Slowly opening my eye I see an unfamiliar sealing made of wood. The dull feeling in my body was not gone. Sitting up, I inspect the surrounding looking for anything suspicious. Realizing the wooden sealing actually is the underside of a bed above me. The room seems to belong to three children as I see toys, different kinds of posters and a triple bed in the room. Where and why I'm here, I slowly stand up and open the only door in the room. Behind the door I see a corridor with doors as far as i can see. Having no idea of where the exit is and looking at that endless corridor of doors, I turn my head around an look at the small window.
"Should I just jump out of a window."
"Who is going to jump out of the window?" A harmonious and kind voice asks.
Surprised by the sudden voice behind me, I turn around only to hit my head in something soft and bouncy. Looking up I see a face looking down at me. Don't look at me! Maybe the event yesterday woke up bad memories, because I couldn`t help but to feel fear towards those eyes looking down on me. Those eyes from the past looking at me with pity but at the same time like someone lesser than them, like an animal. No! that was in the past! I try to calm down and say the first thing that comes to my mind.
"Are you alright? I'm sorry for bumping into your belly." I say as I take a step back to create some distance. Looking at the at the middle age woman with apologetic eyes.
"Haha, it's alright it happens all the time." The chubby old woman says.
"My name is Riru..., I was wondering where this is." I hastily stop my self from saying my whole name. I don´t even know where I´m, how I got here or who this person is. Master always said to never give more than necessary information about oneself to a stranger and absolutely not ones name.
"Oh, my name is Elaine I'm the owner of this orphanage. Its in the outskirt of the town Astolat."
So I´m still in the same town. Feeling relieved i wasn't bought farther away as it would have been a problem in many ways. Worst of them, prolonging my journey over the mountains.
"You were brought here by a farmer that found you collapsed in an alley beside his fruit stall."
I snap out of my thoughts "Not by two men one tall and lanky and the other short and round?"
"No..." Elaine seams to bee thinking "That's weird I'm sure it was a farmer named George. Are you sure you're okay? Did you hit you head somewhere." Elaine says worried.
Feeling shy from the atension I shake my head as an answer.
"Then enough about that I'm sure you're hungry" Elaine said with a big smile.
I nod and follow Elaine. I feel this uneasiness creep on me. Something is weird here, I'm sure I was caught by skinny and fatty and my body feels oddly light. Realizing my weights are gone i turn to Elaine.
" Elaine do you happen to know where the weights I had warped around my arms and legs?"
"I'm sorry I don´t know, when you where bought here by George you only had the thing you have on you now." Elaine said.
"I see."
What should I do. Having only your basic clothing, I feel a little uncomfortable. At least if I had my shoes and weights. My body feels too light without the weights. After master said I should wear the weights, I've only taken them of when I wash myself. I look at my arms where the glove like weights were warped before. Sigh, I really want them back. As I look at my arms I remember the pain i felt in my arm. I wonder why my arm begun to hurt so much and why did it spreed trough out my body. I'm sure hitting a nerve can't cause that, I think. I stretch my arms still feeling the dull pain. I look at my palm in deep thought. Maybe it hurts because I grabbed the…
"Be careful of the stairs they are pretty steep" Elaine warns me as she climbs down.
Interrupted from my thoughts I look up only to see a scarily steep staircase. Slowly descending step by step I arrive safely downstairs. I look at the gigantic dining room in front of me, struck by awe I remember the small table meant fro two I used to eat from with master.
"Riru are you okay, you are spacing out?" Elaine looks worried at me "Here is some left over apple pie I made for lunch, it should still taste good.
I wounder if it't okay to eat this, it could be poisoned. But wouldn't it be easier to do something to me when I'm asleep. I'm sure it's fine. This pie is beyond is really delicious. If I could eat this every day should I consider becoming a master cook. But master said I don't have the talent for cooking. I look at apple pie.
"Elaine you are really good at cooking and the apple pie you made is really delicious. It's such a coincidences, apples are one of my favorite things to eat."
"Oh well, I thought you would like it when you carry an apple with you. Would you have preferred something else?"
"No! I like apple pie. But I need to thank you Elaine, for your hospitality. As I need to leave as soon as possible, please tell me if there is something I can repay you with."
"Oh but that would be a problem, you see these children need you. Right my sweet hearts come and show yourselves to mama Elaine."
As I look confused at the smiling Elaine I feel a chill run down my spine. A weird atmosphere is built when I see at least 40 children appearing from their hiding places. Why is it so quiet in this house if there are so many children here. As I'm confused of what is happening, the children begin to cling and talk to me.
"Sister please stay with us."
"Don't go anywhere."
"We need you."
""Yeah don't go anywhere we need you!""
"See the children needs you miss Riru, don't leave so soon." Elaine says with a wide smile, but her eyes aren't laughing.
For the first time I look straight I Elaine's eyes. Again I feel a chill run down my spine. Those eyes I know them, eyes that have thrown away an important part of oneself, compassion. Those cold eyes looking at the world like every one is lesser than trash. I feel my calm and collected self crumbling under the memories that I had so hard to forget. Being looked at by hundreds of people, people that I knew, with those same eyes as I was bought to my doom, I feel myself shaking. As I about to lose myself I hear the a faint tune from the life before everything went wrong. I calm down looking straight at Elaine.
"I'm so sorry but I have urgent business and need to cross Litua mountain range" I say with a strained voice.
Standing up I feel the stares from the children, now when I calmed down I can see it clearly they have it to, those eyes. I can't stay here any longer, otherwise the apple pie I just ate will come up again. I try to run but the grips of the children clinging to me are stronger than I thought. I struggle as I run towards the window dragging the children with me.
"You know if you don't want to get hurt by the glass, I suggest you children let go of me.
Strangely enough they let go with a weird smile on their lips. Not having time to think about it and look at the window that looks breakable. Taking a few steps to get my speed up, I jump towards the window. Glass flying everywhere creating the illusion of a glittering rain made of stars.
"Jack, Bill I won't punish you for losing the runestone if you capture her." Elaine said.