Hades' Lost Daughter

Chapter Three

Monday mornings are always the worst. Aren't they? I woke up and realized that I was the only one in the room. I cursed herself as the sunlight streamed into the room. My eyes widening in surprise.

"Oh not again!" I complained as I got out of bed and got dressed in a pair of jeans and a baggy shirt. I tried to untangle my hair as quickly as possible and when I realized it wasn't working, I took a hairband and quickly pulled my hair back into a ponytail. Normally, I would have never done that but I was running out of time.

With my backpack on my shoulder, I rushed down the stairs towards my classroom without bothering to stop at the cafeteria for breakfast. The hallways were empty and my footsteps echoed on the walls that led towards the classroom.

When I got there, the door was just beginning to close and I picked up my pace and placed my hand on the door to stop it from closing in my face. "Wait," I managed to say breathlessly.

The person standing behind the door stopped and slowly opened it. I gulped when I saw Emma looking unimpressed and a bit disappointed at me.

"Aileen, so nice of you to join us," said Emma with a frown on her face as she stepped aside to let me in. The other teenagers in the classroom smirked as they whispered amongst themselves. I ignored them and walked with my head up towards my seat. I put my head on the desk with my arms wrapped around it. There was something wrong with me. I could feel it. Something was burning inside of me, making me angry and irritable.

"Are you okay?" asked someone I didn't expect to hear.

I let out a scream of surprise before putting my hands on my mouth but it was too late. Everyone was already looking at me in shock.

"Aileen!" said Emma sternly burning daggers into me. Emma was a person who did not take disobedience lightly.

"I'm sorry miss, it was my fault, I startled her," said the lost boy who had been in the infirmary the day before. Emma looked at both of us skeptically and then sighed before continuing her lecture.

Some of the guys in the class made fun of me and I ignored them before glaring at the guy next to me but I stayed quiet for the rest of the lecture. When the bell rang signaling a break, I rushed towards the door but was stopped by Emma's arm. Emma guided me aside so others could walk out of the classroom and my cheeks burned as some of them giggled on their way out. While some of the other orphans feared me, others just called me weird and made fun of me. Either way, I didn't care.

"Aileen, since you got to class late, I'm counting on you to show our new classmate around," Emma said once everyone was out. Truthfully, I had been expecting it.

"Of course. I'm sorry for being late. It won't happen again," I said quickly but I could tell she didn't believe me and with my history, I wouldn't either.

The lost boy had been the last to leave and once I was out the door, I caught up with him quickly. "Hey I'm Aileen and I have to show you around," I said quickly as I reached his side and tried to smile at him politely.

The boy raised an eyebrow and smirked, "you have to?"

I blushed but rolled my eyes, "I would like to show you around, better?"

He let out a laugh, his eyes burning with amusement. "Yes, and I'm Andrew Nocturne by the way."

I nodded my head and raised an eyebrow at his last name. It was so bizarre. "I'm Aileen Hagan," I said as I extended my hand.

"Aileen Hagan," he repeated thoughtfully. His eyes searched mine as if he were waiting for me to elaborate. "It's nice to finally put a name to my mysterious visitor," he said extending his hand with a smile.

I blushed even more and shook his hand. "Yeah about that... that wasn't me, I have a twin." I was trying to make a joke but it felt unusual coming from me. A normally serious person.

Andrew laughed amused, "sure you do." Then he began walking again.

We talked casually as I showed him the backyard, the kitchen, explained how the rooms were arranged, and finally, I led him to where the cafeteria was. Kids of all ages were crowded inside as they laughed and tossed things at each other playfully. The noise was almost too loud that it made your ears hurt.

"Thank you for the tour Aileen," said Andrew with a smile as we stopped at the entrance.

"No problem," I looked at the clock and realized we still had 20 minutes until break ended. For some reason, I didn't feel hungry nor eager to get in line to get some food.

"Do you want to sit with me and my friend Alex?" I asked politely but, internally, I was hoping he would decline my offer.

Luck definitely wasn't on my side because Andrew nodded and followed me to where Alex was sitting with a book in her hand. That was what she usually did when she was alone. She took her books everywhere.

"Alex," I said as we reached the table.

Alex looked up from her book and her honey-colored eyes widened when she saw Andrew. She quickly put her book aside and looked from me to him. "Alex, meet Andrew," I said as I sat down.

Alex stared at Andrew with her mouth open for a few seconds. "Um, nice to meet you Andrew I'm Alex, Aileen's friend." They shook hands briefly and Andrew smiled before taking a seat next to me. Slowly, I moved a bit further from him and he made no sign that he noticed.

"So, how long have you guys been here?" he asked casually, trying to break the silence.

Alex was the first to answer, "I've been here since I was five, my parents died in a car crash," her voice was sad but in a nostalgic way. She could still remember the crash since she was in it and was the only one that survived but she had come to terms with reality.

I tensed, it was a subject I didn't like anyone bringing up. When I recalled how Alex and I had met, it made my stomach churn.

I had been five years old and happy, running around the manor, causing trouble when one day I had been grounded and couldn't go out with the other kids one Saturday afternoon. Barbara had stayed to look after her when she received a phone call.

