When Irene and I got outside the old building I hailed down a taxi. I went into the smelly dull yellow car, Irene followed in behind me.
"Where to sir?" The taxi driver asked.
"City Hall please" I answered "and not to rush you but, can you get there as fast as you can" I added.
"As you wish sir" he said.
Surprisingly we got to City Hall pretty quick, Irene was clinging on me for dear life it seemed. The taxi stopped in front of City Hall and Irene hopped out I paid the taxi driver the approximate amount of money.
Irene ran up to me and grabbed a hold of my hand. I could tell she was scared so I just held her closer to me so that she wouldn't be scared anymore. I felt her relax a little bit but she stayed having a strong grip on my hand.
We walked into the large marble encrusted building. When the doors opened we were blasted with icy cold air. When we entered we were automatically approached by a man in a blue suit and black tie.
"How may I help you sir?" The man asked.
"Well we ar-" I got cut off by Irene pulling on my sleeve, "what is it Irene?" I asked.
"Let me handle this Finn, please. Irene said.
I nod.
"Excuse me sir?" Irene asked the man.
"Yes?" He asked.
"By the look of your appearance you are most likely the Secretary or an assistant of some kind and I could tell by the way you approached us that you want to get as many jobs done as possible to get either a promotion or a raise. So I would like you to help us make a contract for me so that I can be the co.owner of a residence" Irene demanded. I just stood there like a lump on a log in awe staring at Irene.
"Is there something wrong Finn?" Irene asked.
"N-nothing Irene, just one thing though" I said "umm...how did you do that?" I asked.
"Natural-born talent, I guess" she said.
"Okay...I think" I said.
"So sir are you going to help us or not?" Irene asked the man.
"Um...f-follow me" the man said.
"Yes sir, please take us to where we need to be" Irene implied.
The man took us over to the mayor's office. He opens the door to the office. The mayor speaks in a old tuned out tune.
"Wilson, what did you bring me today?" The mayor asked.
"This young lady needs a contract to be made" Wilson said.
"Ah I see, Wilson you may leave. Little girl please step forward." The mayor said.
Irene walked up to the mayor's desk with her hands behind her.
"Now little one, why do you need a contract to be made?" the mayor asked.
"I need it to become the co.owner of the Wilnor Mansion Orphanage, sir" Irene stated.
"I see and who is the owner of the establishment?" he asked.
She turns around and points at me, "he does sir."
"And who might this be?" the mayor asked.
"Finn, Finn Swallow sir" I said.
"Well this is a pleasant surprise, two people most likely siblings. One of you was given the residence in a will, the other given the authority to be the co.owner, am I wrong?" the mayor asked/stated.
Irene and I glance at each other before I speak up.
"No sir, you are not wrong" I said.
He raises on of his black bushy eyebrows and smirks.
"Well I am never wrong, now lets get on with this contract" the mayor stated.
Wilson ran into the office holding a piece of paper.
"What is it Wilson?" the mayor asked.
"Mr.Swallow you have a message" Wilson said.
"Let me see it please Wilson" I said.
He hands me the note, it read "Finn its Chief Rodger, we need you and Irene back asap."
"Well?" the mayor asked.
"I'm sorry sir but we have to leave, we will be back later to finish this" I said.
"I completely understand Mr.Swallow, have a nice day" the mayor said.
"Thank you, goodbye" I said.
As Irene and I left City Hall I felt a pair of eyes on the back of my head. I'm guessing Irene felt the same way because she tightened her grip on my hand.
As I called a taxi I turned around to see if anyone was there, sadly there was no one. The taxi arrived and I took one last glance behind me and got into the car.
We arrived at Wilnor Manor and saw Chief standing at the entrance. I paid the taxi driver the needed amount and exited the car with Irene on my side.
I walked up to Chief with a concerned look on my face.
"You messaged me to come urgently, so what is it?" I asked.
"Well first I'm sorry for disturbing you and second there is someone who needs to see you" Chief said.
Someone wants to see me, strange.
"Take me to the person please" I said.
"As you wish, follow me" Chief stated.
Chief took me to MY office. It sounds weird saying that but I guess it is my office now.
"Did this person talk to you about why they are here?" I asked.
"No, they only said that they needed to speak to you immediately" Chief said, "they didn't even show their face" he added.
"Hmm strange" I said.
Chief just nodded his head and opened the office door.
"If anything happens just yell okay" Chief suggested.
Irene tightened her grip on my arm and I smiled.
"Don't worry Irene everything will be okay" I said comforting her.
She just nods her head and we walk into the office. I could feel Irene loosen her grip on my arm.
It was dark and very little light could be seen.
Irene was the first to speak up, "look I know you're in here Smith just come out already."
I just looked at her in confusion until I saw a figure come out of the dark, shadowy corner of the room.
"You still have your ways Irene" the person smirked.
"There is no reason to hide Smith, come on let me see that stupid look on your face" Irene said.
The person took the cloak off of her head showing her long scarlet red hair and a smirk on her face.
"Now tell me, why are you here Smith?" Irene demanded.
"And why should I do that when I came to see my beloved friend or do you not remember me Finn" the girl asked.
I could tell that my emotions were going to over power me and I would end up yelling/shouting or crying my heart out, but neither of those things happened.
