It was cold.
Extremely cold.
The concrete ground only worsened my growing fever, the buildings encompassing me helped the wind create a draft that bit at my exposed skin. The street lamps barely illuminated this alley, yet here I was anyway.
Today was the worst because Dad threw things at Mom and me in a tantrum. They were always scary when they were mad at each other. I couldn't remember the last time we sat at a table and had a heartfelt dinner together.
Why was I told I was too old to throw tantrums when Dad did it regularly?
In the heat of the moment, when Mom and Dad were at their scariest, I thought it was a good idea to flee and ended up here.
I almost couldn't feel my legs anymore, and my knees screeched with each step I made. I only had slippers and a light jacket, and they couldn't protect me from the snow.
When I tried to put weight on my front leg, I accidentally slipped on the frozen concrete, face-planting against the cold hard cushion that was the ground. I scraped my knees, and the snow harshly bit at the wound. I hissed in pain, and tears poured down my cheeks.
"Mom, Dad," I called out through my raspy sobs. "Please, stop fighting so I can go back."
I lifted myself with my bloodshot hands and looked forward. My vision grew hazy, and all I could see were blurry snowflakes and shining lamps.
I couldn't take it anymore.
"Mom, Dad? Where… are you?"
No one said anything back.
I sniffed. "Mom, Dad, I'm sorry I ran away! Please! Where are you!?"
…But no one came.
My feet were frozen in place and even the slightest of movements were painful. I clutched my jacket as tightly as I could. "It hurts."
I knelt down before slowly hugging myself, hoping to keep myself at least somewhat warm, but there wasn't a part of me that was warm anymore. In the end, no amount of shouting alerted anybody.
It was like I was the only person in this alley.
I started to doze off. My eyelids grew heavier, and I was about to fall to the ground when something began shining in the distance. I lifted my head, but I didn't see anything in particular. I stood up and followed that light that grew stronger with each passing moment before it started violently lashing out in all directions.
My surroundings began to shatter like glass from the rays of light, and when it became too bright to look at, I closed my eyes, and everything went dark. I prayed that nothing would happen to me and while it was wishful thinking, the light that penetrated my eyelids slowly ceased.
But when I opened my eyes, all I saw was snow everywhere. Roads and buildings were replaced with sprawling hills, towering rocks, and dead trees, hanging on by a thread with their lifeless roots. I instinctively took a step back while my head frantically darted from side to side, trying to find any remnants of the street I was in just a few moments ago.
"What's going on?"
Then, I heard a chilling screech behind me, and my heart skipped a beat. My already shaking limbs became almost uncontrollable. The combination of the cold and dread crawling down my spine paralyzed me, and all I could do was tilt my head behind me slowly.
What I saw left me flabbergasted.
It was a creature that was made completely out of ice. Its shape resembled a bird, but its size was akin to a large hawk. It could freely flap its wings and keep itself afloat despite its disjointed limbs. It also emanated an eerie blue light like a candle and despite not having any eyes, I could feel its stare.
My heart began to pound like a hammer, and when my legs finally decided it was time to run, I made a break for it. Fumbling around to find my footing in the deep snow, I plowed through it as best as I could, but it barely amounted to a light jog.
I constantly heard the screeching ice from that creature. They weren't getting closer, but my ears always picked up on it. For a moment, I thought I lost it, but once I turned my head back, something quick and sharp sailed past my cheek. I momentarily stopped to look at the ground, only to see a glowing blue icicle embedded in the snow the size of a pen.
Then, I felt a sting in my left palm before my brain shot to overdrive. I let out a pained shout and resumed running for my dear life while tears began trickling down my cheeks. Sobs escaped my mouth while I tried to find any kind of cover in this field and eventually stumbled upon a small cavern.
I immediately bolted inside and my legs gave out. The rocks were an uncomfortable cushion, but at least they weren't covered in snow. I tried balling my hands, but then another shot of pain ran across my body, and I looked at my left palm, impaled by that glowing ice.
However, no blood flowed out of the wound, as if the shard was so cold it saturated the wound immediately. The worst part was that I barely felt it unless I put any pressure on it but I was too scared and worn out to pull it out. Laying on the ground drained me of any warmth I had left, and my eyelids were too heavy.
Long, cold breaths filled my lungs that kept me barely awake, but when I lost the last of my strength to hold on, everything turned dark. All that kept me company was that wound momentarily flaring up with pain.
I couldn't feel anything else.
The cold air.
The snow covering my feet.
The dread.
I was glad everything went away.
"—e… found someone!" The voice was muffled and I barely registered it. It was masculine, but I was sure it wasn't my Dad.
"What are… out here!?" I didn't know who they were addressing, but the fact they were talking at all made me want to cover my ears. I even tried to, but my limbs refused to move.
Then, the world became bouncy and got warmer too. It wasn't pleasant, but I didn't have much of a say in the matter. What also came back was the pain, the numbness, and the chilling wind.
Something I thought was already gone.
Just opening my eyes became difficult. My eyelids were so heavy that I didn't even want to try, but I still peered through a tiny opening I managed to make. Nothing but snow surrounded me, but next to me was a silver-looking helmet.
Once the helmet tilted in my way, they let out a gasp. "You're awake! Quickly, hold onto this!"
They showed me a glowing yellow rock before forcing it down the blanket I was wrapped in. It was hard and rough, but it radiated warmth. It contrasted my frigged body, and my senses slowly came back, making me realize just how cold I was.
"It hurts," I whimpered.
"Don't worry, you're safe now," they reassured. "We'll get you treated once we get back to camp."
Camp? What camp?
I opened my mouth to speak, but my lips were popped and extremely dry. I tried licking them, but then an iron taste assaulted my tongue.
"We should be getting closer," they said. I could feel the urgency in their voice, but I just couldn't understand why they were doing this. I was just a stranger to them, lying on the cold ground. Why try and save me?
All of these thoughts made me lightheaded. I was so tired, and couldn't comprehend anything anymore.
