An unfortunate event.
"More trees. More bushes. More grass. That's all there is to it."
She looked past the low fence, staring out into the forbidden area. Mama's words echoed in her mind as she wondered - Then why can't we go?
A cold breeze hit her face, bringing her back from her thoughts. She heard two boys calling out her name, probably searching for her.
"Found you!" She heard a shout close behind her. The little girl saw a blonde boy standing to her left, panting as he tried to catch his breath. She giggled before starting to run the opposite way. She looked at the surrounding trees, looking for her familiar carvings of animals. The bigger the animal it was, the closer the hiding spot. Mouse, bird, then fox. After a bit of running, she had found the hollow tree with a carving of a bear, and hid inside - making sure she covered the entrance with a scarf she had painted to match the tree and some bushes.
The pants and rustle of grass passed by the tree as she held her breath, when he paused just a little bit past the tree. "I could have sworn I saw her here." He murmured, before continuing to run further and further away from the hollow tree. She let out a breath and wiped away her sweat when she was sure he was far away.
A face suddenly poked in through the scarf entrance, a sweet one with short blonde hair.
"C'mon." She smiled. "Let's leave this place." She told the little girl as she pulled her out.
"Mama!" She giggled, hugging the woman. A whiff of vanilla filled her nose, the scent she associated with her mother - her comfort. The woman smiled and hugged her back.
"Let's go." The woman started gently pulling her out of the tree by her wrist, letting the girl follow behind. Mama was the only one who knew about her hiding spot, except for Mindy.
She was surprised to see almost all of the children all gathered together - some with bags and all with a confused look. "This way!", their Mama yelled for them to follow her as they set off towards- not the house? Everyone whispered to themselves, wondering where they were headed.
The little girl looked around for her friend and spotted the brunette.
"Mindy!", she called her. Mindy came over, and the girl noticed she had a bag packed.
"Hi!" Mindy greeted her friend. She was only a little over two years older than the girl - 6 years old.
"Where are we going?"
"'Dunno. No one else knows either."
"What's in your bag?"
"Mama gave it to me. I looked inside, but there's only some food and another pair of my uniform."
"Are we going on a trip then?"
"I hope so, it'll be our first one!So I decided to put some toys for when we travel. I heard one of the older kids say they read that the most boring part of a trip is when we're on the move."
"I can't wait to see a car!"
"There's a lot of us - so maybe a bus?"
"That's even better!" The younger girl squirmed in excitement with stars in her eyes.
"I want to go on an airplane!" Joined in one boy.
"What's an airplane?'' another one said. Soon, all of the children were in one big conversation about vehicles and such that they had never seen before. Each one filled with excitement and eagerness to see one.
"Mama, where are we going?" The little girl asked when she realised they were heading towards the big grey wall that imprisoned the orphanage. They had always been told to avoid going there, so why are we heading towards the wall? Mama paused in her steps, just by the low fence. She turned to look at them and smiled.
"It's a surprise. So be prepared." She looked at the little girl and tied her dark blue hair back into a bun with the turquoise ribbon from her own hair. She squatted down and said to everyone with a low voice, "I love you all so very much. So let's leave this place." Her smile faded away into a serious look, with pained undertones. The younger ones smiled at her, while the older orphans sent each other confused looks with that last line. The little girl just smiled back like the others around her age, but had been a little concerned with her mama's determined look. What was that she said again? Let's leave this place? That's the second time she's said that today.
"Stay here." She told them as she walked off into the woods. Shortly after, she came back with a tall ladder, and some homemade rope with a hook at its end. Everyone looked at it curiously, as Mama set the ladder against the wall, just barely making it halfway up. She started climbing up and when she reached the top, she threw the hook-end of the rope above the wall, where it hit somewhere beyond what they could see. Mama tugged it a few times to ensure its security, while ignoring the children's inquiries. She then looked over at everyone and answered with a smile, "We're going rock climbing. This'll be some fun practice!" She then called for two of the older children to help the others climb up, whilst she ascended up the rope herself. The older two were still a little doubtful, but decided to help the younger ones get up.
When it was Mindy's turn, she offered for the little girl go first, but the girl insisted she was fine and let Mindy up first. She watched her brunette friend ascend the rope when she felt a pair of hands place themselves on her shoulders. The little girl snapped her head to look at who it was, and saw and old lady in a formal black dress with her hair in low bun. She was looking up at her Mama with a menacing smile that sent shivers down the girl's spine. she turned to look at Mama, who had a horrified look on her face. Just when the little girl was about to ask what happened, her vision was suddenly filled with a gas that spread - seemingly coming from the woods. She started to feel drowsy and her eyelids started to droop over her eyes. What was happening? Were her eyes swollen or something? She saw the other few remaining children start to sit down or literally drop to the ground and watched as her friend, who the gas had finally reached up to, lose her hold on the rope and start falling. The little girl jumped from the woman's hands and landed on the ground to try and save her friend, however feel into an instant sleep the moment her body hit the ground, escaping the crushing pain she was about to feel from her friend's body crashing into her frail arms.
