C1 Chapter 1: The Orphan

Between the stone walls in the back streets of Salem and the stench of rot and urine I hide.

What have I done? What have I done? I repeat the question a hundred times in my head. Then I bury my face in my hands and let my tears run.

A monster, that’s what I am. My burden is intolerable, my actions unforgivable. Why can’t things go back to the way they were?

Suddenly I hear footsteps. They are almost swallowed up by the splashing of the rain, but my ears notice them anyway.

“Little girl, what are you doing here all alone in the rain?” The woman’s voice sounds worried. I’m not answering. After a short moment she approaches me.

“S-stay away from me,” I whisper in a trembling voice. She has no idea what I am. I don’t want to hurt anyone else.

She kneels beside me and brushes a red strand out of my face. “What beautiful red hair you have. But why are you crying, my little one?”

Again, I don’t answer, but her touch feels nice. It is warm and comforts me. I sob and look at the grey ground.

“Shall I take you home? Where do you live?”

“I have no home left,” I answer in tears. I settle on the wet ground.

“And where are your parents?” asks the woman in a frightened voice. She feels sorry for me – the poor little girl of 13 years. But she doesn’t know what I really am. If she knew what I am capable of, she’d run away screaming.

“They’re dead,” I say dry and raise my head to look her in the eyes. She doesn’t dodge my gaze, just keeps looking at me and then takes me in her arms.

“Come with me. The streets at this hour are not safe for a lovely girl like you.” She pulls me up and won’t let go of my hand when I’m back on my feet.

I don’t know where she’s taking me. I hope she takes me far, far away.

“What’s your name?” she asks in a friendly voice. She smiles down to me.

“Rose Barnes.” I wipe my face with my sleeve. Not to hide the tears, but to wash it clean. Of all the things I’ve done. Of all the suffering I’ve caused.

A fresh start.

A few months later.

Since Marlene took me into her orphanage, everything has improved. The other kids are nice, but I still prefer being alone. I don’t trust myself yet, after everything that’s happened.

While the others are outside playing, I sit in the dormitory and do things that no other child can do.

I let books float, light candles with my mere thought power, and collect magic stones. I don’t know why, but I can feel something magical coming out of these stones.

These stones make me stronger; make me realize what is good and what is evil. It’s a fine line, but I’m learning. I want to know what happened to me that night when I suddenly changed.

And I will know someday.

One afternoon Max comes crashing into the room. I immediately stop all the spells, but he’s so beside himself that he doesn’t notice anything anyway.

He hurt himself playing and I recognize a big, bloody wound on his knee. When he sees me, he wants to leave the room again, but I stop him.

I tell him I can help him, but he refuses. “Don’t want any help from a girl,” he says, but I answer him that's nonsense.

With my powers, I close his wound and take away his pain. Max can hardly believe his eyes, but he promises not to say anything.

Since then, I’ve known it’s possible. I can do good with these powers. And I will do everything I can to use them only for these purposes.