TO THE UNDERGROUND

Beautiful...young, smart...usually that's me. But I've also been called many things. Orphan, stupid, weird...I wasn't affected then and I won't be now. I'm different—-I've always been. When my parents died right in front of my eyes, I was just a child. I was seven when the airplane crashed and blew up in flames. I was at the airport...waiting for my parents. We had gotten a call that the airplane had lost control. Mama Lana, the housekeeper had brought me in a rush to the airport.

'Your parents will be safe.' She had said, our eyes on the big screen watching the news live.

But it wasn't true...my parents died that day. I became an orphan. Throughout the burial ceremony, I didn't shed a tear. When my mother's big sister, Auntie Cam and her husband took me in and welcomed me into their family, I didn't cry. I went to school, I tried to get along with their twins, Sammie and Samantha—-but it wasn't enough. I didn't belong there. They didn't want me.

At school, I didn't have friends. I was socially inept. I was bullied, made fun of, troubled...all through elementary school. This continued throughout my high school journey. The twins made life so hard to live in.

'She's just a nobody my parents brought home out of charity.' I had heard Samantha say once in the locker room.

That day, they mocked me...they found joy in my misery.

'No wonder it smells like orphan in here.' One of her friends had said, when I walked by.

I didn't go to Prom...Sammie stole my dress.

He had told me, 'You don't deserve to be happy.'

Later that night I saw him, making out with his girlfriend by the pool. She was wearing my dress and when he saw me, he didn't feel guilt—-not even a bit.

'Caroline, you love my dress don't you? I can give it to you if you want. Sammie bought it for me.' I heard his girlfriend giggle.

'And why are you talking to her?' He had asked dryly.

'Because she won't stop staring at me.' she laughed.

That's when I first heard it—-a bleep, as if a switch had flipped in my head. Before I knew, I was grabbing her by the neck...I pushed her into the pool. I laughed like a maniac at the sight of her drenched completely, shivering like a wet puppy. My laugh was instantly replaced by a painful groan when Sammie punched me in the face. I landed on the cold floor. He didn't stop...his mean punches kept flying, landing on me. I tasted blood...my blood. I felt pathetic. I saw my miserable life flash before my eyes. I thought I was going to die. Through my pain, I laughed...nonstop.

'Fucking psycho.' He had said, breathing heavily.

That night, I was thrown out of their home.

Their mother, Auntie Cam brought me to their home eleven years ago, and as my guardian she had control over my inheritance—-my parents' riches. She sold our estate and took over my father's company with her husband. When the company went bankrupt under their incompetent leadership, they sold the company. At eighteen, I was left on the streets with nothing, wounded...having nowhere to go.

Still, I didn't cry...I just felt numb.

Today, I'm standing in front of the tall building of Hills Inc., the building that once belonged to my father...where he once ran his company...the company sold by my aunt and now taken over by Hills Inc. When I took the job offer here, I didn't know what I was thinking. I had told myself I needed to survive...I needed to keep going and nothing else mattered. As long as I'm still breathing, nothing is actually a big deal. Now, here I am feeling all sorts of emotions while I stare at the busy entrance. Something inside me urges me to turn around and leave—-but I can't. There is no stopping now.

'Caroline Ann Wright...I was here for the interview last week and I'm to resume work today.'

When I got assigned to the archive, I didn't expect much. I would probably be in the archive on the tenth floor, riding the elevators with heavy documents, books...literally the book delivery girl for the superiors each day I come to work. There's also this high possibility of never stepping out of the archive unless I'm needed to. I've always been tagged 'socially awkward' so I don't exactly expect to make friends.

'Miss Wright, You are welcome to Hills Inc. I'm Marydale Dawnson, please follow me.'

This woman with extreme red lips keeps walking fast, I can barely keep up. Nothing about her feels warm and even her red lipstick is quite disturbing. Also, she could have just called me Caroline.

We enter a corner, walking nonstop, and after making two more turns, she stops in front of an iron gate. Behind the gate, there seems to be an elevator. It feels odd—-the old school vibe this is giving in a modern setting as Hills Inc. After pulling the gate away, she presses a button and the elevator opens. I notice I haven't sighted anyone since we entered the corner. This is really odd.

Without arguing, I follow her into the elevator. A sense of alarm fills my body when the elevator, rather than going up is heading to the bottom instead. I wonder if some cult is going on here. I gasp softly when the elevator abruptly stops and it opens wide.

Miss Dawnson looks at me briefly, adjusting her glasses before walking out of the elevator. I lick my lower lip, following suit. Books and lot of books...an underground archive? For some reason, I wish I had turned earlier and left.

She stops right in front of the long vintage desk and says, 'this is your desk...feel free to settle in.'

Alarm goes off in my head, my eyes widen and I realize I've been assigned to work in this underground vintage looking archive. I mean, what did I expect? I didn't even go to College. I should be glad I got a job in a highly recognized firm—-even if the price means remaining in the underground, almost invisible.

Miss Dawnson presses the button to the elevator and it opens. She pauses, turning around she says,

'Oh, you are to remain in the archive at all times. You won't be able to access the internet, or make use of your cellphone down here due to security reasons. You will be called on the telephone if and when your services are required.'

With that, she steps in the elevator...leaving only me behind in the old underground archive.

'Bummer' I sigh.