The little girl's consciousness started to awaken and found herself in complete darkness - but it felt like she was moving. She sat up to try and understand her surroundings, but felt incredible discomfort in her right arm. That was when she realised her arm was in a cast, and that she was on a bed. She looked around, ignoring the throbbing pain on her left side from the uncomfortable position she slept in.
Her eyes finally adjusted to the brightness - not that it was much help anyways. She could only see the faint silhouettes of her surrounding thanks to her perfect vision. She could only make out a few other beds - some empty and some not. Was she in an infirmary? The little girl got onto her knees and shuffled closer to the end of the bed to see if she could recognise anyone. Squinting her eyes, she gave up realising it was just too dark and realised there was no window anywhere to let starlight in.
She gasped when light suddenly filled the room from an open door and turned to look at who it was. The silhouette of the old lady from before was made out from the warm light coming in through the door. The little girl remembered the woman's chilling smile and started to feel a little worried, but calmed a bit when the woman had a warm and sweet smile instead.
"Hello. I see you've awaken. I'm Grandma Sarah." The girl kept silent. "It is currently very early in the morning, so I suggest you should go and sleep a little bit more." She still kept silent. The woman started walking in towards her bed and the girl moved aside to let her sit.
"Where's Mama?" Was the girls first question.
"She's in another infirmary. It seems she's gone a little crazy, don't you think?" The girl tilted her head in confusion. Mama was the most logical and reasonable person she knew. "Didn't she always tell you to stay away from the fence? Let alone the wall?" After a bit of thinking, the girl nodded slowly. "And now she was making you guys go past the fence and leave. She really needs to make up her mind."
"Can I visit her tomorrow?"
"If I could let you, I would. Unfortunately, she seems to be very sick. I think I gave her quite the fright, which may have an effect on her well being at the moment. She's been making up some silly stories, you know. It may not be the best to see her in such a state right now. So we'll be sending her back to her family. They know what to do with her." The girl sat there quietly, thinking to herself.
"But then, why don't you send her to the hospital? Or a mental hospital? You said she's having some mental issues, can't her family just visit her there? Aren't we her family?" Now it was the old lady's turn to be quiet. The girl observed her, who still held a sweet smile, but she saw a vein popping out of her forehead.
"My, my. Those are some big words you know there, especially for a 4 year old. Well, of course. Her family will do that for her. We do not have the authority to do that for her. Yes you are her family here in the orphanage, but until she returns she'll be staying at her real family's home." The woman got up and swiped dust of her dress. She turned and tucked in the little girl. "I want to introduce you to someone tomorrow. I think you should stay there until your mama returns. She'll be able to help you with learning more big words. Goodnight." And with that, the woman left the room. Only then did the girl think of another question she wanted to ask the woman - How did she know she was awake? Oh well. She'll ask in the morning.
When morning came, the little girl was awoken by the sounds of other children talking. She sat up again, feeling less discomfort than she did earlier. Rubbing her eyes, she asked the other children (which she recognised from her orphanage) if they talked to Grandma Sarah too. A few of them nodded and said that she was going to introduce them to someone today. They all wondered about who it was and what they would look like. Some came up with interesting descriptions.
"Maybe a Papa?" One asked.
"I hope we meet a princess!"
"Definitely not, we must be meeting a caretaker." They all discussed. The little girl joined in.
"Well, she said that it would be someone who could help me with learning more big words. So... maybe an owl?"
"Idiot! An owl can't talk!"
"Maybe they can now, though the latest books we have are from 2015." Another girl wondered.
"Shut up, she just has a wild imagination." The girl looked around again.
"Where's Mindy?" She asked.
"I heard that Grandma Sarah lady say that she found a foster family to take care of her until Mama comes back."
"Lucky. Why couldn't they find one for us?"
"I guess Mindy's just the ideal child." They all stopped talking when the doors burst open once again. Grandma Sarah was back.
"Hello, children." She looked around the room, and her eyes landed on the girl and two others. "You three - please come with me." One of the other two helped the girl get off the bed due to her injured arm.
"Thanks, Elijah." She smiled at the boy, who smiled back.
The three of them walked to the woman, bidding their siblings goodbye. They walked out of the room to find themselves in a long hall with other doors, which they presumed were more rooms. They followed Grandma Sarah silently, observing their surroundings. The atmosphere was nothing like it was back at the house. There it was warm and welcoming, while here it was cold and plain. The white walls seemed to go on forever, and there was nothing particularly interesting at all. They then stopped at a door that looked the exact same as the others, it was a wonder how the woman even managed to recognise which one to find. She opened the door and stepped aside to let the children in.