Maybe… I'll just fall asleep again. That should fix… everything…
"There! I can see the camp! Just hang on a little…" their head turned to look at me before a hiss escaped their mouth. "Damn it! Her nose is bleeding too much! Don't worry, I'll get you to a doc—"
Everything went silent and dark. I didn't hear the rest the person said, but I was… strangely calm about the situation, even if it was overwhelming. Maybe the fact it was so difficult to understand made me relieved that it was over. Now, what I wanted was nothing more than this to be a bad dream, and I would wake up inside my comfortable bed, confined within its warmth.
But as I spent more and more time in this dark emptiness, my chest started to feel tight. When my eyes shot wide open, I took in a large strained breath, as if my body forgot to use my lungs.
I was lying on a mattress, covered by a hairy heavy blanket. Tilting my head from side to side, I quickly realized that was inside a tent with a very weird-looking heater that shined a bright yellow colour next to me.
It was hot, and yet I still felt cold.
"Is she going to survive?" I heard from the other side of the tent. The voice sounded familiar. It was the person who carried me.
"She is going to be okay, for now at least," a feminine voice explained, holding a slight edge. "You were lucky to find her so early. Otherwise…"
"No, let's not think about that. Once we're finished here, we'll take her back to Belebog. As to what happens next, we'll see once we get there. I'll go back to my post."
"Of course, I'll go check on her in the meantime."
That made me jolt and I used the blanket to cover myself. Soon enough, the tent flap was pushed away and a wave of cold wind rushed inside, but it was quickly closed off. Then, I heard the person getting closer with careful steps to not let out a single sound.
I heard them clearly, but then something poked me, making me jolt in place, and a quiet laugh reached my ears.
"I know you're awake, dear," she said softly. "How about showing your cute little face to me?"
I didn't want to. I didn't know where I was and just the idea of showing myself to a stranger made me self-conscious.
"You don't have to be scared," she reassured. "I'm here to help you. You're not exactly in the best shape right now." She let out a giggle. "If you do, I'll give you a plushie as a present."
I grumbled. "I'm—"
Immediately after trying to speak, I realised just how dry and hoarse my throat was. I couldn't help but cough and felt the woman's gaze growing sharper.
"That won't do." She grabbed the blanket and uncovered my head.
In front of me was a beautiful woman in a similar blue-and-black uniform covered by a white lab coat. She had long deep blue hair and despite her eyes having a red—almost purple hue, they held no malice and instead were filled with worry.
She held the back of her hand against my forehead before a low hum escaped her lips. "At least you have signs of a fever."
How… was a fever a good thing?
She smiled at me with my question written plainly on my face. "Yes, it may seem hyperbolic, but let's just say you're quite the resilient girl. You won't let something like a snowstorm hold you down."
She stood up and walked towards a makeshift table before picking up a big bowl filled with water. Setting it on the ground next to me, she dropped a few pieces of glowing rock inside, and their surface began to bubble.
"Come, give me your hands," she said.
Again, I was cautious, but I didn't have a reason to doubt her, right? If she wanted to do something to me, she would have done it already. Complying with her request, I held out my arms and when I saw bandages everywhere instead of skin, a shiver ran down my spine.
Morbid curiosity wanted me to peel away the bandages and look at what had become of my arms. I didn't have much time to think about it, because the woman took my arms and carefully placed them inside the bowl.
My arms were drenched for no more than a few seconds before they started to burn, and a pained hiss escaped my mouth. It was like I was getting pricked with needles from every side, and I hated needles. Tears started to well up, and I wanted to pull my arms away, but the woman refused to let go.
"It hurts," I wept.
"I know, but hold on for just a few more seconds, dear. You can do this," her voice held no hostility. Her crestfallen expression made it look like she was in pain as well.
When she thought it was enough, she let go of my arms, letting me pull my hands away. With how much it hurt, I thought the water was extremely hot, but it wasn't even boiling.
Once the prickling feeling went away, a new one took its place.
Numbness.
My heart began to pound, and blood started flooding back inside my arms at a rapid pace. I felt the stream, and when I sensed my arms, they grew colder with each second.
"Why… are they still cold?" I asked, my voice still hoarse.
"Because your senses are finally kicking back in," the woman explained, somehow relieved by my question. "Now, let's proceed with the rest of the treatment. Bear with me, alright?"
All I could do was nod and follow all the instructions the woman gave me. The size of the bucket of water went from fitting one limb or two into a large bathtub, where the moment I went it was… painful. It wasn't just one part of the body being stung by needles.
But the woman was there to make sure I went through it, whether I liked it or not.
Once we were done, she helped me into new clothes, a similar uniform to the soldiers that was too big for me, and promptly put me back inside my blanket. She sat down on a chair, and let out a deep sigh.
"And we're done for today," she said before pulling out a notepad. "So, how do you feel right now?"
I tilted my head in her direction while barely able to keep my eyes from closing. "Tired… and still cold."
She hummed. "That's to be expected. While the severity of your frostbite isn't bad, it still will take several days for you to feel like your old self."
Her pen scratched at the parchment. It was the only sound present, alongside the engine inside the heater, but each pen stroke felt like chalk against a whiteboard. It was loud, and paying any attention to it made me cringe.
It tired me out—to the point of drowsiness.
"Now, as for yo…" My eyes closed, and I no longer cared if somebody was talking to me. With how much exhaustion was clawing at me, I didn't hear the rest of what that woman said and let myself fall asleep right in front of her.
It was blissful, as all the pain slowly washed away.
{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}
For the first time after this whole incident, I finally felt warm. Despite the heavy blanket smelling of my sweat, it was still comfortably warm and soft. While it wasn't my bed, it was the closest thing to it.
However, my respite couldn't last forever.
The crunching snow, the squeaky wheels, and the constant stomps were a rude awakening. When I peeked out of my blanket, a wave of frigid wind hit my face while everything moved around me at a slow, but constant pace. Soldiers marched through the winter with their weapons at the ready. Some had guns while others… halberds?
