~The human world
At the entrance of a bungalow, a phantom appeared with a baby in its arms. He placed the baby at the entrance of the house and whispered,
"Bye Li" then he vanished
The baby opened her eyes and glanced around. She squinted trying to adjust to the light.
A petite brunette was looking at her empty refrigerator sighing. She slammed it shut and walked towards her husband who was seated on the couch in the living room. He carried her onto his thighs and hugged her from behind, consoling,
"We'll be fine hon..."
"I do hope so" she sighed again
"Of course" he replied then bit the tip of her ear playfully while whispering,
"If you keep squirming like that I can't guarantee what I'll do"
She blushed and wiggles out of his arms. Grabbing her purse off the table she lifted her chin and hissed,
"I'll be off now"
"Your clothes are stained" he reminded
"Pervert!" She cursed and went to change her clothes.
Her husband chuckled and went into the kitchen.
Moments later, she marched to the door but froze upon opening it.
"Thatcher!" She whisper yelled
Her husband came out from the kitchen in a hurry, dish soap still on his hands.
"Evie honey are you alright?"
"There's a child here"
"What?" He asked stupefied.
She pointed at their doorstep,
"Someone left us a baby"
A few moments later, Evangelyn was carrying the baby while Thatcher paced around.
"What the hell is going on these days? Who will leave a newborn at someone else's doorstep? What is this? Santa distributing gifts?" He asked sarcastically.
His wife cooed at the baby and a note fell from her blanket.
The note read,
This is Layna. Her life is in danger where she comes from. This is the only place where she can be kept safe. Please take care of her.
With love,
A.
"The fuck!" Thatcher swore
"Language Thatcher" Evangelyn hissed
He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed again.
"We have to report this to the police. What if she was kidnapped and her family is currently looking for her?"
After a couple of trips to the police station, it is was confirmed that Layna had no records of family or birth. It was like she came out of nowhere. The police intended to send her to social services but the Whytes offered to adopt her.
A few months later, Layna was already able to babble and crawl. She had very unusual features, a head full of fiery red hair and emerald green eyes. One time she held her ball with one hand and tried to grab another one when the first one fell out of her grasp and rolled a good distance away. Her green eyes glowed and the ball levitated to Layna who rejoiced at the return of her toy.
This scene was witnessed by Evangelyn who paled at the sight. She hurried towards Layna who smiled at her.
Evangelyn carried her in her arms while Layna cupped her mother's face in her tiny hands and kissed her mumbling,
"Mama.... Mamma.....Mama....."
Tears filled Evangelyn's eyes,
"You're my baby... No matter what you are... You're my baby"
Layna giggled and leaned against her mother.
Outside the window stood the phantom who had dropped Layna at the entrance of the house.
"Layna...." He whispered
Evangelyn felt eyes on her and turned to the window where the phantom was and it was empty. The breeze blew a little harder so she shut the blinds. That same day, Thatcher Whyte got a job that changed their lives.
When Layna was five, her parents adopted an eight years old boy. Evangelyn had uterine and ovarian cancer when she was a teenager so she couldn't have children of her own. The couple moved to Whiteriey with their son and daughter.
Thirteen years later
A blonde girl bounced eagerly towards a double terraced house. She swung the front door open and ran into the kitchen. A beautiful lady was cooking and she hugged her.
"Good morning Lynn!" May squealed
Evangelyn chuckled and put down her spatula. Time had barely left a trace on her face.
"Good morning dear... Is Layna out yet?"
"I don't think so... I'll go check on her"
"Alright... I'll pack your lunch... It's a big day for both of you today"
May smiled revealing her dimples. She climbed the stairs whilst yelling,
"Layna! Rise and shine! It's a beautiful day to start college"
A door opened behind May revealing Layna's older brother, Lorenzo.
His eyebrows were scrunched so much, a fly could be squeezed between them. He held May by her collar and turned her to face him.
Leaning down her said through gritted teeth,
"Rise and shine quietly peach... It's too early for all this"
May flushed red all over. She whispered,
"But Layna isn't out yet"
Lorenzo sighed and walked to Layna's door. He sighed again and suddenly pounded the door like a madman. The door swung open from inside and Layna popped her head out. She had a facial mask on and a hello kitty hair band.
"What?" She spat
May giggled a thanks to Lorenzo who was walking down the stairs. As May dragged Layna back to her room Layna yelled,
"I'll kill you one of these days Enzo!"
"Nobody is killing anyone!" Evangelyn yelled from downstairs.
"Good morning mum" Enzo kissed her cheek.
He grabbed a sandwich off the plate and sat down at the dining table.
"Enzo ... It's your sister's and May's first day of school... Please take care of them honey"
"Mum..."
"Enzo"
"Fine"
Meanwhile in Layna's room, May lay on the bed looking hopeless.
"What's wrong with you?" Layna asked as she stood in front of her dressing mirror adjusting her blouse.
May lifted her head to look at Layna and sighed again.
"This is so unfair... You and your brother have very amazing features..." She sat up on the bed and folded her legs,
"It's like we ordinary people were just blown into this world and you guys were sculpted with bias"
"Tch" Layna laughed
Layna was wearing an emerald green blouse and black straight trousers paired with black Oliveria Ian shoes. The green blouse accentuated her eyes while her brilliant red hair cascaded down her back to her waist in waves.
She picked up her bag and turned to May,
"Let's go bunny"
May glared at her and stood up following her.
They went downstairs and saw Lorenzo leaning against a chair with his eyes closed while his finger tapped the handle of the chair rhythmically.
May sighed for the umpteenth time.
She was right. Layna and Lorenzo were beautiful creatures.
"It's like I transmigrated to Ancient Greece"
Layna had scarlet red hair, delicate porcelain like complexion with a subtle sheen like the soft glow of the moon. Her almond shaped eyes were a deep emerald green color, fringed with thick and long lashes that curled at the tip.
Her hair fell in waves that framed her small heart shaped face.
Lorenzo on the other hand had a chiseled face that seemed sculpted from fine marble. With deep dark set peach blossom eyes. His hair, a rich chestnut color messily fell to the side of his face. He exuded an effortless charm. Lorenzo opened his eyes and stood up,
"Have you both grabbed your lunch?" He asked
"Yes " the girls responded
"Let's go then"
"Bye mum"
"Bye Lynn" they said
Evangelyn waved at them till they drove off.
"Drive safe!"