Across her past

How I survived

        As I finish up my latest painting I smile to myself. Things could gone so much worse for me after I left the group home. I managed to find an abandoned factory with the utilities still on in the industrial part of town. I slept outside it for almost a week before I felt safe enough to venture inside. I made sure nobody else was around and that it was completely empty before I made my way inside. I made sure to stay out of sight and to only leave and enter when absolutely nobody was around. The inside was huge i'm guessing that it was some type of storage place because it still had unopened boxes and crates coved in dust and cobwebs all around. All it really needed was a good cleaning and to be aired out. I learned over the years that as long as you look like you belong here nobody cares or questions you . There are mostly workers around and they are too busy working to care about an old abandoned factory. Upstairs in what used to be the office I found pencils pens markers and poster board. I made a sign to take into town with an old small box. I panhandled all day from sunrise till about 7 pm. I needed supplies. At 7 I was starving. I hadn't eaten in days. I picked the box up and went to a bookstore that was right across the street from where I was panhandling. One of the cashiers from there had come out earlier to tell me they opened late and threw away any food that was left after 10 pm when they closed. She also let me know they had a private bathroom for staff on the second floor and to let her know if I needed it. She dropped money in my box told me her name was Sam and went inside. 

    Sam approached me as soon as I came in. She smiled warmly and asked how I was. I was honest and told her tired and hungry. She smiled a sad smile as she nodded. She took me upstairs to the staff bathroom and told me to wait right there for a minute. She went in a door down the hall and came back with a baggie of hygiene products. Soap, a rag, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. i remember bursting into tears and hugging her. She let me cry on her shoulder until I was done then she handed me a pack of panties only one size too big and a shirt and pants that fit perfectly. She let me know there was a shower in there and to take as long as I needed as she placed an out of order sign on the door and winked at me. She went downstairs then and said she'd grab me a snack while I showered. I thanked her and went in the bathroom. Once the door was locked I collapsed against it. I was exhausted. I decided to leave the daunting task of counting my donations until after my much needed shower. As I let the water run over me I thought about what I was going to do to support myself. I was sixteen years old had no high school diploma no family and no friends. I could continue to panhandle but how long would that last? Would it even be enough. I noticed that this was  a nicer part of town so would I even be able to continue or would they call the authorities? I finished up my shower and dried off with the towel that was with the wash cloth she gave me. I put on the lotion from the kit she gave me brushed my teeth flossed etc. and wished I had haircare supplies to tame my mane. Once I was dried and dressed I sat on the toilet and counted the money from my box. At first glance I thought I had a few bucks enough to grab a snack and maybe a broom and some bleach and a rag to clean. As I started counting I saw that I was waaaaay off. some people put twenties in here. It wasn't even a good sign I made. After counting I had well over three hundred dollars. I was giddy, maybe this could work. Maybe i could get by. I hurried and put the money in my bra. I had washed it the night before so it was fresh. I noticed that I had put my old clothes back on in my haste. I changed into the new clothes complete with new panties. I would buy a new bra at the end of the week if I had made enough. I left the bathroom to seek out Sam.

            Sam jumped up from the seating area like she was waiting for me as soon as she saw me. She asked me if I felt better and I smiled and told her yes that I really needed that. She said she was glad and took me to what looked like a little café inside the bookstore. This place was awesome. She sat me down at a table and started just bringing out so much food. While I was excited to see that much food in front of me I politely told her I couldn't accept it because I didn't want her to get in trouble on my behalf. She laughed and explained that this was her parent's shop. That's when it all clicked the shop was called Samantha's book nook. I laughed at my dense self. She saw the moment it all came together in my head and laughed with me. I tried to pay her but she wouldn't accept any money. She said just be safe and come back anytime. She even said I could set up in front of the shop so I could come in  for a snack and a bathroom break during the day. I ate as much as I could and she packed the rest up in a tote with wheels for me. Sam asked me to stay around till close and she would give me the rest of the stuff from the bakery apparently the items were either made fresh there or delivered every morning. I told her thank you and waited around while she tended to the customers. I must have been more tired than I thought because I fell asleep on one of the oversized chairs. She gently shook me awake when she was all closed up. After handing me the tote she packed she asked if I had a place to sleep. I thanked her and told her yes that I just needed to get some cleaning supplies and blankets but it was warm so I should be okay for the night. She then ran upstairs grabbed a plastic bag and handed it to me. She then offered me a ride which I declined ( she was nice but could I trust her) which made her frown. She told me to be careful and wished me luck. As we parted ways I thought about this turn of events. This might actually work.