I quickly realised I was on a cart, pulled by a walking humanoid machine, its metal legs digging deep into the snow, and melting it.
"What's…"
"Huddle inside that blanket. You're still not well." I turned around to face the one who was talking to me, and it was the soldier whose voice I recognised. "We'll be marching for a few hours before we make camp. Whatever happens, don't leave the cart."
I could only nod in his direction and did as I was told, but if they were going to walk for so long, what would I do in the meantime?
Maybe finding out where I was exactly wouldn't hurt.
"Um, mister?" I called out to the same soldier, and a hum escaped his lips, prompting me to ask. "Where are we exactly?"
The question somehow caught him off guard. "You don't mean that as a serious question, do you?"
A shake of my head made him stop his march momentarily, but he quickly caught up. "These are the Snow Plains, the outskirts of Belebog."
While I couldn't see into his eyes, there was a part of me that thought he was scrutinizing me. "How do you not know this? Not only is it a restricted area, but you were deep into the plains too. You were lucky we found you."
"I…" I paused before cuddling back into my blanket. "I'm sorry I asked."
He flinched before rubbing the back of his head. "Look, kid, what you did was extremely dangerous. There's nothing but snow for you to see outside of Belebog. Just leave the exploration to us, okay?"
"But that's not—"
"You'll tell me all about it when we camp. Right now, focus on resting, less you want another round of frostbite."
"R-right."
How was I supposed to explain my situation? If I didn't understand it, how would others do?
With my head filled with more questions than answers, I huddled up inside my blanket, trying my best to fall asleep, but I couldn't. My mind kept repeating the same words the soldier said, trying to figure things out. Thankfully, all that back-and-forth thinking made the trek somewhat faster, and once one of the soldiers called for a camp, I was glad I had a tent set up for me, blocking the snow.
Eventually, the same woman with the lab coat came inside while already smiling. "How are we holding up, dear?"
"I'm…" I gulped, trying to get rid of the still sore throat. "I'm getting better."
"That's great," she beamed before squatting down to my level. "Let's do a check-up and see how you are fairing."
The process was similar to the one before, but this time, we skipped dunking my limbs into hot water and instead, I went fully in from the get-go. Thankfully, it didn't sting anymore, and the woman started slowly peeling away the bandages that hid my arms and legs.
It was a terrible sight.
The old skin peeled away with the bandages, leaving behind red-and-white marks all over my body, even the edges of my nails were still bleeding. The woman threw the bandages away before she brought a towel and suddenly started soaking my hair. "Blond colour suits you. It would be a shame to see it so greasy."
"W-what?" I exclaimed. "But what about the checkup?"
"I'm mostly done," she explained before coating my hair with a white powder and working it in with her fingers. "So, let's start from the beginning. What's your name, dear?"
My breath hitched, and I hugged my legs while pushing the warm rocks away. "Diana."
"That's a beautiful name," she said. "And my name is Natasha. How old are you?"
"Fourteen."
Her fingers momentarily paused, digging into my head before resuming. "And would you mind telling me what you were doing so far out of the city?"
"I…" I bit my lip. "I don't know if you'd believe me."
Natasha hummed. "Give it a shot. I'm already accustomed to a child's imagination—it's quite common in the orphanage. But still, you'd be surprised how the most outlandish things can be true."
"I'm not a child anymore," I mumbled, eyeing Natasha with a slight glare.
"And yet here you are, getting bathed with my help," she remarked with a chuckle. "But don't avoid my question. What were you doing in the Snow Plains?"
"I wasn't doing anything," I responded. "When my parents were mad at each other, I couldn't bear it and ran away from home. It was snowing, but I was inside a city, a big one at that. Then, I somehow ended up here."
"Ended up here?" Natasha put her hands on my shoulders and turned me around, her expression stern. "Diana, people don't end up in the middle of the Snow Plains. Tell me the truth."
"I am telling the truth," I said while not looking directly into her eyes, making her sigh.
"Alright, then let me ask you a quick question," she raised her index finger. "Who's the current Supreme Guardian of Belebog?"
My upper lip twitched. "W-what are you talking about?"
She visibly flinched before coughing into her hand. "Okay, I wasn't expecting that. Next question: What's the ore that's heating this tub? That's common knowledge like the first one."
"I really don't know," I said, kicking said ore away from me. My shoulders sagged. "What am I supposed to say for you to trust me?"
Her expression softened before she put a dry towel over my head. "Do you really not know where you are?"
I wordlessly shook my head. My nose was runny, and I tried to suck it back with little success. "No, and I want to go home."
I really wanted to go home. This was way out of my comfort zone, and now I was surrounded by a woman who probably thought I was insane. I wanted to beat myself over thinking running away was a good idea.
Then, Natasha offered me a napkin and I stared at it for a moment before taking it from her hands. Once I folded one of the edges, I blew on it, but my nose remained runny.
"Maybe you're experiencing memory loss," Natasha suddenly said while taking the napkin away before drying my hair. "I sadly don't have much to back that claim up, but it's probably the only way I could explain your situation."
Once I was clean and dry, Natasha helped me back inside my blanket. She checked my forehead, and let out a hum. "Fever is getting a little better, a good sign. Once you're healthy and we reach Belebog, I'll help you find your family, alright?"
I hid inside my blanket, trying to hide the tears welling up in my eyes. "Belebog isn't my home. I know my family isn't there."
Natasha didn't answer back. Instead, she patted my head and left the tent to myself. As time passed by, and my mind refused to relax, the dam finally broke. Sobs began to escape my lips, my face scrunched up, and my fingers clutched the blanket as tightly as I possibly could.
"Mom, Dad, I'm sorry."
{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}
The past several days weren't any different. Morning came, and everyone was ready to march, a few hours passed, we camped, and Natasha came in for a check-up.
That was the gist.
Me and Natasha… we didn't move past the point of her wanting to help me. Every time she finished her check-up, we would sit there in awkward silence before she inevitably left. At least I was getting better. I didn't feel that cold anymore, but I still shivered.
The weather outside didn't help either.
