A young girl sat outside the headmistress's office. She had long brown hair, hazelnut eyes, and pale skin. A yellow shirt and blue shorts with sneakers covered her body. Her name was Leah.
It had been almost five years since the car crash that had put her in a coma. Three and a half years since she had woken up. During her time in the coma, she could see herself in the future, saving the world from destruction. Only it wasn't her world, it was like an alternate reality but it felt so real to her, that she had tried everything to try and get back there.
The doctors said it was fine for her to be like this in the beginning. Saying to play along with her. Yet as the months turned into years, they realized there was no improvement in her state of mind. It was fine for little girls to stay in imaginary worlds but for a 15-year-old like her, something was wrong.
So after much consideration, her parents decided to send her away to what she thought was a hospital. Only from the inside, you would never know it was one. It looked to be like a regular old building on the outside. On the inside, it was like a grand mansion. It was two stories in the shape of a square. There was even a small garden in the middle of the building where the residents could go outside.
But Leah knew she didn't need to be here. She swore that the world she had seen was real, she just needed to prove it. The only question was how?
A click next to her makes her jump out of thought. She turned to see her parents come out of the office. They looked at her with a soft smile. "Do we have to do this?" Leah mumbled as her parents stopped in front of her.
"Leah, we talked about this." Her father stated as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder "It should only be for a month anyway."
"A month?!" Leah shouted in protest.
"Sweetie, we have to do what's best for you." Her mother spoke.
Leah crossed her arms as her head faced the ground. No matter how much she protested she wouldn't be getting out of this.
"You know to be on your best behavior. Do as you're told, eat well-" her mother paused as Leah got up and gave her a hug "I know Mother."
"Good." She kissed Leah on the forehead.
"If you're done here." A voice from the headmistress's office. Leah turned to see a woman in a black suit, with raven black hair and green eyes. She presumed it was the headmistress herself.
"Of course." Her father spoke as he took his wife's hand. Leah turned and watched as her parents made their way towards the exit. She desperately wanted to call after them. To run and give them one more hug. But her legs wouldn't move, her lips stayed sealed.
"Miss Leah, I would like a word." Leah jumped a bit at the headmistress's voice. She spun back around and noticed her green eyes staring at her. "Bring your bag in so we can discuss your accommodations during your stay."
Leah nodded and grabbed the small leather suitcase her parents helped pack. She followed the headmistress inside the office. It was a rather small office, there was a desk with a file on it, several filing cabinets lined the walls, a fuzzy red rug layered under the desk but on top of a laminated wood floor. The headmistress gestures for her to sit in the small wooden chair across from her rather nice-looking one. They both sat and the headmistress spoke first.
"Miss Leah, my name is Maleficent, head of Yen Sid's home for troubled teens." She tipped her head as if to say welcome "but you shall call me Mistress Mal or headmistress."
Leah nodded her head and spoke in a quiet voice. "of course ma- I mean Mistress Mal but I don't think I belong here."
"But I'm afraid you do. You claim to have lived in a futuristic space world, do you not? One where you are the hero?"
Leah nodded "But I did live there, they say I'm the hero destined to save it."
Mal shook her head at the girl's response. She then stood and grabbed the file from her desk. "I would like you to see someone this afternoon."
"See someone?" Leah asked in confusion, yet still anxious.
"It's nothing to be afraid of, Miss Leah," Mal said, putting the file away in a drawer before slamming it shut. "It's standard procedure for all our residents to meet with our psychologist upon arrival" She then walked back over to the desk "Let me see your bag."
"Why?" Leah asked, clutching the handle of her bag. She didn't mind but there was one particular item in there that she rather not have her see.
"It's standard procedure here. I need to make sure nothing you brought is going to be a hazard to you or any of our residents." She gestured to Leah to put it on the desk.
Reluctantly she did, laying it so it faced Mal. Mal undid the clasp that held it shut and opened it. There wasn't much inside, just some clothes ranging from pants to shorts, t-shirts to long sleeves, even a sweater in case it got cold. A photo of her parents, older brother Lucas, and dog brownie. A yo-yo that was immediately taken out, and her journal.
"How long were you in the coma?" Mal asked as she examined her belongings.
"You mean the space land, about a year and a half according to my parents. But to me, it felt like only a few weeks." Leah explained.
Mal nodded, and once she was satisfied, she shut the suitcase. She then pushed it back in Leah's direction. She then picked up the yo-yo and put it in a drawer in her desk.
"What are you doing with my yo-yo?" Leah questioned.
"You'll get it back at the end of your stay." She said sliding the drawer closed.
"But-" Leah began to protest. She liked doing tricks with her yo-yo, but her protests were quickly cut short. "Miss Leah, I know things are quite a challenge right now. But honestly, I think you can live without a yo-yo," Mal spoke sternly, making Leah quiver a bit. Leah lowered her head in defeat again.
"Good." she then picked a piece of paper off her desk and handed it to Leah. "this will be your schedule for the time being." Leah reached out and grabbed it, carefully looking it over.
6:00 AM - Wake up and get ready + Medications
7:00 AM - Breakfast
8:00 AM - Schooling
12:00 PM - Lunch
1:00 PM - Group Therapy
2:00 PM - Recreation
3:00 PM - Therapy or treatments
5:00 PM - Outdoor time
6:00 PM - Dinner
7:00 PM - Chores
8:00 PM - Medications/get ready for bed
9:00 PM - Lights out
"Any questions?" she asked rather annoyed. Leah looked up and shook her head. "Good. Now, I've got other matters to attend to. But first, let me show you to your room." she then walked over to the door and gestured for Leah to follow. Leah stood, gathered her suitcase, and followed her into her new home.
