living room. She looked out the window and watched as her foster parents' car pulled away from the driveway. Once the car was out of sight down the street, Elaine got up from the couch and ran to her room. Sitting next to her bed was a bag that she had packed with as much as she could fit of her belongings, which thankfully wasn't much.

Elaine grabbed the bag and ran to the kitchen. Her foster mom always kept what she thought was a hidden envelope of cash, but Elaine found it within the first week she was there. She shoved the envelope into her bag and went toward the front door. She couldn't wait to be away from this place. She began running as fast as her small legs could take her.

Elaine was headed to the closest city, Wrenmont. She would rather take her chances on the streets of the city than in the joke called the foster system. Even though the air was cold on her face, her heart was racing fast enough to keep her warm. Soon enough Elaine reached the heart of Wrenmont City.

It was filled with the sounds of cars racing down the streets and it was bright even in the dead of the night. As Elaine continued to wander the streets, she began to grow tired and hungry. She stopped and took her bag off her back and went through it to find the envelope. She removed a couple of bills and shoved them in her pockets. The next food stand that she came across was a burger stand. She happily bought a juicy burger and fries then she was on her way.

She soon came across a small park and found a bench to sit and eat her food on. As she was finishing up, a man wearing a worn down t-shirt and baggy pants approached her. He loomed over Elaine's small ten year old stature. Fear crept into Elaine's veins as the man came closer to her. She tried to make her escape but the man grabbed her arm and put his hand over her mouth.

"Now what is a little girl like you doing out here all by yourself? Where are your parents?" Elaine's scream was muffled by the man's hand. He laughed at her as she tried to wrench herself out of his grasp. "Don't worry baby girl, I'm not going to hurt you, at least not yet."

Elaine began crying as the man dragged her deeper into the park. The man continued to muffle her screams as she tried to kick and punch her way out of his grasp. For a girl with a small stature Elaine knew how to hit hard. The man kept finding it harder and harder to hold onto her. When they were off the main path he threw her to the ground and began to choke her out. Before Elaine could pass out, she heard a younger boy call out.

"Hey! Let go of her!" A boy that was only a few years older than Elaine was running toward her and the man. The man laughed at the boy and began dragging Elaine's weakened body farther into the tree line. Elaine tried reaching out to the boy as he grew closer but the man held a firm grasp. She watched as the boy pulled out a pocket knife and flipped it open. He ran up to the man and quickly slashed his arm.

The man released Elaine from his grasp and yelled out in pain. Elaine ran to the boy and he grabbed onto her. He began pulling her away from the man and out of the park. They could hear the man yelling out behind them as they ran. The two ran out of the park and onto the lit streets. They stopped and as soon as Elaine caught her breath she began to cry.

The boy pulled her into his arms as she worked her tears out of her system. When Elaine finally calmed down she pulled away from the boy and looked up at his face. He had short black hair that had fallen over his dark green eyes. The boy gave Elaine a gentle smile as she looked up at him.

"Are you alright?" He asked her with a quiet voice and she nodded her head. He held out his hand to her. "I'm Jason."

Elaine looked up at him and stared at him for a moment. She realized this was her chance to change who she was and who she was going to be. She thought for a moment before she could respond but eventually she took his hand gently and smiled back at him.

"I'm Raelyn." His smile grew wider and in that moment she was no longer Elaine, the orphan girl who ran away. She was now Raelyn, the girl with a new beginning.

"Raelyn where are your parents?" Jason asked her and her smile faded.

"I don't have any." Raelyn whispered so quietly that Jason almost didn't hear her. Jason sighed and placed his hand in hers. He led her down the streets of Wrenmont until they were standing in front of a night club that had a purple neon sign attached to it. The sign read 'The Raven'.

Jason pulled Raelyn into the building. There was loud music playing and lots of men and women dancing along to it. Raelyn knew that she was definitely not supposed to be here. But still she followed Jason through the club and into a back room where a nicely dressed man was sitting behind a desk.

The man had brown hair and seemed to be in his mid twenties. The man looked up from his desk and made eye contact with Jason. Raelyn shifted next to Jason causing the man to look at her with his dark brown eyes. Raelyn cowered behind Jason and looked away from the man.

"What's going on Jason?" Asked the man in a deep voice. Jason gently put his arm around Raelyn and moved her to his side.

"This is Raelyn," Jason began. "She was being kidnapped by some hobo in the park when I found her. She has nowhere to go. Hunter, can we take her in?" Hunter rose up from behind his desk and made his way over to Raelyn. Raelyn tried to cower behind Jason once again but Jason calmed her down. Hunter kneeled in front of Raelyn and gave her a gentle smile.

"Hi there Raelyn, I'm Hunter. Where are your parents?" Raelyn became slightly angered. She was tired of answering this question over and over again.

"I don't have any!" She almost yelled. Hunter seemed almost taken aback. He didn't expect so much from such a small girl. He held out his hand to Raelyn and gave her a mischievous grin. 

"Well then now you have a new family that will take care of you." Raelyn looked deep into Hunter's eyes and saw the truth behind his words. She had wanted to hear those words since the day she knew her parents were really gone. Tears began to well in her eyes and she ran to Hunter. She threw her arms around his shoulders and Hunter was surprised for a moment. Hunter then wrapped his arms gently around her.

"Thank you." Raelyn whispered into his ear. Raelyn felt warmth surround her and her eyes began to grow heavy. She found that she was exhausted from the past couple hours events and yawned quietly.

"I think Raelyn here is tired." Hunter explained to Jason. He watched as Raelyn fell asleep on Hunter's shoulder.

"Jason, since you brought her here she is now your responsibility to watch out for her." Hunter explained to him sternly. Jason knew this before Hunter had told him. Hunter carefully placed the now sleeping Raelyn into Jason's arms. He carried her out of the night club and into a car that was waiting for him. He laid her down in the back seat and sat down next to her.

"I'll always take care of you Raelyn, I promise."