As we got closer to this city called Belebog, I couldn't help but feel anxious. A part of me already knew I was somewhere I shouldn't be, but when I saw a giant fortress in the distance, partially covered by snow, that feeling intensified.
From the hill we were on, you could see the entire city, and the first thought that came to mind was how… steampunky it looked. It was a fortress protected by towering walls from the outside, encompassed by a thin see-through barrier. Close to the city walls were several power plants, bellowing smoke from their giant chimneys while the inside was filled to the brim with big gloomy houses, overshadowed by sprawling railways.
And in the centre of it all was a castle, overlooking the city below.
Now, at the back of my mind, something told me I had both seen and heard of this place, but when? And where?
As I pondered, we eventually got to a gate with barred walls blocking the entrance, guarded by two similar-looking soldiers. However, nobody needed to announce themselves. They let us in automatically, and while we marched towards the centre of the city, the group gradually dispersed, eventually leaving me alone with Natasha, that one soldier who found me, and the machine still pulling the cart.
The machine stopped in place, and the soldier went and patted one of its metal plates. "I'll take this bad boy back to the barracks and report our return, Nat. And as for you…"
He tilted his head in my direction before groaning. "I've heard from Nat about your situation. I doubt I'll be of any help to you, so let me just say this. Stick to her, okay? If there's a person who can help you, it's her."
I averted my gaze from him. "But how?"
"By taking you to an orphanage," Natasha explained and I clicked my tongue.
"Of course you'd put me there, where else?"
"There isn't another option, Diana. But," she smiled. "I run said orphanage myself, and while you'll probably be the oldest out of all kids there, becoming a big sister isn't that bad."
"That doesn't help with the issue," I stated before slowly curling up into a ball. "I know my parents, and the fact I have to go there just feels… wrong."
Her smile faltered. "I know."
The fact she didn't try to argue with me further rubbed me the wrong way. My hands balled up into fists while my nails dug into my skin. "Do I really have no other choice?"
Two shakes of their heads was the only answer I was given.
"Look, once you're old enough, you can find a job and sustain yourself, but right now? The only thing you could find would probably be something small, like handing newspapers," the soldier argued. "That's just not enough."
He pointed at himself. "When you do though, the safest bet would probably be becoming a Silvermane soldier, but—"
"Dunn," Natasha's voice suddenly grew stern. She tilted her head in the soldier's—Dunn's direction and had a sudden intimidating lop-sided smile. "I thought I told you something about recruiting anyone you meet, didn't I?"
"Erm…" Dunn coughed into his glove. "Right, right. I'll go to the barracks."
"Yes, do that," Natasha's expression eased before offering me a hand. "Come on, let's get you settled in."
I hesitantly grabbed her arm while taking the blanket with me. It was the only cover I had other than my baggy clothes. "But where?"
"To the Underground."
While the name was foreboding, the way Natasha lightened up saying it made me feel a little more at ease. It didn't alleviate my inner turmoil of suddenly becoming an orphan, and swallowing the pill of realisation that there was a chance I would never find my real home was difficult.
Natasha took me through several dark streets of Belebog. While a layer of snow hid the dirty roads and walkways, trash laid on the ground anyway. The dumpsters were full, and nobody bothered emptying them out, but as we moved closer to the centre of the city, it gradually became cleaner.
When we reached the so-called Administrative District, I stepped into a completely different world.
It did bear some similarities to my home, but it felt like it was a century behind. The buildings looked similar, just had a different shade of grey or brown. Heaters were stationed at every corner, rail tracks sprawled out across the street with an occasional small train riding across them with people milling about, wearing surprisingly little in such a cold place.
The most noteworthy sight was the giant ice pillar in the centre, adorned with hollow metal wheels.
"Has that pillar jogged up a memory?" Natasha suddenly asked.
I shook my head. "No, it does the exact opposite."
"Well, it's called the Everwinter Monument. It was built as a tribute to all the Architects who led us through the harsh winters this city has to constantly endure."
"Wait," I paused, raising my head. "You're telling me this isn't just seasonal?"
"Sadly, no. The entirety of this planet is covered in snow all year long," Natasha looked at the monument with a hundred-yard stare. She shook her head before heading to the underground metro system. "But that's a lesson I'll teach you eventually once we get you acclimated in the orphanage. Let's go, the Underground awaits us."
"A-alright."
I followed her down the steps and we eventually found a trolley that led into a deep dark tunnel with only a few lanterns illuminating the way in. We boarded one, and, without even a conductor, the trolley descended into the awaiting maw.
It was dark, but nothing I wasn't used to. They were extremely convenient back in my home, and it was the fastest way to travel within the city. This one just had two stops though.
Eventually, the tunnel ended, and the scenery changed tremendously. It was a whiplash.
The Underground was essentially the exact opposite of the Administrative District. Cement roads covered by pearly white snow were replaced by massive dim caverns. Almost everywhere I looked were big ore veins, filled to the brim with that yellow glowing rock. It was a natural source of light, and this place was warm compared to the outside.
Almost like an oven, and just like in an oven, it was a little difficult to breathe here.
Once the trolley stopped, Natasha guided me into the main city of the Underground.
"Welcome to Boulder Town," she exclaimed. "It isn't as vibrant as the Overworld, but this place has its own charm, like an old couch that you always find time to sit on."
"Is… that supposed to be a compliment?" I asked, and Natasha chuckled.
"I think you'll understand quickly."
And she was right. It was the best way to describe this place—an old couch. The buildings were a combination of wood and stone, giving them a rough look. The roads were uneven and were more coarse rocks than solid ground. To top it all off, the constant ringing of pickaxes harvesting the ores echoed within the town.
It was rustic, but at the same time, kind of comfy.
"This still isn't the place. We have to reach a different town—Rivet Town specifically. There I run the orphanage," she explained while we walked. "But before that, let's go to my clinic."
"Huh? But why?" I exclaimed. "I thought you said I was fine."
"I did, yes, but," she looked down at me before stifling a laugh. "Are you sure you want to drag that blanket all the way there?"
