The Fire and The Orphanage.
Evangeline's POV.
It's been four years, since my cousin gave me that threat. And every birthday, he send me birthday cards with threats in them. So, Daddy had to throw every card, that was sent by him, into the fire. And I was never allowed to leave the house without my disguise. However, that doesn't stop the townspeople from seeing my eyes and accusing me to be the 'Monster of Paris.' I've been struggling to sleep too. I keep dreaming that something bad will happen, and it will be my fault. My 6th birthday arrived. I had no sleep from the night before, so I hid under my blackets. The sun from the window hit my face brightly. I heard a knock at my door, and it opened. "Sweety, are you awake?" I heard Mummy's voice ask.
I gave her a tiny chirp, to tell her I was. I felt Mummy enter the room and pull the blankets off me a bit. She looked shocked, when she saw my face, "Oh, dear. Look at you, Evangeline. Are you not feeling well? You're awfully pale. And these bags. Didn't you get any sleep?"
I looked at her with tears welling up in my eyes. I wrapped my arms around Mummy's waist and whimpered as the tears fell down my face. I loved my family. I would do anything to keep them safe. Even give up my own life. "There, there, dear. It's going to be okay." I heard Mummy say in a soothing voice, and stroking my head. It made me feel a bit better.
Mummy lifted my head, and wiped the tears away, "Cheer up, sweetheart. It's your birthday today. And we have a surprise for you downstairs." Mummy smiled and covered my eyes. I let Mummy guide me out of my room, down the stairs, and into the living room. She removed her hand, and I kept my eyes closed.
"You can open your eyes, now, Dear." I heard a very familiar voice tell me. I opened my eyes. "SURPRISE!" The entier family was in the living room. Each with a happy smile on his/her face. There was a large banner, above the fireplace. It read, 'Bon Anniversaire, Evangeline' in large multi-colored letters.
"Come on, Evie. It's time to open your presents." Auntie Vanessa encouraged. I smiled and entered the room. Everyone began giving me their present. Grandma and Grandpa gave me a small cello, since I was quite small myself. 6 years old, and I'm as tall as a 3 year old child. I played with the strings, it was in good tune. I hugged Grandma and Grandpa, and purred a 'thank you'.
Uncle Sean was next. He gave me a small music box, to help me sleep at night. I opened it, and it had a mirror with a figure of an angel and a tall man, dancing together. The tune it played was our lullaby. I gave Uncle Sean a happy smile and hugged him too. Auntie Vanessa was next. She brought a small notebook, to go with my collection of notes, as I observed each of Mummy and Daddy's formula equations and results, for the past year. I purred and she gave me a tight hug. Lucky I'm a flea. Heh.
Mummy and Daddy gave me a heart-shaped pendant, with 'For our little angel' engraved on the front. I opened it. It played our lullaby, and inside was a photo of them, smiling and their eyes full of hope. Tears of joy filled my eyes, as I hugged Mummy and Daddy, the best parents I ever had. They hugged me back and let me returned to my presents.
Victor was last. He didn't have a smile on his face. He jabbed me with my present and sat next to Auntie Vanessa. I, carefully, opened the present. It was a mirror, to go with my room. I looked at Victor. He smiled, "Since you don't know what a parasite looks like. Now, you will know." Uncle Sean stared at Victor in suspision. I couldn't blame him. He is his daddy.
With the presents done, it was time for the cake. It was round, with angel wings and a halo icing design. The six candles were lit, and everyone sang 'happy birthday'. I stared at the candles, as the fire tortured my mind. "Evangeline, is everything alright?" Daddy asked, snapping me out of my trance. I nodded and concentrated on my wish.
I wished that Victor would be nicer to me, and that my family would have a happy life. I blew the candles, and everyone, except Victor, cheered. Everyone had a slice of cake and enjoyed themselves. The party went on, until it was nightfall and I was getting quite sleepy.
Everyone left, telling me that they can't wait until I turn lucky 7. That made me smile and laugh. After they left, Mummy and Daddy began to yawn and stretch in a sleepy manner. So, we all decided to clean up tomorrow, and retire early. Mummy tucked me in my bed and opened Uncle Sean's music box, playing our lulla-bye.
"Good night, sweetheart. Have pleasent dreams tonight." Mummy said to me, as she kissed my forehead and left my room. I fell asleep as the lullaby played again. Suddenly, my hairs stood up as the room began to feel warm, scratch that, hot.
I woke up and saw smoke sneaking into my room. I quickly put my mask and gloves on, leaped out of bed and ran to the source of the smoke. The living room was in flames. I paniced, and ran to my parents' room. The door was closed. I banged on the door and tried to shout.
The opened, Daddy rubbed his eyes, "Evangeline, what's wrong? It's 1 in the morning." I grabbed Daddy's hand and lead him to the stairs. He saw the flames, "Holy crepes with raspberry sauce!" Daddy woke up Mummy and called 9-1-1, but they'll arrive in 15 minutes. That was only enough time to get one thing and get out of the house.
Daddy got the notes from the lab. Mummy couldn't get anything, because she couldn't think straight. I got my birthday presents. And we ran to the entrance of the house. Unfortuatley, the fire spread to the kitchen and the stairs. I grabbed Mummy's and Daddy's hands, and leapt to the bottom of the stairs, but Daddy let go. And Mummy slipped on our landing, and broke her left leg. She bit her bottom lip in pain. I looked at her and purred if she was alright. "I'm okay, sweety. Just a broken leg." She assured me with a smile.
I sat Mummy down, and leapt to Daddy and grabbed his hand again, but he forced his hand away from me. I chirped in confusion. "I'm sorry, dear. But I can't leave. I've tried, but I can't move." Daddy explained, looking down. I followed his gaze and his leg was stuck under the floorboards.
