Prologue: Running!?!
When you're afraid of the world.........you learn to run away from it! Imagine your once peaceful and happy life being tacking and thrown away from you within second. That is what happened to me...
Darkness...That's all I see around me. The water, from the rain, pouring down onto my face. The sound of my bare feet smashing and sliding into the mud. My small and frail body running away from my fear, down a long dirt road never seeming to end. "Hah...ghe...ah...hah!" My breath rapidly racing, my voice scratchy and almost lost. "Hah-hah-hah-hah...GAHH!" Tripping over who knows what, I fall face first into the muddy road. "I can't move...My body...hurts too much" I tried to hold myself together with my last bit of strength, turning my head slightly so I could see with the light that came from the moon hiding behind the rain clouds. Suddenly there was a bright light that was coming towards me. "Is...that the light of heaven...?" I smiled weakly to myself. "Well...at least if I die...no one can hurt me, and...my sister won't be alone anymore." My eyelids started to drop. I couldn't see or hear much, but the light came to a sudden stop about 2 M away from my limb body. I couldn't see their faces but I remember hearing their voices.
"Roger, Roger! Get out of the car quickly and come aid me." Said a soft, yet worried, old voice.
"Quillsh what's the matter? Is something the ma--- dear god, is she alright?" Roger worried as he hastened help my limbered body out of the mud. "We must get her to a hospital, quickly."
"There's no time. Will have to take her to our resident and treat her there." Quillsh replied. They gently place me into what seemed to be their car.
Afterward Roger started the car and drove quickly, and safely, toward my destination. That's where I lost consciousness.
"My head fells light...? And the air around me doesn't smell damp anymore...It smell fresh and clear..."I had no clue where I was all I could feel was my body lying on top of soft fabric. My minded seem at peace for the moment so I decided to open my eyes. Slowly I open them. My vision was blurry, but I could see three body figures. One sitting next to me and the others talking to themselves. Finally my vision was clear.
"Oh...So your finally awake?" The old man to the right spoke. I was still a little drowsy, but my posture reminded the same.
"Thank goodness, you had us all worried there, young lady." The old man to the left spoke. I wasn't sure what was going on, but...my body started to back up.
"Oh wait, please you mustn't move yet." The nurse sitting next to me started to bring her hand over to set me back down, but to quickly do my fear return to my mind.
"No! Don't touch me!!" I screamed in horror, jumping to the corner of the room for distance, my body shaking uncontrollably.
"I see you must still be terrified about last night." The old man, on the right side, sat up from his chair and gently walk over to where I was. "Don't be afraid my dear." He lean his hand towards me. "Ah, I'm sorry, where are my manners. My name is Quillsh Wammy, but you can call me Watari." Judging by the way his hand is position I guess he expect me to shake his hand. My body is still a little shaking, but my instincts tell me that I can trust him. Slowly I grapes his hand and shake it. "That's more like it." Watari smile gentle at me.
"And my name is Roger Ruvie." The other old man came aside and offer his hand instinctively, again, I shake his hand as well. "Let me guess...You must be Patricia Westdox. Am I correct?"
"Ah...? How did he come to know my really name...could he be working for them?" I was shock to hear.
"Ehe...Don't be alarm. They didn't know your name out of curiosity. We found the information on your dog tags that where hanging around your neck. Along with your date of birth." The nurse, on the other side of the room, said. I took a deep breath to calm myself down a little.
"So, why don't you tell us who you really are, my dear." Watari offer his hand again, but this time to pull me up from the floor and back onto the bed. I look down towards my feet.
"Yes...Your right my name is Patricia Westdox, I'm 13 years old and I was born on October 18, 1991." I responded.
[Pause: Patricia Westdox, born October 18, 1991, I have blond hair and grey eyes, my body is somewhat weak and pale, I wear on over sized t-shirt, with three horizontal strips that kinda look like a setting sun, and a over sized jeans that fit just perfectly over my hips, the only set of jewellery I wear are my dog tags]
"...Emily use this information to find her parents." Roger commanded the nurse. Suddenly my head turned sharply towards the front of the room.
"Yes, right away!" Emily started to head out of the room.
"No, don't!!" I shot out to stop her. My hand reaching out of fear. Everyone turned faced me. "Wha-what I meant to say was that my parents...are dead." I look away from them.
"I see." Watari look away for a moment, but then return to facing me.
"Umm...If I don't mind asking...where am I?"
"You are in the infamous 'Wammy House' home of intelligent children who have lost their parents or who are refugee." Watari replied.
"In other words an orphanage for smart kid." Roger also put in.
