My sixteenth birthday came and went. We don't celebrate birthdays here at the orphanage. I stared at the ceiling for an hour to make sure everyone was asleep. Then I quietly got up and grabbed the bag I had packed from under my bed. It was time to get out of here. I slid it on and picked up my shoes. I quietly left the room and hurried downstairs to Miss Slade's office. I slowly pulled out the drawer with money in it, took all the money, and stuffed it in the bag. She never found out we took her money. She's become quite forgetful so she usually thinks she forgot to put money there.
Then I got to the kitchen and grabbed food and water. After that, I went to where she hid our phones and grabbed mine and its chargers. I slid those into the bag and decided it was time to leave. I went out of the front door and closed it quietly. After putting my shoes on, I started walking. As soon as I thought I was far enough away, I pulled out a flashlight and paused to look back at the building one last time. I spent eleven years in that hellhole. I shook my head and continued walking. I was about to be free soon. Sure, I felt bad for leaving the other girls behind but they didn't really like me. They always called me names and stuff. Though no one deserves to be left in that place. As soon as I get enough money, I'm closing that place down, I vowed to myself.
When I got to the road, I turned left. I knew there was a highway in that direction. I could follow it to the next town. Did I tell you my name? No? I'm Sapphire Hemlock. I have red hair and emerald eyes. My parents used to say that I got a little bit of them both in me. I have my mom's red hair and my dad's eyes. They were a perfect match and loved me. I missed them. When I reached the highway I started following it east. The town I was planning to start over in is called Rayville. It's a beautiful town with brightly colored houses and so many flowers. I've only been to it once when my parents were alive. Now it was going to be my home.
Of course, it's a ten-hour walk. I had started at ten pm so I should get there at eight. Or around that time. I know it's a long walk but I'm used to walking a lot because Miss Slade always had us walk into town - by ourselves- when she needed something.
She had always thought it was a good punishment and it was for some of the girls. For me, I loved it because it got me out of that place for a while. I never understood why Mrs. O'Reilly chose to bring me to that orphanage. Maybe she didn't know Miss Slade beat the orphans she looked after? I doubt it because it's a well-known fact. She never liked my parents and I had been too scared to deny her help when she had showed up at the house. Though I regret telling her about the monster. I shook my head hard to get that thought out of my head. You will not talk about your parents in Rayville, I scolded myself.
A truck passed by me and pulled over. A girl who looked to be about my age got out. "Hello," she said.
I hesitated. "Um, hi." Another thing we weren't allowed to do in the orphanage was talk so I was a little nervous.
"I'm Everest Lockwood but everyone calls me Eve."
I studied her. Blue eyes and ink-black hair. She looked safe. "I'm Sapphire Hemlock."
"Nice to meet you. Do you need a ride?"
I hesitated again. "Um…"
She smiled. "I'm sixteen if you're worried about my age."
Oh, so she's old enough for a driver's license. "I wasn't." I looked around. "Are you headed to Rayville?" If she was, then I would probably accept the ride. That way I would get there quicker.
She shook her head. "I'm heading to Jason City. That's where my family lives."
"You're heading home," I said quietly.
"Yes. I just left a meeting with some people. You could come with me if you like. There's tons more to do in a city."
"I don't know. I don't wish to intrude." I was trying to figure out if I should tell her I was running away from an orphanage. She wants to take me to her home and she should know…
She shook her head. "You won't be intruding. I'm inviting you. My family won't mind. I have a brother and two sisters. My parents say we can always fit a guest."
"I doubt they'll like me there," I muttered.
She frowned. "Why do you say that?"
I'm going to tell her. "Because I just ran away from the Slade Orphanage." There. Let's see what she does with that.
She smiled. "In that case, you better come with me. My parents moved away from here because of that orphanage. They'd love to have you and keep you away from Slade if she comes looking for you."
Really? "Did they ever tell you why they hate her?" Not that I disagree with them or anything.
She thought for a minute. "Yeah. They didn't approve of her punishments. Being starved, beaten, and sent on big walks. She did actually do those things, did she?"
I blinked. How did she just turn my question into her own? I nodded. "I loved the walks but I didn't like the beatings or being starved." Miss Slade sometimes did those punishments on the same days.
"No one would."
"She bought us all phones to bring on the walks so she could call us if she thought of something else for us to get." I pulled out mine. "I'm planning to change my number when I get a chance. That way she won't be able to call me."
"But she pays the phone bill. She could stop doing that and your phone will stop working."
I smiled for the first time in a long time. "For now. I'll be calling the company to tell them to change that later."
"Wow. You actually planned this whole thing out."
"I've had eleven years to think of a plan," I said as I put my phone back in the bag. It was useless until I got it charged.
She stared. "Eleven years? How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"Since you were there since you were five?"
"Yes."
"When is your birthday?"
"May eighteenth." Which had been two weeks ago.
"Wow."
I shrugged. "After my parents were killed…" I mentally groaned. So much for not mentioning them. "My neighbor brought me to that orphanage," I finished lamely ignoring the feeling mentioning my parents brought up.
"Why did she choose that one?"
"I've thought about that and the only thing I could come up with is that she wanted to. She never liked my parents so I doubt she liked me."
"Okay. Who killed your parents? Her?"
I wish. "No, and you wouldn't believe me if I told you." No one else did.
"Try me."
Damn, she's determined. I looked away. I don't want to see the disbelief that's going to be on her face. "When I got to the barn I saw a monster eating my mom. I know that's what killed my dad too." I looked at her.
Her eyes were wide. "A monster?"
"Yes."
"Oh wow."
"You believe me?"
She nodded. "I've seen one before."
"Oh."
"Come with me. I have a team that looks for monsters and you could…"
I held up a hand. "No, I won't join. I just want to live a normal life." Without monsters and without mentioning how my parents died.
"Okay. But you could still come to live with my family. They will protect you from Slade."
I sighed. "Okay." I put my bad in the backseat and got into the passenger. Finally, freedom and a normal life.