I started hysterically laughing and the two girls both looked confused.
"Oh Rayne, always showing up uninvited, but if you are wondering not, I am not happy to see you and you are on my property now unless you explain why you are here I will have you thrown out, understand" I suggested.
"Oh my, my, my, look at how mature and serious we are, it is truly entertaining" she said laughing.
"And how do you know Irene?" I asked.
"Oh she hasn't told you? What a shame that I will have to tell you" she said with a grin.
I looked over at Irene who was on the verge of tears yelled out "I'm sorry Finn I didn't tell you this before but me and Smith are related!"
I felt a sudden urge to storm out of the room and cry. But that didn't happen I just replied to Irene's statement with a smile.
Rayne smiled too knowing that I knew exactly who Irene is and where she came from.
"Oh Irene, didn't you know that when you were born I was there" I said with a slight grin.
"Now, now Finn we don't want to scare/confuse her now would we?" Rayne asked laughing.
Irene looked horrified I wouldn't blame her. I am going to have to apologize to her about this later.
She ran out of the office in tears and I couldn't help but feel guilty for making Irene cry. Chief walked into the office with a look of disappointment.
"What is the matter with you Finn?" Chief asked.
I sent a death glare toward Rayne who just stood there with a blank expression.
"I will...explain it to you later Chief but not right now" I said.
"Okay I understand but later, we are having a long discussion about this, you understand?" Chief asked/stated.
"Yes Chief I understand, will you please check on Irene for me?" I asked.
He shook his head in a concerned way, "of course Finn anything for that little girl" he said.
"Thank you Chief" I stated.
"Anytime" he answered.
As Chief left the room I felt another presence in the room knowing who it was I just smirked.
"Now,now Irene why do you always have to be so sneaky?" I asked.
"Oh Finn surely you haven't forgot how sneaky I am? Don't you remember when your magazines would go missing, so dirty you were" Irene mocked.
"Oh I figured that was you so sneaky and messed up you are" I said.
"I'm messed up!? Really Finn that's coming from you who let a little girl cuddle up to them without problem, yeah I'm messed up" Irene added.
She's right, the first night she stayed her I let her cuddle up and lay on me. I have no way to answer that. I just stood there shocked that she brought that up. Wait, why did she think that I killed Ms.Baker when she killed herself?
"How come you thought that I killed Ms.Baker when she obviously killed herself?" I questioned.
She didn't answer me right away, she just stood there twiddling her thumbs.
"Tell me Irene, what gave you that assumption?" I asked/demanded.
"You want to know Finn?" Irene asked.
"Yes, yes I do" I answered firmly.
"Because of your past" She shamely said.
"We are not allowed to bring up my past, understand" I stated.
"Look Finn, we both know what happened back then, you can't hide it" She said.
"Yes I can and I have been so don't let those memories come back!" I shouted.
She stood there astonished that I had yelled at her. Rayne approached us putting her hand on my shoulder.
"Calm down Finn don't over react now" Rayne said calmly.
"You know what I'm done, I'm going back to my room. This meeting is adjourned" I stated.
I walked out of the office toward my room. When I got up to the room I saw it was occupied with someone that wasn't me or Irene.
"Umm...may I ask why you are in my room?" I ask as nicely as I could.
"Oh! I'm sorry Mr.Swallow I'm guessing they didn't tell you about your room change" She said.
"No, no they didn't. I just came in here to get something so excuse me" I added.
I walked towards the far corner of the room and pulled the floorboards up revealing a box with a mixture of items. I picked up the box and left my old room and headed toward my new room.
When I arrived at my room I noticed that only my things were in the room. None of Irene's things were there.
"She must have her own room, about time" I muttered to myself.
I walk over to my new bed and place the box on it. As I rummage through the box I notice an old picture of me, Irene, and Rayne when we were young. I took the picture out of the box and place it on my dresser. I remember that day so well.
It was a bright and sunny summer day. We were playing in the lake by the Swallow Manor. Irene was around one or two at the time and Rayne and I were about five years old. It was the day before I left to come to Wilnor Manor. I was so happy that day. We were laughing, having fun. Splashing each other with lake water. I was a smart kid back then so I knew what was going on. I still don't understand why my parents got rid of me. Did they not love me? What did I do wrong? All these questions came running back to my head.
I put the picture on my dresser and put the rest of my things away.
I hear the door slowly open. As the door opened more the creaking got louder. I sensed her presence, I know she would come in here. It was Rayne.
"Finn we need to figure out what she knows" she suggested.
"I know Rayne but she needs to remember her past on her own, we can't help her" I said.
"I just can't help but feel bad/guilty from all this" she admits.
I didn't say anything rather I hugged her. When our bodies touched I felt a bolt of electricity. I'm guessing she felt it too because I felt her flinch in my arms.
"You know what Finn?" she asked.
"Hmm?" I hummed.
"I love you...I always have and I always will" she said crying into my chest.
The feeling of having her here in my arms was a feeling that I will never forget.
I felt her tears dripping off of her face onto my now warm chest. I now had a feeling of protection over Rayne. I will protect Rayne with all my heart.
I still haven't returned my love to her. Yes I admit I do love Rayne but I have my duties to attend to and I don't want anything bad happening to her.