"The...Wammy House? I remember my sister telling me about this place." I the tough of my sister my mind seem to return to the darkness of my heart, but before Watari could speak again, I decided to correct myself. "Of course that was before she...died." I said silently.
"Oh, I'm truly sorry. It seems everyone in your family has passed on..." I remind silent. "But no matter you still need a place to call home. After you've recovered we will send you to a proper orphanage." Watari finished.
"Huh? A proper one...but isn't this a or—" I was cut off before I could finish.
"Yes, but this is one for children with intelligence way beyond normal people." Roger bogged in. "You wouldn't be able to stay here unless your IQ was above 200 or more." Roger added.
"Is-isn't there a way I could prove to you. I wish to stay here..." Both Roger and Watari waited for me to respond. "The atmosphere in this place comforts me, for the first time in a long time. I feel...sane." I wrapped my arms around myself. I felt that my fear wouldn't find me in this place, like there was a protective barrier around these walls. Emily was back from where ever she went.
"You know...she could take an IQ test like all the other students." She recommended. I look up at her with a shire bit of hope in my grey eyes.
"That's a splendid idea, Emily." Watari smiled as he turned to face me once again. "How about it! Will you take a simple test to see if you're worthy of staying in this institution?" He asked. I simply nodded at his responds. "Good. Well then, since you're a little jumpy at meeting new people, how about we ascend you one of our best teachers. Roger will you please get Miss Seiz."
"Of course. I'll be right back." Rogers' bowed before heading out of the room. The thought of meeting someone new made my stomach twist, but when I notice a young beautiful woman, who looked to be in her 20, walk in my nerves seem to settle. "Miss Seiz this young girl is the one who will take the test." Rogers' hand wave in my direction. The woman look towards me, staring at me intensively as if she was burning a hole through my forehead, but then her expression seem to calm. She was smiling at me.
"I see..." Her voice was strong, but gentle at the same time. She suddenly started to walk up to my side. Again, my body tense up. I started to shake slightly. "Don't worry I'm not here to hurt you. It's nice to meet you my name is Miss Seiz." She didn't offer me her hand, strangely. I guess she knew I didn't like physical contact that much. "Are you able to stand on your feet?" I replied with a slow nod. "Good, then could you follow me?" Again I nodded and stood up on my feet. I didn't notice before, but I was wearing white, almost hospital like, pyjama's. Then I follow out of the room. There wasn't much to see...it was just a long hallway.
"Where are we going?" I decided to ask as I walk behind her, keeping a couple of feet between us. I was holding my hands close to my chest. Who knows what sort of weird thing could be living here? Finally we reached a door way that spelled 'Miss Seiz Office'.
"This is my office. In here no one will bug you. It will just be you and me in here while you take your test." She leaned in a little closer to my face. I stood perfectly still. "Are you ready?" She asked as she opened the door behind her. I took a couple of breath to calm myself before nodding. Slow, I walk into her somewhat tiny little office/classroom. I guess if kids get in trouble they come here. "You may sit where ever you please." She gestured her hand towards any of the seat. I sat on the right side of the room, in the front row, (closes to the windows) waiting patiently for my test. I watch as she scrambled through her drawer, probably trying to look for the test. At last, she pulled out a small pile of paper and placed it on my desk. "You may begin. If you need any help just ask." She smiled at me before returning to her own desk at the front of the room.
"Ok...No pressure!" I reminded myself. While running through my test; once in a while I would glance up at the clock to check the time, but every time I look the clock didn't seem to move.
"If you're worried about the time, don't be, the clock is broken." Miss Seiz, who I thought was asleep, spoke with a very lazy tone. She was laid back in her chair. "You don't have to worry about how long it will take you to finish. Take all the time in the world." She slightly raised her head to gaze at me. "I'm not the type of person to rush others." With that she returned to slacking off. After about what seem to be an hour and a half I finally finish my work. I didn't tell anyone about this, but my parents made me work really, really, hard in school. My average was solid A-.
"Umm...excuse me? I'm finish." The teacher raised her head. Shaking it quickly to wake herself up I presume. And walk over to pick up my sheets. The test was about 7 pages long. She quickly flicker through the pages to make sure I answered every question and then smiled at me in return.
"Good work. Why don't you return to the nurses office for the night; by the way it's 10:38 pm, and rest. By tomorrow we should have your results, ok."
"Ahh..." I hesitated to speak.
"Huh? What is it?"
"Ahh...could you walk me back to the nurse's office, please...I'm a little scared of this unfamiliar place..." I whispered the last part. I look up to notice her smiling at me again.
"Of course I will, but will have to make a quick stop to Rogers' office first, to drop of your test." She walked over towards the door, opening it for me to step outside first. "I have to lock the door. Or else those damn kids will get into my shit again." I looked at her shockingly. I didn't expect someone as kind and pretty as her to curse. She laughed pithily at my expression.
