Woodchoppers Secret

17 | Pain

As night fell the blue haze of day lifted to reveal the stars. Stars shone as sugar spilt over black marble, glistening in the sun. The night sky was such a welcome sight, appearing like magic at each sunset, promising to return as she faded in dawn's first light. There were times in the daytime, under skies of blue, where I would think of those faraway stars and how they'd return after the shadows blended into the dark.

I sigh, the covers slung over my shoulders. I hear a soft knock on the door, I turn my head seeing nothing but darkness. I sigh as I slide of the bed, my feet dangling over the wooden floorings as I walk towards the door. My hands make contact with handle of the door as I drag it down, revealing a young child. “Oh, hello.”

She gives me her hand, “I’m hungry…and mummy isn’t feeding me.” I smile softly, her mother was probably fast asleep. I immediately walk out of the bedroom along with her as she led me to the kitchen since I have seemed to forgotten. Arriving, she climbs up the long seat and smiles.

“What is your name?” I asked, grabbing bread from the storage cupboard.

“Aria, I am nearly five years old!” She sticks out six fingers; I could not help the small chuckle that has left my mouth as I close one of her fingers. She giggles along with me; I take cheese and some salami from the fridge. “The knife is in that draw and the chopping board is in the bottom.” She replies after seeing me struggle.

“Thank you Aria.” She nods her head; I listen to her instruction and begin making her a sandwich. “So, when is your birthday?”

“You’re so beautiful, all the older girls see you and get jealous.” She shot out, I hand her a sandwich and she smiles happily biting into it.

“What do you mean, Aria?” I ask.

“One of the girls hates you, because she likes Alpha Matias and you took him but I don’t like her, I like you and you are going to be our Luna!” She chews onto it. Before I ask her any more questions a door was slammed. Both our head twisted and we notice three girls, wearing army outfits. I gulp down as they stare me down to the ground.

“What are you doing Aria? Out of bed?” The blonde one who stood in the middle interjected, Aria gulps as I see fear trod into her perfect eyes. Aria shivers slightly, not saying a word. “Well? Speak!”

“She was just hungry; she has done nothing wrong.” Her brown eyes clocked with my own, she took a step closer to me. Looking down at my small height, I kept my eyes onto hers.

“And who on earth do you think you are talking back to me? Aria, get back to your mother before I kill you.” Aria glanced at me; I nodded my head slightly giving her a small smile. How could she talk to a child in that matter? For only being hungry. Aria sniffles slightly and rushes down the hallways, I was about to follow her before the door shut closed and a body stood before it.

“Please, there is no need for argument, I only had good intentions.”

“What did you put in the sandwich? You trying to kill more of our pups?” She pushes me roughly, I limp a few steps.

“No, no of course not. I would never do-”

“You are a disgusting human who are known for their lies, give me the sandwich.” I shake my head as she kicks me to the ground, her foot held itself against my chest. One of the other girls hand it to her, she kneels down to the found and pushes the sandwich into my mouth. I could not breathe as I grabbed onto her wrist to push her away. “Eat it!” She pulls away and I take the chance to spit out the food, coughing whatever slipped down my oesophagus.

I tried to get back up, grabbing onto the kitchen sink before a hard kick hit me directly in the back. My mouth collides with the metal sink as I slide back down to the ground, “keep watch.” I hear her say, I see blood leaving my mouth, the crimson colour colliding with the floor.

And then, I feel the back of my hair being grabbed and pulled and that night, that night was the worst beating of my life. I thought my mother did worse; little did I know. One last kick to the head, after continuous punches in my rib cages, they finally stand up. “Let’s go.” I grabbed onto my stomach in pain, feeling tears leave my eyes. I choked out blood as my hands grab onto the sink once more. I lift myself up, glancing at my reflection in the window.

“Ana?” I turn my head around to see Aria’s eyes wide open. “Let me get help!” I shook my head, with a soft smile.

“No, no it’s fine.”

“You’re bleeding Ana,”

“No, it’s just strawberry sauce. We had a food fight and I lost.” Aria gulps and nods her head, “I think someone should go to bed now,” I whispered, unable to raise my voice a little since it began to pain me. She nods her head, walking away. I hiss slightly holding onto my rib cage.

.

.

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From strolling in the Garden, I seemed to have found myself in front of a Pup Orphanage. And it was horrendous, from broken roof tiles, to shattered windows, the grass was a dark brown, the toys of dolls were ripped and shredded. I notice a leaking pipe, this was dangerous, how could they let children live in this. I pushed the creaking gate open, walking down the path to see a broken swing. Half the chain was slugged off, and it was a dust grey colour.

Reaching the door, I allow my fist to make contact. No answer. “That orphanage is run down, the kids live on the streets now.” I turn around, seeing an old lady with her back hunched.

“Oh, why was it never fixed?”

“Because the Luna doesn’t care about it, no one does. They are basically worthless to their upper social class. We have over twenty-seven kids living on the streets, hungry. This was once there home and now, its trash.”  I turn around looking at the house, maybe, I could fix it. Maybe if we all put in effort then it could be achieved.

I thanked the old lady and rushed back to the pack house to speak to Matias, the moment I arrived, I pushed the front door open and walked down the hallway. I see Matias settled down onto the couch reading through a book along with his mother. I step inside the room and he notices me, “Anastasia, where were you?”

“I was just looking around the area and I noticed this old orphanage, I was just wondering why is it not fixed?” Matias sat up properly.

“I did not know the Orphanage run down?”

“Yes, of course you would not since you left.” His mother sipped onto her tea, closing the news paper before throwing it onto the table in front of her.

“Why do we not fix it now? There are children on the streets, and maybe giving them a home would not be a hard matter for us?” I said, his mother rose a disturbed eyebrow.

“We do not put our minds with tiny things but if it affects you so much, then fix it yourself.” She pushes past me; I hiss slightly as I hold onto my ribs.  Only to forget that Matias was in the same room.

“Are you okay princess?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I whisper.