CHAPTER ONE

1| Avara's Disappearance

I stared blatantly at my supposed little brother who was playing with his toys across the room. My hands caressed the sides of my hair, as I began to think about dinner. Where that was going to come from, I didn’t know.

“Avara!” He called, causing me to change my sour mood to a more chirpy one. He stood up and ran to me, giggling all the way and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Yes, Corey?” I answered, holding his hands in mine. He frowned as he burped a little, then the cute smile came on again.

“Nothing, you look sad,” He said in a whiny voice and I smiled at the six-year-old.

“Just thinking,” I started, carrying and placing him on my lap. He shuffled a bit, getting comfortable. His baby oil wafted through my nose and I happily buried my head in his soft hair. “About food.”

“Food?” He asked, raising his head so his soft brown eyes would meet mine. I nodded and smiled when his mouth opened a little and shut it back. “Oh.”

“Yeah, I know you won’t understand but we are short of everything and it would be difficult to get into town by this evening.” I almost cried out before sighing to calm myself down. “But you know what, your big sister is going to find what you want to eat.”

His right hand held my shirt a bit tight and I looked down to see him smiling. “You always do.”

My heart softened and I smiled at that, dropping him gently on the floor. His hands were glued together as he stared at me. My head turned as I walked out of the living room to the only one we had.

As soon as I was out of his sight, my cold frown appeared back, I knew what I had to do. To me, the world was cruel and I had every right to bite it back. My mind wandered to how I got myself into this situation.

Corey and I were not blood. And the place where we were, was definitely not our home. It was a dusty place that I found eight months ago near a small but developed town that I knew as Revala.

Earlier this year, our home was burnt down, the place where all abandoned children rest. An orphanage. After staying there for the first fifteen years of my life, I realized no one was coming for me. In my fifteenth year, Corey came into the children’s home. I loved him as soon as I saw him. I thought he was cute and I suddenly had the urge to take care of him, as my little brother. Nobody liked me except for Corey, then, I thought he only followed me cause he was just two but deep down, I didn’t care. I took care of Corey not minding the children that bullied me anymore. We were always together, it was so much that when people would come to adopt Corey, they would have to take me as a package because he could not leave me alone.

I didn’t mind. I stayed happy just like that.

Sadly, three years after, on a dreadful night, a fire started. Everyone rushed out and the children were crying. The keeper was trying to calm them down and I stared at them, wondering who was missing.

“Do not go near the building!” The firemen cautioned as they brought out their extinguishers. My eyes widened as I found out who was missing.

Corey.

Out of dread, I followed the back of the orphanage and ran back in. The woods filled with fire fell past me as I ran, the choking smell becoming unbearable. Tears fell from my eyes as I ran, screaming his name. There, Corey stood, crying and clutching his toy, unharmed and unscathed and I ran to him, with joy tearing at my heart. I carried him in my arms and ran down, dodging all the obstacles the house threw my way.

When I canme out of the building’s back, I coughed loudly but immediately shushed myself as I heard a van driving away.

Creeping forward, I eavesdropped on the conversation between my keeper and a fireman. There were no children left, it was like they had gone. Had they forgotten Corey and I?

The next words that my orphan keeper said broke my heart and confirmed my thoughts.

“Yes, that’s all of them,” She said and the fireman nodded. I just stayed with my soot-filled dress, staring at her in disbelief. I knew she hated me but not like this. I clutched Corey in my arms, glad to hear his heartbeat through my ears and I did the next thing I could think of.

I ran.

No one deserved us. No one did. The world was cruel and I had to get used to it. I ran towards the woods as fast as my legs could carry me.

I was in search of water, for Corey, he hadn't woken up after he passed out in my arms. I tripped and fell on the ground, face flat, and screamed in pain as fallen branches dug into my skin. I held Corey tightly to me, not releasing him from my hold.

Standing up, I paused when I heard a distant sound from far away in the woods. The green woods turned out to be scary then. It sounded like a wolf. To this day, I’m still unsure.

I continued running and my eyes widened in happiness when I saw a blue lake in front of me. Gladly, I took off to it, setting Corey gently beside it. I removed my clothes, showing a bit of scar from the fire that I was very sure did not burn me earlier, which showed the proximity that I had to it. I slowly stepped into the water and took Corey in my arms, taking him with me.

I cried as I realized he had not woken up and that was when it happened. A gut feeling. That told me to dip him and bring him out. So I did. His eyelids shook as he coughed, opening his sunken eyes to stare at me. I almost screamed with happiness and I rushed out of the water and stopped abruptly, also noticing that my scalds were gone.

My eyes widened and I looked back at the still lake, admiring it. Deep down, I knew that I had always believed in fantasies and I was so excited to see an enchanted lake. I felt so safe around it that I spent the night, before fleeing the next morning.

The next morning, I left with Corey after getting some fruit from the trees to, give him. I was so worried that I started to question myself. Corey was too young to be in this mess with me.

After two more days of sleeping out, Corey was laughing as I carried him on my back, listening to my stories. Suddenly he stopped and pointed.

“Ava look! A house.” He said and I laughed happily, running towards it. It seemed abandoned when we entered so we were left confused.

“Hello?” I called but no answer.

That was it. I stayed at the front of the house with Corey and we waited for the owner to come but no one did. That night, We had to enter the house and sleep in the living room that had no chairs and roof over our heads, the place was good to stay in. We decided not to leave anymore.

We were staying there for a few months and I had already gotten used to the distant wolf howling that I’d hear now and then. One day, I hid Corey and decided to explore and it was the best decision because that’s when I discovered the town next to it.

I had climbed down the hill and entered, feeling scared. The people seemed a little weird and I heard weird things like, “warrior training,” “The Beta is coming,” and all of that. With the last change I had saved from the fire in my room, I bought stuff. A lot. It was like a beautiful city. The type I was scared to live in.

It seemed small but rich. I got food, toys, water, and a few clothes. I also bought bathing stuff and baby oil. Going back home, Corey was excited and I promised to take him when I could.

I knew I would never.

The second time I went, I made a friend named Siren. She was beautiful but scary too. I learned that she was a mum and she had two “pups.” I didn’t bother asking but she owned a bakery. I poured out my mind to her and she seemed scared of me.

I was confused when she stuck a whole lot of bread in my hands and told me to come back in six months so since then she’s been my source of food. She also complained about me not being safe. Which got me confused but I listened.

My mind wheel trapped as I stopped thinking. I had to go back there. The last time I visited was six months ago. I sighed and stood up, telling myself that I could not introduce Corey to living on fruits again.

I had to go to the town.