CHAPTER ONE - The Orphanage
There were many things Mel didn't understand. She didn't know why her parents went away, she didn't know why people were so sad, and she didn't know why the man in the strange blue clothes was taking her away from home. She watched as a sad looking girl about her age lay flat on the ground, surrounded by laughing kids. The strange man, ushered her inside, and into an office with a scary lady with grey patches in her hair. She was swaying slightly from side to side, hiccupping, a suspicious bottle broken in the trash can.
"So this... hic... is Melanie?"
Yes, there were many things Mel didn't understand. But she did know that her life was never going to be the same.
There were a lot of things Star didn't understand. She didn't know why her parents decided they didn't want her anymore, and she didn't know why no one else did either. She didn't know why Steve would throw her to the ground, while all the boys danced around her.
She watched as the scared looking new girl entered the office, her arms wrapped tightly around a small teddy bear.
"CRY BABY! CRY BABY!"
Yes, there were many things Star didn't understand. But she did know that she would never let them see her cry again.
A year or two had passed since then, and Mel and Star were still there at the Kalian Home for Orphaned Children, or the Hell Hole according to Steve. Yes, Steve too was still there. And yes, he was still just as much a bully as ever, and Mel and Star were his favourite victims.
Mel Stryder was an ordinary girl. Well, close enough to it anyway. She had dark hair, not too long, but long enough, with a streak of white, just near her fringe. Matron had tried many a time to dye her hair all one colour, but it never worked. That white streak would reappear with a vengeance. She had brown eyes that were so dark; they almost appeared black; although in certain lights they would change to a vivid orangey brown colour. She was a little tall for her age, giving Steve yet another reason to tease her. At the current moment, his little minion Tom was whispering 'giraffe' to her out of the corner of his mouth.
Star Kalian always insisted that she would never be just like everybody else, but she too was normal enough. Mostly. She had as she liked to say 'kinda longish' blonde hair. Matron struggled with hers too, as it was coloured with slightly darker streaks of red, brown and blonde of different shades. She had light blue eyes, that changed shades in certain lights. At times, they even seemed to go a deep violet. She was of average height, though next to Mel she seemed incredibly short, giving Steve another reason to tease her. At the current moment, Tom was drawing a dwarf on his desk.