Chapter One-

I wandered through the school hallways, music pounding through my headphones attempting to assist me in escaping this wretched place; mentally, that is. I was brought to Eastgrove Orphanage & Boarding School when I was five years old. It's strange to think I don't remember much about my life before being here. I was found wandering the streets of London alone, just a day or so after Christmas, ranting about a nightmare world. Nobody wanted a mad girl who only remembers her name and with no family the "Agency" could trace back to, the just planted me here. Sometimes my dreams show me glimpses of a life that might have been: a man cackling madly, blinding lights, and an explosion...the cold… Just thinking about it made my head feel like it would explode at times.

"Hey, stop it," I heard a voice cry above my thoughts, "Leave me alone!" I saw a small girl, looking about my age, which was 8 years at the time, cowering against the wall away from some older boys jeering at her. She was very pale and thin with dark brown eyes and hair. She seemed familiar somehow; but as I was wondering where I could've seen her before, one of the brutes drove his fist into her mouth causing it to bleed.

"Hey," I called out, flipping my braid off my shoulder and setting my headphones around my neck. The group looked over to me disgusted; the girl's eyes were wide with fear. "Leave her alone, you prats."

"Yeah? And what are you going to do to stop us?" The one I recognized as the leader snarled.

"Come find out, ape," I grinned in return. He growled and they all descended onto me. One by one, I took them all out, my own strength surprising me. I turned back to the girl who cowered deeper into the wall like a trapped animal.

"Are you alright," I asked, extending out my hand to help her up. Still terrified, she took the offer and let me help her up. As she pushed herself against the wall, I saw a fire behind those fearful eyes just waiting to burst out. I held up my hands as a peace offering. "Hey, it's okay. I'm not like them. My name's Kaiden Saxon, but you can just call me Kai."

"Robyn Smith," she replied shyly.

I sighed, knowing I wasn't getting anywhere further, "You better go get cleaned up, you look dreadful." I returned my headphones to their place and strolled down the hall, thinking quietly. Those boys messed her up pretty bad and I didn't think they had enough; Robyn deserved at chance at them too and I knew just what to do. As I walked into the lunchroom, many students were leaving for short recreational time.

"Hi, Linda," I greeted the lunch lady as I stepped up into the line.

"Oh, good afternoon dear," She smiled back. She was so full of it; I knew most of the staff here faked their happiness, it was like a mask. The only one who seemed sincere enough was the school nurse, Ms. Jones. "Finally deciding to eat today?"

"Yeah, just a sandwich though. Need to have power for that test in History today," if only she could hear my really thoughts about her, especially the awful smell.

"Very well," she grinned, her breath like rotten fish, and turned her back to me. I quickly snatched up a few large oranges from the basket beside me and stuffed them into my bag. Just as I zipped it back up, she turned with a neatly wrapped PB & J.

"Thank You," I smirked and too off out of the lunchroom to the nurse's office. Robyn stepped out, not really paying attention, with a cheese stick and a bandage on her lip. "So feeling better kid?" She jumped, still looking a little wary of me.

"Look, I'm not going to hurt you," I smirked, "Just thought you might like a little revenge…"

She seemed to perk up at the idea and raised an eyebrow, "Revenge? What kind of Revenge?"

"Come on," I grabbed her wrist, smirking, and took off down the hallway. As we turned the corner, we ran into the headmaster. "Oh, Mr. Bo. What a pleasant surprise," I gave the most innocent smile I could muster, despite him smelling just as awful as the lunch lady.

"Showing Ms. Smith to her new room I assume, Ms. Saxon?"

"Yes…" I answered cautiously, unaware of the news.

"Well, glad to see you two get along. Now, carry on girls. Oh and Kaiden, be nice to this one hmm?"

"Yes sir," I growled inside my head. He just HAD to bring that up again. As he left, we couldn't help but giggle as we continued heading to our destination: the roof.

"That spot by the gymnasium, they always come here during recreation and through the class afterwards to smoke," I explained to Robyn, "In 3…2…1…" Like clockwork, the gym door slammed open and the bullies lumbered out. I opened my bag and showed her the oranges I nicked from the lunchroom. "Ready?" She nodded, her face filled with excitement. "Throw!" We popped out from behind the wall, concealing us, and began our barrage. I saw the leader begin to open his mouth to say something but was interrupted as a large orange collided violently with his jaw.

"Nice shot," I giggled.

"You little brats will pay for this," one called out as they retreated.

"That's what you get for picking on a defenseless kid," I retorted back; we fell back into a heap of laughter. "So you're Robyn, right?" I asked when I could finally breathe, she just nodded. "And I told you my name?" Another nod. "Well good. At least we're properly introduced."

"So what now," she finally said, grinning.

"Well, headmaster said you're my new roommate. Come one, let's go get you settled in," I stood up and held my hand out to her.

"Allon-sy," she said, taking my help to get up.

We've been good friends since then, so close you'd think we were sisters. To us, life was simple. If only we knew…