Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Chapter 19 - The Land of Misfit Toys

Leah's POV

I learned something today: I don't like being alone.

Of course, I'm not actually alone. Mrs. Janine watches us and feeds us, to make sure we don't kill each other or anything. But for the most part, there's no one to talk to.

There are four other kids here too. Angele, pronounced "On-jell", is eleven. Along with her twin sister Adele, She's part cucuy, part wizard. They have a way of scaring everyone around them when they doesn't get what they wants. Including their family. Including a police officer, which is why they're here. Not only is this an observation center; it's also a rehabilitation center. I don't want to explain too much, because it's none of my business. I don't like them very much.

Trace is two. He's a wizard, obviously, but his parents were bad. They were evil, and who tried to take over the wizard world. They're locked up now. Professor Crumbs saw potential in him, so he let him live. He's lived here since he was five months old. He doesn't even remember his parents.

Then there's another boy. He's a little older than me, with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. I don't know his story; he kind of keeps to himself. He hasn't said a word since I got here. He just sits in the corner and draws all over himself with markers, never making a sound. He's very mysterious, and I'm very curious.

I kept to myself mostly. Mrs. Janine explained everything I probably needed to know. There's an invisible camera in every room besides the bathroom. On tuesdays, thursdays, and sundays, people come to ask us questions. Breakfast is at eight, lunch is at twelve, and dinner is at five. We have sessions and play time, and even tv time. I share a room with the twins. Lucky me. They have a bunk bed. I have a pullout couch next to the window. Mrs. Janine says that if I cooperate and do everything they ask, time will fly. I'm not so sure.

I sat by myself at dinner and turned in early for bed. Normally, I would've made friends with somebody by then, either that or talked the adult's ear off by now. But not this time. I was too sad. I missed my parents.

I curled up in my blanket with my back against the wall and my head against the window. I listened to Angele and Adele's stupid argument over who got the top bunk. I didn't dare try to break it up. They were half mythical monsters who found joy in scaring the pants off of people, after all.

They finally settled their feud with a thumb war. Which started another war. Adele decided to charm her hand, making it an easy win.

"You cheated, Brat!" Angele shouted.

"Nuh uh!" Adele retorted, folding her arms over her chest. "You're just can't not have your way!"

"You used magic! I didn't have a chance!"

"No magic wasn't declared a rule, smart one! Maybe you should've thought of that first!"

"I hate you!" Angele wailed, smacking her sister with a pillow. Instead of arguing back, Adele yanked her hair.

I pushed the ends of my pillow against my ears. There was no way I would be able to stand it. I watched them fight for the longest time, until I finally couldn't take it.

"Guys! Can you please knock it off?" I asked bravely. "Cause I need to sleep, too!" the twins exchanged glances with each other. They smiled and nodded. At first I thought they were agreeing with me. They covered their faces and crept closer to me, until they we were nose to nose. They removed their hands and let out an earsplitting screech, revealing their cucuy monster faces.

"AHHHHH!" I screamed. I screamed and screamed while they laughed. My entire life flashed before my eyes. I had never turned so scared so quickly in my whole life.

Angele kicked my bed, harshly shaking me. "Shut up, you stupid baby!" she yelled. "You should be sharing a room with Trace!" That shut me up. I huddled in the corner of my pullout couch and cried.

The twins finally fell asleep two hours later. Angele had finally agreed to letting Adele sleep on the top bunk. She fell off about an hour ago, so now she's snoring face first into the carpet.

I sat back up to my earlier position: back against the wall, head against the window. The wind seemed to be making the leaves on the trees dance. The moon was high and shaped like a toenail. I was thankful that I didn't phase until later this month. Unlike Daddy, who did every night. He was probably changing right around now.

"Daddy," I whispered softly. "Momma." I clutched my locket. What was it that Momma said to do? I'd probably remember in the morning. I hate it here. I want to go home.

I curled up by the window and cried until I fell asleep.

XxXxXxXxX

I sat alone at lunch until I felt a tap on my shoulder. I spun around to see mystery boy.

"Hi," he said. "You're the new girl, right?"

"That's me I guess," I sighed.

"What are you?"

I was slightly offended by that. "What do you mean by that?"

He laughed, sensing my alarm. "I mean, are you a wizard? Elf? Genie?"

"Oh!" I laughed. "I'm a wizard. And a werewolf. And mortal."

His eyebrows raised. "Really?" he thought for a minute. "that's cool, I guess."

I smiled and offered him my hand. "I'm Leah Graybeck."

"I'm Ink." he shook my hand back.

"How's that your name? Ink's not a name!"

He laughed. "My real name's Ignatius. Ignatius Nico Keaton."

I thought for a minute. "Ignatius Nico Keaton. I. N. K. Oh! I see! Ink is your initials!"

"Bingo! I've been called Ink since I was born. How old are you?"

"Five and a quarter. You?"

"Seven...and three quarters I guess, if we're talking like that."

We talked for the rest of lunch. I hadn't laughed so hard in two days. He was really funny. But I got a weird feeling. He was hiding something. I just knew it.

"Okay, everyone. Dr. Monroe is here." Mrs. Janine said. "You know the drill. Adele, you're up first."

"What's going on?" I asked Ink.

"Intervention," he muttered.

"What's that?"

"It's were a dude or dudette comes in and asks you questions." he scoffed.

I raised an eyebrow. "What kind of questions?"

"It's different for every case. Are you a goody-goody or stubborn?"

I gave him a blank stare.

"Do you follow all the rules, or do whatever it takes to get what you want?"

I thought for a minute. "I don't know. I just want to get out of here."

He smiled. "Then just do everything they say, and you'll be out of here as soon as you can." he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I don't say anything."

"At all?"

"Nope. I just sit there and look at the ceiling. They think I'm stupid, so they give up and go to the next kid. I've been here for four months now."

"How long did they make you stay here?"

He smiled. "Just two."

My jaw dropped. And I was complaining about one night. "Why? All I want to do is go home!"

"I did at first, but then, something just came over me. I don't want them to learn every little detail about me. It's none of their business. So, I guess I'm stuck here for a while."

I just looked at him in awe. There was something funny about Ink. He was just a mystery. And I was determined to find out what it was.

"Leah? It's your turn." Mrs. Janine said. I didn't realize how long we'd been talking.

"Good luck," Ink whispered. I slowly walked to the room she pointed to.

Okay, I have a few questions for you guys, if you don't mind. :)

1. How do you think Alex is taking all of this?

2. What sort of things should the interviewers ask Leah?

3. What do you think Ink is hiding?

Chapter 20 on the way:)