I stood there motionless as I watched Mr. Ainsworth follow the strange, dark-haired man, Ruth, down the stairs. Once the sound of their footsteps on the stairs could not be heard, I made my way into the room Mr. Ainsworth was letting me stay in. I closed the door behind me, intent on changing into clothes that covered up the deformities of my body. The man, Ruth, had seen my horrible appearance and from the pained expression on his face, he was responding like everyone at the College usual did.

I thought more on that expression he made though. It was pained, but for a moment, I thought I had seen kindness and joy. Perhaps I was mistaken. There was no way that I could have seen such an expression. He probably was looking at me the same way that Mr. Stroud did. Mr. Stroud always looked at me with a pained expression, but sometimes with kindness. I felt that kindness was pity though. Pity for what I was…

I shook my head, my white hair getting into my face. I swatted at it and pushed it away. I needed to tie my hair up. I didn't feel like wearing it down today. On top of finding clothes to cover the strange patches of purple skin I had and a hood to cover my horns, I was going to find something to tie my hair up.

I began my search in the dresser, rummaging around to find anything that would cover up more of my strange, monstrous body. I was finding nothing but skirts, shorts, dresses, and short-sleeved shirts. It seemed that Silky wanted me to wear clothes for the season, no matter how much I didn't want to. There had to be something, that or my old clothes had to be somewhere. I turned my search to the closet.

I riffled in there in hopes of finding something, but only found similar clothing choices as the ones in the dresser. I was running out of ideas as to where Silky put my clothes when there was a knock at the door. It was gentle, less loud than the way that Mr. Ainsworth had knocked on my door earlier. I went over and answered it nervously, wary of the horrible appearance I had and worried that whoever was knocking was going to be upset with looking at me.

To my relief, it was Silky. She smiled at me as she moved her hands up. I noticed she had a hairbrush and some ribbons in her hands. She was coming to…brush my hair. I opened the door more, confused as to why anyone would want to touch me or do anything like this with me. Silky didn't seem bothered by looking at me though, she always seemed to have a smile on her face when she was around me. It kind of put me at ease. I was comforted that Silky didn't seem disgusted by me, but perhaps she was pitying me.

I watched as she walked inside the room and gestured for me to take a seat on the stool near the desk. I did as such and she began brushing my hair out. It was…really nice. I imagined this is what it felt like to have a mother do your hair. The feeling was comforting and relaxing. I felt safe in that moment. Like Silky would protect me and love me no matter how much of a monster I was.

This peace was short-lived though. Echoing up the stairs through the open door was the yelling voice of the strange man, Ruth, "What do you mean she was being hurt?! They promised they'd look after her!"

I looked over my shoulder at Silky, but her attention was no longer on me and brushing my hair, she was staring out the open door. After a moment though, with the murmur of what I only assume was Mr. Ainsworth's voice, Silky turned her attention back to me. She noticed my focus was on her and she gave me a smile before turning my head back around and continuing to decorate my hair…and I think my horns. I felt her delicate hands on them as she worked. Strange…

We stayed in a comforting silence for a while before I heard the thumping of someone coming up the stairs in a hurry. The motion of Silky tying my hair with ribbons stopped and I looked over my shoulder once more to see the commotion. Silky was staring at the man, Ruth, as he stood in the doorway to my room. He looked irritated as he stepped forward calmly. "Excuse me." He walked past Silky and turned his attention to me.

I became frightened by him looking at me. I wished at that moment that I had found those clothes that covered more of my horrible appearance. I wished I had found a hood to cover my horns. I was scared of this man staring at me before he finally sat down on the bed next to the stool I was in and grabbed my hand, "Where did they hurt you?"

I stared down at the hand he was holding before looking up at him confused. Nothing was making sense in this moment. I wasn't entirely sure what was going on. I continued to stare at him, not sure what he was asking me. His voice got more heated as he asked again, "Where did they hurt you Briar?!"

My name…he knew my name. My head jerked up to stare into his red eyes intensely. "How?"

He focused on me, there was a look of confusion on his face as he tried to figure out what I was asking. That's when another set of footsteps calmly walked up the stairs and came over to my room. "Ruth, shouldn't you be somewhere?"

Ruth's attention turned from me to Mr. Ainsworth as he stood leaning in the doorway to my room. After a moment, he released my hand and gave a sigh before getting up and walking over to Mr. Ainsworth. "I hope you know I have to tell her about this. She's not going to be happy."

For a moment, I thought I saw a pleased expression on Mr. Ainsworth's face as he replied with a tone I was unfamiliar with. He had always had a cool and collected deep voice, but now he sounded happy, almost pleased. "No, I suppose she won't be…I do tend to upset her sometimes no matter how hard I try to not do just that."

Ruth gave another sigh before heading down the stairs. I heard the sound of a door opening and closing before Mr. Ainsworth spoke again. The pleased and happy tone was gone once more. He had a cold voice, similar to mine as he walked over and looked down at me. "I see Silky has being doing your hair. I feel the ribbons on the horns were a nice touch." He patted my head with a smile on his face. The hand was comforting, it felt right. Mr. Ainsworth seemed to know exactly where to place his hand atop my head, it felt natural.

After a moment of patting though, he stopped and removed his hand. I stared up at him, waiting for him to continue speaking, expecting him to have more to say to me. However, it seemed he was anticipating something from me. I wasn't exactly sure what I was supposed to say. He had complimented my horns…was he trying to continue his point that I looked fine and didn't need to hide? Was he trying to make me feel…happy with what I was? I bit my lip before giving a response. "Thank…you…"

That seemed to be the answer that Mr. Ainsworth was looking for. He once more gave a smile, before speaking in that deep, empty voice I was growing somewhat accustomed to hearing. "I am sorry that Ruth barged in here. After he found out that I had taken you from the College because you were getting hurt, he became worried over you. Now that he knows I have you, I will find myself in a bit of a trouble."

I was confused. How could Mr. Ainsworth taking me from the College get him into trouble? I told Mr. Renfred that I wasn't returning and I would tell anyone else the same, no matter who they sent. Meaning that I had made the choice to stay, so why would Mr. Ainsworth get in trouble. "Why…?"

Mr. Ainsworth placed his hand on my head once more, seeming to enjoy the feeling of patting me as much as I enjoyed the feeling of being patted. He was quiet a moment before he spoke again. "Come, we need to begin introducing you to the Neighbors in the area."

That cold…empty voice…didn't answer my question…