Thee kids filed into the room, and found that it was an office. It had a simple desk and papers neatly stacked on the side, with a lamp and pot with two pens inside. By the desk, there were three seats, two against the wall and one on the opposite side, which a woman sat in. This new person had raven hair tied back in to a bun covered by a hairnet and wore the same uniform as Mama did. She had bright purple eyes that contrasted with the little girls golden ones.
Grandma Sarah walked in after them and motioned for them to take a seat as she took the one behind the desk. The older boy, Elijah let the other two sit, as they were younger than him. They all looked at the woman who sat opposite them knowing she would be the one taking care of them for a bit.
"Children, this is Isabella. She will be taking care of you from now on, so you should call her Mama." From now on? What was that supposed to mean? The woman noticed the bewildered look on the little girls face, and as if answering her question, "We checked on your Mama a few hours ago. It seems she may not be well for a very long time. Not to worry, I'm sure you will get to visit her when you join your foster families."
"Hello. What are your names?" The woman asked kindly. One by one, they introduced themselves, the little girl more hesitantly. "I see. Well, I hope you will find my house as comforting as yours was. I believe you will get to see it today, along with your new family. Is that correct, Grandma Sarah?" The old lady hummed an agreement.
"She is one of the best caretakers we have. Often producing many smart children." The little girl raised her hand timidly to ask a question.
"What do you mean by 'we'?" She also wanted to ask why she would use the word 'produce', but felt like there was something going on, something very bad.
"Hmm? Ah, yes. The company. We work for an orphanage company with many branches around the country." Elijah decided to ask a question.
"What about the rest of our siblings? Aren't they coming too?"
"As much as we wanted to keep you guys together, we decided it was best to separate you guys, seeing as Isabella here will be at full capacity with you three coming in. We'll be sending them to the next best orphanages and foster families." The old woman replied with a polite smile.
"Are there other kids my age?" The little boy, Noah asked.
"How old are you, my sweet little child?" Isabella asked.
"3."
"Why of course, there are lots of three year olds back in the house."
"Any more questions?" Grandma looked at them. After a pause, the dark haired girl asked her last one.
"How did you know I was awake?" A pause. A few seconds of smiling and a falter in their kind smiles. This mistake was covered up as soon as it showed itself.
"I was doing rounds of checking on patients. You happened to be awake when I came by." Grandma answered, and with this the little 4 year old was satisfied.
They travelled to Mama Isabella's house in a truck. It was a short ride, but the three children were amused by the feeling of being in a moving vehicle. Which Isabella giggled at. When they finally arrived, Isabella helped Noah off the truck and swirled him in the air before letting him down. Meanwhile, the others laughed enthusiastically at how wonderful this "New Mama" was, while Elijah helped the girl off. Grandma Sarah then walked up to them from the front of the truck.
"I hope you'll enjoy it here and grow to be very smart children." She smiled at them, though the girl could just barely pick up some eerie undertones in her voice.
"I'll take great care of you guys." Isabella patted Elijah on the head, while carrying Noah in her other arm. "Come, let's meet the other children shall we?"
"This place looks exactly like our home." Elijah thought out loud on the walk. "Remember the drawings you made? Of the hills and trees?" He looked at the little girl, who blushed at her artworks recognition.
"Well it's what makes the company iconic and well known." Isabella answered them. She turned to the children. "What would you guys like? As a welcome gift?"
"Hmm... building blocks." Answered the youngest one. "I'm going to make the tallest tower yet" He grinned with cute determination.
"Action figures. I've seen some in the comics I've read. They're so cool!" Said Elijah. They turned to look at the little girl, whose fingers tapped on her lips as she went into deep thought. She then looked at them when they realised they were staring at her.
"Watercolour paint?" She shrugged. Elijah smiled and held up her right arm, causing her to wince before he quickly apologised.
"She's the best artist back at the orphanage. The older kids used to call her a 'visual learner' too!" He smiled innocently at Isabella.
"Well, that sounds fun! I'll be sure to encourage your art and learning."
When they reached the house, children were peering out the windows, and two children burst out. One of them had bright orange hair you'd never miss and glowing green eyes, while the other had unusually pale white hair and deep blue eyes. The girl was dragging the white-haired one by his sleeve who followed anyways. Both of them had bright smiles plastered onto their faces, the girl giggling and clearly the more hyper one. These two were no more than a year older than the little girl.
"Hello Emma, Norman."
"Mama, who are these?" The girl, Emma asked curiously studying the three children.
"Idiot! Watch your manners." A boy with jet black hair whose bangs covered the left side of his face yelled as he leaned on the door frame. Isabella smiled at them and told them to go inside.
When they reached the house, everyone chattered excitedly and started asking questions about the knew kids.
"Everyone, these are your new brothers: Elijah, and Noah." She gestured to the pale boy with blonde hair who was Elijah, and the tan redhead who was Noah. "And this is your new sister, Ava."
Thank you for reading!
-larika 3