I couldn't get him out, because I wasn't strong enough and I would get stuck too. Daddy threw his large, black trenchcoat over my shoulders, "Go and take your mummy to safety. Don't worry about me. I'll always be with you." Tears welled up in my eyes, as I gave him a small hug, and did what I was told.
When I reached Mummy, the flames have circled her. I tried to jump over the flames, but I got burnt across the chest, causing me to fly back into a wall. I tried again, but the flames lashed at me, creating an 'x' scar on my left cheek. I could hear Mummy say something, but the sound of the fire muffled her words. Then she threw something over the flames.
It was her favourite street hat. I caught it and looked at the flames. "Now go, sweetheart. Go!" Mummy shouted. I couldn't leave my parents. But, they wanted me to. So, I ran out of the burning house, dodging every flame, that threatened to harm me. I reached the door, and looked back. I purred in sadness, as I opened the door and ran into the courtyard.
Suddenly, the entier house exploded into flames. Destroying everything. The fire department arrived and tried to calm the flames down. A fire inspector walked toward me, as the flames began to disappear.
"Are you Evangeline?" He asked me, trying to see my face, but I didn't let him. He had a chubby face, with a matching round nose, dark hair with matching dark eyes, and wore a detective's hat and a long, dark blue trenchcoat. I nodded to him, identifying myself. "I'm very sorry, dear. But, there is no sign of your parents. This was all we could find of them." The inspector told me, giving me a burnt scarf. I took it and realised it was Daddy's favourite scarf.
Tears threatened to fall, so I hugged the inspector and let the tears fall. My parents. The people that gave me life. The people I loved with all my heart and soul. Dead. Died in a fire that was my fault. I truly was a monster. My scars burned at the thought, making me put my gloved hands over my heart.
The next day, I was in the Police Station. They let me stay there for the rest of the night. Mummy always told me to trust the Police. They showed no fear of me, but understanding. My parents were very famous scientists. A rookie walked past me. He slightly gasped at the sight of me and rushed to his documents.
The Police Officer, that found me, walked up to me with a file of documents. "I'm afraid, with your parents no longer here, and the rest of your family out of the country, the only option we have for you is the little orphanage, just in the corner of Paris. Get your things, you'll be there this evening." The Officer told me. I hung my head, as the fire played again and again in my mind.
I got my things together, and met the Officer in the car. I sat in the back and watch the seats of Paris, as we drove past them. We arrived at the orphanage, just after 3 o'clock, and the Officer registrated me to the files. The building looked like a large church, on the outside. But it was very cheerful and colorful inside. It was more of a school, than an orphanage. Some kids ran past me, playing tag. One of the kids saw me. She saw my eyes, fear got the best of her and ran off. I hung my head in sadness. I knew I was going to be hated here.
The head of the orphanage took a look at me and smiled, "Hello, Evangeline. I'm Miss. Paradis." Her voice was soft and gentle. Her eyes were blue, but not as blue as my daddy's. Her pale blonde hair was tied in a loose bun. She was tall, but very slim. She reached out her hand. I hesitated a little, but I gave her my hands, and she lead me to the main hall, where everyone assembled to meet me. I heard a few gasps and I saw the girl that ran from me.
"That's it! The monster I saw!" She screamed, pointing at me. She was taller than me, so she must've been my age. She had long dark hair, that fell loosely from her shoulders. Her eyes were light blue with fright. She wore a school dress with school shoes. I hung my head, but I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I looked and Miss. Paradis had her hand on my shoulder in comfort.
"Now, Madeline. You can never judge a book by its cover. I've been told by the Head of the Police Department, that Evangeline's parents were lost in a tragic fire. And she's going to stay here until she can be adopted. So, you have to be nice to her and make feel like one of the family." Miss. Paradis told everyone. Everyone left and went on with their day. Miss. Paradis gave me a tour of the orphanage. It was rather big and I had to share a room with a boy named Emile. I hope I become good friends with him.
The rest of the day didn't go so well. I went to apologise to Madeline, for the misunderstanding. But, she just gave me the cold shoulder. I chirped to get her attention. "Why should I speak to you? You may have Miss. Paradis fooled, but you don't fool me. You're just a parasite." Madeline snapped at me. Those were the same words Victor said to me, before he left. I backed away, tears filling my eyes, and shaking my head in fear. Madeline's image was replaced by Victor, and I ran to mine and Emile's room. I hid under the covers and started crying. I opened my uncle's music box, and began singing,
"I... I hide my light, Inside a cloak of night.
Beneath a red scarf, And a chapeaux.
The pearl of my heart, Locked within a shell.
Too afraid to let it go, To let it show.
And all the headlines read, For the whole world to see,
A Monster in Parie.
I fall apart. I fall apart.
Apparently, I did appear.
Beneath the light, Yes it was me.
A Monster in Parie.
I hide my pain, Inside a melody.
As if the note I sing, Will set me free.
I'd keep all my dreams, Under a lock and key.
I'm soo afraid that they will fly, Away from me.
A Monster in Parie.
A Monster in Parie.
A Monster in Parie..."
I sighed, and closed the music box. And tried to fall asleep. I heard the door open and someone climbed on to the bed, on the other side of the room, and began tinkering with something. I kept myself hidden beneath the covers and went to my thoughts. Sadly, the flames and Victor's words haunted my mind, torturing me soo bad that I couldn't sleep. So, all I could do was cry. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better, and I will make a new friend. The good thing about this event is that the news about the Monster in Paris were gone. I hope for good.