"Hello this is Barbara from the Stars Orphanage, how can I help you?" her face paled and she placed a hand over her mouth in disbelief. I had watched her from outside of the office but her reaction had made me stiffen.

After Barbara hung up she remained motionless for a second as she processed whatever the other person on the phone had told her. I wasn't allowed to leave the manor but Barbara had made an exception that time, claiming that she needed me to help her with something. Barbara drove us to a nearby hospital. The ride had been quiet and tense but it ended quickly.

We got out of the car and walked inside where it was quiet and smelt of chemicals. I looked around and found a couple of chairs where another girl was sitting alone. I walked slowly towards her and sat down. Barbara watched closely but didn't say anything.

After a moment, she let out a sigh and walked over to me. "Aileen, sit here while I go talk to that woman over there," Barbara said seriously before walking away. I nodded my head and kept my gaze on my hands.

For the first time, I did as I was told and sat next to a dark-haired girl. She was dirty and scratched. Her eyes were swollen from crying and she had looked terrified. After a couple of minutes of sitting with nothing to do, I began swinging my legs as my impatience grew.

"Stop that," the girl next to me said after a moment. Her voice was strained probably due to the crying.

"Sorry," I murmured and tried to sit still as I waited.

"Where are your parents?" I had asked after a while. I found it odd that she was sitting here on her own and no one seemed to be worried about it. Even as a five-year-old, I could tell that was troubling.

The girl next to her tensed, "I don't know."

The confusion inside of me grew and curiosity got the best of me, "why are you dirty?"

The dark-haired girl didn't respond and I sighed before getting up and walking towards Barbara who was still murmuring to another woman in a suit. Gently, I pulled on Barbara's long skirt and she turned to me, "what's the matter, Aileen?" her tone wasn't angry but rather preoccupied. From the side of her eyes, she turned to look at the mysterious girl and then back to me.

I pointed to the dirty, little girl sitting alone, "she can't find her parents."

Barbara turned to the other woman and asked, "Is that her?"

The woman nodded her head sadly and Barbara walked over to the small child.

Barbara sat next to her and wrapped her arms around her, emphatically "We'll take care of you now Alex Monroe, you'll be fine." I watched from afar in confusion as the girl wrapped her small arms around Barbara.

Alex had nodded and sobbed as Barbara led us out of the hospital and into her car. On the ride back, Alex had fallen asleep, she looked exhausted.

"Where are her parents?" I asked in confusion.

Barbara sighed and hesitated before answering.

"They are not here anymore, Aileen, and Alex doesn't have any family that can take care of her. She will be living with us from now and on and will probably need a friend. Could you be her friend Aileen?"

Aileen turned to the girl sleeping next to her, suddenly feeling protective of her. "I'll try."

...

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," said Andrew looking guilty but Alex waved him off quickly.

"It's okay, it happens and that was a long time ago," she said quickly.

Both Alex and Andrew turned to look at her. "How about you, Aileen?"

I shrugged and turned to him. "I've been here since I was a baby. Barbara is the one who found me outside one night when it was pouring," I explained nonchalantly.

The table was quiet for a moment and then Alex spoke up, "Andrew, how did you end up here?"

Andrew for once looked uncomfortable, "I've been on my own for a while, a couple of years ago I started hanging out with some guys who didn't have a home either and when I told them I was leaving they beat me up and I barely managed to get here." He explained slowly with a sheepish look on his face.

"You don't look that bad," I said, my voice coming out a bit harshly. Alex gave me a look from across the table but I ignored it.

"I just heal very fast," he explained not taking his eyes off of me. Both of us seemed to be in a silent battle with each other. His blue eyes were intense and they held no sign of intimidation. I shifted uncomfortably on my seat when I felt the temperature in the room start to increase. I didn't know if it was my imagination but it was starting to become uncomfortable.

Andrew seemed to notice and he broke contact quickly. Instantly, the temperature returned to normal. "Aileen, are you alright?" asked Alex looking at me worriedly.

My face had paled and I was shivering as if I were cold but my body felt like it was boiling. "I-I don't know," I stuttered before getting up and rushing out. I could feel eyes behind me and I had a feeling they belonged to Andrew.

...

I was lying on her bed when there was a knock on the door, "Aileen I'm coming in." The door opened and Barbara stepped inside. She was probably here since I decided to skip the rest of my classes and wanted to see what I was up to.

When she was close enough she put her hand on my forehead and her eyes widened. "Oh dear, Aileen, you're boiling."

I opened her eyes in confusion. "How? I feel cold." As if to show her, a shiver ran down my spine and I inhaled sharply.

Barbara went to the bathroom and came back with a wet towel. "Get under the blankets and lay down." She ordered before turning around and murmuring, "it's happening."

Confused, I asked "what?"

Barbara jumped and turned around quickly, "nothing sweetie, you're going to be fine." Barbara kissed my forehead quickly before placing the wet cloth on my forehead and leaving the room. Thankfully, she had closed the curtains and turned off the light and that was enough to ease some of the tension away.

My head was aching and when I closed my eyes I fell asleep instantly.