23|The Problem With Fire

While Austin was wheeling and dealing down the hall, Marybeth stirred to life, yelping when she found a tiny-sized human sitting on the floor, gawking at her.

She'd taught tiny-sized humans for seven years, hung out with the lonely and bullied during breaks, and started a music band with a few on Wednesdays. She just never had one sit and stare at her while she slept, as if she was holding a seance or summoning something scary.

"What is it?" Austin dashed into the room, a puzzled frown creasing his brows.

Marybeth pointed at the brown-haired girl sitting cross-legged on the floor. "I'm sorry. I opened my eyes, and she was just staring at me, and I freaked out because I wasn't expecting anyone."

"Orlando, we've talked about this," Austin gently admonished the little girl. "You can't just sit there and watch people sleep."

"But you said I shouldn't disturb her, and I was just making sure she doesn't have nightmares. I get nightmares when I'm in a new place," Orlando explained, her roseb