Jessica (JE): Yes Mrs. Drapes?
D: Your new roommate's here.
JE: Yay! (Pushes to door) (To Alex) Hi, my name's Jessica!
HG: Alex, nice to meet you.
D: You girls play nice. (Gives Alex a glare.) Shout if you need anything.
JE: So, Alex, I hope that you like top bunks, because I've been sleeping the bottom for over a year now, and I'm terrified of heights!
HG: Well, I usually have a single, but top's cool too. I'm actually a fan of heights.
JE: So where are you from?
HG: I'm not sure.
JE: I don't understand?
HG: I was born here in New York, but then placed here at this home, then I was taken upstate, then we moved to Australia for a while, and I was living in Hong Kong for a few months.
JE: Wow.
HG: Where are you from?
JE: Ohio. My dad beat me too.
HG: My father never touched me.
JE: Oh, I'm sorry, I just assumed –
HG: I know – they all did. (Pauses) Jessica, do you believe in magic?
JE: I love that song!
HG: No, I mean real magic. Wizards, witches, unicorns, ogres, tolls, Cerberus – dragons – just to name a few.
JE: Should I?
HG: I'm just curious. So what's Ohio like?
JE: Nothing special – at least not compared to New York!
HG: Yes, New York always has had a sense of home to me too.
JE: Home? How can you find home in New York? It's all business!
HG: (Thinking) Anywhere's home when you don't have one. (Speaking) I'm not sure to be honest.
JE: You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but hw did you get that burn?
HG: Funny story about that actually.(Remembering lie she had told Adam at the burn center) I was playing with matches in my room – after my guardian told me not to – and the room flashed over.
JE: How awful!
HG: How about you? That's a nasty looking scar. Your dad didn't –
JE: No. I just don't get along with some people at school. Oh well right?
HG: Totally. So what do you do for fun?
JE: Me? I hang out in my room a lot. Our room now I guess.
HG: Well, what do you do?
JE: I like to write.
HG: Really? About what?
JE: Fantasy.
HG: So you do like magic?
JE: Yes. It's fun to imagine it all! Mrs. Drapes always told me that it was a good thing that there's no such thing as magic, because there would always be some sort of party pooper who would try and destroy the magic.
THAT NIGHTALEX'S DREAM
N: The Southern Huntsman's holding Alex tightly as she cries her guts out.
HG: It's not fair! First my family, now I have to return to the dragon? Why me sir? I don't think that I can do ti!
SH: Alex, look at me. (Holds away) Do you remember those dreams from the other night? The weekly physical and the party? Do you know why I pulled those memories out for you?
HG: (Shaking head) No sir.
SH: Because everything I tried to install in you was meant to guide you in case something did happen.
HG: I still don't understand.
SH: The waistline and weight was to make sure that you were always confident! If you were to gain too much weight, your confidence level would drop and you wouldn't be able to sustain life in the South.
HG: And the party?
SH: You now know how to be a young lady, use it to your advantage!
HG: (Smiling) You know, I always trusted you with my life. I never was uncomfortable.
SH: I'm glad. Though, I'd like to apologize for lashing out a couple of times as I did.
HG: I deserved it?
SH: No. I know good things always seemed to come from your punishments, but you hadn't deserved the agony.
HG: Nothing's worse that having to stay at this foster home. I'd rather tame a hundred Cerberuses if it meant I'd get to leave. (Pauses) Oh, poor Rose! Her doggie's missing. I never thought about that.
SH: They'll get another one.
HG: What about Thorn and Riley?
SH: I don't want you trusting Thorn. There's something odd with him. But you could always meet with Riley in his dreams.
HG: Oh yea! Thanks Master – you always make things better.
SH: (Laughing) Only when I'm not making it worse!
HG: Master, you never make things worse? Well, okay, when you're mad, but that doesn't count.
SH: I want you to always remember that you're not alone. We're not dead, but our strength is within you. Please, Alex, do it for the clan.
HG: I will Master.
SH: Thank you. And if you ever feel suppressed by them, just go fall asleep, and I'll be right here.
HG: Thanks Master. (Begins to walk out)
SH: Oh! And Alex, I've been curious. Did you want to see you dad? I don't believe you two have talked since the court hearing.
HG: Not yet.
SH: Fair enough. Be safe!
HG: You as well Master.
THE NEXT MORNING D: Good morning girls! Breakfast time! Clean up and I'll meet you in the kitchen!JE: Good morning Mrs. Drapes! Did you sleep well?
D: Fabulously, thank you Jessica, how about you?
JE: Like a baby!
D: Alex? I might as well as you also.
HG: I slept well. Saw an old friend.
JE: Huh?
D: That's a nice dream honey. Well, catch you soon!
JE: Okay!
HG: (Waiting for Mrs. Drapes to exit) Jessica, do you ever just want to get away from it all? You know, runaway?
JE: Not really. I like it here. I like Mrs. Drapes. I like safety. Don't you?
HG: Well, I've always lived at the edge. I'm used to danger – but not exactly like what you went through. But you know how I said that Mrs. Drapes has watched over me before?
JE: Yes?
HG: Well, we really did not like each other then, and we really don't now.
JE: But Mrs. Drapes loves everyone!
HG: It's complicated.
FRONT DOOR15 MINUTES LATER
D: Officer Stephens, I cannot take in this infant!JE: Why not?
D: Jessica, it's complicated.
Cop2 (C2): Mrs. Drapes, please. You're the only house in the area that has and open room, and you're a four star home! The little one needs you.
HG: (Looks at infant's hand in disbelief) Come on Mrs. Drapes! The baby needs us. I'll even help with him!
D: (To the officer) There isn't any other home?
C2: No ma'am.
D: All right, what's his name?
C2: We believe that it is Max. A while ago, he was found abandoned in a hotel room. No one knows what happened to the parents. It was like they disappeared.
HG: You have no idea.
D: Quiet Alex. (To officer) Please come into my office to finish paperwork. (Jessica runs off to breakfast) (Mrs. Drapes hands Max to Alex.) Look, I'll pay for everything he needs, but I want you to take care of him. You freaks are good for one another.
N: Yes, indeed little Max had been marked with the mark of the Huntsclan.
HG: (Thinking) But if he was born before the catastrophe, why is he still here? Was there a third part of Rose's and my prophecy? He's so cute. I can't believe she's letting me raise him. Doesn't she know that I'll turn him into a dragon bloodthirsty machine?
THE NEXT DAYD: Alex, you do realize there's no point in training him? Your clan's dead.
HG: No, really? I thought they were on a vacation?
D: you're so funny darling. Go to breakfast. If anyone asks why you two have the same birthmark, come up with something creative.