Chapter 2- Meeting the Saint

Chapter 2- Meeting the Saint

Elise is feeling depressed because she is really in another world. She remembers cooking her last favorite shin ramyun that she kept for seven days just to eat, but she suddenly woke up here in the carriage with most children, who looked stressed. The wagon is uncomfortable to ride in and she wanted to stretch her limbs but there are twenty children inside of the wagon. 

Elise, who cannot sleep, observes the people and nature. She really can’t believe that she’s seeing different natural hair colors, in her world when people dye their hair to look good, especially idols but here it’s natural shiny hair including this blonde saint beside her. Elise didn’t know if the wagon was for a slave trader or from the orphanage. They supposedly go according to the story she read. 

Alicia is calm and silent. She never cries or whim even though she’s a noble. The children in this wagon mostly cry or look like they are going to kill the next person beside them. They are still arrogant even though they are now orphans. Elise got goosebumps when Alicia suddenly turned her head to her. They stare at each other. Elise was shocked, lowered her head and closed her eyes. Maybe it’s time to pretend to be asleep... maybe just a dream. Elise will return to her world then, after an hour of struggling, Elise is in deep sleep. 

Elise wakes up by the noise of the children. The sun already set, and they stopped at the big gate painted in navy, dark color. Elise suddenly got nervous. The letters she read at the entrance of the gate are clearly “La Papillonne Orphanage”. Elise is now clearly in the book “The Lazy Lucky Princess.” She remembered all the gruesome scenes from the book. She estimated her age and is now seven years old while Alicia is eight then years from now on the tragedy will happen. Elise became pale and wanted to cry. The abuse that the children will experience is gore and frightening. She knows from that moment how dangerous this place is. 

Elise froze in the side, didn’t talk, and had a scary look on her face. She wanted to run away and quickly go home. This place is hell! She never really minded the story when she read it, especially the happenings inside the orphanage, but it’s different now. She’s aware of the potential end and she can’t just wash it away easily.

Alicia is eight and four years from now on the Director will die then will be swapped by a monster. Elise, who read and witnessed the cruelty of the new Director, hugged herself. It was full of torture and many children will die because of the cruelty.

Elise found Alicia. She’s the protagonist who will most experience the abuse. Alicia walks gracefully inside and is now quiet, but Elise is different. She didn’t want to go and was almost ready to run away but the kind director went for her. 

“Are you okay, child?” She asked. 

The voice is sweet and kind. Her face is full of worry for the child, Elise, who is looking scared. 

“It’s okay child, go inside with your friends.”

She said again and hold Elise hand with the dazzling smile Elise witness 

The kind Director's name is Samantha Forbe. She is in her forty with blonde hair and green eyes. She is very kind and understanding and treats the children as her own. The author describes her as an almost saintly personality. She is an ordinary lady without power though, that’s the reason she got targeted easily. 

From Elise's point of view, the character of Samantha Forbe is naïve and ignorant. She’s aware of the cruelty and the malice of the villains but did nothing to protect herself and the orphanage she built. For Elise, she is a dumb side character, but it’s a different story now. Trapped Elise, who becomes an unknown child and her soul in the body. She needed to convince Samantha to be wise for their safety. Even though Elise is full of worries, she still extends her hand to the Director and smiles at her. 

“You will not die,” Elise said to herself.

Something distracted Elise after going inside the estate and discreetly observing the place. The half castle-like orphanage is big and has so many rooms. The entrance is wide and has lots of stairs. They can hear the noises from other rooms besides the entrance. There are children eight to twelve years old that are having a lesson. 

The orphanage is impressive because of its medieval interior and classic designs. The paint used was a lighter color. It’s not as bad as she expected. The author of the book described the orphanage as a scary place, but it isn’t now.

There is room for every subject used for studying and an apartment-style with two bunk beds per room divided for four people. Elise proceeds to her room guided by one of the students, luckily Elise is with Alicia as they were of a similar age. Elise put down her bag and entered the room with Alicia.

There are other children with the age ten to twelve years old inside. The names are visible at the upper front of the bed. She unconsciously read the names in her mind. Elise has two more roommates aside from Alicia.

The director orders them to rest and will meet later before lunch. Elise, who chose the upper bed, organized her things and silently observed the children in the room. 

“I am Beth, it’s nice meeting you two.”

Beth has dark skin color but has gray eyes. She is Eleven years old, and she’s staying in the orphanage for six months now. 

“I am Sarah. I’m nine years old. Nice to meet you two,” said the little girl who has pale skin and blue eyes. 

They both have black hair. 

“I’m Alicia and I’m nine.” Alicia said with a sweet small voice. 

The two are now smiling and kind of sparkle after seeing the beautiful face of Alicia. Elise who is now standing awkwardly smiles and introduces herself.

“U-uh, I’m Elise and I’m seven”

Elise tells them her little information but not sure, because she doesn’t remember where she came from, her family, or everything about the child she possessed. And that’s one of her problems because she said her correct name but if it was she had the other name, she would just say she didn’t remember. 

Alicia is exceptionally friendly with Beth and Sarah, who express their emotions through Alicia. They become buddies in just a matter of minutes, and the protagonist is on a different level indeed. Elise maintains her composure because she’s originally twenty-eight adults who are in the body of a seven-year-old child. It overwhelmed Elise by how she will treat these children in front of her.

END OF CHAPTER 2.