Disclaimer--I am not Cornelia Funke, therefore, I do not own Inkheart.
Okay. This is the OTHER author of our story. I will be telling you about a feisty little child called Lena. For those of you who want to hear more about Agni, just bear with us and wait for the next chappy. I will be writing the even chapters, and my co-author will be writing the odds. Don't get confused about the switching back and forth. The first chapter is happening at the same time as the second, the third the same time as the fourth, ect. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns, please contact either of us.
Ciao-- Ricky
Chapter 2--Family Affairs
Bright golden candle flame cast warm light on Lena's round face, gilding it bronze. The flame reflected in her wide open eyes, dancing against a black backdrop. She stared at the flame, mesmerized. A sharp tug at her ebony hair sent her fumbling to put out the candle lest her parents see it.
"Quick, Jay, go open the window." Her little brother scrambled to obey, his tiny feet thumping on the rough wooden floorboards. The extinguished candle went under Lena's cot along with her prized plastic lighter. She had found it in the gutter, and she placed the dirty blue plastic lighter over all of her other possessions. She had stolen the candle from the church a few Sundays ago after her last one ran out. Her family couldn't afford to go to church; both her parents worked all day at a clothing factory, though they barely made enough money to support themselves, much less two growing children. Lena and Jay's clothes were tattered hand-me-downs from charity shops or Salvation Army. Nevertheless, Lena was attracted to the churches' quiet majesty, and she went there at night by herself sometimes.
The cover-up was complete; by the time her parents stood in the open doorway, Lena and Jay were both snuggled in the cot, pretending to be asleep while the cool breeze from the open window washed away the scent of smoke. After a few moments, Lena's eye cracked open.
"They're gone." She stage-whispered and both children erupted into a fit of giggles. Their parents appeared in the doorway again, both of them looking furious.
"Lena, I told you to make sure you were both asleep by nine. Your father and I can't be here all the time, and we need you to be the adult in the house while we're gone during the day." Cried her mother.
Hurt and angry, Lena retorted sharply, fighting back her stinging tears. "Yeah? Well what If I'm not ready to be the adult? I'm only ten!"
"Lena!" Her father's voice was harsh, "Don't talk to your mother that way."
Her mother cast him a thankful glance before turning back to their fuming daughter. "Lena, we need you to be strong. I understand that it's hard for you, but we are only asking that you get your brother to bed at a reasonable time."
"It's not just hard for me. How do you think Jay feels, living without parents?" Lena clenched her fists and fought back tears, "He's asleep when you leave, and he's not allowed to be up when you get here at night. The other day he asked me why there where strangers in the house. It's not exactly a piece of cake for me either, having to take care of myself and my five year old brother."
"Lena…" Her mother reached out a hand, but Lena was already half way out the window, tears streaming down her face.
"Let's see how you like it, without your little slave girl to do everything for you."
Lena dropped to the ground outside the window, letting the cool night air dry her tears, leaving her skin feeling stiff and salty. She wandered aimlessly for a while, wondering if her parents were going to come after her. When she realized that they weren't, she sat on a cold park bench, tears streaming down her face again.
A man carrying a large bag passed by, shuffling under the weight of his load. He glanced at her long enough for Lena to see three pale lines marring his face before he continued on, looking uncomfortable.
A few minutes later, Lena stood and trudged despondently in the same general direction that the scarred man had. In the distance she could hear the murmuring rumble of a crowd. She kept walking, and soon she was on the outskirts of an enormous group of people. In the center, she could just make out the man with the scars, standing there juggling lit torches with a rapturous expression on his face. She squirmed through the press of bodies till she was nearer the front. A huge fireball roared at her, and she shuffled back with the crowd. A boy that was probably her age didn't move; he stood right in the path of the burning missile. Lena turned away, not wanting to see the boy fried to a crisp, and she was out of the crowd almost as soon as she had got in it.
Lean took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air after the stifling closeness and heat of the crowd. There were shrieks and screams from the crowd, but she turned her face away. The utter horror of what must be happening behind her suddenly crashed down on her half-bent head like a tsunami wave. With a strangled sob she took off, trying to think of nothing. Trying to concentrate on the way her leg muscles reveled in the exercise, and how the air whistled past her ears and through her hair. She ran easily, and fast, leaping the short walls that divided different parts of the park. People leapt out of her way, but she barely even saw their shocked faces.
Finally, she was forced to stop, sides aching and legs burning. Every desperate gasp for breath chilled her lungs with icy air. It was getting darker by the minute, and she had no idea where she was. Frost crunched under her bare feet, and she shivered constantly. Not knowing what else to do, she trudged dismally back in the direction she thought she had come from. With every step she searched desperately for any familiar landmarks.
Her dark eyes scanned around her desperately, but the quaint village ahead of her held no recognition. She was lost. A half-hearted sob stuck in her throat, but her eyes were dry. There were no more tears to be had.
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