47 Another Fortunate Soul (1/2)
Year 2033, February
14:00 P.M
Somewhere in Stockholm, Sweden
. . .
. . .
”An orphanage?”
I read the sign of a large, yellow building in front of me. ”Eugene's Orphanage?”
The building in itself was pretty, in a sense that it looked new. Perhaps it was repainted sometime that year.
”Can you say that again, Ava?” prompted Eugene as he puffed his chest all of a sudden.
”Eugene's Orphanage,” I repeated.
”Why is the orphanage in my name, you asked? Well, it's because this very building was built by Mom the same year I was born,” said Eugene.
But I didn't even ask him that.
For the past few days where I lived with Maltyie and Eugene, I could say proudly that I was used to their everyday lives. Maltyie's obsession with buying me a lot of new, expensive clothing still bugged me. And I did not even intend to wear most of them.
”Wait, where are you going?”
Eugene pulled my arm when I was about to go back to Maltyie's car. She was still inside, searching for something in her purse.
”Going back, obviously,” I said. ”I don't see why I should be here.”
”Oh, no, no, Ava. Bad girl. I work part-time here in the orphanage and today, I just want to introduce you to the kids.”
”What? No. I don't want to. And don't treat me like a kid.”
”Please, Ava, I beg of you!” Eugene suddenly fell on his knees, narrowing his eyes at me. ”I've already promised my boss. She'll be mad if I don't keep my word, and you know what that means, right?” He shook my body violently and I swiped his hands away from me.
”That doesn't concern me, at all.”
”But why you listened to Maltyie, and not me? Come on, please!”
'Because I have seen what Maltyie could do in just a blink of an eye,' I thought. Those words did not come out of my mouth, sadly.
”You're afraid of Sis?” asked Eugene.
”N-No...”
”Oh.”
Eugene grabbed me by the waist and carried me on his shoulder. ”Sorry, Ava. I don't have a choice. Those kids want to meet you after I said you would come today.”
”Let go of me!” I yelled.
Clearly, he had not seen my Aegis in action. Though, due to the Aegis suppressor drug flowing through my veins, I couldn't use it.
Except for my first Aegis's capability of talking directly in my mind.
”Hmm, I want to help you, Ava. But I can only enhance your limbs for you albeit a small fraction,” said the monotone voice in my head.
I felt the sensation of my muscles burning mentally. A sudden burst of energy helped me to pull away from Eugene's grasp.
”Woah, you're strong,” said Eugene with a shocked expression.
”Look! It's Ava!” called a voice.
I turned my head and what surprised me was a bunch of kids suddenly pouring out from the orphanage's front door. They surrounded me in mere seconds.
The fact that they knew my name made my blood boiled.
”Come on in!”
”We've been waiting for you!”
”Ava, Ava!”
”You look weird... for a girl.”
My eyes shot a glare at that boy who questioned my being weird. Apparently, my purple dress did not fit his image of a proper girl.
”Hey! Don't pull me!” I shouted.
The kids kept tugging at my dress, forcing me to move. Before I knew it, I was ushered inside the orphanage.
”Ava, isn't it? Nice to meet you.”
I looked up and a young woman came into view. Her hair was black, tied into a ponytail at her back. She was wearing an ap.r.o.n, with a black cardigan underneath.
”I don't--”
The loud voices of the kids m.u.f.fed my own.
”Ava, let's play!”
”No! She gets to play with me first!”
”Wait, who decides that?!
”Duh, it's me who gets to play with her first.”
”No!”
My body was bouncing around and about from all the kids pulling at me. I was starting to get angry myself, however, the young woman in ap.r.o.n intervened.
”Now, now, kids. Ava's not gonna play with you if you're all being like this.” Her delicate hands slowly pulled me to her side, holding my shoulders. ”How about you all form a circle, hm?”
”Alright, miss!” said all the kids simultaneously.
They all soon formed a condensed circle around me. The woman, on the other hand, gave me a look of antic.i.p.ation.
Though, I was oblivious to what she had in her mind.
”Miss Jones!” called Eugene. He was panting when he pushed the door open.
Everyone stared at him.
”What is it, Eugene? You look exhausted,” said the woman in an ap.r.o.n.
”Er, my sister, she's adamant on wanting to come in!”
”You fought with her?” prompted Miss Jones.
”Hey, Eugene, get off the d.a.m.n door!” yelled Maltyie. She literally yanked him off the doorstep and pushed his body until he stumbled. Then she looked at everyone in the orphanage.
”Eh-hem.” Maltyie put on her best happy face, paired with a s.h.i.+ning smile to look more the part. ”Hi, Jacqueline!” said Maltyie as she waved.
”H-Hi.” Jacqueline tilted her head sideways. ”Eugene... ”
”Is gonna be alright!” Maltyie closed the door and even locked it.
”Hey! Why you locked us in?!” shouted a girl.
”N-Nothing,” mumbled Maltyie. Forcing her way through the dense circle of kids, she slung her arm around Jacqueline and whispered to her.
Even so, I could basically hear every word she said.
'Totally not whispering,' I thought.
”Erm, if I may ask, Jacqueline, where's your brother?” asked Maltyie with a restrained voice.
”Oh. Derrick is quite busy these days. You know, he's a general,” said Jacqueline.
”I know that. I mean, where's he at now?” prompted Maltyie.
”Erm, I'm not sure myself, Maltyie. I rarely see him nowadays. I thought you have his phone number?” said Jacqueline as she frowned at her.
”Y-Yes, of course, I did.”
”Have you called him?” asked Jacqueline.
”Call h-him? No way!”