                        I spent the next day getting some much needed cleaning done. This warehouse was huge and dusty. After making sure that all the workers were inside their buildings I ran out the side door to find the shop I had seen on my way out yesterday. I had my money and the tote on wheels Sam had given me. I made a mental list of what I would need. to get this place livable. Thanks to the bag from Sam my list was cut. She had given me bleach and cleaning spray and rags, a spray bottle, vinegar, a scrub brush, steel wool, and mistolin. Now I just needed broom dustpan trash bags bathroom cleaner bug spray and a small cooler. With that I could whip this place into shape. Hopefully I can find some pillows and a blanket as well. My shopping trip was fairly quick as I found a .99 cent store that had everything I needed except the broom, dustpan, small cooler, and bed supplies. The store right next door was a discount store and they had a great sale on everything else. I spent a total of  about $50 and had a comforter set  pillows and all my cleaning supplies. I even managed to find  an outfit for $7.50. When I got back what I now called my place i Brought all my stuff up to what had been the office and got started. I had already spent the time I was waiting for the workers to disperse cleaning the office that I was slowly turning into my sleeping area and the bathroom attached to it. I started separating everything based on my tasks and Getting to work. I put the pastries I had been given last night in the cooler so they would stay fresh a little longer. I thought I had seen  like an employees lounge area and there should be a fridge in there but I wasn't sure. This was enough to feed me for at least a week. 

       I cleaned and explored at the same time. Keeping the bug spray in my waistband I started to open boxes to check for things I could use or maybe even sell. I found some really good stuff in them,. I was right at some point this was a storage warehouse. Some of these boxes were downright huge standing taller than me. Going through the papers in the office after opening the first box and finding medical supplies, I learned that this place shut down two years ago. It was a midway point for ship freight for a lot of different companies. The boxes would come off the ships and after clearing customs at the docks would sit in this warehouse to be shipped out to all over the world. It was cheaper than letting it sit at the docks. I found out through some research that the owners were a supernatural crime syndicate that were caught and sent back to Faerie. They were banished from human cities because they would acquire human babies and children to be sold as faerie slaves. They owned the building outright and it was never confiscated so when the management company ran out of money to pay workers they just shut down. After exploring most of the second floor I came to the conclusion that most of the factory ran on fae power sources and that was why the utilities were still on. I marveled at how something the size of a pebble had almost infinite power. 

    I open several boxes after reading the labels on them. Some were from overseas furniture companies. I definitely needed some of that. Right now I had a comforter set and 2 pillows. I'm not complaining but a chair would be nice. First box almost jack pot a disassembled couch. I have no tools so kind useful I guess. Upon closer inspection I noticed that the legs just screwed on, YES!! actual jackpot. I could use this most definitely. Awesome and it was on the second floor so I could just drag it into the office. A couch to sleep on was sooooo much better than the floor. Alright on to the next  box. This box was huge. Massive jackpot in her it was a complete king size bedroom set that was marked display. The frame required no tools at all. I was set. It even had a dresser mirror and chest of drawers, A very nice carpet rug, a trunk for extra storage, 2 night stands, a lamp, and an ottoman. It took me two long days to get it all set up and fixed in that office. Thank goodness management went big. I set the couch up right outside my sleep area. I even found a chaise lounge Had no idea where I would put it but it's really nice and comfy. I set off to continue exploring the second floor since the first was mostly boxes tables and benches. I found a complete kitchen. It was humongous, and on the other side a cafeteria. On the way there however was a large set of double doors that was locked. I tried to get in there for almost an hour before I frowned and gave up. I made a mental note and then moved on. Once in the kitchen I began to clean every single surface and take stock of what was there and usable. No gross food to clean out thank goodness, but lots of pots and pans. There were even utensils and dishes. Dish soap the whole shebang. I found all the cleaning supplies I could hope for in the janitors closet. As I stood there appreciating my vast good fortune my mind drifted back to the double doors I couldn't get into. Then I remembered They key in the desk drawer back in the office well my bedroom now. I turned and sprinted back. I moved the desk outside into the hall area when I was setting up that bed. I saw the desk pushed into the corner of the hall and started rummaging through the drawers for that key. Bingo it was in the bottom drawer ender some file I hadn't looked at yet. I put it in my pocket and  started for the big double doors.

