Chapter five~ YAAAAY! Okay, I hope you guys like this chapter. Rereading chapter four, I found out I left you guys on a bitter/sad note. To refresh some minds, Peter was an ass and Elizabeth ran away. Okay, again, enjoy!
After no more tears could possibly come from Elizabeth's eyes, the sky seemed to darken. I didn't pack an umbrella. Great. Ignoring the sky, Elizabeth nibbled on the crackers she packed. She sat on the ground, just an empty shell.
Drip. A drop of rain fell on her cheek. Eyes widening, Elizabeth packed her book in the bag and ran deeper into the woods. The rain seemed to intensify with every step.
"Just keep running," Elizabeth mumbled. She ran as far as her feet could carry her. She collapsed in the cool moss, finally deep inside the woods. Here, the dense foliage could shield most of the rain away from her precious book. Laying on her back, Elizabeth looked up at the trees and listened to the soft pitter patter of the rain. All seemed okay, for now. Then came a flash of lightning and a roar of thunder. Now Elizabeth may have been a headstrong girl, but she was still young. The storm scared her and reminded her of a sad time. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she never was happy during storms. She hugged her bag close to her chest. As a child, Elizabeth's mother would sing her a lullaby to calm her nerves. Mother, how strange the word felt on her lips.
"Hush, I'll hold you tight,
as the storm rages through the night.
My little star, do not fear,
because I'll always be right here.
Forget about your worries and all of your frights,
because I will hold you hand, until we see the light.
Ba da ba dum,
I love you, my dear.
Dum ba da dum."
When the last note left her lips, Elizabeth felt a warmth take over. It felt like she was wrapped in her mother's arms again. She started to close her eyes, but not before she heard a jingling. Passing it off as her imagination, Elizabeth went to sleep.
"OH, the nerve of that boy! How could I ever love someone like him?" Tink asked herself. Love. The word itself used to make her feel all warm and tingly. Now it just made her feel cold and forgotten. She slowed her flying pace just a bit, staring back at the star that led her to her former love. Her past memories with Peter flashed through her mind, as she stopped flying altogether. Oh, Peter. How much have you changed? Remembering she had a mission, Tink began flying again.
Tink reached the orphanage and went into the woods to look for Elizabeth. Half way into the search, it started to rain. The rain soaked Tink's wings, taking away the ability of flight. Still, she trudged on, looking for any signs of Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth, where can you be?" Tink asked aloud. Her only reply was the rain. The pesky rain. Tink was getting quite drenched and was not too happy about it. She settled on going deep into the woods, where the rain wouldn't be too bad. Going deeper into the woods proved to be one of the best choices Tink ever made. Not only did her wings stopped getting wet, but she stumbled upon a singing voice. Elizabeth maybe? The voice started off soft and scared, like a child. But with each word, it grew stronger and warm, like a fireplace on a winter morning. A flash of lightning struck again and lit the night, revealing a familiar red headed girl.
"Elizabeth!" Tink cried out, forgetting the fact that all the human could hear from her was a series of jinglings. Tink ran to Elizabeth. Checking her pulse, Tink sighed in relief. She was fine, shaken up, but fine. Nuzzling into the warmth of Elizabeth's body, Tink fell asleep.
Elizabeth woke up to the soft chirping of distant birds. At first, she was quite confused on the entire situation. Where was she? Then memories of last night played back in her head. She had ran away after meeting Peter and went deep into the woods to save her book. Peter. She hated him now. But she didn't let him consume her thoughts. She preoccupied herself with surveying the area around her. Trees, trees, and more trees.
"Just great. That, combined with the fact that I only have crackers and water means I'm going to die. Just peachy," Elizabeth grumbled. All of her grumbling and moving around must have woken Tink up, because the little fairy began to stretch. Elizabeth started to hear more jingling and was confused again. Why was she hearing jingling? She was alone, right? Elizabeth turned around and looked at her bag.
"Wait. Fairy. Green. Fairy. Holy crap. Tink. Why are you here?" Elizabeth asked, her mind scattered. Tink flew over to Elizabeth and started to talk and move her arms around.
"Um, Tink. I would love to understand what you're saying, but it's only coming out in a series of jingles and bells," Elizabeth stated. Tink stopped talking and merely blink. Flying back to Elizabeth's bag, Tink got a pencil and some paper.
"Peter was a complete jerk and you didn't deserve that at all. I know that you ran away and I'm here to help you out. I'm bringing you back to Neverland, whether Peter likes it or not. So, will you come along with me, Elizabeth?" Tink wrote out. Elizabeth stared at the paper and stared at Tink.