Oh.
Oh.
My cheeks flushed. "No, I don't."
"Then let's at least make use of that uniform Dunn gave you. Sewing it down to your size shouldn't take too much time."
It wasn't a big detour, the way to Natasha's clinic was surprisingly quick because it was in the middle of the main street. Once we were inside, she made me wait in an empty bed while other patients occupied the rest.
I didn't pay much attention to them, I tried to let my body rest, but my brain refused to calm down. The more I walked around this… Belebog, the more my mind was finding pieces of a certain puzzle, but it wasn't complete.
Not by a long shot.
About an hour or two passed, and I saw Natasha exiting her office with the uniform in her hands, but it was noticeably smaller. She sat on my bed before offering them to me. "Try them on. They shouldn't be as baggy as before."
I gave her a slight nod before pulling on the curtain surrounding my bed and promptly started changing, but I couldn't help but stare at my body. Patches of red and white skin still permeated my limbs and fingers, but when I tried touching them, they surprisingly didn't hurt. It was as if my body had acclimated to these marks and no longer found them interesting or threatening.
I felt like it should.
Anyway, I slipped into the uniform and it thankfully wasn't baggy. There was still a little wiggle room, making it somewhat comfortable, but it was quite heavy for a piece of clothing. Once I was done, I pushed the curtain away, and once Natasha's eyes landed on me, she covered her lips with the tips of her fingers.
"Oh my," she exclaimed. "It surprisingly fits you. I wasn't expecting that."
I looked down at myself, only for my eyebrow to shoot up. Was it because of my blue eyes? Maybe, but still, the blue color of the jacket was too deep for my taste. The black gloves and boots were still on the larger side too.
Basically, I looked like a tomboy.
Natasha suddenly clapped her hands together, earning my attention. "Well, it's time for us to set off. Time to meet your future brothers and sisters."
I wasn't nearly as excited as she was. As an only child, the idea scared me instead, but again, I didn't have a choice, as both Natasha and Dunn stated. I folded the blanket so it could easily fit into my hands, and I was ready to head out.
Natasha gave me a nod before we left the clinic, and the moment I went outside, I caught the attention of several onlookers. They stared at me with half-curious, half-cautious eyes, and I shirked under them. I didn't know how I earned their gazes.
"Don't worry too much about it," Natasha suddenly said while nudging me to move forward. "Just ignore them."
Thankfully, it didn't take long for us to exit Boulder Town, but instead of clear pathways through these mines, we had to go through a few small tunnels, held together by wooden support beams. Wherever we went, rail tracks adorned the ground for minecarts, and we saw a few going past us, filled to the brim with that glowing yellow ore.
It was an entire tunnel system connecting the mines, but Natasha didn't even have a map. She was able to find our way through easily. It still took us some time to actually reach Rivet Town, but once we got there, it wasn't much different from Boulder Town.
However, it was a lot smaller and under worse conditions. The houses' walls crumbled under the touch, vendors selling their wares had fewer choices among their stocks, and every other street lamp flickered, but the same couldn't be said about the people. Despite the state of the town, I still saw them with smiles on their faces while the kids ran around without a care in the world.
All the while being overlooked by a mansion atop a hill of stone.
While it bore architectural similarities, it stood out like a sore thumb. It was a lot cleaner and well-maintained. For a moment I thought it was just a mansion for the wealthy, but to my surprise, it was actually Natasha's orphanage. I didn't believe her, but as we climbed the hill, we appeared on a playing field in front of the mansion. I could hear the kids' on the other side despite the wall between us.
But in my mind, there were two walls, and no matter how much I tried taking another step, I still didn't want to enter that mansion.
"Welcome to my orphanage, Diana," Natasha said, not meeting me eye-to-eye and fondly gazing at the building. "I'm sure this will be able to create a temporary home for you."
I couldn't match her enthusiasm. Several days ago, I had a family—not the most precious one, but it was still family.
I gritted my teeth. "How could things turn out like this?"
Natasha's expression fell. "Diana, I know it's difficult to accept. If what you say is true, then I don't have any other way to help you out other than providing a foster family."
My legs were shaking, my heart ached, and the urge to run away was extremely tempting. But what would that accomplish? That action had led me here, and who knew what would happen if I tried it again? My powerlessness was aggravating, and…
And…
My legs gave out, and my knees hit the ground with a dull thud.
"Diana!?" Natasha called and squatted down to my level. "Are you alright!?"
I shook my head. "I'm not. Why is this happening to me? Why—"
Instead of comforting me with reassuring words, her hands enveloped me in a warm embrace, lightly pushing my head against her shoulder. "Let it all out, dear."
My breath hitched, and my mouth quivered under the prospect of crying out loud. Whenever I did, it only made the situation worse. Either I was too noisy, or it angered my parents instead.
So why was I suddenly receiving this from a complete stranger?
My hand grabbed the back of Natasha's lab coat and squeezed it tightly. One tear after another fell down my cheeks, and once I took a deep breath…
All my pent-up fears were let out in a piercing loud wail.
{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}
Natasha helped me get back on my feet and guided me inside the orphanage. My eyes were so puffy I couldn't see much of the manor's interior, but at that moment, a bed was what I needed most. When she led me to a random room with a single bed, I immediately face-planted on the mattress.
"Are you hungry?" Natasha asked and I shook my head. "Very well, but be sure to say hi to other children around here. To sate their curiosity at least."
All I did was groan, and Natasha took that as her cue to leave. When the doors clicked, I turned around and faced the ceiling, leaning my left hand against my forehead. Stray tears still flowed from my eyes, and wiping them off was getting tedious at that point.
It was then I remembered the icicle that pierced my palm. When I threw my glove away and took a look at the wound, it left a similar mark as all the frostbite I had to endure. The key difference was its colour. Instead of white, it somehow retained its blue sheen. When I touched it, its texture was more rugged than the rest of my skin.
Pressing into it caused a jolt of pain to race across my arm and a hiss escaped my mouth. "Not doing that again."