                    I froze when I reached those big double doors. What would be behind there? Would I regret opening it? There had to be a reason why this was the only door locked in this entire massive  warehouse. I forged forward and put the key in the door. A little too late I thought about how strange it was that this building seemed to be so large despite not looking as big on the outside. About how I always seemed to find exactly what I was looking for when I needed it. It was a normal sized warehouse on the outside but inside was absolutely massive. A sudden ripple of power washed over me as I stepped into a small hallway. It was completely dark except a light on in a room down a long hallway. This place was the complete opposite of the warehouse. It was dark and had a bit of a closed off feel to it. The air was heavy as all get out. As I moved around the room a light came on. I guess they are motion activated. As I looked around the room i'm sure that this is a living area. As I move around from room to room I am sure that this is where the owners lived when they were here. Now that I wasn't scared  I noticed that it felt earthy not closed off at all but just like nature. Even though I was clearly inside it felt  like a meadow. It felt like earth. This place was a good size, so far there were 6 bedrooms, a nursery, 8 bathrooms, a game room, media room, a library, and I still hadn't reached the room with the light stream. I passed a few more room before finally reaching the room with the light. I pushed the door open and froze, stunned by what I saw.

        I would have sworn she was human if I hadn't seen her eyes. Her big eerie beautiful eyes. She was tied to a four poster canopy bed in the center of the room. She was small almost too small. As she stared up at  me in fear I realized that I was staring with my mouth open. I took in the sight of her she was a tiny one standing she was no more than three and a half feet tall. Her beautiful brown skin was textured like tree bark. Her eyes were just about half of her face. Large round and as green as new grown grass. She had an impossibly small button nose and a small but pouty mouth. Her small round face was framed by a massive tangled mass of muted rainbow coloured curls that were in dire need of care. She whimpered as I came closer flinching away from me. As if she suddenly remembered who she was she put her head down fast. I looked over her she was very thin and her clothes were tattered. She appeared clean but unkempt. I slowly approached her, making sure not to make any sudden moves. I was pretty sure she was a brownie but that didn't mean she couldn't or hadn't gone bogart already. I was very thankful for Ms. Mouse making all the humans study fae lore and customs at a time like this. I knew brownies were low level fae mostly house workers and slaves. I also knew they could turn bogart if harmed or threatened. I did not know what they considered a threat. Bogarts were mean, violent, and very strong. There was no way I could face a bogart and come out unharmed. I'd be lucky if I walked away alive. 

            I knew better than to offer my name to her so I asked hers instead. When she didn't answer I wondered if she was able to speak at all. I asked her to nod if she understood me she vigorously nodded yes. Score one she understood human language. I asked if she could speak, again she nodded yes. I kept asking questions until I got to the right combination of yes and no shakes. She could speak but she required permission and it had been revoked the last time she had a visitor. I hoped my permission would be enough as I granted her permission to speak. To my surprise her voice was both gravelly and smooth almost like honey but raspy at the same time. She was thrilled to see another person but curious as to how I got in here in the first place. I learned that she was a servant brownie and had had a contract with the owners of the warehouse but they had left her behind when they were deported. I told her all about what happened to me four years ago up until now and she listened enthralled by my tale. When I was done she said she accepted my payment and was now my servant. How had I gotten into this. I couldn't take care of myself let alone a whole other being. I didn't even know what she ate. I also knew refusing or rejecting her would offend her and that was a big no-no. You do not offend the fae. I untied her and asked why she never untied herself. She said it was a rule she was given and she must always follow the rules. She then informed me that the residence was basically an extended part of Faerie in the human city, meaning it followed Faerie rules and laws.  I took that as my que to leave since I had not been invited in I was a human trespassing on fae land. As I walked out she asked me what I wanted her to do. She then got a huge smile on her face and said I Petal hereby invite my Lady, then she paused and looked at me with a frown. We never exchanged names I realized. I told her Alex was my name. She smiled and started again. I Petal hereby invite my lady Alex into this faerie dwelling to come and go as she pleases, to do what she deems necessary and to take and replace whatever she wants. This was unreal I couldn't believe what was happening. Free rein in a fae dwelling, this was gonna be interesting.

            Now I had to go back and panhandle even harder because I had 2 mouths to feed instead of just me.  It had been almost a week since I had been out there. I had cleaned up the dust and cobwebs with Petals help. I had been to the store in town again and had bought all natural hair care products and soaps so that I could tend to Petal's and my hair. We pushed the boxes up against the walls and exits leaving only one door in and out as a safety precaution. If need be I could always use the fae dwelling to escape. I went searching through the living quarters again, thoroughly this time and found wardrobes and closets full of clothing and books and toys. I told Petal she could wear whatever she liked in there and I also got her a few cheap outfits from town. After the place was in order I explained to Petal I would be leaving in the day time to make sure we had money for the things we needed. She didn't understand at first because the living quarters had supplies. I knew I couldn't eat food of fae as a human though. I also learned that as long as she was on fae land she didn't need to eat or drink. The same thing applied to raw nature, meadows, fields, natural parks, mountains, etc.. I told her I would be back late but hopefully with food and to just do as she pleased all day. 