"Me? With you? To Neverland?" Elizabeth asked. The fairy nodded. Elizabeth sat there and weighed her options. Neverland or woods?
"Well, my best choice is Neverland. It's quite clear that I'm not going to make it here, and I rather like living. But what about Peter?" Elizabeth asked. Tink quickly scribbled something.
"Screw him." Elizabeth smiled.
"Okay, I'll go with you. But I don't want to be called Elizabeth anymore. That makes me think about my past and I don't like that. I want a new name," looking up she said, "Juniper. I like that name." Tink gave a smile and then the two made plans to leave for Neverland at night fall.
The children filed into the classrooms that the orphanage held. One of the Madames took roll.
"Elizabeth," the Madame announced. The class was silent, as the children looked towards the empty desk in the back. Confused by the silence, the Madame looked to where Elizabeth's seat was.
"Has anyone seen Elizabeth?" the Madame asked. The children merely blinked at her.
"Alice, aren't you friends with her? Do you know if she's sick or not feeling well?" the Madame asked. All eyes went towards Alice, who blushed. She wasn't Elizabeth's friend. In fact, Alice was one of the main children that bullied and teased Elizabeth for her ridiculous ideas.
"Um, no. I don't know if she's sick of not, Madame," Alice said, leaving out that Elizabeth was not her friend.
During the lunch break, the Madames went to check Elizabeth's room. They came to a locked door and decided to knock on the door.
"Elizabeth, are you here?" No response.
"Are you not feeling well?" Pure silence.
"Elizabeth, please respond back. We are trying to make sure if you're alright or not." Nothing.
"That's it. Will someone go and get a key," the head Madame asked. One of the other Madames rushed off to get the key and returned shortly. The head Madame inserted the key and turned the lock. Swinging the door open, they found no one. All they saw were the remains of Elizabeth. Unfolded blankets, clothes on the ground, papers still on the desk. Everything was in it's place, except for Elizabeth.
"When was the last time anyone saw Elizabeth?" the head Madame asked.
"Last night, after she took her shower. She marched straight to her room, still upset from the earlier argument."
"Do you think she ran away?" a Madame asked, her voice trailing. Whispering broke out between the Madames. This was the first time that someone had ran away, for the Madames always tried their best to keep the children happy.
"Ladies, please calm down. After today's lessons, I will take some of you to search for Elizabeth. We will check around the orphanage and in the woods," the head Madame announced.
"The woods?" someone shrieked.
"Yes, the woods. I don't know if anyone else happened to noticed, but that girl snuck off to the woods quite often," the head Madame replied.
"But Madame," a timid voice started, "we always work our very hardest to keep the children happy. If she ran away, that meant she was unhappy. Which in return means that we did something wrong."
"No," the head Madame sighed, "she was always a wild one. When she arrived here at the age of five, she was very reluctant to join anything. She was the first one to leave the classrooms, first to leave dinner, and breakfast, she didn't even come to breakfast. She just waited in her room, with her bag still packed. Sometimes I could faintly hear a song being sung."
"Not to poke my nose in her business, but why did she come here?" a newer Madame asked.
"Her mother and I came from the same town. When I was eighteen, I would babysit her mother, who was a mere two years old. Coraline, she was the sweetest thing. Even after she grew up, we still made time to have tea and talk. When Richard proposed to Coraline, I was one of the first to know. Richard, he was a charming young man. Hardworking, kind, helpful. He was everything she wanted. But with their first child, Elizabeth, some problems came up. But it wasn't money, like Coraline led Elizabeth to believe. Richard was secretly an alcoholic and would hit Coraline. She tried to hide it, but ended up telling me one day. By then I was working here, watching over the younger children. Coraline asked me to take in Elizabeth, to keep her safe from Richard. So, we worked out a plan. When Richard was away at his job, Coraline would drop Elizabeth off and then catch a flight to America, where she had some relatives, willing to take her in. It was a stormy night when Coraline came…"
The sky thundered and shook with rage. Still, Coraline continued with her plan. It was the only way she could keep sweet Elizabeth safe. Before anything could be set in motion, Richard had to leave for work first. As she was flipping pancakes, Richard came and hugged her from behind. Scared of his touch, Caroline flinched.
"Oh, sweetie. It's okay. You're in my arms," Richard whispered in her ear. His voice sent shivers down her spine. Richard softly kissed her on her neck. She gave no objection towards this, and he wrapped his arms around her waist and left a trail of kisses.