I hid the wound back inside my glove and I sprawled out across the bed, deliberately tilting towards the heater on my left side. I had a strong urge to bring it on top of my bed, but I didn't want to think about dealing with a fire hazard in this room.
Speaking of which, the place was quite small compared to the room I had before, but despite its dusty wooden interior, it somehow felt homey. It was quiet, warm, and comforting—a stark contrast to the constant marching through the endless snow.
Homey… I hugged my legs, curling up into a ball. What does that even mean right now?
A knock interrupted my musings while snickers passed through the doors. "I told you not to do it!"
My eyebrows knitted together, and I stood up, carefully reaching the door without making much noise before leaning my ear against it.
"I saw Nat coming with someone new," the voice was of a girl, and she had a cocky tone. "Just a small peek won't hurt."
"W-what if they're asleep right now?" the other girl said worriedly.
"That's exactly why. Come on."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Instead of entertaining them, I took the doorknob and gave it a light twist before fully opening the doors. What I saw were two girls, one with short purple hair, trying to reach for the handle and ended up staring at me with wide eyes while the other with much longer platinum locks stood behind her.
"Um…" she exclaimed before sheepishly smiling. "Hi?"
I rolled my eyes and promptly closed the doors with a thud in front of her face. There even was a key at the ready, so I locked myself as well. I wasn't in the mood to entertain two rambunctious children, not in the slightest.
"Hey! What's your deal!?" she suddenly shouted. "Just because you get a room to yourself means you can treat us however you want!?"
Instead of answering, I laid down on my bed and covered my ears with a provided pillow, hoping they would have at least some common sense and leave.
"W-wait, maybe we should just—"
"Not on my watch! I'll show you once I get through this door!" The loud kid started to kick at the door, one thud after another. They creaked after each hit, but the hinges stayed in place like a stalwart wall, keeping the kids away. I was hoping they would eventually relent, but that was too optimistic of me.
"Just… a little longer," the cocky girl exclaimed, rasping for breath. "Before you'll get a piece of my mind!"
"Stop, Seele!" the other girl shouted at her, and the kicks momentarily stopped. "Let's… leave her alone."
While I didn't know what was exactly happening on the other side, at least it gave me an idea. The fact those doors did a poor job of blocking their voices only accentuated it.
'Seele' clicked her tongue. "Fine. She has to come out eventually anyway. Let's go, Bronya."
Only when I heard their footsteps fade away did I let out a long sigh. "So much for becoming friends with the children here."
I knew I could handle the situation better but I was far from a stable state of mind. Everything was already overwhelming and adding two kids on top wouldn't help.
Then, something clicked in my head.
I sat up and stared at the locked door with a confused frown before I touched my chin. Murmurs escaped my mouth, trying to put together that puzzle with the missing pieces and it eventually was put together. Realisation mixed with disbelief and fear made me jump from my bed before I bolted towards a cracked mirror on the other side of the room.
A teenage girl stared back at me with a pair of blue eyes and long blond hair. Her breaths were uneven and frantic, cold sweat poured down her face, and puffs of vapour escaped her mouth, clouding the mirror.
She punched it with her left hand, creating another crack across its surface while blood tricked from the glove. Fist met fist, and in the end, it was still me, inside one of the orphanage's rooms, desperately thinking this was nothing but a cruel joke.
Yet, the pain was real.
The cold was real.
The dusty air I breathed was real as well.
My feet grew weak, and I knelt on the ground with a dull thud while tears flowed.
"How… How am I here!?" I shouted at the mirror. "How am I here of all places!?"
The mirror didn't answer back, it only showed what it was reflecting and my heart was racing.
"Diana? Is everything alright—" Natasha tried to open the doors, but they didn't budge an inch. "Locked? Diana, open the doors, please."
"No!" I exclaimed. "Go away!"
Natasha didn't answer back immediately, and the momentary pause was suffocating. Then, a click made my heart jump to my throat and my head snapped in the door's direction, only to see Natasha standing there with a set of keys dangling from her fingers.
She then spotted my bloodied glove before briskly walking my way. "Diana, what happened!?"
"Don't touch me!" I shouted while swiping with my hand while the few droplets of blood stained the ground and made Natasha halt in place. Through my teary eyes, I saw her confused and worried expression. Her face only made me hiss and shiver with cold despite the room's abnormally high temperatures.
Natasha carefully extended her hands, taking deliberate steps towards me. "Diana, just calm down and tell me what's going on."
I stood up, my eyes glued on her alone. "What's going on!? I should be the one asking that!"
Her breath hitched before gulping. "Diana, you're still tired. You need to rest, so don't worry about the details. It's the last thing you should be doing right now."
"And you think I can!?" I grabbed my head, trying to comfort my ever-increasing headache. "None of this is making any sense. How am I here? How are you in front of me? How is all of this real!?"
The number of questions still hovering in my mind didn't stop Natasha from coming closer. I saw her procure a napkin and knew what she was trying to do. I stepped back, eventually leaning against a wooden table with an empty vase and I grabbed it tightly.
"Diana, I'm trying to help you. Don't make things more difficult for yourself," Natasha argued with a frown.
"And how can I trust you?" I shot back and her frown fell, replacing it with a sad expression on her face.
"I thought about your situation a little more," she said, easing her stance a little. "So please, calm down."
A scoff escaped my mouth. "You thought about it? And what have you found out, huh? That I'm crazy!?"
"What? No, of course not! Why would I—"
"You're lying!" I wasn't thinking clearly, and in my pent-up anger and confusion, I threw the vase at Natasha. She dodged out of the way, before running up towards me and caught me in a necklock.
"Let me go!" I said while struggling out of her grip, but she was much stronger than I anticipated before shutting me up with the napkin in her hand. Once I took a breath, the world around me distorted, and my eyelids grew heavier with each passing moment.
"I hate doing this, but you left me no choice," Natasha's voice grew distant. "I'm sorry, so take this moment to rest."