            I left bright and early the next morning before sunrise, that way I would be gone before the workers started getting here. I walked the hour trip back to the book store knowing that at  least i'd have the left over pastries if nothing else. I got there just as the sun was coming up. I set my box up with my sign and a few items from the boxes to "sell". Hopefully I did half as well as last time I couldn't stay at the warehouse forever and I didn't know how long before I would have to run. Just as I was finished setting up I saw Sam looking at me in relief and disbelief. She came up to me with a huge smile and told me she was glad to see that I was okay. I told her I had to clean and rest for a while and that I was a lot more tired than I had realized. I also let her know that her pastries and supplies were the only reason I was able to do that and thanked her again profusely. She blushed and tried to shoo me away. I told her I would be out here all day today and a few more days this week to try and build up money I never knew when I would have to leave. She said she understood and she hoped to see me in the shop and as always I was welcome to the restroom and snacks. 

        I spent all day outside trying to sell items from the boxes. I did pretty good, I sold everything and got a lot of donations. It helped that I looked even younger than I was. By 6pm I had amassed six hundred dollars. I'm still not sure how I managed that in a day but whoa. If things continued like this I would be able to afford my own place  when I turned of age. I went inside around six thirty after adding another hundred to my my box. This was a great place to set up. Sam was surprised that I was in so early since last time I was out till eight. I explained that I wasn't greedy and felt I had enough for the day. I could save half and have the rest for the things I needed. I asked to use the restroom to freshen up she smiled and said of course. I did a quick washup to get off the extra sweat and then went downstairs where a feast of pastries awaited me once again, this time accompanied by a painted mason jar and a bottle of water. As I approached the table I noticed that it was at least double as last time. I ate my fill and watched as she packed everything up just like last time. She even went to the back and came back with two boxes of danishes and muffins. I asked her about the mason jar as I drank the water down. Sam looked a little embarrassed as she told me that she set up a donation jar for me after my last visit and had been collecting money all week with the hopes that I would return. She told me that as long as I didn't mind she would keep it there and give it to me at the end of every week to help me out. i smiled while trying not to cry and told her that was the nicest sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me. She said she hadn't counted it but it felt pretty heavy so she hoped it was a good amount. I told her that I would count it when I got to my place and let her know how much it was. I cleaned my face grabbed my bags and headed back to what had become my home making sure to thank Sam again and assure her that I would be back if not tomorrow then the day after. 

        I stopped at the supermarket on the way and picked up some much needed groceries. We did have a full kitchen after all. I grabbed eggs, cereal, milk, some proteins, and lots of veggies. I paid using the money from my first day panhandling since I still had some left and hadn't even counted todays yet. When I got home Petal was waiting with a big smile on her tiny face. I asked her how her day was and if she was bored. She said that the day was uneventful and that she opened some more boxes and found more items. I walked in and was stunned by what I saw. She had found electronics crates. Televisions and a jukebox, a karaoke machine, game systems, and a projection screen. She had set up a TV area/lounge as well as a read corner/nook with bookcases books big squishy chairs and an indoor fire pit... It was one of those electric ones but it was still pretty. I had tears in my eyes as I thanked her for this. I asked her if the stuff was too heavy for her and asked why she didn't wait for me to come back and help her. She said dhe just wanted to do something special for me for freeing her. Everything pretty much went on the same from there. Me going to panhandle every couple of days and collecting the donation jar every week. The first jar had over three thousand dollars in it and I was blown away. That combined with the almost eight hundred I had earned that day was enough for a month or two but I didn't ease up yet. Me and Petal would need a place to stay and food to eat. I went out every other day and sold things and Panhandled. Petal managed to find A crate with art supplies in it and we discovered that I had a real talent for art. I could draw, paint, sculpt. It was amazing and I started painting and drawing everyday when I got home. Petal always had a hot meal waiting for me and I loved it. 

        That is how the time passed I would go out and panhandle and sell items while Petal took care of the house and cooked. We were like an old married couple. I was actually happy. I could forget for a while that I was abandoned, that my own parents didn't want me. I would just stay here as long as I could. This was good and I wouldn't have to panhandle soon the weekly tips were enough to stay a float to be honest. I brought in some artwork for Sam as a thank you for all her help. She fell in love with them instantly, and hung them up. Sam had them all over the shop. She even set up appointments with customers that were interested in buying a piece. With all of these options I was able to set aside almost sixty-five hundred dollars a week for the two years until I reached majority. I was highly grateful for how well  things had turned out. Things could have been much worse.