Miraculous: Tales of Pandora Possum and Hawk Demask: Origins

A New Home

The day was dreary, and the streets nearly empty as I glanced out the window of the small yellow cab. A big, muddy puddle splashed upon the window I stared out of, but my reflection quickly reappeared. My waist -length hair curled naturally, and even in a ponytail the long brown locks came free around my face. My pale skin held goosebumps, and my facial expression could surely tell that I was nervous.

"Don't be afraid, think of this opportunity as a new begaining." Said Nanea. I jumped back in surprise, since I was lost in my own thoughts. I glanced up to the woman in the passenger's seat, who wore a weary smile. Nanea had come by my old home often, usually with papers or something of the sort to sign. Knowing she was with me gave a small comfort, but nothing could ease the knot in my stomach.

"I know." I said. I had been lucky, and I was definitely thankful, but neither of those feelings could cure nervousness. I tried to smudge the worried look on my face away, but I couldn't conceal it from Nanea.

"Austine, just remember to be yourself." She said, giving a big, bright smile with her cherry lips. "Its not everyday someone like you gets a new family."

Family

That word echoed inside my head, as faint memories flashed back and fourth. A deadly fire, screaming, panic, unknown firefighters, but most importantly, fear.

When I was seven years old, my whole life was forever changed. I had everything- a mother, father, sisters, and a brother. A nice house, and life. Then everything went so terribly wrong. I was woken up in the middle of the night by screams next door, then the flames and smoke engulfing my room. I tried getting up, but a plank of wood fell right in front of me. I let out a terrified scream, but it was lost in the chaos of the night. Thankfully, someone did come for me. A firefighter covered head to toe in armor. He scared me as a young child, but I knew he was there to save me. Once outside, I sat idly by, waiting for more strange firefighters to come out with the rest of my family, but that wistful fantasy never came true. Right before my youthful eyes, the building collapsed as flames ignited elsewhere. I screamed loudly, terrified and shook. For days after that terrible incident, I would barely move, my mind constantly going back to that fearful nightmare. It only got worse as time arched forward. My parents had hardly any relatives left, and those few there were either didn't want me, or couldn't afford to keep me. With no other options, I went into foster care, quickly leading a new life in an orphanage. My life remained the same, but seven years later, I found myself riding to a new chapter of life, with a new family.

Well, I wouldn't consider it a family exactly, more a kind elderly gentleman in dire need of some company, determined to help someone. But the fact was simple, no matter how many new changes I was to undergo, the young scars of my childhood could never be healed, and those nightmares would never truly go away, nor the thoughts.

After a few minutes, the cab pulled to a stop right in front of a large mansion, complete with tall brick walls, lush, green grass and greenery and floral of all sorts. I stared at it in amazement, wondering what I did to deserve something this grand. Nanea opened her door, then looked back as if to tell me it was time, and so it was. I took a deep breath, then stepped out myself. From the back of the cab I grabbed my one bag of belongings, and followed Nanea up to the front door. She rang the bell without hesitance, as I stood beside her while my stomach did flips.

A second later the door opened gently, revealing a tall slender woman, probobly in her mid thirties with bright blonde hair, and emerald green eyes. She smiled brightly, and led us in doors.

"You must be Austine." She said kindly to me in a French accent. I only nodded my head in return. My silent gesture led her to prattle on. "I'm simone, I help my dear uncle out around here, and I must say he is very eager to see you once again."