"Where is Rogers' office? Is it far from here?" I asked.
"Just a couple doors down the hall it not that far from my room." She pointed down the somewhat dark hall way, the moon was the only source of light, putting her keys back into her pocket. We walk a little ways, while I stayed close to her, and we finally reached Rogers' room. She quickly knocked on the door.
"Yes, come in...?" A weak voice spoke on the opposite side of the door.
"..." I remind silence as Miss Seiz opened the way.
"Here you go Roger." Miss Seiz forcefully placed my test on Rogers' desk making it rumble a little.
"You shouldn't be so recluse, my dear." Roger sighed as if he knew she would do that.
"Come on Rogers' you know me better than that. You are the one that raised me half my lifetime." She spoke sarcastically. Roger sighed once again.
"You're right...well then thank you, and good night to the both of you." While he was trying to finish I didn't even notice her already starting to head out the door.
"Yeah, yeah! Good night to you to." She waved lazily before turning down the hall. "You coming or what?" I quickly turn do bow good bye to him before catching up with her.
"Umm... Miss Seiz if you don't mind me asking you seem like a –" Before I could finish she took over.
"A totally different person, yeah, I know. I get that a lot." She had her hands up around the back of her neck. I'm guessing for support? She seems a little childish for her age. "That's because I was raised her when I was about your age. I already know Roger and everyone other adult that works here.
"Then...how come you returned?" Why would someone who's already left this institution return?
"Because...hmm...I still love this place. When I left this place I was pretty smart and I could have gotten any other job that I wanted, but the only one I wanted at the time was the only thing that this place was lacking...teachers!" She looked down and smiled at me. I notice that we've arrived back at the nurse's office and she open the door for me. I walk in and clamed into the bed. She walked over to my side and dragged the covers over me to make me comfortable. This...was the nicest anyone has been to me in a long time. I almost felt like cry...almost. "You wanna know the real reason why I came back?" She kneeled down next to me. I was already use to her presence being near me. I nodded at her question. "It's because I get to watch children like you grow up to be better than me..." I look at her expressionless. She chuckled to herself. "Don't worry I'm not a child molester or something...I just like...children." It was my turn to smile.
"I bet all the kids here like you." I replied my vision starting to get blurry.
"Well I got about 85% of them on my side." She sweatdropped as she stood up.
"What about the other 15%?" I was barely able to speak my eyes were shot now, but I could still hear her.
"Those children are a little more difficult to win over, but for now I think that you should get some rest." And with that she turned off the light. "Good night." Finally the door close and I was already gone...
When I woke up the next morning it was all ready 9:47 am, in the morning. I notice some kids playing outside through my window. I closed the curtain to change back into my usual clothe. While placing the white pj's one the edge of the bed I clip on my dog tag. Suddenly there was a knock on the door...
"Hai..." I answered. Watari was the first to open the door. Behind him were Roger and Miss Seiz.
"Good morning, my dear, did you sleep well last night?" Watari spoke with care as he stood in front of me. I nodded for my reply. "That's good...But further more why don't you sit back down on your bed while we talk." He pointed his hand towards the bed. I did what I was told and sat back down onto the bed. The other two decided to sit in the other chairs that were left from the other day.
"Is something wrong?" I was a little worried...Did I fail? Where my results bad?
"Oh no of course not, in fact everything some to be clear now." I was a little confused by all of this. Suddenly Roger spoke up.
"Congratulation, my dear, you pass!" Roger smiled at me, so did Miss Seiz. "I look over your test and your answer were exactly what we were looking for, maybe even better then we though. Of course there are still children in this institution far more intelligent then you."
"So..." I didn't know what else to say.
"So... It means you get to stay here." Miss Seiz answer. She seems to be the most pleased out of everyone here. Now I was speechless.
"And with that told, you are otherwise to change your name to hide your really one if you like." Said Watari.
"I can change my name..." I was a little surprise.
"Yep! To anything you like...as long as it's appropriate." Miss Seiz added in. I closed my eyes and remembered back to when my sister was still alive. She uses to read me my favourite story every night. I came to really admire the courage and strength this small 10 year old girl had when she venture into the rabbit hole...Wait a minute...That's it!?
"How about...Alice?" I smiled.
YO! I know I haven't touched this Fic in like FOREVER, but I still have a liking for it! I'm still interested in writing it, but it may be a while before I get back into it. But I wanted to say that I changed up my character's name from Sun, to Alice. Her old name really didn't give her any meaning, but her new name a let's has a story behind it. Hope you enjoy reading it! Peace........OH! And R & R! Xd