Despite the situation I was in, that I was being forcefully put to sleep, the hunger for answers grew within me all the same. Desperation clawed at me, but with how little strength I had left and how Natasha could easily overpower me…
Maybe… just maybe, it wouldn't be so bad to take a nap after all.
{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}
The table I used many times over always seemed to get smaller each time I sat down with the amount of papers that littered it. Keeping with the demanding costs of running the orphanage is taxing on both me and my family, but I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy giving the kids a place where they could feel at home.
And yet…
I felt like I failed miserably today at my self-appointed job.
A sigh escaped my lips before leaned against the table, staring at a single sheet of paper with the information about my newest child. Except for hand-drawn features and her name, it didn't contain a single piece of information about her. I couldn't find out her likes, dislikes, what kind of a person she was—I knew nothing.
Offering someone a hand when they needed it usually revealed most of what I needed to know about them. Their traits and characteristics were always revealed when someone hit rock bottom, but she…
A knock on the doors interrupted my train of thought, and I lifted my head. A smile crept onto my features almost automatically. "Who is it?"
"It's… me, Aunt Nat."
"Ah," a chuckle escaped my lips. "Come on in, Seele."
Seele carefully opened the doors, peeking into my office with a single eye. I beckoned her in with a hand motion, and she gave me a nod while closing the doors behind her. She carefully trotted towards me, contrasting her usual brash behaviour.
Seele looked away while putting her hands behind her back. "Am I in trouble again?"
I shook my head. "No, you're not. Although I didn't miss the dents you made on the doors."
She visibly jolted in place before pouting adorably. "It's because she was flaunting the room she has all to herself."
"Was she really, Seele?" I asked, and even her cheeks were becoming red.
"It felt like it…"
It was hard fighting the urge to sigh, so instead, I stood up from my seat and knelt down to Seele's level before patting her on the head. "I know it may be difficult to understand, but please, could you give the girl some time to adjust?"
Seele frowned. "But why? It didn't take me long."
"That's because—," I stopped myself from saying something a little harsh before coughing into my hand. "Look, her circumstances are quite unique. We found her deep in the Snow Plains and she doesn't remember how she got there."
I tilted my head to the side and gave Seele a bright smile while putting my hands on her shoulders. "Diana will be your big sister until she finds her footing."
"Diana?" Seele blurted out with curious eyes.
"That's her name," I said. "So, be a good girl and give her the time she needs, okay?"
Seele's head sunk, and her eyes were glued to the ground instead. Eventually, she nodded before sniffing into her sleeve. "Alright."
Soft-hearted, yet headstrong. She always found a way to amuse me with her cute attitude. I couldn't help but peck her forehead. "Don't change, Seele. All you need to do is become more considerate."
I turned her around, making her face the doors before I gave her a light push. "Now, go to sleep. I'm sure it's past your bedtime."
Seele only hummed in response and left my office, leaving the doors slightly ajar. I momentarily stared at the gap before checking myself to see if Seele was really going to her room. Once I saw her small form walking up the stairs and heard a soft click echo throughout the mansion, I finally breathed a long sigh.
Although I wasn't given much time for a reprieve.
My pocket watch began to ring, and I instinctively took it out to check the time. A frown formed on my face. "The sedative is going to run out soon."
Reaching one of many drawers hidden under my table, I found a small box with medical equipment and briskly walked towards Diana's room. When most lights were turned off, the only thing to navigate through these dark halls was the faint glow emanating from the geomarrow outside.
Thankfully, I've lived in the Underground long enough to acclimate and eventually found Diana's room. I slowly tilted the knob in one direction to make sure I made as little sound as possible, and when I was fully inside without too much noise, I found a stool to sit on next to Diana.
She was still deep in her peaceful slumber. She wasn't moving, or breaking into a cold sweat. Honestly, I was glad the sedative was able to help her relax, even though I hated doing it.
My eyes glided towards the only thing poking out of her sheet beside her head, and that was her wounded left hand. I treated her right away when I put her to bed, but there were still a few leftover stains of blood on her skin.
I took a deep breath, put a napkin soaked with the sedative over her nose and let her take a few deep breaths. Once I thought it was enough, I took the napkin and removed one layer at a time before her scared fingers came into view. I couldn't help but sigh. "You couldn't wait for your hand to recover, could you?"
I tilted her hand palm upwards to remove the rest of the bandage, but then a glow started to emanate as the layers thinned out. It caught me off guard and my hand paused at the final bandage covering the glow. Once everything was gone, my breath hitched.
Her palm had a glowing piece of blue ice wedged inside her skin along with the scars left behind by the frostbite. It was cold—no, her entire hand was cold now that I realised it, but once I touched it, a groan of discomfort escaped Diana's lips.
I jolted my head to check if she was still asleep, and thankfully, she was, but still…
"How did I miss this? I don't remember this being there," I shook my head. "No, now is not the time."
I took a respirator from the medical box alongside a bottle of disinfection. Once I put the mask on, I spread the disinfection across her palm before grasping a scalpel. "Hold steady, dear."
I carefully cut at Diana's skin along the ice's perimeter. I felt her hand twitch under the sharp scalpel and locked her arm in place to stop her from moving until my scalpel stopped around halfway. Something hard blocked it from going all the way through.
My eyes narrowed and gently pulled away the skin I had cut and colour drained from my face. The ice was rooted into her hand like a living plant, connecting to her veins. I experimentally cut at the crystalized veins and once one cracked, blood started to ooze.
The sight made my hands shake, but I forcefully calmed myself down and treated the opening I just made. However, once I was finished, I sat back down on my stool and gritted my teeth.
"Damn it," I cursed under my breath before I looked back at Diana, still blissfully ignorant and asleep while here I was, berating myself. "How could I be so negligent? All the experience I got working on the field amounted to nothing."
I shook my head. "No, I can't panic just yet."
I grabbed the box and Diana's glove and headed back to my office before finding some geomarrow. I ground them down into a fine powder inside a mortar and poured in a gel-like acid, essentially creating the same substance used in today's day-and-age heaters.
