Eight months later...

Tomorrow is my birthday.

And I'm terrified.

Although I know they'll all be joining me soon, I don't want to move up in dormitories. I don't even know where my next living space is, what it looks like, why I need to move in the first place.

At least I'll be with Isabel again. She moved up a month ago, and I haven't seen her since, although she promised she'd visit.

I stare around me at the dark lumps of the others, sleeping in their beds.

Samantha stirs, rolling over. She's opposite me, and I see her eyes flash in the pale oval of her face. Darkness blankets everything, the only light coming from the moon, shining through one high, circular window.

'Elle? Are you awake?' She whispers.

'Yeah.'

'Are you excited?'

'No.'

She's silent for a second, then: 'Why are you here?'

'My father had debts. They...' I swallow, choking slightly. 'They killed him. Now I have to pay back what he owed. What about you?'

'I don't want to talk about it.'

Another voice cuts in. Lizzie. 'I was living in the streets. I came here of my own accord. They wouldn't tell me exactly what kind of work I would have to do when I reached sixteen, but it was worth it for a roof over my head and two meals a day.'

More and more people join in.

'My mother died giving birth to my brother, and my father drowned himself in alcohol...'

'My family was murdered...'

'I ran away as a child...'

The stories surround me, comforting me. I'm not the only one with a sad past. I'm not the only one working off my families debts, either. Hari is in the same situation as me.

It makes me feel better that I don't even have it worst. Thea came from a rich family, but her nursemaid stole her away and sold her when she was very young. Out of all of us, she's been here the longest. Her whole life, in fact. Or as much of it as she can remember.

Eventually, the stories peter out, words fading to silence.

'Thank you.' I say. No one responds. They don't need to.

Matron wakes me early in the morning, before the others are awake. She tries to lead me out of the door, but I pull back. I remember how upset I was when Isabel left without saying goodbye.

'Can't I just say goodbye?'

She pauses, then nods. 'Quickly, though.'

I go to each bed in turn, hugging each of them and saying goodbye.

They each wish me good luck in return.

'I'll see you soon, OK?' I say as I walk out of the door.

A/N

The next chapter is where it really starts getting good.

Sorry for the length - I've always had a problem with my chapters being too short. The next two should be longer. First lemon located in the fourth chapter.

Can you guess where she is yet? Or what she's going to be doing? Feel free to post theories in a review!

Am I desperate for reviews? Yes lol.