"Richard, please," Coraline whispered.
"What? Am I not allowed to show my wife my love for her?" he asked, tightening his grasp on her.
"Y-you need to go to work, Richard," she murmured.
"Oh, so you're trying to get me to leave? Why so eager, Coraline? Is there someone waiting for you?" he asked, anger seeping in.
"No, I, I just don't want you to be late, sweetie," she replied. His grip on her loosened.
"Don't 'sweetie' me. I see all those numbers! They call every day, asking for you. All males! You're having an affair, aren't you? Aren't you?" his voice boomed like the thunder.
"No, I'm not having an affair. Those are old school friends, I only love you-"
"Filthy lies! You're disgusting, you know that? You throw yourself towards any man you see. How much do they pay you? Huh? I've noticed that extra money you've gotten. It's certainly not from me!" he shouted, letting go of Coraline completely. Now it was Coraline's turn for anger. She whipped around and stared him dead in his eyes.
"Pay? How dare you. The money was from Ms. Laurie, an old friend of mine. She's been helping take care of our child. I will not be seen as a slut in my own home, Richard!" The lightning cracked, at the same moment his palm met her pale cheek.
"Don't raise your voice at me! Who pays the bills? Who brings home the money? I do, not you! While you sit here and take care of the god forsaken child. Tell me, Coraline, why my own daughter looks nothing like me at all? The truth is she's not ours, is she? She's the mutt of you and someone worthless trash!"
"Do not call her a mutt! Elizabeth is our child, Richard, you know this."
"I don't know what I know anymore. I used to know you as the sweet, loving wife. Now what are you? Practically a stranger in our, no, my household." The last sentence left a sting in Coraline's heart.
"Whatever, it's time for me to go to work," Richard said, slamming the door. Weary, Coraline dropped to the ground. She pulled her legs to her chest and began to cry. While she cried, Elizabeth peeked out from the living room.
"Mama?" Elizabeth asked, rubbing her tired eyes. Coraline looked up and saw her beautiful child.
"Come here, Elizabeth. Mama has something to tell you." Elizabeth obeyed and sat in her mama's lap.
"Mama has to go somewhere, but she can't take you. So, be a good girl for Ms. Laurie, okay? She will take care of you. She's Mama's friend and she's very nice," Coraline said, embracing Elizabeth.
"Are we playing a game, Mama?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes… It's the game of life," Coraline replied. Then she stood to pack up her and Elizabeth's things.
Coraline and Elizabeth made it to the orphanage. Ms. Laurie stood at the door with an umbrella. Seeing her old babysitter, Coraline raced to embrace her.
"Oh, Ms. Laurie. Thank you so much. May you have good fortune in the future," Coraline whispered. Ms. Laurie merely smiled a sad smile. Looking down, she saw Elizabeth.
"Hello, dear. I'm Ms. Laurie, what's your name?" Ms. Laurie asked, hoping the five year old would warm up to her nicely.
"Hello, Ms. Laurie! My name is Elizabeth and Mama has told me all about you," Elizabeth replied, not knowing the graveness of the situation.
"That's fantastic. You'll be staying here for awhile, so why don't you head to the daycare center? Leave your stuff here for me, and Ms. Jamie will bring you there," Ms. Laurie told Elizabeth. Elizabeth put her things down and walked towards her mother.
"Bye, Mama. I'll miss you lots and lots!" she shouted, wrapping her small arms around her mother's legs. Coraline dropped down and gave her daughter a long hug.
"I love you, I love you, I love you so much, Elizabeth. Don't forget that, okay?" Coraline asked, keeping her tears in. Elizabeth kissed her mother's cheek and turned to leave with Ms. Jamie.
"My dear, dear Elizabeth, you must grow up," she began, but by then her daughter turned the corner, "to be a wonderful lady."
Dun, dun, dun. We learn that Elizabeth's mother meant for Elizabeth to grow into a wonderful lady. And that Richard's a jerk. Okay, to clear something up. Coraline couldn't take Elizabeth with her because her relatives in America were all grown up with jobs and didn't have to time to take care of Elizabeth. Coraline was already asking for so much that she decided the best choice was to leave Elizabeth behind with Ms. Laurie, her old caretaker. Okay, so I wrote an EXTRA LONG chapter just for you guys. Hope you guys like it. The next chapter should be out soonish. I have tons of summer assignments to catch up on. So, byes~ R&R!