Once I added a binder, I poured the mixture over a thin tray and waited for it to solidify until I had a sheet of solid, but malleable geomarrow fuel. I felt the heat just by hovering my hand over it, and it was exactly what I wanted.
Now, all I needed to do was to stuff it inside the glove.
While the task itself wasn't difficult, working with raw geomarrow fuel was. The material didn't work as regular leather. It wasn't easy to puncture with a needle and a threat, and could easily break under the wrong kind of tension, but I've done this task multiple times already.
A pained smile spread across my features. Kids always wondered why their plush toys were always warm despite how cold the nights could get here.
Eventually, the glove was complete. It became much bulkier than before with the way it was stuffed, but prolonged skin contact with this kind of substance would itch too much.
Especially when considering Diana's condition.
I gave myself a nod and headed back to Diana's room, but when I opened the doors…
The bed was empty.
{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}
This had to be a dream. I had no other way to explain it.
Once I woke up after Natasha put me to sleep, my left hand was wrapped extremely tightly with bandages. Whenever I moved with my fingers, I felt a jolt of pain run up my entire arm from my palm.
Despite the pain flaring up, it still felt cold as ice.
My body moved on its own when I got up from bed, and my bare feet guided me through the maze that was this orphanage, but I eventually found a way outside. The playground was lifeless, only illuminated by lamps that revealed damaged slides, chalk-drawn hopscotch, and old swings with rusty chains.
Yet none of it could hold my attention for no more than a mere second, and I pressed on until a railing and the view of Rivet Town below stopped me.
While my eyes showed Rivet Town, my mind couldn't comprehend it.
I loved playing the game that took place here. It was something I adored because it helped me escape the constant yelling back home. I even thought of the idea that I would rather be here, but now that naive wish came true…
"I don't get it," I said out loud while clutching the railing tightly. "Right after I tried escaping too. How did this happen?"
From what I could tell, I was years away from the original plot. This place was alive and well, despite what was to come and I had no idea what I should be doing. Not to mention just how… braddy I was until now because of how confused I was.
I hated I inherited my Dad's temper.
I squatted down, hugging my legs before sobs escaped my lips, however, there were no more tears to shed. They ran dry long ago. "And how am I supposed to explain my situation to others? They'll just think I'm crazy."
"Then how about giving it a shot?"
I stood up with a jolt before whipping my body towards the voice behind me and saw Natasha, already wearing a smile. "I know it just happened yesterday, but this already feels like Deja Vu."
"N-natasha? How long were you standing there?"
"I just arrived because I didn't find you in your room. I have to say, I didn't expect you to wake up so early," her smile faltered. "And I'm sorry for what I did, but I couldn't think of any other way to help you."
My hand instinctively grabbed my elbow, and my eyes darted away. "It's… fine. I was actually glad I could sleep at all. And I'm sorry about the vase."
Natasha blinked before snorting. "That's what you're worried about? I assure you, you don't have to. It was gathering dust anyway and children don't find a vase interesting. Not like you can go to the nearest garden and pick up flowers."
She stepped closer before gently taking my left hand dangling by my side and giving it a light squeeze. "How do you feel?"
"I'm confused more than anything," I said and Natasha chuckled.
"I meant your hand."
"Oh," I glanced down at the hand she held and tilted my head to the side. "It's cold, but I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing," she answered breathlessly before showing me the glove I was missing. However, it looked much thicker. "Try putting it on, and tell me."
I hesitantly nodded before slipping on the glove and it was much a tighter fit, but then a wave of pleasant warmth encapsulated my cold hand. It was as if the glove itself was thawing the ice stuck inside me.
"It feels… great," I said, pleasantly surprised, but then I realised something. "Wait, how did you know? This doesn't feel like something you have on hand just in case."
Natasha shook her head. "That's something you shouldn't worry about—I'll do that for you. I'm a doctor first and foremost after all. But back to the topic at hand…" she paused before letting out a quiet hum. "How much do you want to talk about yourself right now?"
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Where would I even start? There was so much to cover and yet, at the same time, nothing that I could say would be able to put my situation into words. How could I blurt out what I was thinking without it sounding unbelievable?
Eventually, I gave up and leaned my head against Natasha's chest instead. All that thinking exhausted me. "Can we do that later?"
I was expecting Natasha to prod, but instead, she hugged me instead in a caring manner. "Of course, dear. We have all the time in the world, so don't feel pressured. And if it's a secret you don't want to share, you have zero obligation to tell others what it is."
Somehow, despite those caring words coming out of a fictional character, thinking they weren't supposed to be mine to hear, Natasha still said them to me.
Me.
A part of me was so happy about that fact, but my gruelling mind still refused to believe it. This could be nothing more than a fleeting dream that could end at any moment. This unconditional affection I was being given could be just a figment of my imagination.
Because that was something Natasha would do, I wasn't special. If she had found any other person in that snow field, the same thing would have happened. That was in her nature, but would it be bad if I indulged in it for just this moment?
Maybe staying here of all places wouldn't be so bad after all.
I eventually returned her hug. "Natasha?"
"Yes, Diana?"
A quiet rumble erupted from my stomach. "I'm hungry."
"Oh dear," she exclaimed before patting my head, willfully forgetting our conversation we had just a few moments prior. "I'll whip you something nice. What do you think about sausages with eggs?"
I hummed. "Sounds nice."
AN: Well... this might be a little out of the blue, but I decided to just post this and see what happens. Not only was this just a simple itch I had, but it also spiralled into this... mess of a chapter. There are probably many typos and mistakes inside this chapter alone, but a part of me was curious about what would happen if this suddenly appeared, and here we are.
Mind you, this project is impulsive. Like... extremely impulsive, and whether a second chapter will ever see the light of day is questionable at best. Despite all that, if Diana's story is something you'd be interested in, then maybe there will be more in the future.
Nevertheless, if you enjoyed this long chapter, and went through this AN as well, good for you. I'm proud and happy.
I'll see you next time.
God's speed.