Sulpicia POV

I laughed and picked up the dark red apple that Airlia had tossed down from the tree she had climbed. A slight breeze blew through the orchard and ruffled my hair the color of burnt honey with buttery highlights.

Airlia jumped down and flashed me a dazzling grin.

"You know sometimes I wonder if we'll ever get tired of coming here everyday?" She asked me her voice as light and airy as her long white robe.

I laughed again and watched her lift the basket of apples we'd collected and start her way back to the trail. I walked behind her and found myself gazing at the stars that had collected in the sky above us.

Airlia walked at a steady pace her dark waves swooshing with every step.

"You know what Airy? We'll never get tired of this place." I mused my thoughts still in the stars above us.

Airlia turned to face me I heard her soft chuckle when she saw me gazing at the sky again.

"Oh Sulpicia the Gods help me your head is always in the clouds." She sang her voice like a wind chime.

I looked at her and smiled. She shook her head and continued through the high trees.

"I know what you mean though, besides the orphanage this is our home" Airlia said.

I ran so I was walking beside her.

The trees finally gave way and opened up into the the city of Athens it's marble structures gleaming and prominent in the moonlight.

Our home.

We walked through the orphanage doors and were immediately surrounded by the young children I was one of them once. My parents had died of malaria when I was young and the orphanage had been my home since.

Airlia had come shortly after when her own family was been murdered. I rarely talked about it and when it did come up in conversation it ended with us crying ourselves to sleep dreaming of our losses.

The young children pulled at our robes and gave us cherubic smiles their cheeks turning rosy from the cold that had come from the open door behind us.

We handed them apples and took two for ourselves.

"Sulpicia can you go fetch some water?" Airlia asked seeing that there was none left. I nodded and grabbed a cloak and headed outside. The night had gotten darker and colder the pond was a near mile away. My sandals clicked on the ground. I shadow flicked in the corner of my vision and I pulled my cloak tighter around myself.

Several grotesque thoughts came to mind on what could happen in the streets at this time of night.

The shadow followed me down the next street and down an alley.

I took a deep breath and turned around to find nothing there.

I reached the small pond and filled the bucket I had brought.

Lifting it back out I started back to the orphanage being there so long in had acquired a responsibility.

I sensed someone behind me and turned around to see nothing.

Airlia met me at the door and split the water between the other children leaving some for me. I gulped it down gratefully the chill quenching my thirst.