Wizards

CHAPTER 1: Norris Mansion

Rei Griffin already made peace with the fact that everything was always going to be blamed on her. It always has been for the seventeen years of her life living in the Kid Ranch. And because everything and everyone around her was always ending up in a bad place, everyone in the orphanage called her "blight". Nobody wanted to play with her. Nobody wanted to get close.

     It was just a random thought that came to mind as Rei held on tight to the grocery bag while stepping out of the mini-store. She looked up. Dark clouds were brewing up the sky. The wind blew hard, tossing her brown hair, and would have also lifted her favorite skirt had she wore them — thankfully she didn't. Instinct told her to wear white t's and blue jogging pants.

     Rei decided to put the grocery bag down on a bench in a waiting shed few phases away from the mini-store to tie her hair. It started raining.

     "Of course. . . ." she sighed.

     No choice. She had to stay and wait for it.

     She crumpled a piece of paper and threw it on the side of the road. It was the list of the things she bought — she thought she didn't need it anymore.

     A woman spoke behind her, "That, child, is the number one reason why there are non-stop floods everywhere, aside from the illegal cuttings of our trees, that is one of the top reasons."

     Rei looked back. It was Mrs. Lita Scott who likes to wear floral outfits all the time, and beside her is Mrs. Susan Summer who was more of a bitter winter than summer.

     "Oh — let the child mind her own business, Lita," said Mrs. Summer.

     "I worry about the planet, Susan!"

     "You know what? You should be more worried about what happened to the Norrises! They're much closer to us than that nonsense you're blabbering about."

     "Susan, I told you gas explosion is what happened to that mansion!"

     "Impossible!" Mrs. Summer exclaimed, "It couldn't be! Nobody heard an explosion! What a mystery 'twas!"

     "Bah! That land was over fifteen hundred acres! We wouldn't hear it even if one of those war bombs fell on it."

     "That is non-sense, Lita!"

     "Don't tell me you believe the rumors?" said Mrs. Scott, "That they were sorcerers?"

     "How else could you explain it? I mean — who knows? Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. Too many mysteries in this world, I tell you!"

     "Wanna hear another mystery? My husband, he's starting to care more for me these days! I suspect he's cheating —"

     As Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Summer's conversation furthered, Rei's attention started to focus more on the rain that was starting to ease off. She couldn't stay and listen. She didn't want to anyway.

     Rei grabbed all her things and went for it. A little drizzle won't hurt, she thought.

     "Be careful on your way home, child!" said Mrs. Summer.

     Rei smiled at Mrs. Summer and kept on walking. She couldn't delay any longer, or Sister Annie back in the Kid Ranch would start breathing fire.

     Rei's steps were slowed. . . . Why does it matter? She's days away from turning eighteen — days away from being dismissed from the Kid Ranch. All her life, all she does was chores, be cute, play around with the other kids, and hope someone adopts her. Now she's days away for sudden changes. . . . And she's worried of a little scolding?